Chapter 93: Merfolk Pavilion
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The Merfolk Pavilion stood five stories tall, each level offering a unique array of goods.
The first floor displayed a collection of exquisite accessories, such as hairpins carved from fish bones. These hairpins resembled jade in texture and were adorned with miniature defensive arrays, combining beauty with practicality.
Yu Zhao rarely wore accessories. In her early years, her finances were tight, and Lone Moon Peak, where she resided, was predominantly male. As a result, her sense of aesthetics remained underdeveloped.
Now, faced with the dazzling assortment in the Merfolk Pavilion, Yu Zhao’s interest surged. She selected numerous beautiful and functional pieces, intending to gift them to Senior Sister Zhou, Mu Ye, and others upon her return.
With no shortage of spirit stones, and bolstered further by the fortune she had seized from the Four Gentlemen of Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum, Yu Zhao could afford to be extravagant. Calling over a female cultivator tasked with hosting guests, Yu Zhao had the woman hold a tray for her. Anything that caught her eye was immediately added.
Before long, the tray overflowed with items, prompting another attendant to take over with a fresh tray.
Yu Zhao’s unabashed extravagance did not go unnoticed. Many on the first floor discreetly cast curious glances in her direction.
Little Red, observing this, grew increasingly anxious. She furiously signaled Yu Zhao with her eyes.
When Yu Zhao ignored her, Little Red summoned her courage and tugged at Yu Zhao’s sleeve, whispering urgently, “Senior, senior, it’s unwise to flaunt your wealth!”
Yu Zhao lifted her head and scanned the room. The natural authority of a Golden Core cultivator radiated as her gaze swept the crowd.
Those in the pavilion’s first-floor hall felt their hearts tighten, quickly averting their eyes.
In the cultivation world, Nascent Soul cultivators were rare and revered as regional overlords. Golden Core cultivators, though slightly less exalted, were still formidable and not to be trifled with. The fact that the Dark Pavilion’s top assassins—the Four Gentlemen—were at the Golden Core stage underscored this reality.
Once Yu Zhao’s commanding aura was revealed, no one dared look in her direction again. Some even stepped aside preemptively as she approached, a mark of respect.
Little Red’s eyes sparkled with admiration.
Having grown up in Southern Abyss City, where she cared for her younger siblings, Little Red had always idolized confident and powerful female cultivators like Yu Zhao. She felt fortunate for boldly volunteering to guide Yu Zhao when she first entered the city. Today’s experience was something she would cherish for a lifetime.
After surveying the first floor, Yu Zhao turned her attention to the second.
A perceptive attendant stepped forward and explained enthusiastically, “Immortal, the second floor of the Merfolk Pavilion specializes in Southern Abyss delicacies. You can dine in or take them away. These make excellent gifts as well.”
Delicacies?
Yu Zhao immediately thought of that grotesque fish from before. Tentatively, she asked, “I heard there’s a sea beast called the Meatball Sea Monster with exceptionally tender meat. Do you carry it?”
The attendant’s smile grew even brighter. “Of course! The Meatball Sea Monster is a signature specialty of Southern Abyss. At the Merfolk Pavilion, we’ve developed various ways to prepare it to suit all palates.”
After a brief hesitation, Yu Zhao decided to ascend to the second floor.
She wasn’t particularly curious whether eating the Meatball Sea Monster could improve her complexion. She just wanted to broaden her horizons. Truly!
Little Red, however, could barely contain her excitement.
The second floor was a world she had never dared to step into, shrouded in a mysterious allure. Even if she couldn’t taste the food, just smelling it would be enough to satisfy her.
Between the first and second floors, the Merfolk Pavilion employed an array to isolate aromas.
The moment Yu Zhao stepped onto the second floor, the fresh air from below was replaced by an indescribably rich and enticing fragrance.
Both she and Little Red instinctively took a deep breath, their mouths watering as their appetites surged.
The second floor of the Merfolk Pavilion was entirely different in design from the first. Perhaps to highlight the varied preparation methods of food, the second floor was divided into square booths, each dedicated to a specific type of sea beast.
The female cultivator mistakenly thought that Yu Zhao brought up the Meatball Sea Monster out of an interest in its flavor. She promptly led Yu Zhao and Little Red straight to the booth selling dishes made from the creature.
“Fairy, these are various delicacies prepared using the Meatball Sea Monster’s meat. The skewers beside them are for tasting,” the woman explained.
A long table stood before the booth, holding several square wooden boxes filled with delicacies prepared in diverse ways. The sea beast meat had been cut and cooked so skillfully that its original form was unrecognizable, which helped diminish the sense of revulsion Yu Zhao initially felt.
She picked up a tasting skewer and pierced a meatball. Its golden crust was crisp and fragrant. As she bit into it, a burst of rich, savory juice filled her mouth.
Yu Zhao’s eyes brightened. The fish meat, tender from repeated pounding, offered a delightfully bouncy texture. There was no trace of fishiness, replaced instead by a refreshing sweetness. It was a flavor entirely new to her.
She grabbed another skewer, intending to share it with the eager young girl standing behind her. Pausing for a moment, Yu Zhao reconsidered, using a fresh skewer to pick up a fishball before handing it to Little Red.
“Try it and let me know what you think,” Yu Zhao said.
Little Red had been about to politely refuse but swallowed her words instead. After all, she wasn’t being greedy—she was merely helping her senior test the food.
With that thought, Little Red cautiously bit into the fishball. The moment its fresh, sweet flavor bloomed on her tongue, her eyes widened in disbelief.
Yu Zhao found her reaction adorable and couldn’t help but chuckle. “How does it taste?”
Little Red nodded enthusiastically. She had never tasted anything so delicious before! It almost moved her to tears. Fortunately, she suppressed her emotions, mindful of her task. Still, the regret in her gaze as she looked at the fishball betrayed her thoughts—how wonderful it would be if her brothers could also enjoy such a treat.
Of course, this remained a passing wish. She couldn’t afford to embarrass her senior by acting on it.
“You might also enjoy the braised fish,” the booth attendant suggested. “It has a distinct flavor compared to the fishballs.”
Caught up in the feast, Yu Zhao quickly forgot what the Meatball Sea Monster even looked like. Following the attendant’s recommendations, she sampled one dish after another, each made from different parts of various sea beasts. She even made sure to share some with Little Red.
Half an hour later, Yu Zhao left the second floor, fully satisfied. Her storage space was now brimming with hundreds of food boxes filled with sea beast meat, ready to sustain her throughout her travels.
Though Merfolk Pavilion saw a daily influx of visiting cultivators, few were as generous as Yu Zhao. Most only bought a few items for a small taste. As such, the female cultivator attending to Yu Zhao was thrilled to encounter such a straightforward and affluent patron. Her respect for Yu Zhao bordered on reverence, treating her as though she were a deity of wealth.
“Senior, the third floor offers unrefined parts of sea beasts, often used in crafting or alchemy,” the female cultivator explained warmly.
As they ascended, the bustling energy of the lower floors gave way to a quieter atmosphere. The third floor, far less crowded, had fewer than a tenth of the visitors seen on the second floor.
Instead of booths, the floor displayed small samples of sea beast materials, arranged by category along the walls. This layout made it easy to see everything at a glance.
The local tourism is good