53-58

Chapter 53: Guests

"You're ready?" Fatty Lou asked.

"I'm about as ready as a mouse gets when it's about to secure some cheese for its family," Lei said, glancing at the line waiting before the entrance door.

He could feel the nervous expectation of the pair standing beside him. Xie Yanyu still tried to maintain a professional smile on her face, but Brother He was literally shaking. So much for his story about serving a cultivator some months ago.

It's the best we can get.

"What the hell does that mean?" Fatty Lou arched an eyebrow at him.

"You know, it's got a family to feed and all that." Lei smiled slightly. "Gotta get that cheese, no other way around it."

"You mean it's desperate." Fatty Lou looked thoughtful for a second before he nodded. "Guess that makes sense. But I've told you it's going to be risky."

"Can't stay behind that stall and hope something happens, right?" Lei shook his head. "You always say we have to grasp fate by its balls. That's me now, reaching for that future. Just pray we at least survive enough to see the light at the end of the tunnel."

"Huh," Fatty Lou said. "Our Heavenly Cook's nervous. Who would've thought? I hope you've cooked your best today. These people are no joke."

"I've cooked my best alright. In fact, I might've cooked a little too much," Lei said, shifting his feet.

"What?" Fatty Lou turned to him and stared him down. "Don't tell me—"

"No," Lei said. "It's not like that. The food's not going to get them high like us. But the Spirited Fried Rice might kick them at least a little. Don't know why, but there's something about that dish that I couldn't quite understand. It's different…"

"Different how?" Fatty Lou asked. "Bloody delicious, I hope, is what you're talking about."

"It's your fault that you've come right before the opening." Lei rolled his eyes at him. "You should've tasted the food. It's not like I can describe the taste of it to you. But don't worry. It's not too strong."

"Too strong? Brother Lei, you—"

Footsteps sounded beyond the door.

Fatty Lou shut his mouth and reached for the knob, turning it slowly as the door opened with a creak. The night breeze cooled the inside through the opening, soft and dreamy on Lei's skin. Jiangzhen was having a cloudless night, and that was usually a good omen.

"Straighten up!" Lei said, staring back at the server pair. His eyes lingered on their shaking new recruit. "Brother He, focus on the job. Don't talk, just serve the plates and let the food do its thing. Speaking from experience, guests like these don't like the servers pampering them too much. Stay a good three or four steps back."

Brother He nodded sheepishly, clasping his hands behind his back. They were all dressed up today. The robes were of a bright color, red cloth lined with golden threads. Beyond the server pair, the main hall of the restaurant looked spotless.

They'd removed most of the tables for the night's occasion and instead placed the cushions around the floor tables in a circular pattern. Soothing smoke wafted from the incense holders, gliding lazily right below the wooden ceiling of the first floor. The light from the red lanterns mixed beautifully with the dreamy fog of the incense.

All things considered, they managed to give this family restaurant an ethereal feeling. Though Lei hoped nobody would try to ascend into the heavens while eating his dishes. That would be a pain to deal with.

"They're here," came Fatty Lou's voice.

Lei turned back and raised his chin.

The first of the group strolled in. It was a middle-aged man who had a thin mustache glued over his pale lips, sparing a glance at the line with half-opened eyes. His silken robe was a boring, simple brown, adorned with a single locket that shone dimly under the lantern lights. He looked rather doubtful when he gave a look at the line.

"Welcome to Red Dragon, esteemed guests!" Fatty Lou bowed, and with him, the rest of the line joined the effort as they greeted the group strolling in through the doors.

Uh, that name…

Lei tried not to show his thoughts on his face as he sighed. Brother Lou insisted they needed something big, something that'd evoke a sense of awe. Just that, Lei thought Red Dragon might've been a little too much.

But from the looks of the cultivators' faces, it seemed they didn't mind it. That was good.

They perhaps had to bow more than a dozen times by the time the last guest stepped into the hall. Xie Yanyu immediately went into action, showing the guests to their places as Brother He tagged along.

Meanwhile, Fatty Lou brushed past Lei and took a teacup from one of the tables, raising it toward the crowd. He waited for the guests to be seated before he started.

"Such an honor that we have the pleasure of serving the best of our dear Jiangzhen! It was through your heroic efforts, your constant care that the folk of this city still breathe. We've been blessed, I daresay, with your presence today. Now, if I may?"

He took the first sip, as he played the host today, and the guests joined him not long after. The red tea was mild in aroma, prepared to serve as a palate cleanser right before the real feast started. It also had a soothing effect, which these cultivators definitely could use from the strict and tense air they carried about them.

But it was not this air that piqued Lei's interest. No, there was something here, a tingling round his scalp that made him feel odd. It was his Spiritual Sensitivity skill. It was the first time it had gotten triggered to this rate.

A spiritual anomaly…

He studied all the faces, two dozen of them, all sitting cross-legged quietly round the floor tables. To be honest, Lei was rather disappointed, as they all seemed your average folk at first glance. But the more he looked at them, the more he came to see the silent confrontation in their ranks.

I wonder if that's why the skill triggered? They certainly don't look like they're all good friends.

On the contrary, they were clearly disturbed by each other's presence. Lei guessed his spiritual cookies played a big part in that. It could be that these men got hooked solely by the spirituality in those cookies and had decided to attend the opening event, not knowing the others would come as well.

That could be a problem. He didn't want to watch some cultivators fight it out on the first day of his real business. And to make sure of that, there was only one thing he could do.

"Best we start now," Lei said as he passed by Fatty Lou, giving him a hard look. "They don't look too happy."

"But they're here, eh?" Fatty Lou said with a beaming smile. "And that's a job well done, I say. But you're right. We want to keep them fed and happy. Roll the first dishes out. I'm quite curious about what you've prepared."

"You know you don't get to eat, right?" Lei chuckled and clapped Fatty Lou on the back before making his way to the kitchen. As always, his brother-in-arms knew how to ease the tension with a few words. He was glad to have someone he could depend on.

Alright, we'll start straight with the wings.

...

Sun Hu breathed deep. There was something strange about this place. He felt like he was home, by the side of his mother, waiting for the maids to serve dinner. He couldn't remember the last time he got a feeling like this.

Being out in the wild, as his father put it, wasn't easy. For years he'd been treading the numerous cities of the Empire in hopes of learning the job from the Great Master Ren. It hadn't taken him too long to understand what kind of man he was. Therefore, it was mostly through his personal efforts that he had to learn the way of it.

And today, he was doing just that—dirtying his hands and hoping to get a clear understanding of the strange air that had taken hold of Jiangzhen.

The faces around him looked cold. Unfriendly. Strict. A single glance at them showed him a clear picture of the disturbance in their ranks. According to what little information he'd managed to get from Ding Yan, there were three factions working under the Governor.

One of them was decisively loyal to him. The head of the City Guard, the man sitting at the edge of the table, was supposedly their leader. He seemed oddly young, perhaps no older than thirty years. But there was a sense of pride in the way he carried himself. Clearly, this Jin Longewi fellow was a man of ambition.

His kind could be dangerous.

But Sun Hu paid him little heed, instead focusing on two middle-aged men conversing right beside him. Mao Hu, with that thin mustache over his lips, didn't seem like much, but he had a thing for control. He was in charge of Wordcrows and the post office. They said nothing in this city could escape his keen eyes.

It was not three days ago that Sun Hu had tried to speak with him and was rejected by his close guards. Those guards were all Body Tempering Stage cultivators.

The fellow who sat before him was equally secretive. Dai Aiguo was the Head Scribe, but he was known as the Hand of the Governor. The Governor used him as a third limb, to the point that the others were careful with the words they used around him. They feared him like a pig feared a tiger.

This man was the real leader of the loyal group.

The second group were the opportunists. It was easy to tell them apart from the others, as they liked to make a show of their wealth. They were clad in brightly colored, deftly embroidered robes. Their belts were large, starkly conspicuous against the more simple and elegant wear of the loyalist group.

Ding Yan yearned to join their ranks. He bought a mansion, filled his closets with silken robes and golden belts. But you could only get so far with appearance alone. Sun Hu knew from the moment he'd first laid eyes on Ding Yan that he wasn't a man of means. He was a hack, a desperate fool trying to find a big enough umbrella to fit his pig head.

So then, it was no wonder why Ding Yan had to settle for being seen as a member of the third group. Sun Hu called them the outcasts. They took most of the seats tonight, easily a dozen strong. Now and then, they tried to start a conversation, made stupid jokes, and laughed like little girls trying to get the attention of Young Masters.

It didn't work, which made them look desperate.

So what's my plan now?

Sun Hu shook his head. Ding Yan's reputation would be a pain in the ass if he wanted to get close to this loyalist group. But he had no other choice. Whatever the hell had happened here had to do with these people. Or at least, they were his only way to get close to the Governor.

I wonder who's pulling your strings? Or are you just an ambitious fool, trying to bite off more than you can chew? Is that it?

