Chapter 26: Thank You for the Hospitality, Junior Brother

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Thank You for the Hospitality, Junior Brother

"The Recovery Technique and the Withering Skill are opposites. You can try practicing the Recovery Technique in the same way."

Liu Chen was quite confident about this. The inspiration for his knack with the Withering Skill had come from seeing the meridians of Life Force while using the Recovery Technique. Now that he had passed this secret on to his two junior sisters, perhaps all the weeds in the bamboo forest could be completely cleared out in the future.

Even though they would surely grow back the next day, Liu Chen still intended to give the bamboo forest a thorough cleaning every day.

While his two junior sisters worked hard, Liu Chen also continued his cultivation for the day. Perhaps because reaching Body Tempering Minor Success had increased the amount of Spiritual Power he could mobilize, he finished practicing all four types of Magic before it was even time for lunch.

The most crucial part was that only now did Liu Chen feel his Spiritual Power starting to run out. In the past, his Spiritual Power would have been completely depleted after practicing just two types of Magic.

Liu Chen pondered for a moment. ’On one hand, after reaching Minor Success in the Withering Skill, I can ’see’ the corresponding nodes of Life Force. This reduced the Spiritual Power consumed by the Withering Skill and Recovery Technique. On the other hand, my Spiritual Power has just increased thanks to reaching Body Tempering Minor Success.’

"Junior Brother Liu, please show yourself."

Senior Brother Yang’s voice echoed through the bamboo forest again. Having just found the secret and now deep in study, Ye Linglong and Ji Suyao turned to look at Liu Chen.

Liu Chen shrugged and walked toward the edge of the bamboo forest. His two junior sisters exchanged a helpless glance and headed for the Bamboo Garden.

In about an incense stick’s time, it would be time to harvest Bamboo Shoots and cook. For Senior Brother Yang to arrive at this moment... it was hard not to read into it.

"What brings you here, Senior Brother?"

At the edge of the bamboo forest, Liu Chen looked at the empty-handed Senior Brother Yang and couldn’t help but ask. The truth was, there was a post station outside Purple Cloud Valley. Disciples in the valley used it to correspond with the secular world, and each peak had its own disciples responsible for delivering mail within the valley.

If Senior Brother Yang had come bearing a letter, it might have been on official business. Though Liu Chen was alone, his Master, his Mistress, and his two junior sisters all had friends or even relatives in the Great Xia Dynasty.

But he was empty-handed now, so it clearly wasn’t for official business. It was probably related to his status as a Spirit Chef again, which gave Liu Chen a bit of a headache.

If it had been anyone else, Liu Chen could have just ignored them. But this man had brought him Purple Bamboo Grass last time; Liu Chen couldn’t just pretend he wasn’t there.

"Junior Brother, let’s find a more suitable place to talk."

Yang Haichen spoke with great confidence. He had been constantly thinking about how to obtain Spiritual Cuisine. He needed a reliable source, whether for his own cultivation or to honor his master. But if this junior brother didn’t agree, it was all for nothing.

"Please, Senior Brother. I rarely have guests here. I only have ordinary spring water to offer."

Inside the Bamboo Garden, Liu Chen placed a cup of spring water in front of Senior Brother Yang. ’Regardless, since this guy has come in, he’s definitely staying for lunch.’ Seeing that it was almost time, Liu Chen knew he couldn’t keep his Master and Mistress waiting.

And he couldn’t very well kick his senior brother out right after he’d arrived.

"Junior Brother, I’ll be direct. I came this time for Spiritual Cuisine. As you know, the Inner Sect Disciple assessment is approaching."

Yang Haichen spoke very frankly. Although he wasn’t sure what kind of person Junior Brother Liu Chen was, this was how he always did things, and there was no need to change because of it.

"I actually didn’t know that."

