Chapter 42: Pure Bootlicking
The evening air of Crimson Vale City carried the cool, crisp breeze of the northern territories as Lu Feng, Han Lin, and Ye Chenxue stepped out from the threshold of their temporary guest villa.
The lantern-lit stone pathways of the mini-estate guided them effortlessly across the manicured courtyard gardens toward the grandest building in the complex—Lin Laifu’s personal residence.
Massive double doors made of dark, polished rosewood stood wide open, framing a warm, inviting glow that spilled out onto the front steps. Rich aromas of braised meats, fragrant lotus root, and spiced wine drifted outward, promising an exquisite feast.
As the trio approached the entrance, Lin Laifu stepped forward personally to greet them, flanked by a pair of discreet, highly trained attendants. The loan shark was dressed in an even finer silk robe than before, adorned with delicate gold embroidery that caught the light of the overhead lanterns.
"Ah, welcome, welcome!" Lin Laifu exclaimed, his face breaking into a broad, hospitable grin as he spread his arms wide. "I was beginning to worry the long journey had made you all too weary to appreciate a good evening meal."
Lu Feng offered a composed, polite smile, stepping up to the porch to meet his host. "We wouldn’t miss your hospitality for the world, Master Lin. Thank you once again for your generous offer and all the help you’ve provided since we arrived at the city gates."
Lin Laifu waved a dismissive hand, laughing heartily as he shook his head. "Nonsense, Young Master Lu! It is the absolute least I can do for my close friends and you are certainly one of them. Come, let us not delay a moment longer; the kitchen has just finished plating everything, and we should head straight to the dining room before the food gets cold."
With a sweeping gesture, the loan shark turned and led them through a series of wide, elegantly decorated corridors lined with expensive calligraphy scrolls and rare ceramic vases, eventually guiding them into a private, spacious dining hall.
At the center of the room sat a massive, polished round mahogany table overflowing with an astonishing array of culinary masterpieces.
Because this was a world governed by martial power and ancient traditions, the feast consisted primarily of exquisite, high-tier dishes native to them all, Ye Chenxue being the sole exception.
Steaming platters of immortal-grade dragon-beard noodles tossed in savory sesame oil, braised river carp simmered with glowing herbs, tender slices of roasted frost-stag glazed with sweet plum nectar, and intricately carved crystal dumplings filled with minced beast meat dominated the spread. Small jade jars of aged grain wine sat beside each setting, radiating a faint, warming spiritual mist.
Without wasting any time, they all took their seats, and the feast officially began.
The rest of their dinner unfolded in a vibrant blur of clinking porcelain, rich aromas, and calculated social dynamics as everyone began sampling the various delicacies.
For Lu Feng, growing up as the young master of a wealthy, influential family meant that feasts of this caliber were a frequent occurrence. He had spent his early life surrounded by master chefs and rare ingredients, meaning the breathtaking spread before him wasn’t genuinely surprising or exotic in the slightest.
However, fully aware of the image he needed to project to keep Lin Laifu off-balance, Lu Feng deliberately chose to play a different role.
He widened his eyes slightly in feigned awe as he picked up his silver chopsticks, examining a piece of the braised frost-stag with exaggerated appreciation. He took a deliberate bite, letting out a soft gasp of delight before nodding enthusiastically toward their host.
"By the heavens, Master Lin," Lu Feng praised, his voice carrying genuine wonder, "I have traveled through several cities, but I have rarely tasted anything quite as refined as this. The texture of the meat and the infusion of the herbs are simply masterclasses!"
His over-the-top performance was so convincing that even Han Lin, who sat right beside him, blinked in sudden surprise. She knew full well from his upbringing that he was intimately familiar with high-society luxuries even though his family neglected him, making his sudden display of culinary astonishment quite the spectacle.
She shot him a subtle, sideways glance mixed with quiet amusement, wondering just what deep scheme he was spinning in that clever mind of hers.
Across the table, Ye Chenxue remained quietly composed.
Having once walked the path as a powerful, high-ranking cultivator in her own right, she was completely unmoved by the mundane opulence of the meal. To her refined palette, the dishes were merely sustenance. Yet, as she watched Lu Feng enthusiastically complimenting the loan shark over a simple plate of crystal dumplings, a quiet realization settled in her mind.
She came to her own logical conclusion mentally: Lu Feng was deliberately acting this way to hide a certain truth. He was working hard to mask the fact that he came from a background and a family just as wealthy—if not vastly more powerful—than Lin Laifu’s entire merchant empire. By pretending to be impressed by ordinary displays of wealth, he was lowering the loan shark’s guard, ensuring the older man felt superior, secure, and entirely comfortable in his role as the wealthy host.
It was a subtle, brilliant manipulation disguised as simple flattery. This was pure bootlicking.
Lin Laifu, completely oblivious to the intricate web of deception spinning right in front of him, beamed with immense pride. Hearing such glowing praise from a young man he was trying to impress stroked his vanity in all the right places.
"Ah, I am thrilled to hear it, Young Master Lu!" Lin Laifu declared, puffing out his chest with uncontained satisfaction as he poured more wine into Lu Feng’s cup. "To be completely honest with you, I went the absolute extra mile today to ensure my personal estate cooks did a magnificent job. I knew I had distinguished guests arriving—guests of true caliber—and I refused to let our hospitality fall short!"
Lu Feng nodded appreciatively, flashing another warm, grateful smile before picking up his chopsticks once more.
"Your efforts are certainly not wasted, Master Lin. Every single dish is a work of art," Lu Feng replied smoothly, continuing to eat with hearty enthusiasm, offering crisp words of thanks and praise in between every few bites, cementing the friendly atmosphere precisely where he wanted it.