Sun Hu leaned back, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"For the first meal," came the fatty's voice, pulling Sun Hu from his deep thoughts. He was the one who delivered the cookies and the invite to his door. "We've prepared a set of chicken wings, marinated for hours in our secret mix, and massaged with spiritual ingredients."

The pair of servers placed ceramic plates on the tables. Their gestures were curt and simple. They never got too close to the guests, keeping a good distance so as not to disturb the flow of the table. Though Sun Hu caught a little tremor in the man's eyes when he passed by him.

It must be terrifying for them.

They've probably never seen more than a handful of cultivators in their lifetimes.

Sun Hu reached for one of the chicken wings on his plate. He had to admit to being a little shocked after tasting that spiritual cookie. It wasn't as spiritual as the food back in the capital, but that was only normal, considering they'd cooked with Qi Condensation Stage or even Foundation Establishment Stage beasts.

But as far as he could tell, those cookies were made from simple ingredients. It shouldn't have been possible for them to be that spiritual, so Sun Hu was more excited than he showed to try other dishes from the restaurant.

They probably used some sort of herb mix. But other than the forest berries, I couldn't taste anything different in those cookies. Strange…

Taking a look at the wing, he brought it gingerly to his mouth and gulped down before he took the first bite.

It exploded in his mouth.

People gasped near him.

A man choked.

Chapter 54

"Fire, four more wings to the table!"

"Yes, Chef!"

"I need one more pot for the noodles. Little Jiao, get me a pot right away!"

"Yes, Chef!"

"Where are we at with those chicken fillets? Take them out of the marinade, and kindle the extra stove. Little Chuanli, I need my wok cleaned!"

"Yes, Chef!"

"Good, team, keep up the rhythm!"

Lei moved around the stations like a fish in the sea, checking the plates and keeping track of the dishes. Most of them he'd prepared himself, letting the kids only deal with the basic steps. Now and then, he made a final touch—a sprinkle of salt here, a pinch of pepper there.

It was chaos in the kitchen, but Lei could see the smiles on the little cooks' faces.

Moving on, he glazed the wings cooking over the grill, nodding as he heard the satisfying sizzle over the burning wood. On the side, the plating was coming along.

"Little Yunru, don't forget to wipe the plates. It's good practice," he said when he saw marks on the freshly brought plate.

Little Yunru wiped the dots right away, his face a map of focus.

Lei clapped him on the shoulder and placed the grilled wings gently on the plate. Sweat poured down the side of his face. It always got hot around the kitchen, but damn, he missed it. It was the good kind of hot, the kind that pushed you toward perfection.

"Hands. I need hands!" he yelled after placing the last wing on the plate.

Xie Yanyu bolted through the door, gave him a nod, and took the plate, vanishing into the main hall a second later. They were still on the first course, which meant the feast had just started, and yet people kept asking for wings as if there was nothing else to eat.

"Brother He!" Lei called to the man as he barged in, carrying empty plates. He grabbed him by the arm and yanked him closer to the counter. "We don't have any wings left. Tell the guests we're moving on to the second course!"

The man flinched back, but Lei didn't let him go until he got a nod. With that, he grabbed a ladle and smiled at Little Chuanli as the boy put the freshly cleaned wok over the stove.

"Get me those mushrooms," Lei said, pointing at the container to the right.

Little Chuanli dashed across the kitchen as Lei slapped a good amount of oil into the wok. The first sizzle let him know it was decently heated. He wiped his face with the back of his hand, swirling the oil inside the wok to let it spread evenly. Not long after, Little Chuanli poured the chopped mushrooms into the wok.

"Give it a little shake," Lei said, one hand clasped tightly around the wok's handle. He let the mushrooms fly and dance for a bit before adding the kimchi. He stir-fried the mix for about two minutes, adding the kimchi juice, stock, and a touch of sugar. It took him longer than he would've liked to find the sesame oil in the mess, but he found it eventually.

He left the wok to boil as he stepped back, surveying the chaotic order in the kitchen.

"Chefs, are we going to do this or what?" he yelled.

"Yes, Chef!" came the loud response.

"Good!" Lei snapped his fingers.

You only get to call yourself a chef when you've heard the word from another chef's mouth. It was the kind of recognition that made age meaningless. It was the work around the kitchen—the honest sweat trickling down your neck, the pinpoint focus, the care with which you tended your ingredients—that earned you the apron.

And these kids were earning it.

There was something about watching his little team weave through the throng. He'd never tasted this feeling before, and now, he wasn't sure if he could live without it. Being a head chef was like riding high on cloud nine for hours.

The kitchen door creaked open, and Fatty Lou strolled inside with a wide grin on his face. That grin quickly turned into a confused scowl as he saw the state of the kitchen. It was a little... messy, Lei had to admit.

"The bastards devoured the wings!" Fatty Lou banged a fist into his open palm. "I saw two of them crunching down on those bones. Crazy, but I say it's a good kind of crazy, eh, Chef?"

"Yes, Chef," Lei said, taking a moment to breathe. "We've got a highly motivated team here. I'm damn proud of them. Look at them go."

"Mmm," Fatty Lou said, clearly impressed by the discipline of the little brats. "Guess they've learned from the best, huh?"

That made Lei chuckle as the tension slipped from his shoulders. Cooking for two dozen people wasn't easy, but thankfully, Lei had come up with a simple menu that let him divide the labor.

Wings to start. Then kimchi ramen, boiled to perfection with organic cabbage—hot and spicy. He wouldn't let the guests relax, though, as the main course, spirited fried rice with a side of marinated chicken fillets, would follow shortly after.

That would knock their socks off. No one would forget tonight's experience.

"How's the mood in the main hall?" he asked, finding a rare moment of peace in the kitchen. He couldn't help but feel curious, as they were hosting Jiangzhen's heavyweights at the dinner.

"Hard to say," Fatty Lou said, his tone strange. "There's some tension, but the wings helped. That one guy—the Commissioner of Taxes, Ding Yan—keeps blabbing on and on. Quite the sight, really. I always thought he was a bit of a loser."

"That's what we want, though, no?" Lei asked. "We want to keep the mood up and jolly. We need them talking. We need them to relax here. These are mighty men who do heavy work, don't they? If they can find comfort in our restaurant, it will prove to other cultivators that this is their go-to place after, I don't know, a day of gruesome cultivation?"

"You're not wrong," Fatty Lou said. "People will hear about us after tonight's dinner, for sure. But... you've seen it for yourself. These people aren't what we expected. Most of them don't give a damn about each other. Actually, I'd say they hate each other's guts."

"That's a plus for us." Lei leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms. "It means division in their ranks—something we can use to learn more about the Governor."

"I don't know, Brother Lei. If this restaurant holds up, which it seems like it will, we won't need to worry about those bastards anymore. We can just live our lives. There are sects and an academy near Lanzhou. The kids will do fine there."

Lei shook his head. "I know, but it feels wrong to leave things as they are. If there's something we can do, why not do it, right? I'm not saying we should stalk these bastards and poke our noses into their plots, but we've already killed one of their elders. Might as well deal with the rest—or find someone who will."

"You're still furious," Fatty Lou said.

Lei's face hardened. "We have unfinished business with them. Eventually, I'll make them pay for what they did to my boys."

"Let's focus on tonight, shall we?" Fatty Lou said, forcing a smile.

The door creaked open again, and a tired Xie Yanyu rushed in, her face full of panic. When her eyes landed on Lei and Fatty Lou, she let out a long sigh and hurried over.

"We need those noodles, Chef. We need them fast," she said, exhausted. "I can't keep up with these people. Seems the rumors were true—these folks are no different from beasts!"

Lei gave Fatty Lou a glance before turning to his team.

"Alright, chefs, we have to finish up the kimchi ramen now," Lei said, raising a hand. "The ramen soups look ready. Little Ning, start adding the noodle strips. And I need more wood on the grill. Little Yunru, can you?"

"Yes, Chef!"

"Good. Little Jiao, get me the rice. It should be cooled by now. Where are my eggs? Eggs?"

"Here, Chef!" Little Chuanli called, busy stirring a bowl of eggs. "I'm prepping the eggs now."

"Alright, Chef. I'll need them in a moment," Lei said, checking the kimchi ramen soup once again. He glanced over his shoulder at Fatty Lou and smiled. "You'd best get back, or they'll miss you. Work your magic, Brother Lou. We need that tonight."

"Fine," Fatty Lou said, rolling his eyes. "But we'll talk about your little revenge plot later. I didn't like the look in your eyes."

"Just like Sister Luli said, eh? The spiritual energy, this cultivation business, it slowly gets to you," Lei sniggered. "But it gives you energy too, and I'm all for it!"

Fatty Lou shook his head and left to attend to their esteemed guests.

"We have to change the pots," Lei said as Little Jiao started adding the noodle strips to the kimchi ramen soups. "I need them cleaned and ready. We don't have much time!"

"Yes, Chef!"

