Chapter 18: After Learning Comes Eating, Eating, Eating

In the afternoon, Ding Nan returned to the Ding Family Courtyard and sat down at the stone table.

Luo Yao pulled several books out of her Storage Bag.

“This is the Luo Family’s heirloom technique, the Danxia Manual.”

A book with a red cover embossed with gold patterns was placed in front of Ding Nan. It looked incredibly expensive.

“This is the accompanying spear technique, the Fire Cloud Spear Technique.”

This book also looked expensive, though its cover was yellow with red embossed patterns.

“This is the Luo Water Sword Technique, the Luo Family’s basic martial art.”

This time, the cover was a classic blue, appearing similar to the common books found on the market. It was clearly a paperback.

“These two are Introduction to Artifice: Identification and Nature of Minerals and Basics of Ore Vein Feng Shui Numerology.”

Two more new books were placed before Ding Nan.

“And the final one, Annotations on the Luo Family Artifice Gate.”

This one was a beautiful, exquisite hardcover book.

As he watched book after book land on the table, Ding Nan smiled.

“Hmm? Are you thinking about something?”

Luo Yao’s eyes lit up as she asked.

“Yeah, I just thought of something happy.”

Ding Nan said this, yet he covered his face and gave a bitter laugh.

Each book was thicker than the last.

The Danxia Manual was only half an inch thick, but by the time he reached the Annotations on the Luo Family Artifice Gate, its thickness could no longer be described as “a book.”

It was more like “a set.”

The total thickness of the Annotations on the Luo Family Artifice Gate was equivalent to four massive dictionaries or a complete set of War and Peace.

Its width was nearly that of a cheap notebook.

Ding Nan tried to flip through it.

The thickness wasn’t just for show; the font size, margins, headers, and paragraph spacing were all tight and packed with information.

Ding Nan felt his breath nearly stop.

Dead memories returned to strike Ding Nan’s brain like a painful blow — Ding Nan was not the type of student who felt a rush of euphoria just from acquiring knowledge.

“Young Master, please study hard,” Luo Yao said with a smile.

“About that…”

Ding Nan closed the book, his lips twitching.

“The Danxia Manual is your Luo Family’s heirloom technique. If I learn it, wouldn’t that mean I have to…”

“What?”

Luo Yao leaned her smiling face close to Ding Nan, a shadow looming over her youthful and lovely features.

“Nothing… It’s nothing…”

The previous night, Ding Nan, who was only in the Qi Refining Stage, had been completely overpowered.

He had been dominated three times in a row, unable to resist Luo Yao at all.

“Then, Young Master, I will go prepare dinner. Make sure to study hard.”

Luo Yao gave a slight bow and spoke.

With that, Luo Yao departed.

Ding Nan looked at the books on the table and felt a headache coming on.

In this world, heirloom techniques were family secrets.

Only those at the core of the family were allowed to learn them.

Ding Nan’s surname was Ding, and Luo Yao’s was Luo.

For him to learn such secrets, regardless of his loyalty or trustworthiness, there was one prerequisite — a Matrilocal Marriage.

Ding Nan would have to become “Luo Nan.”

As for being a Matrilocal Son-in-law, people in his previous life generally felt indifferent about it.

However, in this world, an era that placed great importance on continuing the family line, a Matrilocal Son-in-law would only be mocked and looked down upon.

This kind of contempt was even more severe than being jilted in a broken engagement — unless one married into the Royal Family.

Usually, few parents would agree to their son abandoning his duty to spread the family name just to marry into another family.

If he said, “Father, I want to be a Matrilocal Son-in-law,” his father would surely “love” him enough to break his legs.

From what Ding Nan knew of Ding Wen, he would definitely not agree.

But whether he agreed or not didn’t seem like it would change anything.

From the moment Luo Yao pulled out that exquisite Storage Bag, Ding Nan knew that Ding Wen’s will could never overcome Luo Yao’s intentions.

“Even if Ding Wen was stronger than Luo Yao, so what?”

