Chapter 62 - 42: Conditions

The door to the private room was gently pushed open, and a waiter in a clean, long robe bowed as he entered, holding a thick menu. "Gentlemen, would you like to order now?"

Liu Maolin waved him over, took the menu, and flipped through a couple of pages before ordering readily, "Let’s get the braised tiger tendon, stir-fried bear paw in sauce, and clear-stewed venison. Also, a plate of roasted wild wolf ribs, stewed bear heart, and... oh, right, the grilled wild boar stomach. For soup, a tureen of the Three-Penis Medicated Soup. Junior Brother, see if there’s anything else you’d like to add."

"That’s more than enough," Yang Jing said, waving his hands frantically.

As he listened to Liu Maolin order, Yang Jing couldn’t help but be secretly flabbergasted.

These six dishes were all made from the meat of ferocious beasts, their restorative properties far surpassing those of domesticated livestock. For ordinary families in the Outer City and the countryside, just seeing such food was a rare event, let alone eating it. The braised tiger tendon alone likely cost more than what a commoner in the Outer City made in half a year.

That Three-Penis Medicated Soup, slow-cooked with a variety of nourishing herbs, was clearly a potent tonic just from its name. Its price was bound to be exorbitant.

"Senior Brother, isn’t this a bit too extravagant?" Yang Jing asked, feeling a little guilty.

"Hah, don’t be a stranger." Liu Maolin waved his hand dismissively. "Your breakthrough to the Dark Energy realm is a huge cause for celebration! We have to feast and get you properly nourished. Besides, the Liu Family Medical Hall is counting on a master like you to be our cornerstone. What’s a little money compared to that?"

The waiter took the order and withdrew. Before long, the dishes were brought out one after another.

Each dish was steaming hot, its fragrant aroma instantly whetting their appetites.

Yang Jing felt a little embarrassed looking at the table laden with meat, but he couldn’t resist the enticing aroma.

Without another word, the two picked up their chopsticks and began to feast.

Back home, Yang Jing usually just boiled beast meat in plain water, seasoning it with a sprinkle of salt for the sake of speed and convenience.

But these dishes, meticulously prepared by a master chef—whether braised or stir-fried in sauce—had complex, layered flavors that were far beyond anything he could cook himself.

Tiger tendon, bear paw, venison... Every bite seemed to fully awaken his taste buds, making even the pores on his skin feel like they were opening in delight.

He ate with incredible speed, yet without being crude, refilling his rice bowl again and again and downing the various beast meats with it.

A warm energy slid down his throat and spread through his entire body. It was far more nourishing than the bear meat he ate at home. Even the Dark Energy within him seemed to stir, creating a pleasant, comforting warmth.

Liu Maolin also ate with gusto, occasionally taking a bite here and there. He watched Yang Jing devour the food, a wide smile spreading across his face.

He knew Yang Jing was typically frugal and rarely had a chance to eat with such abandon. So, he didn’t interrupt, simply content to "chow down" alongside him.

For a time, the private room was filled with nothing but the soft clink of porcelain and chopsticks and the sounds of satisfied chewing. The table full of delicacies was steadily being polished off by the pair.

Time passed. After swallowing the last spoonful of the medicated soup, Yang Jing put down his bowl and let out a contented burp. He felt a pleasant warmth spreading through him, a feeling of vigor that reached all the way to his fingertips.

The plates and platters on the table were nearly empty. All six dishes and the soup had been wiped clean, the vast majority of it having ended up in Yang Jing’s stomach.

Liu Maolin set down his chopsticks, his expression a mixture of emotions and his tone filled with unconcealed astonishment. "Junior Brother, your appetite... is really something else. Are you sure you’re alright after eating all that?"

Although he had been eating as well, he had deliberately held back, only sampling a few bites of each dish. In total, he had probably eaten less than a fifth of it all.

But Yang Jing? He had polished off the braised tiger tendon almost single-handedly and had gnawed the bones of the roasted wild wolf ribs completely clean. All told, he must have eaten well over two pounds of beast meat.

"This isn’t ordinary meat, you know," Liu Maolin said, clicking his tongue in amazement. "Even an Entry-level Martial Artist would have to circulate their energy to digest half a pound of it. A Dark Energy Martial Artist could handle one pound at the absolute most. You just put away more than two pounds. Aren’t you worried about the internal fire overwhelming you?"

You have to understand, the energy contained in this beast meat is incredibly potent. An ordinary person would feel flushed and hot all over after eating just a small piece. A moment of carelessness could lead to a nosebleed or even damage to their internal organs.

This was the first time Liu Maolin had ever seen someone wolf down so much potent food and act as if nothing had happened.

Yang Jing rubbed his stomach and smiled. "I’ve always been a big eater. I’m used to it."

’It must be because of the panel,’ he knew. ’No matter how much I eat, I can digest it all without harming myself.’

’Ever since breaking through to the Bright Energy stage, I started eating at least a pound of meat at every meal. Later on, a pound of beast meat per meal became the norm.’

’After breaking through to the Dark Energy realm, my body’s demand for energy skyrocketed. The energy in this beast meat, while potent, has a weaker effect on me now. Eating over two pounds this time was the perfect amount for my body to absorb and convert. I don’t feel any excess heat; instead, it’s just a deeply satisfying comfort.’

Seeing that Yang Jing’s expression was normal, with no sign of his qi and blood surging violently, Liu Maolin finally relaxed. He waved a hand and said, "As long as you’re fine."

He didn’t press the matter. Everyone had their secrets. Since Yang Jing didn’t want to elaborate, there was no need to pry.

Liu Maolin set down his teacup, his expression growing serious. "Junior Brother, there’s something I want to discuss with you."

Yang Jing looked up at him, guessing Liu Maolin was about to discuss the terms of his position at the Liu Family Medical Hall. After all, now that he was a Dark Energy Martial Artist, he carried significant weight. A master of his caliber would be a major asset to any power, and his compensation would naturally have to reflect that.

"My father and I have discussed it," Liu Maolin said, his tone sincere. "We would like to officially hire you as a Senior Guest Minister for the Liu Family Medical Hall. The previous terms we offered for your nominal post were decent, but that was based on our friendship as martial brothers. Things are different now. You are a Dark Energy Martial Artist. Setting aside our personal connection, the Medical Hall must treat you with the utmost respect. Both your title and your compensation have to reflect that."