Lei grinned foolishly as he heard the chorus of voices. He felt like a kid, and the kitchen was his playground. Oh, this here was where he belonged.

...

"And as you know, Elder Brother Hu, the city is not in a good place right now. The tax situation is a mess. We can't let the rich carry all the weight. I know the City Guard tries its best to keep things under control, but the last report suggests that over fifty percent of the establishments in Jiangzhen are off the records. They don't pay a single copper!"

Sun Hu banged his fist on the table, letting out a long, exaggerated sigh as people nodded to his words. He had managed to poke them where it hurt most, and that earned him at least some valuable minutes to work with.

He liked his odds better now.

"We're trying to recruit more men, but not everyone is fit for the City Guard," said the Head of the City Guard, Jin Longwei. His smile strained at the edge of his lips as others glanced disapprovingly at him.

Sun Hu took the hint. "You're not at fault for this matter, Brother Longwei. I know that assault hit you the hardest. But I say the real crux of the problem is different. We're putting too much trust in people, hoping they'll pay their taxes. But most of them hardly know what it takes to run a city, and yet they expect service from the Governor's Office. How are we supposed to rebuild the city if people refuse to pay their taxes? Good thing the Empire doesn't take a cut from mortal cities."

More nods and sighs of approval followed.

"Heavens, what did they put in these wings? I can't seem to get enough of them!" came another voice, surprisingly from the Head Scribe, Dai Aiguo. His fingers were covered in sauce, and licking them only made it worse.

The more Sun Hu watched him, the more he came to doubt the rumors circling about him. This man was the Head Scribe, the one who served as the Hand of the Governor? The so-called leader of the loyalist group? He seemed more like a fool trying to decide what to make of his hands.

Perhaps this is your game, eh, Head Scribe? Trying to act the fool to keep the tiger hidden inside? It can work on others, but I don't buy it.

Sun Hu shook his head, plastering a pained expression on his face as he continued, "Sooner or later, I'll have to knock on Governor Qiang's door. I'm sure he'll know what to do."

"Don't," Mao Hu said suddenly, then cleared his throat when all the eyes turned toward him. He tried to cover his little slip with a smile. "I mean, let Little Yuan do it. He's the one who handles all the money, after all. He can work things out."

Sun Hu's eyes strayed toward another young man, the one sitting beside Jin Longwei. The bastard reeked of trouble even though he'd hardly uttered a word tonight. He was also the real man in charge of the finances. Ding Yan was, all things considered, no different than an overly qualified taxman. He handled the taxes, but it was Wan Yuan who decided on the Governor's behalf what to do with the money collected from the taxpayers.

"We're moving on!" came a highly motivated voice as the plump man clapped his hands. He had an honest smile on his face, cheeks slightly flushed. But his eyes were a tad different from most people around Jiangzhen. They had an odd glint about them.

You know how to make a scene, don't you?

"The second course is one of our Chef's specials," the man said as two servers started serving what looked like bowls filled with soup and noodles. "He calls it the Kimchi Ramen. I shall warn you that I've been told it's rather spicy."

"Oh!" Dai Aiguo smacked his lips loudly as he finished the last wing and grabbed the hot bowl with two sauce-smeared hands. He sucked in a deep breath from the smoke swirling over it and let out a satisfied grunt. "Smells heavenly!"

Curious, Sun Hu spared a glance at his own bowl as well. Though he was more than glad to savor the lingering taste of chicken wings a bit longer, he had to admit he wanted to experience more from this new chef.

So simple, yet the flavors had a complexity about them. And that hint of spiritual energy was nearly divine.

Perhaps it was the highlight of his evening. He'd planned to spend his time here mostly trying to poke his way into the Governor's close circle. He hadn't expected to find some relief in the food. After all, most Spiritual Restaurants around the Empire were, well, spiritual in name only. Other than using special ingredients, there was scarcely anything worth admiring about them.

Therefore, he was more than glad to have found a place just like the capital's famous restaurant Jade Cauldron here. Granted, there was a wide difference in both the quality and the spirituality of the dishes, but still, he admired this chef for his novel approach to the culinary world.

He started with a spoonful from the soup. The spicy liquid burst into his mouth, gripping his taste buds right away. Then came a little piece of chicken. Such a cheeky little thing, yet it wobbled and danced around his tongue, dissolving into a wave of aroma that slid down his throat.

The second spoonful was windy. It felt like sucking in a deep breath from the fresh air of Skyriver itself. They said only immortals could taste that heavenly air. Who knew there was a little piece of it hidden in Jiangzhen as well?

Sun Hu wanted to talk. He wished to probe the others and find his way into their group. He had a few ideas about how he could approach them. He'd been planning for it for quite a while.

He wanted all that, but this Kimchi Ramen grabbed him by the neck and refused to let go. He took another mouthful. The cabbage crunched and set the tip of his tongue on fire, the warmth slowly consuming his thoughts.

Through all of it, he only managed to spare a single glance at the others.

Nobody was in the mood for talk right now. Everybody was busy devouring the food. He couldn't blame them. Hell, he couldn't even blame himself. It was just that good.

Chapter 55: Difference

The warm soup sloshed through his throat, easing into his stomach. There, the windy spiritual energy poked him playfully. It teased a minor circle, and just like with the wings, it vanished before the circle could start.

This drove Sun Hu to take another spoonful, only to realize he had devoured the bowl in seconds. Disappointed, he leaned back and glanced at the others. It was an odd sight to see the heavyweights of Jiangzhen clicking their tongues in awe. Nobody seemed to have the time or energy to waste on the silent confrontations between their ranks as they slurped the noodles.

What are they cooking up in the kitchen? What's this... madness?

Sun Hu found himself clicking his tongue at the thought, which probably made him look like the others. Well, that wasn't a bad thing, considering he was trying to join their inner circle.

"This could be the best thing I've eaten in years," he said, placing the spoon gently on the table. "I say it'll be hard to find a place in this restaurant once it opens. They serve some great stuff here."

"My thoughts exactly," said Dai Aiguo. He waved at the plump man, looking up at him with a beaming smile. "Are you taking reservations? I'd like a table for the next few weeks."

"Well, of course, my dear sir!" The plump man bowed, smiling eagerly. "We have special rooms on the second floor for esteemed customers like yourself. It will provide a unique experience, and you won't have to deal with other customers. I can book one of those rooms if you like."

"Do it," Dai Aiguo said, reaching inside his robe. The Head Scribe took out a golden imperial coin, making all the heads at the table turn toward him. "Take this as a token of my word."

"You're too kind!" the plump man said, nodding. Sun Hu couldn't even see how he took the coin before he slipped back into the kitchen.

Once the man was gone, Mao Hu leaned closer to Dai Aiguo with a little smile. "Brother Aiguo, what's the rush? We have one more course before us, no?"

"Heh!" Dai Aiguo barked out a laugh. "I don't think they have enough rooms to fit all of us. The early bird gets the prize, Brother Hu—don't forget that."

"As always, you're wise, Senior Aiguo," said a lanky man from Sun Hu's side, one from the outcast group.

Dai Aiguo snorted in response, clearly unimpressed by the man's brazen flattery. Simple flattery wouldn't be enough for him—Sun Hu decided that much.

"Early bird, you've said?" Mao Hu shook his head, flashing two golden coins from his pocket. "Might as well get on with it. Waiter, take these two golden coins to your manager and tell him I want one of those rooms reserved in my name!"

A young server, with a practiced smile, lunged forward and took the coins with deft hands. Mao Hu watched her with a satisfied gaze before turning back to the table.

Sun Hu could feel the impatience radiating from the others in the opportunists' group. Though they didn't lack money, it wouldn't be proper for them to secure one of the rooms before the Governor's people. They had to wait.

"Watch your step, Brother Hu. A single golden coin would've been enough," Dai Aiguo said, staring him down. "You're not giving me face, trying to flaunt your wealth in front of me."

"Why, it's not a matter of face, Brother Aiguo. I just had some spare change in my pockets, that's all." Mao Hu smirked as Dai Aiguo's face flushed with anger.

"Bah, spare change, he says!" Dai Aiguo growled, one hand clenched tightly around his robe.

"What's wrong, Brother Aiguo?" Mao Hu chuckled innocently. "You're not the type to lack money."

"You know what's wrong, you bastard!" Dai Aiguo banged a fist on the table, springing to his feet. He jabbed a thick finger at Mao Hu. "Don't try me, Brother Hu. Not here, not now."

"My elder brothers," Jin Longwei rose slowly from the table, regarding the two men with a stern gaze. "Can't we just focus on this delicious feast instead of bickering like madmen? We're in the first spiritual restaurant in Jiangzhen! We should be proud to host such a talented chef in our city."

The two middle-aged men glanced at Jin Longwei, while the rest of the table remained silent. After a long pause, they eased back into their seats.

What the hell? Sun Hu had to close his jaw with a hand to maintain his composure. What was that?

It was just a simple sentence, but it seemed as though they were about to fight. Was it about money?