To survive in this world, one needed power and a background.

Ding Nan held his head.

He had neither power nor background.

Then there was Ji Lanruo.

Ding Nan didn’t even know if she would turn into a villainess.

But no matter what, a storm of blood and gore was bound to follow.

It’s hard, so hard; Ding Nan’s life was truly too difficult.

Ding Nan clutched his six-pack abs — years of training had left him in great physical shape.

Inside his dantian, his Spiritual Qi was weak, only at the level of Body Tempering Realm Level 3.

The foundation he had once built using the Flowing Cloud Manual had completely vanished.

‘I can’t resist. I have no power to resist at all!’

In the end, all his thoughts dissolved into a sigh.

‘Though, being with Luo Yao isn’t so bad. We’re childhood friends who grew up together.’

Ding Nan smiled slightly.

To be honest, compared to a stranger, Ding Nan much preferred being with a woman he knew well.

A cute childhood friend could easily defeat a beautiful girl who appeared out of nowhere.

Even a “long-lost” childhood friend stood no chance!

This was the cruel reality.

As for being a Matrilocal Son-in-law, Ding Nan didn’t care much.

In his previous life, he had been a content “bachelor monk,” a member of the single elite who lowered the national marriage and birth rates.

As long as “Luo Yao is cute,” nothing else mattered!

Feeling a bit of joy in his heart, Ding Nan flipped open the Danxia Manual.

—

At dusk, the sky was dyed with the joyful colors of the sunset.

“Young Master, it’s time to eat.”

Luo Yao entered Ding Nan’s courtyard carrying a fairly large black food container.

“Great!”

Ding Nan rubbed his hands together, his face full of anticipation.

“I can’t wait anymore. Serve it up!”

He had studied for the entire afternoon and was already famished.

Luo Yao put all the books back into the Storage Bag and then placed the food container on the stone table.

She took out the bowls and chopsticks, setting them before Ding Nan.

Ding Nan habitually picked up his chopsticks.

In the past, Ding Nan would have actively tried to help Luo Yao, but every time he did, she would scold him.

Eventually, he had been spoiled by Luo Yao into his current state.

In this regard, he finally looked somewhat like a Young Master of a clan.

Luo Yao pulled out the first dish.

Ding Nan recognized it immediately: stir-fried kidneys.

He loved kidneys. In an instant, his Ravenous Mode was primed.

He waited for Luo Yao to join him.

The second dish was also a kidney-like dish.

‘Wonderful, there are actually two plates of kidneys!’

Next was a pot of soup. The aroma was rich and thick, with clam shells visible inside.

“Clam soup.”

He loved clam soup as well.

Then, a side of stir-fried greens and other dishes were served.

Luo Yao took her seat next to Ding Nan.

Ding Nan’s chopsticks shot out.

His starving soul had been released!

“Awesome, awesome, awesome!” Ding Nan said while chewing his food.

“Is it good?”

“It’s delicious, but why do these two plates of kidneys taste different?”

Ding Nan asked curiously.

“Was the cooking method different?”

“Two plates of kidneys?”

“Yeah.”

“There aren’t two plates of kidneys.”

“Huh? If it’s not kidneys, then what is it?”

“It’s sheep treasure.”

Ding Nan’s chopsticks almost fell.

He recalled the oysters and turtle shell soup from yesterday morning.

The air suddenly became very still.

“Hahaha, it’s fried so well. There’s no gaminess at all, and the texture is smooth and chewy.”

Ding Nan laughed awkwardly and reached out with his chopsticks to pick up a piece of meat from the soup pot.

As he ate it, he found that this meat was also very chewy, and the broth had the sweetness of clams along with another unique sweetness.

It was his first time eating this kind of meat.

Ding Nan chewed for a while and swallowed.

“What is this? It’s so chewy.”

“Ox whip,” Luo Yao replied with a faint smile.

Ding Nan’s expression froze.

The word “DANGER” seemed to flash across his mind, and he was instantly drenched in sweat.