Hide in the world of gods and demons

Chapter 4 Home Life
As soon as the door closed, Chen Li hurriedly took off his Taoist robe.

He doesn't want to wear that Taoist robe again, at least not for the time being.

"What bad luck!"

"This world is too dangerous!"

Chen Li secretly decided that he would try to go out as little as possible in the future.

Recalling the old monk's sinister yet slightly manic expression, he felt a chill run down his spine. It seemed like even his home wasn't very safe anymore. After a moment of paranoia, he stopped his wandering thoughts.

It's strange, but I haven't eaten for almost a whole day since I traveled through time yesterday.

I didn't feel very hungry.

"I guess I've been starving!" He rubbed his stomach.

For the sake of his health, Chen Li felt he should put something in his belly.

At forty, it's time to start learning about health and wellness.

When you reach a point where you are as indifferent as still water when you see a woman, like that possessed old monk, it will be too late for regrets.

What's the use of living a long life then?

Chen Li walked into the kitchen, which combined the restaurant and kitchen. The smoky smell was mixed with a hint of decay and earthiness, which was not pleasant but tolerable.

The stove is similar to the earthen stove in the countryside, only a bit more rudimentary.

With his extensive experience in picnics since childhood, Chen Li studied it for a while and quickly grasped the basics.

He took some spirit rice from the rice jar and washed it clean.

The rice grains, soaked in water, become crystal clear, resembling beautiful gemstones, a truly delightful sight.

Putting everything else aside, just based on its appearance alone, it would be a luxury item on Earth.

Put the rinsed rice into a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, and then use a fire starter to light the firewood and begin cooking. Gradually, a fragrance begins to fill the air, a fragrance I've never smelled before.

It seems to evoke a person's sense of hunger.

Chen Li couldn't help but feel his mouth water, his saliva secreted wildly, and his stomach, which wasn't very hungry before, started to rumble.

A few minutes later, feeling that the firewood had burned enough, he extinguished it.

After simmering for about ten minutes, he couldn't wait to open the pot lid.

A rich and alluring fragrance immediately wafted over.

"Gudong"

Chen Li couldn't help but swallow.

"If you cook less, just the aroma alone is enough to make me eat three big bowls of vegetables," Chen Li sighed softly.

There were no dishes to begin with.

He filled a large bowl with rice. The rice grains, having absorbed the water, looked even more glossy and plump. Ignoring the heat, he picked up his chopsticks and eagerly scooped up a mouthful of rice.

"It's so fragrant!"

Although the rice was still a little undercooked, it was cooked a little too hot.

But it does not affect the taste of the rice itself at all.

High-end ingredients often require only the simplest cooking methods; a few bites and your stomach feels warm and cozy.

Having never seen the world before, Chen Li wolfed down his food, finishing a whole bowl of rice in just a few minutes.

He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his belly with immense satisfaction, too lazy to move.

"Wait, I can't waste this." He remembered something and quickly went back to his bedroom to meditate and practice his skills.

……

"call!"

After a while, Chen Li let out a long sigh.

After calming the restless spiritual energy for a while, he slowly came to the end of his first cultivation session.

He glanced at the attribute panel with hope in his eyes.

Aside from a 1-point increase in proficiency with the Longevity Technique, there was no further progress in his cultivation level.

He was slightly disappointed, but quickly came to terms with it.

The original owner was just an ordinary, low-level rogue cultivator; otherwise, he wouldn't have been stuck at the third level of Qi Refining at such an advanced age. Even he himself wasn't an outstanding person before he transmigrated.

Born into an ordinary family, attended an ordinary high school, and struggled to get into an ordinary university. After graduation, he found an ordinary job with an ordinary salary. If nothing unexpected happens, he will marry an ordinary woman with an ordinary appearance who he can settle down with.

The harsh realities of society have taught him to abandon unrealistic fantasies and recognize his own mediocrity.

……

For the next few days, Chen Li stayed indoors, never leaving his house, and completely settled into a life of seclusion.

I draw talismans and practice Qi every day.

Rest when you're tired, eat when you're hungry.

My days were incredibly fulfilling, and instead of losing weight, I actually gained some extra fat.

During this period, his progress in drawing talismans was rapid. After the Cleansing Talisman, he successively mastered the Silent Talisman and the Guiding Talisman. He even took the time to learn a simple spell, and his proficiency in the Longevity Technique also improved rapidly.

The progress of Qi Refining Level 3 is unshakeable, with no further advancement.

Chen Li had come to terms with it; there was nothing to worry about. Once he was familiar with this world, had acquired a skill, and saved up enough money, he planned to go to the mortal world.

We'll buy fertile land and live in a big house then.

He eats delicious food and drinks every day, and marries several beautiful women.

Those days... weren't they better than now, living in a shantytown, futilely cultivating incense every day with no hope in sight?

However, as the rice bin gradually emptied, Chen Li began to feel more and more anxious each day.

As evening fell, Chen Li looked at the dwindling amount of spirit rice and sighed.

"There's only enough for two meals left."

"I can't delay any longer, I have to go to the market tomorrow morning!" Chen Li made a solemn decision.

I feel like I'm not prepared for anything.

After dinner, Chen Li, preoccupied, began preparing for his departure the next morning.

"Take all the talismans... and half the gold... in case the talismans don't sell well, we can exchange them for some ordinary food!"

Not all cultivators are aloof and detached from worldly affairs. Most of those who go to the market are ordinary, low-level rogue cultivators who live no different lives from commoners. Chen Li remembers many of them making a living by hunting.

"Oh right, I should bring a sword too. Sigh, I should have learned some swordsmanship."

Chen Li picked up the sword, drew it, and swung it around a few times awkwardly before carefully sheathing it.

He looked annoyed.

I've decided that once I get back from my trip tomorrow, I must practice my swordsmanship diligently.

Too many skills don't overwhelm the body.

It might save a life in a critical moment.

……

That night, Chen Li suffered from insomnia again, something he hadn't done in a long time.

The next morning, before dawn, he opened his bloodshot eyes, meditated for a while, and waited until the light was fully bright before putting on his Taoist robe. He placed the willow-leaf darts he carried with him on his waist one by one, gently stroking them a few times, and then put on his sword.

The Taoist robe was still the same one he had worn before.

Chen Li originally intended to burn or throw it away.

But it was later discovered that this was his only one.

Now, when he goes out, he has no choice but to force himself to continue wearing it in order to maintain a presentable appearance.

Chen Lizhen didn't want to criticize the original owner, but sometimes she just couldn't help it.

If you have the money to go to a brothel, wouldn't it be better to buy a few outfits to change into?

He took out a cleansing talisman, and with a flick of his wrist, it quickly burned out. After an invisible force passed through, the entire Taoist robe immediately became clean and new.

Finally, he picked up the bundle containing the gold and stood at the door.

He took several deep breaths.

He then pushed open the door.

(End of this chapter)