Sun Hu let out a slow, controlled breath. The tension hanging over the table was thick, like the humidity before a storm. He studied the two men, who now sat across from each other with false calm, their clenched fists hidden beneath the table. It was no longer about the food or the rooms. Something deeper was at play.

Jin Longwei's black eyes remained steady, unblinking, commanding authority. You know what's wrong, but you don't want to spill it in front of the others.

Sun Hu's scalp tingled, a familiar sensation when a clue presented itself. He rose, teacup in hand, waving the other arm in a grand gesture around the table. "Allow me to raise this cup for this grand occasion. I feel blessed to dine with such esteemed company. May the Emperor live ten thousand years, and may he bless Jiangzhen with his ever-grand wisdom and wealth!"

All at once, the cups were raised. The tension eased as people began to sip their teas. Jin Longwei shot Sun Hu a thankful look, though there was a hint of surprise, as if he hadn't expected Sun Hu to clear the air.

A clap sounded close by, and two servers moved around the table, placing new plates in front of the guests. Sun Hu was a bit disappointed when he saw fried rice on the plate. After that kimchi ramen, he'd expected another new dish, one he hadn't tried before. But fried rice with chicken? It was a pity.

The others seemed to share his thoughts. Even Dai Aiguo, who had devoured the earlier plates like a pig, seemed taken aback. He stared at the waiter as if to say, This is it? and received only a nod in response.

Sighs sounded from left and right.

"Fried rice is a staple of our culture," the plump man's voice rang out, now deeper and more confident. "It's a simple dish we've come to love. Our mothers cooked it. Our restaurants serve it. To this day, it remains one of the pillars of our culinary world."

That earned him nods from the table. Fried rice was indeed a common dish. Sun Hu himself had eaten more than his fill of it as a child, and even his father, the Grand Judge of the Emperor's Court, liked the taste. He always said it reminded him of simpler times.

"Therefore, it is our duty, our mission, to stay true to our roots while exploring the new tastes of foreign cultures. The fried rice with eggs, served with chicken, represents our chef's patriotic respect for our Empire. It is essentially a love letter to our tradition, written and shaped through the eyes of a chef."

The plump man clasped his hands and bowed deeply as the last plate was placed on the table. Rising, he regarded each guest with a solemn gaze before withdrawing from the hall.

Sun Hu found himself gulping at the sight of his plate. Fried rice… It was just a simple dish. What could be special about it? While it had great importance for the general public, as cultivators and officers of the Governor's Office, they were long past caring for these simple things.

Even Sun Hu thought that way, so it was no surprise that the others looked massively disappointed. Dai Aiguo, who had spent a golden coin on a room, seemed to regret it already. Mao Hu clenched his jaw, clearly holding back curses.

"Let's try it, shall we?" Sun Hu said, reaching with his chopsticks for the rice.

He choked on his first bite. The grains of rice exploded in his mouth, dissolving into a roaring river of flavors that crashed its way down through his chest. It jabbed at him with furious blows, nearly making him double over the table.

Another bite followed even as Sun Hu gasped for breath. He had to consciously control his cultivation base, lest he reveal his true strength. With a mental command, he sealed his Foundation, letting the winds of spiritual energy pass by it as if it wasn't there. Slowly, painfully, he guided the stray threads of spiritual energy toward his meridians.

If he were to use his Foundation, this amount of Qi couldn't even tickle his innards, but it was almost too much for a Body Tempering Stage cultivator. Mao Hu coughed violently at his side, spattering rice and egg all over his plate. Before him, Dai Aiguo was trying to wheeze out a breath. He sounded just like a pig about to take its last breath.

Everyone else was either groaning or wobbling wildly around the table. It looked as if the chef was trying to kill them, right here and now.

"Heavens!" Sun Hu exclaimed, stumbling back onto his seat, holding his hand over his mouth in an effort to imitate the common reactions of the others. He had to play the part. "What is this?!"

People coughed and sputtered before finally a deep silence settled over the main hall. Fingers trembled, gasps echoed, and faces flushed with a mix of excitement and horror as they all stared at the fried rice.

The balance was so fine that Sun Hu had to stop himself from reaching for a third bite. He wanted to devour the rest and seal his mouth so that the food would remain in his stomach. He could grind it slowly with his Foundation, bit by bit, to savor the taste.

"Manager Lou!" Mao Hu roared, his teeth clenched. "Manager Lou!"

The plump man came bounding from the kitchen, his face carrying a perfect smile as if he wasn't surprised by the outcome. Still, he bowed deeply to Mao Hu.

"How may this lowly Lou be of service to you, Senior?" he asked, his voice steady. "I'm afraid we don't have enough rice for a second portion. Tonight's dinner shall end—"

"Forget about the portion!" Mao Hu snapped, pointing a finger at his face. "Call that chef here, right away! I want to see him with my own eyes!"

"Sir, I'm afraid he isn't available," the plump man said sadly. "You see, our chef is a highly eccentric cultivator. That's why he had to leave his old restaurant when people tried to become acquainted with him. He values his privacy, and we must honor his wishes."

"Oh?" Mao Hu was taken aback.

Dai Aiguo, however, nodded knowingly before glaring at Mao Hu. "It's no surprise such a chef doesn't like attention. People with no manners must have tried to force him back in the day!"

"Talent must be respected," Jin Longwei said, matter-of-factly. "Our Jiangzhen is fortunate to host such a chef. We must ensure that this Heavenly Chef's privacy is respected. Don't worry, I'll send one of my men to stand guard at your door so that no one bothers you."

Sun Hu nearly rolled his eyes. He doubted Jin Longwei would spare one of his men just for that. He was likely plotting to find out who this chef really was through his guard. It was a clever plan, but the plump man seemed to be expecting it.

"You're too kind, Senior!" the plump man said, bowing deferentially. "But we are perfectly capable of managing on our own. It is for this reason alone that our chef decided to settle in a mortal city, refusing offers from dozens of Immortal Cities. He simply wants to be left alone to focus on his craft. Nothing more, nothing less. I hope you understand his concerns."

Sun Hu was taken aback. By mentioning the dozens of offers from Immortal Cities, this plump fellow was making it clear that his master wasn't just an ordinary man. He could be a highly accomplished cultivator or a one-of-a-kind genius, and no one at this table could afford to offend such a figure.

"Understood," Mao Hu said with a deep frown. He then forced a smile. "Then do send my regards to your chef. I'm in awe of his heavenly dishes."

"Will do, my good Sir, will do," the plump man said, retreating back to the kitchen, leaving the people around the table with a heap of questions.

"A secret master…" Jin Longwei muttered under his breath, scowling as if disturbed. "There's nothing but secret masters as of late."

"What was that, Brother Longwei?" Sun Hu probed. "Did you say something?"

"Oh, it was nothing." Jin Longwei jerked back in panic, then gathered himself as he took a sip of tea. "I was saying that we're fortunate. It's not every day you get to try dishes like these."

Well, you're not wrong. I've eaten better dishes, but these are undoubtedly among the best our Empire has to offer.

The difference between Jade Cauldron and this restaurant was stark. The Jade Cauldron's head chef was a real Spiritual Chef, and many thought he was a Master in the Nascent Soul Stage. It was said his accomplishments in the Dao of Cooking were so deep that with a single breath, he could kindle all the stoves in the Empire and breathe thousands of different flavors into a dish. So, it wouldn't be fair to compare his dishes to the ones Sun Hu had just tried.

Still, this new chef was promising. Once Sun Hu was done with the Governor, he might send word to his father about this chef. His father always liked to support promising talents.

Shaking his head, Sun Hu was about to take another bite of the rice when the door to the main hall creaked open. The night breeze filled the room, fluttering the edges of his robe.

There, in the dark of the night, stood an old man clad in dark robes.

Chapter 56: Success

The plates were left dirty on the counter, half a dozen pots scattered around the stoves. All sorts of scents mixed with the wood burning under the grill. Oil was everywhere. If Master Lorenzo were here, he'd be screaming at Lei, eyes bulging, that finger of his jabbing over and over into Lei's chest. He'd say how useless a head chef Lei was, that he couldn't even keep his kitchen clean.

He'd be right, of course, if it weren't for the three golden coins Fatty Lou displayed in the palm of his left hand.

Oh, how beautiful they were! Hand-made, not mass-produced. You could see the fine details of the golden silk draped over the Emperor's wide shoulders. His face was not visible, the upper part of the coins only showing a strong chin, but it was the dragon, painted in vivid gold on the side of his chest, that gave these coins an ethereal sense of wealth.

They were cold to the touch. Lei could feel his Spiritual Sensitivity skill tingling in the back of his head as he stared at the coins. Nothing was simple about them.

"Courtesy of our rich patrons," Fatty Lou was saying, but nobody paid him any heed. All the faces were too focused on the coins, so Lei had to push Brother He toward the main hall. They couldn't leave their esteemed guests unattended.

