Chapter 6: Senior Brother Isn’t Very Hungry

Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Senior Brother Isn’t Very Hungry

In the Bamboo Garden, Ye Linglong felt a little nervous as she set down the food.

Her master rarely spoke directly; it was simply her nature. But when she did, the matter was always important.

"I didn’t use any Purple Bamboo Grass. As for the fragrance of the cyan bamboo, it might be related to some Spiritual Cuisine I happened to eat."

Ye Linglong’s reply was somewhat timid. Bai Qiulan shook her head. ’This girl is far too worried about making mistakes.’ It wasn’t just that she hadn’t used any; even if she had, it wouldn’t have mattered. Bai Qiulan was in charge of this entire Bamboo Garden, so the use of Purple Bamboo Grass was naturally at her discretion.

"Spiritual Cuisine? You’re also studying the Spirit Chef Skill, so you should know what Spiritual Cuisine means. Forget Purple Bamboo Peak—there isn’t a single Spirit Chef in the entire Purple Cloud Valley."

Bai Qiulan extended a finger and casually tapped the spot between Ye Linglong’s eyebrows. After a brief moment of contact, Ye Linglong felt a cool sensation instantly wash over her, followed by a piercing pain that erupted from her abdomen and surged through her body.

The pain intensified, and Ye Linglong almost cried out.

"Focus and feel it. This is the Body Tempering Technique."

Her master’s voice reached her. Ye Linglong, whose gaze had started to wander, found a new sliver of determination in her eyes. Gradually, the pain receded.

A pleasant sensation followed, leaving Ye Linglong utterly intoxicated by the feeling.

When all sensation faded, Ye Linglong came to her senses in a wooden tub. Glancing around, she realized where she was. ’This must be my own room.’

’But how did I get back?’

Ye Linglong’s confusion was answered by the sound of a door opening. Her master, Bai Qiulan, walked in slowly, placed a hand on her arm, and examined her carefully.

"My apprentice, although you’ve trained in the basics before, mortal methods don’t count as true cultivation. Without the proper Magic Skill to guide it, Spiritual Qi entering the body is a death sentence for a mortal."

Confirming that Ye Linglong was alright, Bai Qiulan breathed a sigh of relief. When mortals are first blessed with a chance at cultivation, they normally aren’t exposed to Spiritual Qi directly for the first few days. Although Spiritual Qi is omnipresent, its density varies.

Mortals who come here have an acclimation period. Only after they’ve acclimated to the Spiritual Qi Density on Purple Bamboo Peak can they formally begin their cultivation.

"I’m sorry for the trouble, Master."

Ye Linglong said, a little embarrassed. She had indeed felt a bit full this afternoon but hadn’t thought much of it. Now, it seemed she had just had a brush with death.

"You’re my apprentice. How could it be any trouble?"

Bai Qiulan shook her head. Since she had agreed to take on an apprentice, she naturally took that responsibility seriously. A small thing like this was hardly any trouble.

"Master, Junior Sister Ji must have also eaten the Spiritual Cuisine."

Ye Linglong felt a wave of gratitude, but before she could say anything, she suddenly remembered Ji Suyao.

Ji Suyao was the one who brought the Spiritual Cuisine, and her senior brother was the one who made it. ’If Spiritual Qi entering the body is dangerous for mortals, then she should be in a much more serious condition than me.’

"Ji Suyao, the one who joined Purple Bamboo Peak with you?"

Bai Qiulan took in Ye Linglong’s expression. Though the girl held back her tears, Bai Qiulan could see them welling in her eyes. ’This apprentice, whom I only accepted as a favor to an old friend, really does seem like a worthy successor now.’

"Truthfully, Master, she was the one who brought me the Spiritual Cuisine. Apparently, her senior brother made it."

Ye Linglong grew anxious. She didn’t care if that senior brother would be upset; her friend Ji Suyao’s safety was paramount.

"Ohh..."

