Chapter 19: You’ve Caused Me So Much Misery

Chapter 19: Chapter 19: You’ve Caused Me So Much Misery

Perhaps sharing a room with someone she knew helped dilute the loneliness of being away from home.

Ji Suyao woke up late, and as a result, Ye Linglong, who hadn’t adjusted to the new schedule anyway, woke up even later.

"By now, Senior Brother should have breakfast ready."

Ji Suyao gazed out the window, feeling a bit helpless. She had managed to wake up on time yesterday, so why was she late today?

"Then let’s get a move on!"

Ye Linglong fastened her outer robe with a sigh of resignation. She truly hadn’t slept well yesterday. It had nothing to do with being a restless sleeper; neither of them was used to having someone else sleeping so close. Without that distraction, they had slept so soundly that they overslept.

The two didn’t dwell on it. They figured their Senior Brother wouldn’t say anything about them waking up late anyway.

Besides, the most important thing now was to hurry over, not to complain incessantly. That would be meaningless and just a waste of time.

As they reached the small path below the kitchen, a fresh fragrance wafted down from above. Ji Suyao’s tense, hurried pace softened, and she seemed to almost float along after catching the scent.

Ye Linglong was a little surprised. There hadn’t been such a fragrance yesterday.

Climbing the stairs, Ye Linglong couldn’t help but stop in her tracks.

On the dining table sat a plate of stir-fried Bamboo Shoots, glistening brightly. The shoots exuded an enticing aroma and looked as if they were still full of life and Growth.

"You two junior sisters are just in time. Come and have a taste."

Liu Chen walked out of the kitchen with a pot of Spirit Rice Porridge and quickly beckoned for them to sit down. The effect of his promotion to Second Grade Spirit Chef wasn’t a sudden epiphany, but rather a seamless integration of his previous Skills. Liu Chen was also eager to find out what difference there was in taste, beyond just the appearance.

Ji Suyao couldn’t wait any longer. She ladled out a bowl of porridge and began to wolf it down. The moment the Bamboo Shoots entered her mouth, she felt as if she were in a bamboo forest. A cool breeze brushed past, the leaves rustled—serene and beautiful.

"Senior Brother, this is... just too delicious."

Coming to her senses, Ji Suyao praised him indistinctly. Ye Linglong, who felt the same way, had a flicker of astonishment in her eyes. Even ignoring the effects of the Spiritual Qi, the flavor surpassed her own. Even her former masters probably couldn’t compare.

"Senior Brother, your control over the heat has already surpassed mine."

Ye Linglong said with a hint of resignation. Though she had always known this day would come, she hadn’t expected it to arrive so quickly. She had only guided him twice, and her Senior Brother had already surpassed his teacher. ’I’ve lost my value so soon,’ she thought.

"Don’t be ridiculous, Linglong. I only know how to make this one dish. I’ll still have to rely on you. Even I don’t want to eat stir-fried Bamboo Shoots day after day."

Liu Chen shook his head. It was already proven that a Spirit Chef’s Proficiency increased faster with guidance, so naturally, Liu Chen wasn’t foolish enough to grind it out the hard way.

Grinding for Proficiency was important, but gaining the most Proficiency in the shortest amount of time was even more important.

"Don’t you worry, Senior Brother. Linglong will hold nothing back and tell you everything she knows."

Ye Linglong nodded in agreement. This was a bond she naturally wanted to hold onto. The camaraderie between fellow disciples was ultimately thanks to their Master and Grandmaster, but how the relationship developed from there was up to her. She was well aware that telling her Master and Grandmaster could solve her family’s troubles.

But it was uncertain whether the goodwill between master and disciple would be exhausted if she did. In this situation, she felt it was better to handle it herself. And the Senior Brother before her was the one most likely to become an Inner Sect Disciple directly.

By then, her family’s crisis might be resolved.

Breakfast ended quickly. After eating her fill, Ji Suyao carefully delivered the breakfast she had already packed in a food container for their Master and his wife.

Liu Chen turned and headed toward the bamboo forest. He couldn’t neglect his daily cultivation. He still needed to build a bamboo house in the afternoon; his time for cultivation was becoming increasingly tight.

"Yang Haichen, an Outer Disciple of Purple Bamboo Peak, here to see Senior Brother Liu!"

Liu Chen had only taken a few steps when he heard the voice. Nearby, Ye Linglong, who was about to go back and freshen up, quickened her pace. One listen was enough to know it was that reckless senior brother from yesterday. It was fine to be a little casual in front of her own Senior Brother, but it was better not to in front of outsiders.

"You and Suyao will cultivate in the Bamboo Garden today."

Liu Chen added, then walked toward the edge of the bamboo forest. He had, of course, recognized the person’s voice, and that was precisely why he found it strange.

’First of all, how are you even up at this hour? Who visits this early? And with such a loud voice, too. Aren’t you afraid of waking people up?!’

Liu Chen followed the path to the edge of the bamboo forest and saw Yang Haichen leaning against a bamboo stalk.

Compared to yesterday, the guy looked much more presentable. He was even holding two fish, which at a glance looked like they were bought from the market at the foot of the mountain.

Unfortunately, they were just ordinary ingredients, containing no Spiritual Qi.

"Senior Brother Liu, you really had me fooled!"

When Yang Haichen saw Liu Chen approaching, he hurried forward a few steps and sized him up. If Liu Chen were truly his senior brother, he would never have been so presumptuous. But after learning the truth from his master, Yang Haichen felt a heartfelt admiration for this Junior Brother Liu.

"Senior Brother Yang, you can just call me junior brother."

Liu Chen waved his hand. He was more concerned with this fellow’s purpose than with his own initiation date being exposed; as long as he was a Purple Bamboo Peak disciple, Liu Chen was sure he could get information on him later.

And he was being so conspicuous. If his identity as a Spirit Chef got out, he would probably be hounded by an endless stream of visitors.

"Junior Brother, aren’t you going to invite me in?"

Yang Haichen instinctively glanced behind him. He knew someone was following him. But this was Purple Bamboo Peak, and they were all Purple Bamboo Peak disciples; anywhere he could go, they could surely follow. Still, it would be better if fewer people knew what they were about to discuss.

"Please, Senior Brother."

Though Liu Chen felt a bit resigned, he knew that leaving a guest standing at the door was not proper hospitality. If it were an enemy, that would be one thing, but while this senior brother might have been reckless last time, they weren’t exactly enemies.

Liu Chen led Yang Haichen into his own Bamboo Garden. This place was far from his two junior sisters’ gardens; one would need to cross the entire bamboo forest to reach them. It shouldn’t affect their daily lives.

The kitchen, on the other hand, was located on the steps leading to the cliff path. It was practically the center of the Bamboo Garden, where unexpected encounters were bound to happen.

"Please don’t be offended by my coming at this hour, Junior Brother," Yang Haichen said after sitting down, casually handing the two fish to Liu Chen as he began his story. "Purple Bamboo Peak has many disciples, and in the past, the reserved spots for the Inner Sect were always decided through Magical Battles. I don’t know if the others are hiding their true strength, but I’m hailed as the number one disciple in the Outer Sect."

Liu Chen listened in silence, his thoughts turning to the Token he hadn’t had a chance to use yet. Because of the incident yesterday afternoon, his cultivation schedule had been disrupted, so he naturally didn’t have time to study the Token.

Once Yang Haichen finished, Liu Chen adopted a modest tone. This guy had already learned of his Spirit Chef identity yesterday; no matter how foolish he was, he wouldn’t be here today to cause trouble.

"This was my master’s decision. I hope you can be understanding, Senior Brother."