Chapter 7: An Unspoken Understanding

Chapter 7: Chapter 7: An Unspoken Understanding

"Is the matter resolved?"

Bai Qiulan watched Mo Xuan, who had just returned, standing before her. This was the cultivation partner she must have been blind to have chosen back then.

He had once been dashing and elegant, but after nearly a hundred years, he had grown increasingly lazy, to the point where one could no longer see any trace of the former number one figure of Purple Cloud Valley, nor his once-unmatched looks.

This man was also Ji Suyao’s master, having accepted her as a disciple to repay a favor.

Since he had accepted a disciple, he had to be responsible. She didn’t want anything to happen to Ye Linglong, and this man, despite his daily laziness, didn’t want anything to happen to Ji Suyao either.

Furthermore, to keep the Bamboo Garden from falling into disuse, he had even taken on another disciple on his way back from an errand in the mortal world. This must be the senior brother Ji Suyao had, the one Ye Linglong mentioned could prepare Spiritual Cuisine.

But this master before her was completely unaware of all this. And judging by the way he looked like he was questioning his very existence, it was clear that certain events had completely surpassed his expectations.

"There was no incident at all. Since that person from the Ji Family wants her to join Purple Bamboo Peak, even if they can’t pass on the orthodox Body Tempering Technique, helping her build a foundation is no problem."

Mo Xuan stroked his beard and spoke slowly. That person from the Ji Family had once been a junior brother of theirs, so he had naturally practiced Purple Bamboo Peak’s Body Tempering Technique. While rules prevented him from passing it on to Ji Suyao, it was no problem for him to secretly or openly help her build a foundation.

But the problem wasn’t Ji Suyao, for whom he had already made preparations and even had a contingency plan. The problem was Liu Chen—the disciple he had met due to his gluttony and accepted simply because he liked the look of him.

"Then why were you gone for so long?"

Bai Qiulan couldn’t help but ask. Normally, this man would have taken a quick look and then rushed right back to sneak into her room, but today was clearly different.

"Qiulan, how long did it take you to reach the Beginner stage of Body Tempering?"

Mo Xuan asked hesitantly. He suspected he was misremembering. He had been known as the number one prodigy in Purple Cloud Valley, yet it had taken him a full two months to reach the Beginner stage of Body Tempering.

And yet, Liu Chen, the disciple he had casually picked up half a month ago, had already reached the Beginner stage of Body Tempering. This was even faster than the legendary founder of Purple Cloud Valley, who was rumored to have reached the stage in a single month.

"My talent wasn’t as good as yours. It took me four months to reach the Beginner stage. You were always surrounded by senior sisters back then; you wouldn’t have noticed a plain junior sister like me."

Bai Qiulan shot a glance at her cultivation partner. If this man hadn’t descended from the heavens when she ran into trouble on a mission, their paths would never have even crossed.

One with supreme talent, who became an Inner Sect Disciple within a year and a True Disciple within five. Now he was the acting Peak Master of Purple Bamboo Peak.

Meanwhile, she was still just an ordinary Steward, a position she might have only gotten because the Sect Leader was giving this man face.

"Qiulan, I was wrong."

Mo Xuan froze for a moment, then expertly sidled up to Bai Qiulan. While their relationship wouldn’t be affected by something like a disparity in talent, Mo Xuan had long since learned one thing: when your cultivation partner’s tone changes, just apologize first and ask questions later.

"Go clean yourself up. That girl Linglong even suspects you’re from my parents’ generation."

Bai Qiulan smiled faintly and turned to leave. Mo Xuan stood there, stunned for a moment, then returned to his Bamboo Garden with a grin.

"Not bad. Just keep circulating your energy along this path. With your talent, you should reach the Beginner stage within half a year. If you have the help of Spiritual Cuisine, your efforts will be doubly effective."

Bai Qiulan released Ye Linglong’s wrist, quite satisfied. Reaching the Beginner stage of Body Tempering in half a year with no prior foundation was already considered excellent.

Still, there was likely a gap when compared to Mo Xuan’s disciples. Ji Suyao had a real foundation, not a superficial one like Ye Linglong’s, but a genuine foundation in Body Tempering.

As for the other one, Liu Chen... although Mo Xuan hadn’t said anything, the very fact that he could leave the former number one prodigy of Purple Cloud Valley so bewildered spoke volumes.

Even if his talent for cultivation wasn’t outstanding, his status as a Spirit Chef alone would be enough for him to become an Inner Sect Disciple, or even a True Disciple, and eventually land a position as a Steward.

"This disciple thanks you, Master."

Ye Linglong bowed. If not for her master, she might have really met with a mishap, dying without ever knowing the reason.

"Sigh... Oh, well. Have it your way."

Bai Qiulan felt a little helpless. She was a rather carefree person herself and disliked being bound by too many rules; otherwise, she would never have ended up with Mo Xuan.

After also teaching Ye Linglong the most basic Withering Skill, Bai Qiulan prepared to leave.

As she stepped out of the Bamboo Garden, Bai Qiulan glanced at the perceptive Ye Linglong and added:

"Your Grandmaster and I will be having a long, detailed discussion tonight. There’s no need to prepare breakfast for us tomorrow, and no need to pay your morning respects."

Ye Linglong froze. She was about to ask something, but when she looked up, her master was already gone. As the meaning dawned on her, a blush crept across her face.

In the other bamboo grove, just a bridge-crossing away.

Liu Chen studied the figure that had suddenly appeared in his Bamboo Garden, feeling a little confused.

This man bore a strong resemblance to his own master. His face was as fine as jade, and his clothes were clean and new. He looked something like the son of his unreliable master.

"Disciple, will you not greet your master?"

Seeing Liu Chen’s stunned expression, Mo Xuan was very pleased. To be blunt, it was by relying on these very looks and a thick skin that he had managed to become Qiulan’s cultivation partner in the end.

Although she likely cared for him as a person, if he had been unkempt from the very beginning, he probably wouldn’t even have had the chance to persistently pursue her.

"Greetings, Master."

Upon hearing his master’s voice, Liu Chen bowed respectfully, but his confusion only deepened. ’You usually look like a beggar. Did you ever consider that Junior Sister and I might not recognize you when you suddenly show up looking like this?’

"Rise. I hear you’ve become a Spirit Chef?"

Mo Xuan knew their first meeting had been a bit awkward. To put it bluntly, he had been irresistibly drawn by a delicious aroma. His appearance at the time could easily have been mistaken for a beggar pleading for food.

Now that he had improved his image in the eyes of this disciple with unexpectedly high cultivation talent, it was time to discuss business. He had seen the Spiritual Cuisine.

If Liu Chen hadn’t provided a solution for the rampant Spiritual Qi, he would have revealed himself right then and there.

But there had been no need. With a disciple like this, he was more than happy to remain idle.

"It was a stroke of luck, but I don’t understand how it works."

Liu Chen wasn’t lying. After grinding his Proficiency to the max, he hadn’t gained any special insight. At most, his past cooking experiences had all synthesized together. When he cooked now, it felt no different than before, yet he was somehow able to produce Spiritual Cuisine.

"It is something that can only be understood intuitively, not explained in words. That’s the hardest part of passing down all kinds of Skills."

Mo Xuan didn’t think Liu Chen was lying. He had seen the Spiritual Cuisine with his own eyes. Years ago, he had also tried to learn the ways of a Spirit Chef to win Qiulan’s favor. Recalling it now, he felt incredibly lucky. Thankfully, Qiulan had a gentle nature; otherwise, he would have surely earned a sound beating.

If he had called his creations poison, someone probably would have been willing to buy them.