Chapter 20: It Hasn’t Come to That

Chapter 20: Chapter 20: It Hasn’t Come to That

"Rest easy, Junior Brother Liu. I’m not here for the selection spot."

Yang Haichen shook his head. Accepting a pre-selected spot could lead to criticism. While a Spirit Chef like Liu Chen would naturally be exempt from such scrutiny, he himself had no special skill to justify it. For him, receiving a pre-selected spot might not be a good thing.

After all, there were even senior brothers among the Outer Disciples who had been cultivating on Purple Bamboo Peak for nine years. If a disciple couldn’t enter the Inner Sect within ten years, they had to leave on their own. This was a rule of the Purple Cloud Valley, and it was the final year for those senior brothers and sisters.

The number of senior brothers was far greater than that of the senior sisters. Most of the senior sisters, feeling their cultivation prospects were hopeless, chose to marry into various Noble Families while still holding the status of Outer Disciples.

Even if they were no longer considered Outer Disciples, a bond of goodwill would remain, and the Purple Cloud Valley would not sit by and watch them be mistreated.

Given such a harsh reality, he felt it would be cruel to personally extinguish the last hope of those senior brothers and sisters.

"Then why have you come, Senior Brother Yang?"

Liu Chen casually placed the fish into a clean bamboo bucket nearby. ’If he didn’t come for the pre-selected spot, then he must be here because of my status as a Spirit Chef.’

"If I said I came because of your status as a Spirit Chef, would you drive me away, Junior Brother Liu?"

Yang Haichen’s frankness left Liu Chen stunned. He had already guessed it, but for the other man to be so direct was still catching him off guard. The last time, Junior Sister Ye had only broached the subject after testing the waters first.

’Judging by Senior Brother Yang’s attire, his status in the mortal world must be anything but simple. For him to be this direct on only their second meeting is really a bit... unsettling.’

"I wouldn’t go that far."

Liu Chen shook his head and sat down. ’It’s impossible to hide my identity as a Spirit Chef forever. Even if I conceal it well myself, I’ll inevitably have to show my hand whenever my master and his wife have friends over.’

’Talented disciples like Senior Brother Yang are bound to hear things through various channels. That’s why I’m building my bamboo house at the highest point of this grove, near the cliff.’

’Once it’s built, no matter how much of a commotion visitors cause, it won’t disturb the main residence.’

"Junior Brother Liu, name your price."

Seeing Liu Chen sit down, Yang Haichen spoke directly. Among Cultivators, the most important things were Spirit Stones. Not only could they be used to restore Spiritual Power, but they also functioned as currency. In his mind, Spirit Stones were practically omnipotent.

"If I were to trade my services for Spirit Stones, I’d have no time left for my own cultivation."

Liu Chen shook his head. Improving his Spirit Chef Skill was something to be done on the side; it couldn’t interfere with his daily cultivation, not even to earn Spirit Stones. Spirit Stones were indeed helpful for cultivation, but for Liu Chen, they couldn’t necessarily compare to the benefits of steady, long-term practice.

"That’s true. The restaurants in the market run by people who merely claim to be apprentices of a Spirit Chef are already packed to the gills. I can’t imagine what would happen if a true Spirit Chef were willing to accept Spirit Stones."

Yang Haichen shook his head; he had been too naive. A Spirit Chef’s identity couldn’t be hidden for long. If he could obtain Spiritual Cuisine with just Spirit Stones, then wouldn’t that make things difficult for Junior Brother Liu when Inner Sect Disciples or even True Disciples came to his door?

Being the number one Outer Disciple sounded glorious, but he rarely even saw the Inner Sect Disciples of Purple Bamboo Peak on a daily basis. It was obvious they had no desire to associate with the likes of them.

"Then what is it that you require, Junior Brother Liu?"

Yang Haichen couldn’t help but ask. Although he was aware of the potential consequences of associating with a Spirit Chef, he didn’t really care. His master treated him very well, and if he could, he wanted to do something to repay that kindness.

He had previously thought his master accepted him as a disciple only because of his Talent, just like those Outer Disciples who invested in other disciples’ Talent, only differing in status. But after returning yesterday, he came to the profound realization that his master cared about *him*, the person, not just his Talent.

Perhaps his Talent was what his master had valued at first, but that wasn’t important now. A master was a master, completely different from everyone else.

That was why, despite yesterday’s awkwardness, he had swallowed his pride and come.

He had never eaten it, so he didn’t know the benefits of Spiritual Cuisine, only that it was good for one’s cultivation. But his master had surely eaten it before. Now that he knew of a Spirit Chef’s existence, he couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

"I don’t have any particular needs, but since you’ve asked, Senior Brother Yang, I can’t just do nothing. To be honest, the first pot of porridge this morning was cooked a bit too long. If you don’t mind, you can take it."

Liu Chen thought for a moment. The Bamboo Shoots and Spirit Porridge from after his promotion to Second Grade Spirit Chef—the batch that felt less than perfect—were still sitting there. No one else on the mountain would take care of them, so he might as well do a favor that cost him nothing.

"Thank you, Junior Brother Liu."

Yang Haichen quickly rose and bowed. Whether it was truly cooked too long or not was irrelevant. As long as the other party was willing to give it, it was a favor, a debt of gratitude. He understood this principle very well.

"Follow me, Senior Brother Yang."

Liu Chen felt a little guilty. In his eyes now, it wasn’t just that the food had been cooked too long; it had all sorts of flaws. ’Honestly, I’m only offering it as a favor because we don’t know each other well. If we were any closer, I’d be too embarrassed to present it.’

’Otherwise, I wouldn’t have spent time making a new batch this morning.’

’But I was just wondering how to dispose of it, so it’s perfect that Senior Brother Yang has a use for it. He can just take it.’

As they walked along the path and approached the kitchen, a pure fragrance wafted over. Yang Haichen, trailing behind Liu Chen, suddenly widened his eyes. He had long heard how incredible Spiritual Cuisine was, but for the aroma to be this potent from so far away... wasn’t that a little too exaggerated?

Even the restaurants in the market that deliberately used the Clear Wind Technique to spread their scents weren’t this amazing.

"So fragrant..."

Yang Haichen was lost in the pure fragrance. Liu Chen felt a bit awkward; not much time had passed, so the lingering aroma from his earlier cooking hadn’t dissipated. In truth, the five-portion breakfast he was about to give away had no such fragrance, not even half as strong.

"Please, Senior Brother Yang."

Liu Chen placed the Spirit Porridge and Bamboo Shoots on the table and opened the lids.

Yang Haichen’s eyes gleamed. He was finally starting to understand the fervor of those who chased after Spirit Chefs. Setting aside the benefits for cultivation, the aroma alone felt worth any price.

Liu Chen observed Senior Brother Yang, who was already swallowing his saliva. ’It seems even the food I made back when I was a First Grade Spirit Chef would have been enough to tempt him.’

Just when Liu Chen thought the man would start devouring it, savoring every bite, Senior Brother Yang closed the lid and slowly shut his eyes.

It was obvious he still wanted to eat it, but for some reason, he restrained himself. It made Liu Chen wonder if he had noticed something—if he had discerned the truth from the difference in aromas.

"Rest assured, Junior Brother Liu. I will definitely not let you take a loss on this. I’ll just borrow these two containers for now."

Yang Haichen snapped back to his senses and bowed to Liu Chen, then promptly picked up the containers of Spirit Porridge and Bamboo Shoots and left.

’He doesn’t seem like a bad person,’ Liu Chen mused, watching his retreating back. ’Perhaps it’s worth trying to befriend him.’