Chapter 48 - Mookbang

 

…

 

Li Qu looked at the pathetic state of ‘Six’ and decided to put him out of his misery.

 

Shiiiing!

 

He summoned a few Karmic Threads and sliced the head of ‘Six’ cleanly off, the Karmic Corruption burst out from his detached head and neck, devouring his corpse and scattering into thin-air in just a few short seconds.

 

The room went silent after that– no more gigglings and demented ravings of a mad man could be heard anymore, Li Qu looked at a certain spot in the top left of the room and mumbled something incoherent.

 

Shortly after that, he waved his hands and summoned a portal back to the Celestial Teahouse.

 

Paul Chan was almost finished with his pot of Gold Spirit Tea as he choked on the last bit and stood up immediately when he saw Li Qu returning as gracefully as he went.

 

“Boss Li, w-welcome back…!”

 

He stuttered from fear, the sight of Edmundo Lain’s corpse disappearing had truly scared the living daylights out of him– never before had he seen powers so terrifying being casually used.

 

“En.”

 

Li Qu nodded towards Paul Chan.

 

He then walked towards his favorite spot to sit down and used his phone leisurely as if nothing out of the ordinary happened.

 

Xia Qiu looked at Li Qu in reverence with stars in her eyes; ignoring the fact that he had just murdered someone in cold blood, she quickly went beside him and began to pester him yet again.

 

“Oh my, Young Master Li! That was so frickin’ cool! Can I achieve that after I’m stronger too?!”

 

It seemed like even someone like her could dream.

 

Li Qu smiled at the similarity between Xia Dong and Xia Qiu, he thought for a bit and chose to answer her honestly.

 

“Truly like father, like daughter– asking the same questions. However, I will satiate your curiosity and answer you. Yes, in theory; you could.”

 

“Woohoo! How long do you reckon I’d take?!”

 

Xia Qiu did a fist pump motion and grinned.

 

Unfortunately, her happiness fell short and deflated like a balloon back onto her chair after hearing Li Qu’s brutal honesty.

 

He raised his hand slightly outwards and stretched out a single finger, the exact scenario back when Xia Dong asked him the same question.

 

“Hmmm, you have the talent of a top-tiered genius. I will give you a rough estimate of around a single million years– it is already ten times faster than your father.”

 

It was slightly more positive as Xia Dong would need around tens of millions of years– his life span would probably run out before he could even attain the Immortal Emperor Realm.

 

“A-A million years… Holy! I can’t even imagine a hundred years, let alone a million. My goodness! Are you sure you’re not messing with me?!”

 

A modern century kid like Xia Qiu; where everyone’s attention span was like that of a goldfish, even a month would feel too long.

 

“I do not lie. You can choose to believe me or not.”

 

Li Qu simply stated as his eyes looked down at his phone and opened DigDog, with the first video showing a typical *Mookbang ASMR livestream right off the bat.

 

He ignored the rambling Xia Qiu for the moment and watched the livestreamer tearing the meaty chunk of a lobster tail as she held onto it with black gloves with apparent interest.

 

Crunch crunch crunch!

 

The satisfying sound of crunching and munching was heard with astoundingly good quality from the special microphone near the livestreamer as she gorged on red-hot chili lobsters and seafood in big mouthfuls.

 

The microphone specialized in picking up sounds with perfect sensitivity– typically used for ASMR.

 

“Hello guys~ Remember to give me a double-tap and follow me if you like what you’re seeing!”

 

She whispered quietly into the microphone with a sweet airy voice after swallowing the delicious-looking lobster.

 

Li Qu fell into deep thought. In Xia Qiu’s perspective, he looked like he was contemplating the deep mysteries of the universe. However, what he was thinking of was–

 

‘How can a person eating food be so satisfying to watch…? She said to double-tap and follow if I like what I am seeing? Well…’

 

Tap, tap!

 

Tap!

 

Li Qu’s finger tapped on the screen twice; a red heart popped out and flew up the screen in a floating motion.

 

His third tap was on the livestreamer’s profile picture to follow her.

 

Xia Qiu looked at him and squinted her eyes and commented on his eccentric behavior.

 

“Young Master Li, you like Mookbang?! You should’ve told me sooner! I would’ve shown you how I gorged on the meals in that place!”

 

Li Qu’s ear picked up some key information from her words and something registered in his mind– the fact that he had neglected an important matter. And so, he asked inquisitively.

 

“You… How did you eat inside that mini pocket realm?”

 

In actual fact, Li Qu had almost caused the death of Xia Qiu for this minor case of carelessness.

 

As an Immortal that had no need for the daily necessities and food– Li Qu had frankly forgotten about the matter of relieving himself of nature's callings; how many millions of years has it been since he felt the urge to take a leak?

 

Xia Qiu squinted her eyes in doubt and gave him a puzzled look, she tilted her head slightly to express her confusion.

 

“Huh…? Weren’t you the one that left food on the table every time I fell asleep…? There was even a tiny washroom at the corner!”

 

“Ahem! Yes, indeed. I was just testing you, not to worry. Go, make me a pot of Gold Spirit Tea, I am thirsty.”

 

Li Qu cleared his throat and switched the topic to prevent any arising doubt from Xia Qiu.

 

“Got it…”

 

She sulkily replied with pouted cheeks and walked with dragging feet towards the brewing room as she felt that Li Qu was chasing her away.

 

The young man with immaculate looks heaved a sigh of relief and internally asked the System some questions remaining in his mind.

 

‘System, how did you remember about the issue with daily necessities?’

 

[Host, please don’t ask the obvious. I am the System.]

 

“...”

 

A small vein visibly thickened at his forehead and he resisted the urge to give the System a big smack– though that was not physically possible.

 

Li Qu took a deep breath to relax his mind and gave the System credit where it was due.

 

‘Haaa… I should praise you for your astuteness. However, do not be mistaken– I am not thanking you.”

 

[Host, I have realized something important about your personality and a single word from the Ri Country language can be used to best describe it.]

 

“...What?”

 

Li Qu was perplexed.

 

[Host, you are what Earthlings call– a ‘**Tsundere’.]

 

“...”

 

Li Qu decided to ignore it as he knew it was not something good and put his attention back to the pretty Mookbang livestreamer that was now slurping on noodles coated in wasabi– a dare by her viewers that she readily took on.

 

…

 

*Mookbang ASMR > Mukbang ASMR(in rl): Mukbang originated in Korea and loosely translates as "eating broadcast" – Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a category of video aimed at creating noises and sounds that elicit a physical response.

 

**Tsundere - a Japanese term that depicts a character with a personality who is initially cold, stern, stoic, harsh, temperamental, hotheaded before gradually showing a warmer, friendlier side over time.