Chapter 400 - 297: The Value of Pure Natural Martial Vein_2

Chapter 400: Chapter 297: The Value of Pure Natural Martial Vein_2

Let me analyze the source text to build contextual understanding:

STEP 1: CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS

Literary genre: This appears to be a Chinese fantasy/cultivation novel (xianxia/wuxia). It contains martial arts elements, cultivation terminology, and a fantastical setting on what seems to be a giant ship in a secret realm.

Language style: The style is relatively casual but with formal elements, especially in dialogue. It includes detailed descriptions of food and interactions between characters.

Tone: The tone is observational, slightly humorous, with elements of suspicion and curiosity.

Plot keywords: restaurant, dining, martial arts display, power assessment, mysterious stranger

Characters:

- Wu Liangchen (武良辰): Male protagonist, possesses strong martial abilities and seems cautious of others’ intentions

- Cai Liben (蔡立本): Male, mentioned but not present in this scene, appears to have invited the protagonist to the restaurant

- Unnamed female service worker: Female, intimidated by the protagonist’s power

- Unnamed male service worker: Male, describes the dishes served

- Mysterious male stranger: Male, approaches the protagonist asking for food, claims to be a martial artist heading to the "world of great contention"

STEP 2: INTEGRATED TRANSLATION AND POLISHING

Now I’ll proceed with the translation, ensuring all glossary terms are properly used and applying the stylization rules.

The text describes Wu Liangchen visiting a restaurant at the invitation of someone named Cai Liben. He displays his power to intimidate some people who were staring at him, orders and enjoys some expensive food, and is approached by a mysterious stranger who asks to join him for a meal. The protagonist is curious about this stranger who claims to be a martial artist but has no money for food.

Let me start translating line by line, implementing all the specified rules:

As the saying goes, excessive eagerness to help without cause suggests either villainy or thievery.

So what exactly was this Cai Liben after?

With this question in mind, Wu Liangchen walked through a long corridor and arrived at the restaurant Cai Liben had mentioned.

The restaurant was luxuriously decorated, no less impressive than the high-end establishments he had seen in his previous life.

Since it wasn’t mealtime, there weren’t many diners in the restaurant.

When Wu Liangchen arrived, he immediately attracted everyone’s attention.

Especially those who were eating; they stared intently at Wu Liangchen as if trying to see through him completely.

Wu Liangchen remained impassive. While these people were sizing him up, he was also evaluating them.

In fact, with his keen perception, Wu Liangchen had almost instantly assessed the strength of this group.

Very powerful!

Particularly the man seated at the head position, who possessed strength no less than that of a top Grandmaster.

The power of these people was clearly in a different league from the Martial Artists he had seen earlier.

Wu Liangchen didn’t do anything foolish like pretending to be weak to catch them off guard.

Because in such an environment, any sign of weakness would only invite trouble.

He released a slight hint of his aura.

In an instant, those men who had been staring at him were struck as if by lightning. One of the weaker ones even fell directly to the floor.

Fortunately, the floor was covered with thick carpet, so it didn’t cause much of a disturbance.

After this display, none of these men dared to look at Wu Liangchen again, all lowering their heads.

Even the one who had fallen quickly got up and resumed eating with his head down.

"S-Sir, what would you like to order?" a trembling voice reached him. Wu Liangchen looked down to see a female server looking at him with fear written all over her face.

"What do you have?" Wu Liangchen asked, while retracting his aura, instantly transforming back into an ordinary handsome young man.

Only then did the female server finally breathe a sigh of relief. After all, the aura just now had been truly terrifying.

She had originally come forward to greet the new customer, but who would have expected Wu Liangchen to suddenly make such a show of force? Although it wasn’t directed at her, just the residual pressure was enough to overwhelm her.

She carefully led Wu Liangchen to a table, seated him, and handed him a menu.

Wu Liangchen opened it and was surprised to find that he could understand the text.

The characters were basically the same as those commonly used in this world, with only slight differences in some details.

What surprised him even more were the prices of the dishes.

Not because they were expensive.

On the contrary, because they were incredibly cheap.

For instance, the Eight Treasures Sea and Mountain Delicacy Pouch, which was clearly the signature dish featured on the first page, only cost fifteen points.

Most of the other dishes were just three to five points each.

What Wu Liangchen didn’t know was that these points as currency were far more valuable than the silver coins of Great Yan.

Especially for daily expenses like food, clothing, and accommodation, points were exceptionally valuable.

So the seventy thousand points he currently possessed were enough for him to live extravagantly for a very long time.