"This is money?" Little Chuanli asked innocently, his big eyes glinting. "It doesn't look like the copper coins. I've seen a hundred-copper cash coin once, but even that—"

"You're looking at three thousand coppers, Little Chuanli," Fatty Lou said with a smug face. "The rich folk don't bother with coppers. That's why they say gold is the king. You could use this wherever you go; even in the other continents, people would gladly take it."

Lei leaned back against the counter, drops of sweat trickling down his chin. He didn't know how he should feel. He'd been confident in his dishes. Surely, he had what it took to please a bunch of ancient folk. But there had also been another voice that kept telling him how much of a fraud he was.

That voice was silent now. Gone, as if it had never been there in the first place. Yet, Lei knew most of his life he'd fought and struggled against that shadow. It had been there when Master Lorenzo told him how useless he was in front of the kitchen staff. It had been there when he'd spent day after day in that room, with no one but his cooking books for company. Even when he decided to speak with Granny Xu, that voice had whispered at the back of his head.

Could he do it? Were he and the bunch of kids he'd picked from the streets really fit for the job? What if they couldn't do it? What would he say to Master Li and Granny Xu in that case?

Forgive me? I tried?

It had been years since Lei learned how meaningless it was to come up with excuses. Yes, you learn from failures, but there were times when you just couldn't fail. One way or another, you had to succeed.

"We did it," Lei muttered, pressure building up behind his eyes. "They liked it."

Faces turned toward him. The little ones looked confused. They didn't know. How could they? At the side, their new server, Xie Yanyu, silently withdrew to the main hall, leaving them alone.

There was one face, however, that looked at him with a hint of a smile — a proud smile.

Fatty Lou reached out and gripped his shoulder tightly. "You fucking did it," he said, staring into Lei's eyes. His voice trembled. He sniffed. "I never doubted."

Lei raised his chin and drew in a deep breath. It only helped a little to alleviate the pressure. He wiped his eyes and held Fatty Lou at arm's length. His brother-in-arms' eyes were red.

"We did it," Lei said, thumping a fist into Fatty Lou's chest. "You and me, Brother Lou." He waved an arm at the kids. "And these little brats. Couldn't have done anything without you guys."

"It's a group hug!" Little Chuanli almost roared as he jumped toward the two of them.

"I'm in!" Little Jiao came after him, tiptoeing around the other kids and grinning widely.

Little Yunru and Little Ning couldn't hold themselves back either, joining the hug shortly after. It was warm here, in the kitchen. Warm like no other.

"Team!" Lei managed to say. "Did we do it or not?"

"We did it, Chef!"

"Did we do it or not?"

"We did it, Chef!"

"Good!" Lei gave them a strong nod, then tried to press his lips into a straight line. "Now let's clean this mess, shall we? Start with the plates. I need those pots scrubbed. Gather the leftover ingredients to the side. We'll cook something with them later. Remember, you can't let anything go to waste in the kitchen."

"There he is again," Little Chuanli muttered.

Little Ning sighed. "Be quick, you know how he is."

"What did you say?" Lei arched an eyebrow at them.

"Nothing, Chef. We're cleaning!" came the joint response as his team of little cooks started tidying the kitchen.

With that, Lei checked his apron and made sure he was presentable enough for the little farewell ceremony for the guests. He had to be there to see them off and tell them the Chef sent his regards.

"You really told them our Chef is a secret Master sick of all the attention in the Immortal Cities?" Lei asked a moment later. "Can't you just, I don't know, come up with something else?"

"They were planning to send a guard to our doorstep to keep us safe." Fatty Lou sighed. "Trust me, they would've used that guard to try and learn who this Master Chef was. I couldn't let them get their way."

"Makes sense," Lei said, a little impressed by how quickly his brother-in-arms had come up with such an excuse. He doubted he could've done the same. "We won't be staying here for too long, anyway."

"A month will be more than enough," Fatty Lou nodded. "I'll tell my old man about it. He has some small connections in Lanzhou. Best we secure some place before we move, but nothing's cheap there. I don't think we can get a two-story restaurant like this one."

"Doesn't matter," Lei said, then gave him a look. "You know what, a small restaurant will be better. At least it'll allow us to stay away from curious eyes while we get used to the place. No need to hurry, right?"

"Right," Fatty Lou said, reaching for the knob. "You ready, Chef?"

"Oh, I'm ready, Chef. Go ahead."

The door creaked open.

...

The first thing that hit him was the scent. An insidious reek that wormed its way through his nose, burning his throat on its way. Pus and rot. So strong that Lei had to clamp a hand over his mouth as he stared around the main hall.

He scowled. No one seemed aware of the nasty stench that had taken hold of the restaurant. The cultivators were seated around the table, conversing in hushed tones, while two middle-aged men — Lei recognized them as the Head Scribe and the Head of the Post Office — stood near the entrance.

The door was open, and the two men were talking with someone Lei couldn't see from where he stood. But the stench was coming from there, flooding through the opening like a rotten fog.

"Brother—" Lei was about to speak when his Spiritual Sensitivity skill sent a jolt of pain up his head, making him wobble back and raise a hand to the wall to steady himself. His world spun madly. Blinking through the blur only made it worse.

"Brother Lei, what's wrong?" Fatty Lou's voice came, muffled by the ringing in Lei's ears. A strong hand helped him as he kept taking deep breaths. "Are you alright?"

Just then, the door closed in the corner of his eye, and his vision slowly came back into focus. He pinched the bridge of his nose, blinking as a tear trickled down from his left eye. His nose was still full of the rotten smell, but with each breath, it began to fade.

Until, finally, he could see clearly again.

"Yeah, I'm fine now," Lei said, shaking his head at fatty Lou "We'll talk later, you go ahead now. I'll be right behind you."

Fatty Lou nodded solemnly, moving over to the table as the two middle-aged men by the entrance eased back into their seats. Though they tried to hide it, Lei could see the panic in their eyes as they kept stealing glances at the door, as if expecting another knock at any moment.

"We're thankful that you took a chance on us tonight," Fatty Lou started, a professional smile on his lips. "Though I'm sure the dinner lacked the grandeur to match a group such as yourselves, I hope the food was to your satisfaction."

That earned him nods and chuckles from the crowd. It seemed not a single person in the group had a bad thing to say about the dinner. In fact, Lei knew, for some reason, that they would be willing to eat more of his simple dishes should he give them the offer.

Fried rice. Kimchi ramen. Chicken wings. None of these dishes should be worthy of cultivators. They dined in heavenly palaces and glorious mansions. They thought of mortals as lessers, bugs to be crushed or ignored.

Well, maybe not this bunch, but at least that was how the stories often went. These people were Body Tempering Stage cultivators, which meant that they were no different than mortals. But even though that was the case, it didn't change the fact that they were gods of Jiangzhen.

And pleasing the gods was no simple thing.

Even if they were corrupt. There was a man there… They were talking with him. So it's true—they have a connection with those bastards.

They knew something was wrong with Jiangzhen's governance. It all started with that thug, after all. But this essentially confirmed their suspicions once and for all. The Governor was in bed with those monsters.

We have to get out of this place.

"Our Master sends his regards," Lei said shortly after. He had to keep up the act. "He hopes you can understand his worries and give him face about this matter."

"Tell your Master we appreciate his talent," said a man from the table, the young man with hawkish eyes. "It is our fortune that he's chosen Jiangzhen to open a restaurant. I'm sure the cultivators in our city will flock here once you open the place. Your food deserves the attention!"

"That's very kind of you, Sir." Lei bowed deeply. "Rest assured, our Master will hear your words. He may not like the attention of the masses, but I can tell you that no chef would be displeased to hear their food being praised like this."

"Good! Good!" came another voice from the Commissioner, one of the most hated men in Jiangzhen. But then again, it was little wonder why people hated the taxmen. "I can't wait to try new dishes!"

What followed was a string of praises and promises that they would definitely be dining in the restaurant in the future. They also made a point of showing their satisfaction by giving five more golden coins to Brother Lou to reserve some of the special rooms—a generous act that Lei hadn't expected at all. The restaurant wasn't even open yet, but they'd earned more money from these cultivators than Lei had ever seen before.

The decision to go for the heavyweights of Jiangzhen was no doubt a huge success. It seemed to Lei that whatever his brother-in-arms decided to do, he couldn't go wrong. The man had a natural talent for marketing.

They saw them off not long after, closing the door as Lei breathed a sigh of relief. It had been a crazy day, a long day, though he felt more alive than ever. They'd struck gold here, in the literal sense. The pile of coins would only get bigger and bigger once the restaurant opened.

"I need to see Sister Luli," he said when they all slumped down around the table. "We can't delay the opening."

"Strike the iron while it's hot. We should do that, yeah," Fatty Lou said, then chuckled as he stared at the kids. Most of them were about to nod off, with only Little Yunru keeping a close eye on them. "But I don't think your little team will be enough to handle all that work. You should recruit new faces."

