Chapter 14: Then Why is Senior Brother Being So Polite with Me?

Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Then Why is Senior Brother Being So Polite with Me?

"That’s what puzzles me, too. That fellow Mo Xuan might be a bit partial to his own people, but he’s always been fair when it comes to major principles. This whole affair is really quite strange."

The old man stroked his beard and spoke slowly. It wasn’t that he had a problem with it. Even if that fellow’s disciple truly had no talent, the Elders and Stewards wouldn’t object.

He was just curious. That fellow and his partner had been living in seclusion for so long in those two small bamboo groves they’d intentionally carved out on the back mountain. Why would he suddenly take on three disciples? And on top of that, one of them had prompted him to directly interfere with a competition for a spot on Purple Bamboo Peak that was supposed to have been decided internally.

And he wasn’t the only one who was curious. The Elders and Stewards of the other six bamboo groves were all wondering about it too.

But the name for that spot wouldn’t be reported for another three months. Only then would they find out what was so special about this person. Still, who wouldn’t want to solve such a puzzle sooner rather than later?

"Master, are you suggesting I should investigate if there’s something fishy going on?"

Yang Haichen’s gaze flickered as he immediately understood his master’s unstated meaning.

It wasn’t just his master; he was curious too. Something that should have been his had been taken away. Even if he himself didn’t think it was a big deal, his junior brothers on Purple Bamboo Peak who already held a grudge against him might start spreading rumors.

As for the junior sisters... it wasn’t to brag, but they were all his adoring fans.

"I never said that."

The old man looked at Yang Haichen with a faint, unreadable smile. ’This disciple of mine is quite good, or else I wouldn’t have taken him in. His only flaw seems to be a bit too much overconfidence. A setback like this might actually be a good thing for him.’

"I understand, Master. This whole matter started because of me."

Yang Haichen nodded. He wasn’t stupid. If he stirred up some trouble by mistake, his master could still bail him out. But if he went around saying his master had ordered him to do it, forget what others might do—his master alone would never forgive him.

"By the way, the acting Peak Master has three disciples under him—one man and two women. I don’t care what entanglements you have with the other female disciples, but if you can’t control yourself and do something that violates the sect rules..."

His master didn’t finish the sentence, but a chill ran down Yang Haichen’s spine. He hurriedly offered a guarantee, "Rest assured, Master, I understand. I just chat with those senior and junior sisters, that’s all."

"The two small bamboo groves on the back mountain are where the acting Peak Master resides."

With that final hint from the old man, Yang Haichen bowed and quickly departed.

"Thank you for your trouble, Junior Sister."

In the kitchen, Liu Chen placed the washed bamboo shoots on the cutting board and reached for a nearby kitchen knife.

"You’re too kind, Senior Brother."

Ye Linglong shook her head and then watched quietly. She had nothing to say about his knife work; that was something that could only be improved through daily practice.

But when it came to controlling the heat afterward, Ye Linglong grew a bit anxious. To her, it felt like the flame was too high one moment and too low the next.

A simple plate of stir-fried bamboo shoots took a full half-incense stick’s worth of time to finish.

[Spirit Chef Proficiency +40]

’Every stage has its own specific heat requirement? Can’t I just cook it through and be done with it?’ At first, Liu Chen found the process incredibly tedious. But the moment he saw his proficiency increase, none of that mattered anymore.

He even began to look forward to the improvements that would come after he advanced to a Second Grade Spirit Chef.

"Senior Brother, why do I feel like the bamboo shoots are glowing?"

Ye Linglong’s voice suddenly rang out. Liu Chen glanced at the bamboo shoots he had just plated. Their color did seem a little different than before, but not to the point of actually glowing.

"It must be your imagination, right?"

Liu Chen said slowly. Ye Linglong nodded. For a split second, it had really looked like they were glowing, but they returned to normal in the blink of an eye. ’Maybe it really was my imagination.’

"Suyao, take this to Master and Mistress."

After dividing the food into two portions, Liu Chen placed one in the food container Ye Linglong had brought. The three-tiered container looked very luxurious. Back in the mortal world, Liu Chen wouldn’t have even given it a second glance—after all, he couldn’t have afforded it.

"Don’t you two dare sneak a bite."

Ji Suyao took the container and hurried off, but not before giving the two a warning.

"Please forgive her, Senior Brother. Suyao has been like this since she was a child."

Ye Linglong slowly shook her head. Her senior brother had made the food, so Suyao’s words made her feel quite embarrassed.

"It’s no problem. You don’t have to be so polite with me, Junior Sister."

Liu Chen smiled faintly. He was already well aware of his junior sister’s personality, so there was nothing to forgive.

"Then why are you so polite with me, Senior Brother?"

Ye Linglong couldn’t help but ask. Liu Chen called Ji Suyao by her name, but he called her "Junior Sister." She was well aware of the difference. Before, she wouldn’t have thought anything of it, but the three of them were now fellow disciples of the same master.

"Don’t be upset, Linglong. It’s my fault."

Liu Chen didn’t quite understand what was going on, but since his junior sister had spoken up, all he had to do was change how he addressed her. If she still got angry after that, well, there was nothing more he could do.

"You’re too kind, Senior Brother."

Ye Linglong breathed a sigh of relief. She had regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. Even though the three of them were fellow disciples, Suyao had known their senior brother for longer than she had.

"Take a look, Linglong. Although we haven’t tasted it yet, you can see from its appearance that it’s different from before. This proves that mortal cooking and Spirit Chef Skills share some common ground."

Liu Chen directly changed the subject. Since his line of thinking was correct, then from a certain perspective, this Junior Sister Linglong could be considered his teacher for raising his Spirit Chef Proficiency.

In that case, not only was she not a bother, but if she were to ask for help with something, Liu Chen would be willing to lend a hand as long as it was within his abilities.

"From a mortal perspective, the flavor should be a cut above the rest."

Ye Linglong nodded and subconsciously picked up her chopsticks to have a taste. It was at that exact moment that the sound of hurried footsteps approached, and Ji Suyao, returning with the empty food container, happened to see this very scene.

"Linglong!"

Ji Suyao’s anxious voice called out. Ye Linglong put down her chopsticks and pressed a hand to her forehead. ’Of all the times to come back, why now?’

"Alright, alright. You can have more, and we’ll have less."

Liu Chen shook his head and directly placated Ji Suyao. If the two of them kept fooling around, the food would get cold.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Ji Suyao beamed, then turned to shoot Ye Linglong a triumphant look, which earned a slight smile in return.

The atmosphere during lunch was quite pleasant. In another bamboo grove, Mo Xuan, who had already finished eating, looked up and gazed into the distance.

"What is it?"

Bai Qiulan, who was clearing the dishes, looked over. ’Could someone be invading Purple Bamboo Peak?’

"An Outer Disciple is climbing up from the base of the cliff."

Mo Xuan was puzzled. ’There’s a path from the front mountain to the back mountain. Why would anyone climb the cliff?!’

"Is this some new type of training method?"

Bai Qiulan couldn’t help but ask. Body Tempering used Spiritual Qi to temper the body; it wasn’t the same as the Body Refining developed in the mortal world, was it?

"I don’t think so. Purple Bamboo Peak shouldn’t have any Stewards who would so badly lead their disciples astray."

Mo Xuan shook his head. He didn’t understand what was happening either, but he had personally vetted all the Stewards and Elders on Purple Bamboo Peak. They wouldn’t joke around with their disciples’ lives.