That is, provided he didn’t touch anything related to Cultivation.

Because those things were truly expensive.

Wu Liangchen, naturally unaware of all this, casually ordered a few dishes and some wine, then handed over his card.

The female server carefully took out something similar to a card reader and swiped his card.

With a beep, the points were paid.

Seeing this, Wu Liangchen suddenly felt a sense of disorientation.

It was as if he wasn’t on the Secret Realm Giant Ship at the Corner of Heaven, but rather enjoying a leisurely vacation on a luxury yacht in the international waters of Blue Star.

"Sir, please wait a moment. Your food will be ready shortly. This is a complimentary dessert from our restaurant. Please enjoy." The server bowed respectfully before turning to leave.

Wu Liangchen tasted the dessert and found it quite delicious, which made him look forward to the upcoming dishes.

Throughout his journey, he had eaten nothing but fish and preserved meats with pickled vegetables. If not for occasionally shooting down seabirds for a change of taste, he would have found it unbearable long ago.

Even so, Wu Liangchen now deeply missed the meat pies, lamb soup, and roast duck from Dinghai City.

The food arrived quickly.

A male server in uniform pushed a cart to the table, bowed first, then lifted the pure silver food covers and began serving the dishes one by one.

Regardless of how they might taste, the presentation of these dishes was excellent.

Moreover, the server provided introductions for each dish.

"Sir, this is Golden Glazed Crab Delicacy, made with the finest crab meat and soft tofu," the server explained with a smile, pointing to a golden-yellow dish.

Wu Liangchen took a spoonful and indeed found it smooth and tender, with a rich crab flavor.

"This is Misty Landscape Golden Palace, made with goose liver and arrowhead corms. Don’t you think it resembles a palace?"

Wu Liangchen took another bite and found it quite flavorful.

"And this is our restaurant’s signature dish, the Eight Treasures Sea and Mountain Delicacy Pouch. The preparation process for this dish is extremely complex, with just the ingredient preparation taking several days. First—"

As the male server was enthusiastically about to give a detailed introduction, Wu Liangchen waved his hand.

"You may go. I don’t like people talking while I eat."

This comment made the male server blush deeply, but he dared not say anything. He could only bow deeply and retreat to the side.

Wu Liangchen ate slowly.

Truthfully, the food tasted excellent.

But somehow, as he sampled these beautifully presented dishes with their poetic names, Wu Liangchen felt they couldn’t compare to the satisfaction of biting into a juicy meat pie.

Still, adhering to the principle of not wasting food, Wu Liangchen ate heartily.

Compared to the dishes, the wine was quite good—smooth on the palate but with a strong kick.

As Wu Liangchen was eating and drinking with gusto, a man quietly entered the restaurant, searching for something. When he spotted Wu Liangchen sitting alone, his eyes lit up and he immediately walked over.

"Friend, could you spare some food? I haven’t eaten in three days."

Wu Liangchen looked up to see a man of about twenty looking at him with an honest expression, so he nodded.

"Thank you, brother!" the man exclaimed joyfully before sitting down across from Wu Liangchen.

Wu Liangchen’s interest was piqued.

This man’s strength was average, but he was still at the Fourth Realm in Cultivation. How could someone like that be so destitute that he couldn’t afford to eat?

The man’s carefree attitude made Wu Liangchen curious, so he studied him for a moment.

At first glance, this man appeared unremarkable, except for a rather impressive pair of eyes.

"Who are you?"

"Me? I’m just another Martial Artist hoping to board the ship to the world of great contention," the man smiled, then took a deep breath.

"It smells so good."

"Would you like some?" Wu Liangchen asked.

The man nodded quite naturally, "Of course I would."

"Bring another set of utensils!" Wu Liangchen instructed the server.

The server seemed to want to say something but held back, glaring at the man before bringing the utensils.

After receiving them, the man looked at Wu Liangchen.

Wu Liangchen smiled, "Go ahead and eat."

The man immediately started using his chopsticks.

He ate like a whirlwind, devouring an entire dish in the blink of an eye.

Afterward, he exhaled deeply and smacked his lips, "That was excellent, but it’s a shame there’s no wine."

Wu Liangchen smiled and ordered another bottle.

When the man saw the bottle, his eyes lit up with excitement. He eagerly opened it and, without even bothering to pour it into a glass, took several large gulps straight from the bottle.

After drinking, he finally exhaled deeply, then smiled at Wu Liangchen.

"Sorry for the display, brother. It’s been a full ten days since I last had a drink, so I got a bit too excited."