"New faces?" Lei raised an eyebrow at him, massaging his knees. The pain from people eating his dishes hadn't bothered him much lately, but still, it'd sting now and then. "I don't think we need it. It's not like we're going to open the restaurant right in the morning."

"Oh?" It was Fatty Lou's turn to be surprised. "Isn't that how restaurants work?"

Lei shook his head with a silly smile. "You're better than this, Brother Lou. If we want to charge an arm and a leg for these dishes, then we can't let them eat whenever they want. They've already reserved some of the rooms, why stretch ourselves too thin? We'll just serve dinner."

"That's…" Fatty Lou muttered. "Certainly a new idea."

"Yeah, trust me on this," Lei said, glancing at the kids. He rose slowly and clapped his hands. "Alright, team. Time to wake up. We have scrubbing to do. This hall isn't going to clean itself."

"Uhh…"

"I can't…"

The kids grumbled and mumbled tiredly, sending pleading looks Lei's way. He tried to keep a straight face, but at long last, he breathed out a long sigh. The kids had worked hard today. They did a damned good job.

"You know what, I've changed my mind," Lei said. "You can go with your Big Brother Lou. Get a good bath and straight to your beds. Tomorrow's going to be a long day as well."

"Big Brother Lei, I can help," Little Yunru said with an eager face. "I'm not tired."

"I can work too!" came Little Ning's voice.

Little Chuanli and Little Jiao huffed at the pair of them, but they too raised their hands.

"Go." Lei waved a hand at them. "I'll take care of this."

"Brother Lei, you're sure?" Fatty Lou came over and looked him in the eye. "It was a long day, you know. And we have two more days till the opening."

"It's fine," Lei said, shaking his head. "Just make sure the wine's ready when I get back, and ask Sister Luli too."

We need to talk. One of those rotten bastard's here

Fatty Lou nodded. "Deal."

With that, Lei watched as the kids trudged out of the restaurant, leaving him alone in the main hall. He breathed deep once they were gone. He then took a long look around him.

This place. That table. The kitchen behind him. This all belonged to him.

There's no way I'm letting you mess with this place.

Chapter 57: A Little Accident

Zhu Luli took another look at the bamboo slips on her bed, trying to decide how best to answer her aunt's not-so-subtle inquiries about her whereabouts. She loved her aunt, of course. Who didn't? The woman was like a spring breeze—gentle and pleasant. Her voice was heavenly, and dozens of people were courting her, vying for her hand in marriage.

She's still single, though. Whatever, good thing she didn't refuse and sent me the manuals.

Her aunt, Zhu Meirong, had asked for one thing in return for those manuals: to know when Zhu Luli would come back home. According to her aunt, Zhu Luli's father would have long started an empire-wide search if not for the light still burning in her soul-tablet, which was stored back at home.

I'm not a little child you can keep locked in that mansion, and I don't need you looking out for me. This place is way better than that hell!

Zhu Luli closed her eyes tiredly, feeling the soft tail of Little Yao against her back. For once, the squirrel didn't take advantage of this rare moment of weakness. It seemed she understood—or perhaps knew—that if they were to go back home, nothing would ever be the same.

That cage can wait…

She sighed and gestured for Little Yao to pick up the bamboo slip as she turned toward the door. The sun had just shown its face in the sky, and that meant the kids would be waiting for her.

As expected, her little group was lined up before the entrance, serious expressions on their faces. The sight made Zhu Luli chuckle. They were growing—and growing fast. Snake, Stone, and Little Mei were close to the 5th Step of the Body Tempering Stage, with the second group not far behind them.

Normally, a young cultivator's progress would slow around the 4th Step of the Body Tempering Stage. This was essentially the midpoint, right after the body's first cleansing, and had to be tread with care. Recklessly pushing for more could damage or, in the worst case, cripple one's cultivation base.

Unless you have a Spiritual Chef.

That changed everything. Brother Lei's dishes were no different than perfect pills, allowing the kids to eat the equivalent of two or three pills every night. Genius or not, that amount of real pills would have killed these kids long ago, as pill poison was a tough beast to deal with.

On the other hand, the only side effect of Brother Lei's dishes was that you always wanted more.

Tonight, I'll go get a good spiritual beast from the Darkloom Forest. I need to step into the Qi Condensation Stage, just in case.

As they made their way to Brother Lei's old place in the ruins, Zhu Luli thought about their conversation from the other night. Brother Lei had seen one of those rotten bastards talking with two of the higher-ups in Jiangzhen's Governance, which meant their suspicions were right. The Governor, or at least his people, were in cahoots with that bunch.

While Brother Lei didn't want to risk anything, especially now with all the restaurant work, he couldn't turn a blind eye either. So, Zhu Luli had volunteered. She would trail the Head Scribe and the Head of the Post Office at night, to see if she could find anything.

Worst-case scenario, I'll send word to Aunt about these guys. She'll know what to do.

She already regretted not sharing anything about the rotten bastards earlier, but that would have made her seem desperate. And would anyone actually care that a bunch of weirdos were doing strange things around a mortal city?

I doubt it.

Shaking her head, Zhu Luli watched as the kids took their places before the half-destroyed house. Her eyes lingered on Little Ji for a long second as she hesitated, but then she sighed and let the kids start their morning meditation.

She sat down and used her own technique to feel the flow as well. There was something about the very practice of breathing that fascinated her, which was why she had started cultivating at a young age. That fascination had grown into a general curiosity about the world—the world beyond the high walls of the Zhu Clan's mansion.

Now and then, she reminisced about those times. Odd that she only remembered the bad stuff. She refused to believe nothing was good about her upbringing, but then, good and bad were relative things in the eyes of a cultivator.

At least Father never tried to use me like other Patriarchs. Betrothal... Ugh, I wonder how Sister Qiao is doing? She wasn't too happy about that Young Master of the Tang Clan.

Breathe in and out—it was simple. Zhu Luli slowly drove the thoughts away from her mind. Soon, the only sound in her head was the thumping of her heart. The more she listened, the more tension left her, until, at last, that bright bond came into view.

The bond between a star and a cultivator was special. Though she hadn't yet stepped into the Qi Condensation Stage, she could feel the star she was bonded to. It was there, beyond the clouds, freer than the birds chirping around them.

One day, I'll stand beside you.

The only way to do that was to become a Nascent Soul cultivator. Only they could touch what was beyond the reach of men. Only they could see the world in its naked glory, with the planets lazily dancing in the dark of space.

Step by step, shall we? First, focus on the Qi Condensation Stage.

She felt a touch around her arm, the fluffy tail teasing her, as if Little Yao had heard her thoughts. The little beast was about to become a Qi Condensation expert too. She didn't need to bond with a star like Zhu Luli; spiritual beasts were all born bonded to their common star in the sky.

I wonder what the Browntail's Star looks like? It must have a tail or something, right?

Zhu Luli smiled, coming out of her meditation. She clapped her hands for the kids to wake up.

"I have to go get new ingredients from the forest, so we'll end the lesson here," she said, much to the kids' disappointment. That made her smile. She might be better at this than she'd thought. "But I'll give you your manuals. I want you to study them, memorize each word, but don't try to cultivate it. We'll do that when I'm back. Understood?"

"When will we start hunting?" came Snake's voice, his eyes still half-closed. "Theory alone can't be enough, right, Big Sister Luli?"

Zhu Luli glanced at him. "You're correct. Once you get the hang of these manuals, we'll move on to more practical lessons. Don't worry."

Snake nodded and slapped Stone on the back, earning a tired sigh from the kid. They exchanged whispers and started laughing.

On the side, Little Mei was busy caressing the soft coat of a black cat, her eyes closed in bliss. Even now, Zhu Luli could feel the yearning in Little Yao's eyes as she watched that cat.

"Go," she grumbled, rolling her eyes. "But you only have five minutes. We need to move."

Little Yao bolted forward, sprinting between the kids until she reached Little Mei and yanked the cat's tail. The cat screeched and jerked back, while Little Yao eased into Little Mei's arms as if nothing had happened.

You're something else.

...

"So you're saying it's not bad?" Snake muttered, staring down at the bamboo slip clutched tightly in his hands. Big Sister Luli had done something to the spiritual seal on the cultivation manual before he got to read it, so he was the last one to check his manual. Bright lights had burst forth from the bamboo slip, and then words appeared.

I've said it's quite good for your age. It's certainly not bad. You're lucky that the Zhu Clan has allowed that little girl to give you this manual. They are normally a secretive bunch, especially that Old Goat Bai. I wonder if he's still alive…

"Old Goat Bai?" Snake frowned as he glanced at the bronze ring. "Who's that?"

The founding ancestor of the Zhu Clan. Calls himself a Scholar, that old goat does. After all the beatings he took from me, there's no wonder why he'd chosen the way of a Scholar. Hah! Books, can you believe it?

Snake leaned back in his bed, shaking his head. Things weren't as bad as they used to be between him and the old man. They were getting along well, kind of. Part of it was because Snake started to listen, and another part was that the old man finally started taking them seriously.

