Chapter 42: You’re Embarrassing Me

Chapter 42: Chapter 42: You’re Embarrassing Me

A phantom image of a bamboo leaf took shape on Ji Suyao’s arm, gradually merging into her flesh.

Standing guard at her side, Liu Chen watched this scene with a gratified expression. His long period of instruction hadn’t been in vain; Junior Sister Suyao was finally about to reach Body Tempering Beginner.

’With that thought,’ Liu Chen glanced over at Junior Sister Linglong. A phantom bamboo leaf was forming on her arm as well. ’It looks like she will also reach the Beginner realm this time.’

This was a double blessing.

Liu Chen waited quietly. Ji Suyao was the first to form the twelfth phantom bamboo leaf. As it merged into her flesh, the previous eleven phantom leaves manifested at once, all of them suffused with a bronze luster.

An imperceptible ripple spread out, but it quickly vanished.

Ji Suyao’s eyes snapped open. The bronze color and the phantom bamboo leaves within them faded from view.

"Senior Brother, I did it!"

Ji Suyao was as happy as a carefree fawn, bounding over to Liu Chen, radiating pure joy.

"Alright, don’t disturb Linglong."

Seeing that Ji Suyao wanted to keep gushing about her excitement, Liu Chen quickly stopped her. Ji Suyao might have successfully reached the Beginner realm, but Ye Linglong was at a critical juncture. If anything went wrong at this final step, her breakthrough would likely be delayed for a very long time.

In Liu Chen’s view, Ye Linglong’s situation was a bit more precarious than Ji Suyao’s. After all, she had tearfully begged him to save her one of the servant positions available to Inner Sect Disciples.

If she fell behind in Body Tempering and it affected her state of mind, she could be stuck at the Beginner realm for the rest of her life.

"Linglong is about to succeed, too. Once she does, maybe she’ll be able to..."

Coming to her senses, Ji Suyao looked at Ye Linglong, who was still in the middle of her Body Tempering, and began to speak slowly. Although she didn’t know if what Ye Linglong had said last time was the truth, succeeding in Body Tempering meant that her friend was about to change her fate.

However, to Ji Suyao’s surprise, she was only halfway through her sentence when her senior brother clamped a hand over her mouth. Ji Suyao stared blankly at her anxious-looking senior brother; it was the first time she’d ever seen him like this.

"You can’t just say things like that. In the future, don’t talk about what will happen after someone succeeds right when they’re on the verge of it."

Liu Chen reminded her solemnly. If she said it and Ye Linglong’s efforts were to suddenly fail at the last moment, who would be to blame?

Although she didn’t understand the logic and felt a little stifled, Ji Suyao still nodded.

Once he was sure she wouldn’t continue, Liu Chen finally let his junior sister go.

"Senior Brother, why, though?"

Ji Suyao took two deep breaths. Once she had composed herself, she couldn’t help but ask, as she’d never heard of anything like this before.

"It’s bad luck."

Liu Chen glanced at the curious Ji Suyao, opting for an explanation that required no further elaboration but still conveyed the gravity of the situation.

"Got it."

Ji Suyao nodded and stood obediently by Liu Chen’s side, quietly watching Ye Linglong continue her Body Tempering.

An hour later, the twelfth phantom bamboo leaf materialized on Ye Linglong. After being suffused with a bronze hue, the phantom image merged into her flesh.

"Congratulations on reaching Body Tempering Beginner, Junior Sister!"

Seeing this, Liu Chen finally breathed a sigh of relief and offered his congratulations the moment she opened her eyes. He had no intention of taking on a servant, but if Junior Sister Ye Linglong had still needed to rely on a servant position to stay on Purple Bamboo Peak—even with the help of a Second Grade Spirit Chef like himself—it would have been a poor reflection on him.

Never mind his own guilt, his Master and the Master’s wife would likely never have accepted such an outcome.

"It’s nothing compared to you, Senior Brother."

Ye Linglong gave a small smile. A glance at Ji Suyao’s condition told her that her friend had also succeeded, and a little earlier than she had.

Ye Linglong wasn’t disappointed, though. Ji Suyao had been eating Spiritual Cuisine even before she had met Senior Brother Liu Chen, so there was no point in comparing. Besides, there was no competition between them.

"I have two and a half years of cultivation on you. In another two and a half years, you’ll both probably have reached Body Tempering Perfection."

Liu Chen shook his head. Since his Master had already spoken to him about it, he naturally kept it in mind. ’If I could alter my own memories, I’d probably try to fool myself, too.’

"That’s also thanks to you, Senior Brother."

Ye Linglong said calmly. Without Spiritual Cuisine, their cultivation speed would be more than just halved. The initial First Grade Spiritual Cuisine had doubled their results with half the effort, but after her senior brother’s promotion to Second Grade Spirit Chef, the effects were even more profound.

"You’re making me blush. Let’s get lunch ready."

Liu Chen shook his head, deciding not to dwell on the topic. ’Now that both of my junior sisters can use Purple Bamboo Grass, I wonder if Senior Brother Yang will be able to keep up with the demand.’

"Yes, enough with the pleasantries! I’m starving."

Ji Suyao couldn’t help but grumble. She’d been hungry ever since she finished her Body Tempering but was too embarrassed to say so. Her senior brother mentioning food now was like rubbing salt in the wound, making her even hungrier.

"Alright, let’s get cooking."

Liu Chen glanced at Ji Suyao. ’Her desire for food seems much stronger than her desire for cultivation.’ However, it didn’t seem to have any negative effects. Perhaps it was a side effect of his influence as a Spirit Chef, but Liu Chen was actually quite pleased by her hearty appetite.

***

"Junior Brother Liu, is the recipe real?"

Yang Haichen blurted out the question the moment he saw Liu Chen, leaving him momentarily confused. But Liu Chen quickly recalled the recipe he’d gotten from Senior Brother Yang—the one that was said to be able to completely transform a person and improve their natural aptitude.

"I don’t know. Purple Bamboo Peak doesn’t have the right ingredients."

Liu Chen denied his senior brother’s speculation as he led him toward the Bamboo Garden.

"Then what’s going on with you, Junior Brother?"

Yang Haichen hesitated. ’I haven’t been able to sense his cultivation for the past few days. The last time I could, he should have been at Body Tempering Minor Success. He couldn’t have jumped straight to Body Tempering Perfection, could he?’

’But if he wasn’t at Body Tempering Perfection, then what explained this seemingly transformative change? Doesn’t that kind of effect only happen when one masters a realm to Perfection?’

"Maybe it’s because I haven’t been getting much sun lately."

Liu Chen gave a random excuse. Senior Brother Yang wasn’t like his two junior sisters. Even if Liu Chen claimed it was because of the Purification Technique, the man definitely wouldn’t believe him and might even launch an investigation.

"I’ll have to try that myself someday."

Yang Haichen glanced at the sun in the sky. He knew that wasn’t the real reason, but since Liu Chen was unwilling to say more, he had no reason to press the issue.

’Offending a Spirit Chef would be a very bad idea.’

"Junior Brother Liu, besides the Purple Bamboo Grass, is there anything else you need?"

After placing the container into his Storage Ring, Yang Haichen asked expectantly. Lately, Purple Bamboo Grass had practically become a rare commodity on Purple Bamboo Peak.

’The other disciples need it for their own cultivation, so how could they sell it all? Even if they were willing to sell it at a high price, I don’t want to be taken for a fool.’