Bai Qiulan’s tone was full of hidden meaning, which left Ye Linglong a bit stunned. However, Bai Qiulan offered no explanation, simply rising to her feet and leaving.

"Senior Brother, I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you."

In the Bamboo Garden, Ji Suyao stared at the fragrant bamboo shoots. She desperately wanted to eat, but at the moment, she simply didn’t have the strength.

After parting ways with Ye Linglong, she felt as if she’d been poisoned. Her body was sore and weak, and she could even feel a strange current of energy rolling through her insides.

Each time, it was accompanied by an unbearable odor. In the short time since she’d left Ye Linglong, she had already bathed three times, but the sensation—and the smell—persisted.

’The other cultivation mishaps were one thing, but Senior Brother absolutely cannot see me in such an embarrassing state.’

"Circulate the Purple Bamboo Scripture Body Tempering Chapter and you’ll be fine."

Liu Chen said casually as he picked up a piece of bamboo shoot. He recalled the first time he’d made decent-tasting bamboo shoots. After eating them, he’d suffered from unbearable stomach pain. His master hadn’t been around, so he’d had to figure out a solution on his own.

That unreliable master of his had told him that bamboo shoots contained Spiritual Qi. Liu Chen guessed it was most likely the influence of the Spiritual Qi, so he endured the pain and began Body Tempering. Though he couldn’t complete a full cycle, the discomfort vanished after a few tries.

Ji Suyao silently moved a little farther away and began to circulate the Cultivation Technique. As a ripple of Spiritual Qi emanated from his junior sister, Liu Chen slowly put down his bowl and chopsticks.

Wisps of Spiritual Qi swirled around his junior sister, first soothing the Spiritual Qi within her, then the two forces joined together to temper her physical body. Faint, spectral bamboo leaves flickered in and out of sight.

’It took me five days to do that.’

Liu Chen couldn’t help but mutter to himself, then looked away. Even if her clothes didn’t burst, the aftershock would still leave her in a disheveled state. ’Best not to look.’

A faint ripple of energy spread out, followed by his junior sister’s exclamation.

"Senior Brother, leave some for me."

With those words, Ji Suyao ran straight back to her own Bamboo Garden. The feeling of being full was gone. Now, she felt ravenous.

Her "seal" broken, Ji Suyao began to eat with abandon. In front of others, she would have certainly been more demure. But in front of her senior brother, her elegant image was already shattered, so there was no reason to hold back.

"Senior Brother, why are you eating so little?"

Ji Suyao asked as she refilled her bowl again, noticing that Liu Chen had barely touched his food.

"I’m not very hungry. Don’t mind me, Junior Sister."

Liu Chen replied slowly, a bitter feeling rising in his heart. His earlier joke was in danger of coming true: his junior sister’s talent for cultivation was truly better than his—and not just by a little.

He didn’t even want to think about the difference between five days and the time it takes for a single stick of incense to burn. If he dwelled on it, he felt he might just pack his bags, leave Purple Bamboo Peak, and go home to be a humble cook.

"Then I won’t hold back!"

Ji Suyao didn’t quite understand what was going on with him, but she took his words at face value and ate without restraint. Before long, dinner was over.

In the end, Liu Chen accepted reality. ’My junior sister’s talent is her own business. Slacking off will only affect my own cultivation.’

[Purification Technique Proficiency +1]

[Purification Technique; Proficiency: 70/100]

After cleaning up, Liu Chen returned to his own Bamboo Garden and began Body Tempering. He had originally planned to perform Body Tempering four times a day, but after seeing his junior sister’s talent, Liu Chen felt it was better to push himself a little harder.

The Body Tempering process was no longer as painful, but the resulting weakness still remained.

In the bamboo grove, shadows of bamboo danced and swayed. Beneath Liu Chen’s skin, shadows of bamboo danced and swayed as well.

Deep in the bamboo forest, an old man with white hair but the face of a child stared wide-eyed, accidentally plucking a hair from his beard in his surprise.