"I kind of liked to get a weapon, but…" Snake trailed off when the ring around his finger started glowing.

You're being impatient again, Little Snake. Taking up a weapon and learning it… You can do that any time. Yes, mastering a weapon is no easy feat, but growing your fingers into spiritual treasures is something entirely different. You have to understand the changes one goes through with each stage.

Take the Qi Condensation Stage, for example. Your body will shed a layer of your mortal skin, growing strong and capable once you step into that stage, yet the memory of your muscles will stay with you. Therefore, the best time to start cultivating a manual like this Thousand Node Fingers is during the Body Tempering Stage.

Snake glanced at his fingers, a piece of Big Sister Luli's performance flashing before his eyes. Teacher Zhu's fingers were sharp and durable like those of a sword, unlike his fingers, which looked like simple sticks.

"Can I do anything with these?" Snake muttered. No matter how hard he thought, he couldn't believe that his fingers would be better than a sword in a fight.

Right now, your fingers are weak. That's to be expected, but with Zhu Clan's Thousand Node Fingers, you will grow them into spirit treasures. Now, close your eyes and focus on your meridians. The key to this technique is simple. Half the Qi you absorb through your meditation should be directed toward your fingers. Once there, I want you to try and hold onto that spiritual energy for as long as you can.

Snake took a deep breath, focusing on the Tranquilizing Meditation Technique. Threads of spiritual energy eased in through his pores, slowly making their way toward his meridians. Soon, the first circle started with ease.

He sensed the Qi circling around his meridians, which felt like he was neck-deep in warm lake waters. Just then, when the second minor circle was about to start, he tried to separate half of the Qi and send it toward his fingers.

A sharp pain jolted him straight, breaking the rhythm of his breathing. Disoriented, he tried to get back into the flow, taking long, deep breaths, but it only made the pain worse. He coughed and sputtered, eyes flying open as he stared around in panic.

Stone stared back at him, confused.

"What was that?" Snake choked out, his heart thumping in his chest. "I couldn't control that Qi!"

Hah… A long sigh echoed in Snake's mind, and the old man clicked his non-existent tongue mentally. Sometimes I wonder if I should poke a hole in that thick head of yours. It was one thing to forgive the impudence you've shown toward me. I could pass that off as the rashness of youth, but this is different. You're too arrogant, thinking the spiritual energy of the world would listen to a ten-year-old brat.

"I'm nearly thirteen," Snake grumbled, rubbing the side of his neck as the pain slowly wore off. "And I don't think I did anything wrong, right, Little Brother?"

"How am I supposed to know that?" Stone answered from his own bed, back to the wall.

From the outside, they must have looked like normal kids talking and mumbling, but they were both busy listening to an ethereal, mysterious old man.

Snake shrugged at that. "You've done it, right? You know how to control Qi before it flows into a minor circle. How do you do that?"

"Me?" Stone pointed at his face. "I don't think you can control Qi before the Qi Condensation Stage. I can't, at least."

"I'm not talking about perfect control. You remember the time you wrecked the room? I need to learn how to do that, but from the inside," Snake said, shaking his head. He could have asked the old man about it, but he always found that speaking with Stone about these things made him feel much more comfortable.

"Oh!" Stone raised his head. "That's simple. First, you can't interfere with minor circles. You have to wait for a minor circle to end before you act. Then, if you want to focus the energy to a certain point in your body, just… try to squeeze that part of your body."

"What?" Snake's eyes went wide. "What do you mean, squeeze that part?"

"Watch." Stone pointed at his right hand. He closed his eyes, and Snake felt the air shift as his Little Brother started taking deep breaths. The invisible lines of energy were drifting slowly toward Stone. Seconds passed, and finally he clenched his right hand into a fist and held the pose as his eyes opened.

A faint shimmer of energy flickered around Stone's fingers, like heat rising off the ground. "See? It's all about the pores," Stone explained, panting slightly from the effort. "You have to be aware of the energy flow, and when you complete a minor circle, just let the energy surge into your hand and squeeze it like you're trying to hold onto a slippery fish."

Good demonstration, Little Stone, but let me clarify a few things, the old man said, his voice steady. Snake knew he was speaking with both of them right now.

Imagine it like this. When you clench your fist, you're lowering the flow of energy into your hand, similar to how a straw works when you cover the top. The energy in your meridians still wants to flow, so it rushes toward your hand to equalize the pressure. The difference in pressure is what draws more energy into your clenched fist. This way, you can focus that energy and start cultivating your Thousand Node Fingers more effectively.

"Fine," Snake groaned. "Let me try it."

Closing his eyes, he focused on the meditation technique, breathing deeply as he sought the familiar warmth of Qi flowing through him. Just when the first minor circle was completed, he clenched his right hand. A flicker of warmth began to pool in his palm, and this time, instead of feeling overwhelmed, he sensed the rush of power responding to his command.

"It's working!" His right hand was warm as he waved it left and right. Then it got warmer still. And warmer yet, as panic started gnawing at him. "What do I do now?!"

Open your palm, the old man said with a tired voice.

With a frantic flick, Snake opened his palm wide, releasing the swirling energy like a burst of fireworks. The warmth exploded outward, slamming into the bed with a crack that echoed through the room. Splintering wood and flying debris filled the air as the bedframe buckled under the sudden surge of power.

Snake's eyes widened in disbelief.

Stone gasped.

The old man barked a laugh in the back of his mind

"You did this on purpose—"

"You brats!" came an angry voice from downstairs, as loud steps echoed beyond the closed door of the room.

"Big Brother Lei's going to kill us," Snake said, shaking his head.

"Us?" Stone scowled at him. "I didn't do anything. It was you."

"Hey, what do you mean? The last time—"

"Was your mistake, again. Now, Brother Snake, please explain yourself to Big Brother Lei."

Snake's heart pounded in his chest as the footsteps grew louder. Just as he was about to argue further, Stone suddenly let out a dramatic groan and flopped back onto his bed, eyes closed. "What the— Little Brother!" Snake hissed, kneeling beside him. "Are you serious right now?"

Stone didn't respond, only his lips twitching slightly as he lay still, pretending to be out cold.

The door burst open, and there stood Big Brother Lei, his face a storm of fury. His eyes immediately fell on the shattered bed and then on Snake, who was frantically gesturing to the 'unconscious' Stone.

"Little Snake!" Lei barked, his voice thunderous. "What did you do this time?"

Snake froze, then pointed at Stone, trying to deflect the blame. "It was him! He—he passed out from the Qi backlash!"

Big Brother Lei's glare intensified. "And why, exactly, is he the one passed out, while you're standing there looking guilty?"

Snake's mouth opened and closed, panic rising. He glanced at Stone—who, of course, looked perfectly unconscious, breathing softly, his innocent face betraying nothing.

"Explain yourself," Lei growled.

Stone, still playing dead, shifted slightly, as if on cue, making it all look worse.

Snake grimaced, realizing he was utterly framed. "Uh... I can explain..."

Chapter 58: Sickness

Lei had barely any time to scratch his head as the opening day of the restaurant grew closer. The prep work consumed most of his time, and he also had to come up with a new menu. To appeal to the masses, he knew he would need more than three dishes, which meant extra work.

Trying other restaurants in Jiangzhen helped him get a few ideas. They had a fairly rich cuisine here, and while Lei was adamant about introducing new dishes, he also wished to sprinkle in some familiar tastes. Chicken soup was one of those familiar dishes.

With winter closing in on Jiangzhen, it was almost universally accepted that chicken soup warmed both body and soul. Lei's soup would be just that, with a hint of spirituality in the mix. That was why today he planned to visit Master Luwei to strike a deal regarding the chicken situation.

"You think it's a good idea for you to come with me?" Lei asked, glancing at Fatty Lou, who was seated on the couch in the hall. "You know Master Luwei hates your guts."

"But I'm a hated man everywhere, brother. What can you do about that?" Fatty Lou said, rising slowly to his feet and giving Lei a smile. "It happens when you're too good at something. You know I had to force my way into the Head Scribe's mansion to get him to eat one of those cookies. Those guards hated my guts too."

"It's different—" Lei sighed and shook his head. "You know what? It doesn't matter. Let's go. I'm too tired to argue about this."

"It's a damned good day. Let's go get those chickens, shall we?" Fatty Lou trudged out the door, dragging Lei after him.

Outside, the morning blessed Jiangzhen with a sprinkle of light. It was a touch chilly, but even then, Lei couldn't get enough of the fresh air filling his lungs. He spared a last glance at the house and nodded before following after Fatty Lou.

They sent the kids to the old couple, as Sister Luli and Little Yao were out on a mission. Lei warned Master Li about Snake's latest shenanigans, but the old man just laughed it off and said it was fine. He also promised Little Snake that he would get him a new bed.

Man, it's hard to understand these old folks sometimes. I guess the grandchild magic is real.