Liu Chen smiled at Senior Brother Yang. ’My Master never mentioned this. I’m already an Inner Sect Disciple, and my two junior sisters definitely won’t be taking the assessment so soon. That’s why my Master and Mistress would never have brought it up.’

"You’re already an Inner Sect Disciple, Junior Brother, so of course you don’t need to worry about the assessment. But for Outer Disciples like me, becoming an Inner Sect Disciple is the only way to remain in the Sect. To be honest with you, I come from a Noble Family. We even have two Qi Refining Realm Cultivators watching over it, but... there’s no place for me at home..."

Yang Haichen said helplessly. If he hadn’t become an Outer Disciple of Purple Cloud Valley, his older brother would have made a fatal move against him long ago. There was nothing he could do; his brother was nearly ten years older and was already an expert at the Meridian Passage Realm.

"Please, have a seat, Senior Brother. It’s getting late, and I have to cook for my Master and Mistress. We can talk while we eat in a bit."

Liu Chen felt a headache coming on as he listened. Though he hadn’t known this senior brother’s history before, it seemed that anyone who became a Cultivator was bound to have a strange backstory. He had figured that much out right after he transmigrated, back when he was still fighting local hooligans just to survive.

Seeing that it was about time, Liu Chen got right up. Even if Senior Brother Yang really was just here to freeload a meal, Liu Chen felt he should at least show some courtesy, if only for the sake of those three stalks of Purple Bamboo Grass.

Liu Chen turned and left. In the kitchen, his two junior sisters had already prepared the Bamboo Shoots.

"Senior Brother, if you’d taken any longer, Linglong was about to start herself."

The previously listless Ji Suyao’s eyes lit up the moment she saw Liu Chen. Sitting to the side, Ye Linglong put a hand to her forehead, utterly speechless. ’You weren’t like this before you met Senior Brother.’

"You want to give it a try, Linglong?"

Liu Chen glanced at Junior Sister Ye. Although he didn’t know her actual cooking skill, he could get a rough idea from the changes in her Proficiency. If she was willing to show her stuff, he would be more than happy to have a break.

"You’re joking, Senior Brother. Wouldn’t that just be a waste of the Spiritual Qi in the Bamboo Shoots?"

Ye Linglong shook her head. If her senior brother hadn’t made it back in time, she certainly couldn’t have let their Master and Mistress go hungry. But now that he was back, it was better if she didn’t waste such precious ingredients.

"I’m not joking. If you want to become a Spirit Chef, you have to get your hands dirty eventually."

Liu Chen shook his head. Since his junior sister wasn’t willing to try, he had no choice but to do it himself. ’I was even thinking of practicing my Artifact Manipulation Technique at the same time,’ he thought, ’but with Senior Brother Yang sitting right there, I’d better just stick to the routine. I can always try this afternoon.’

"I have to go keep Senior Brother Yang company. You two can carry on."

After he finished cooking, Liu Chen dished out portions for two and headed toward the Bamboo Garden. It was a good thing he had two carrying cases, otherwise he would have had to make another trip.

In the Bamboo Garden, Yang Haichen waited quietly. He knew it wasn’t the most appropriate time to visit, but he had just finished the tasks his master had assigned him. With a pile of things to handle in the afternoon, this was the only time he could come.

He had truly come with sincerity this time, but unfortunately, before he could even express it, his junior brother had to go cook. It made him look like a shameless senior brother who had just come to freeload a meal.

Just as Yang Haichen was contemplating how to change his junior brother’s impression of him, a delicate fragrance wafted over, making him forget his thoughts entirely. He couldn’t help but gulp.

"Please, Senior Brother Yang."

Liu Chen’s voice pulled Yang Haichen back to reality as the glowing Bamboo Shoots were placed on the table.

He was momentarily at a loss for words, only able to gulp again and again.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Junior Brother."

Yang Haichen only had time to offer his thanks before he began to savor the delicacy. Sitting across from him, Liu Chen shook his head, not knowing what to say.