He could only hope that they wouldn't pamper the kids too much. Sure, Lei did the same now and then, but they managed a good balance with Sister Luli. She was taking care of them as their teacher, and Lei was the head chef of the cooking staff. That was why he was worried the old couple might shake up their well-established authority with their random "gifts."

Nah. It's fine. It's good, even, as they keep that couple busy.

Rounding the corner, they trudged through the streets, passing by Jiangzhen's Library and the bald-headed Buddhists who meditated beneath the statue of Emperor Xia. Lei shook his head at that. The senior transmigrator had done good things for the Empire, but he sure loved to soak in the attention.

They were about to turn toward the market when Lei saw a long line of people waiting outside a two-story house. That, in itself, wasn't surprising, as Lei recognized the house right away. It belonged to Lifen Xue, one of the most beloved healers in Jiangzhen. No, what made him pause was that all the people lined up seemed too pale, as if they'd just seen a group of ghosts.

"What's going on there?" he asked as they stopped near the line.

Fatty Lou clicked his tongue at the sight. "I've heard some guys talking about it. They say it's longfever. Seems like it's getting worse."

There had to be more than fifty people there. Lei couldn't help but frown when his Spiritual Sensitivity skill sent a jolt of alarm down his neck.

"Something's not right," he muttered, moving over to the line. When his brother-in-arms tried to stop him, he waved a hand at him. "I'm taking a look. It feels… odd."

He tried to check a few people in line with Yellow Maiden's eyes, but the Spiritual Sensitivity skill didn't provide any information about the sickness. The sensation was still there, though, and it grew stronger as he neared the house's entrance.

"Stop. There's a line if you want to see Healer Lifen," said a guy blocking the door with his bulky frame. He had another companion looking up at Lei and Fatty Lou from beside the steps.

"Guards?" Lei thought, taken aback. Then again, there were dozens of sick people waiting before the door, and it could get dangerous without some managing them. So Lei nodded and stepped back.

"I didn't know it was this bad." He glanced at the guard with an honest smile, hoping to learn something from the man.

"I'm not sure what happened, but these last few days, hundreds of people have come to see Sister Lifen. We've volunteered to help her and the few others, but we don't have enough healers for this," the guard said, shaking his head. The man had messy stubble and dark rings under his eyes. He glanced anxiously at the house. "I'm worried if this continues, something will happen to Sister Lifen."

"Hey, she's one hell of a woman. She kicked me once when I tried to get one of her pills. It still hurts to this day," Fatty Lou said from the side. Lei could see he was worried, but as always, he tried to lighten the mood. "Don't worry. It's going to be all right."

"I hope so, Little Brother. Thanks," the guard said with a tired sigh.

Leaving the line of sick people alone with the guards, Lei and Fatty Lou made their way to the market, a nervous silence settling between them. Lei still couldn't shake that strange feeling. Longfever had been a thing in Jiangzhen for the last few months, but Lei always thought it was a normal sickness.

But as they made their way to the butcher district, that strange feeling nagged at the back of Lei's mind. Longfever had never felt this ominous before. He glanced at Fatty Lou, who was walking a bit faster now, his usual jovial demeanor gone. Something was off, and they both knew it.

Soon enough, they arrived at Master Luwei's shop, a small but well-known butcher's shop tucked between larger stores. The scent of fresh meat and blood hung in the air, familiar to those used to the district's business.

"Ah, if it isn't our new chef," came a gruff voice from behind the counter. Master Luwei appeared from the back, wiping his hands on a blood-stained apron. He had a broad, sturdy build, his face weathered with age but his eyes sharp. When his gaze landed on Fatty Lou, his expression soured.

"You again," Master Luwei muttered, crossing his arms. "Didn't I tell you to stay out of my shop?"

Fatty Lou grinned, unfazed. "Good to see you too, Master. Don't worry, I'm not here to beg you for work. We're here for chickens today."

Master Luwei's scowl deepened, but then he sighed. "You picked a bad time for that, boys." He turned and motioned for them to follow him to the back.

Once they moved there, Master Luwei glanced behind them and lowered his voice. "There's been a problem at the farms lately. A bad one."

Lei's brows furrowed. "What kind of problem? You sold me a dozen chickens just two days ago."

Master Luwei's face darkened. "Two days ago, everything seemed normal, but the last day or so... it's been a mess. The chickens we've been getting from the farms are dying. Whole flocks are just keeling over. It looks like some sort of sickness is spreading through the coops."

Lei frowned. "But you didn't mention anything when I got that last batch."

"Didn't know then." Master Luwei shook his head. "It hit fast—overnight, practically. The farms I get my stock from said it's been happening in waves. The older chickens are the first to go, but now the young ones are dropping dead too. People are already talking about a shortage if this keeps up."

Fatty Lou let out a low whistle. "That's bad news for your soup plan, Brother Lei."

"No kidding." Lei rubbed his chin, feeling that same odd tingle from earlier. "Have the farmers figured out what's causing it? Could it be related to what's going on with Aunt Lifen and the longfever?"

Master Luwei's eyes flickered with concern. "I don't know if it's related or not, but nobody knows what's causing it. The farmers said they called for help from the Governor's Office, but nothing's come through yet."

Lei exchanged a glance with Fatty Lou, his mind racing. If the sickness affecting the chickens was related to the longfever, the problem was bigger than just a food shortage. Something was spreading, and it wasn't confined to just humans.

"Let me know if you hear anything more," Lei said, his voice steady.

Master Luwei gave a grim nod. "You've got it. I'll keep a close eye on things. And you two take good care of yourselves and those kids."

Lei and Fatty Lou stepped out of Master Luwei's shop. The early morning sun had risen higher, casting long shadows across the bustling butcher district. Lei's mind churned with possibilities as he replayed the conversation about the chickens and the longfever in his head.

Fatty Lou walked a few paces ahead. "Brother Lei," he said over his shoulder, breaking the silence. "You think all this is just some unlucky coincidence? Chickens dropping dead, longfever spreading, and no one's able to fix it?"

Lei's jaw tightened. "You remember the man I talked about the other night? The one who came to see those two from the Governor's Office?"

"Oh, I remember him. One of our rotten friends, wasn't he?" Fatty Lou replied.

Lei nodded. "Yeah, he was. I think he has a hand in… whatever this is."

"What do we do?" Fatty Lou asked, looking greatly troubled.

"Nothing," Lei said, shaking his head. "Not before Sister Luli is back, at least. We have to wait for her to become a Qi Condensation Stage expert before we make our move."

"I'll send word to my guys. Maybe they've heard something."

"Good idea. You do that," Lei said, scowling deeply. "And I'll go talk with Aunt Lifen. Best we see if she has anything to say."

With that, they split up. Fatty Lou would go to his old man's place to bring the kids up to the restaurant. After that thug kidnapped Snake and Stone, they were making sure the kids were never left alone.

The same guard frowned when he saw Lei again, but this time Lei made it clear that he didn't have time to convince him of his reasons. Either way, he had to speak with Aunt Lifen.

He basically barged in through the door, the guards flailing pointlessly after him. They tried to hold him back and drag him away, but even though they were 3rd Step Body Tempering Stage cultivators, Lei hardly strained against their efforts.

Inside, he paused when a surprised Aunt Lifen glanced up at him. She was an older woman, perhaps in her forties, but her brown eyes still glinted with a touch of youth. She had long, dark hair wrapped in a bun, and her simple white robe fit her perfectly.

Before her sat a middle-aged man with a pale face, the right sleeve of his robe rolled up to reveal a yellowish spot on the back of his elbow. Looked like Aunt Lifen had been rubbing a thick paste over that spot when Lei barged in.

"Aunt Lifen," Lei acknowledged her with a nod.

"Sister Lifen, we've tried, but—"

"It's okay, Brother Wei. You two can withdraw. I know this one," Aunt Lifen said, smiling gently at the pair of guards. She then turned toward Lei, her face growing serious. "Is this about the kids, Lei? You see that I'm especially busy this morning, but if you can bring them here, I can take a look."

"Ah, no, Aunt Lifen. It's… not that," Lei sputtered. It occurred to him now that he hadn't thought much about this. A chef barging into a healer's place to do… what, exactly?

Clearing his throat, he tried to manage a smile on his face. "I was just curious when I saw the line. I wanted to see if there's something I should do. If there's a longfever outbreak, I—"

"In that case, shouldn't you have stayed away from my place? How did you think this would help keep those little ones safe?" Aunt Lifen shook her head at him. "And no, this isn't longfever. At least, not the one we know of. This is different."

Lei narrowed his eyes at the yellowish spot on the man's elbow as Aunt Lifen rubbed the rest of the paste over it and patted the man's hand once she was finished. "It's done. Don't forget to drink the mix I prepared for you."

"Thanks, Sister Lifen," the man said, rising to his feet and sparing Lei an odd glance before trudging out the door.

And just as the man passed by him, a strong stench filled Lei's nose. The reek of rot made him nearly vomit on the spot as Aunt Lifen's voice rang in his ears.

"I don't know what it is," she said once the door closed, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it is far worse than longfever."