Niu You Dao finally lost his patience and decided to ride at the rear.
"Lord Dao, I'm going to buy some vegetables!"
Along the way, someone would speak up at the sight of a town or post station and immediately gallop off to procure provisions. Soon, they would return with meat or vegetables.
Niu You Dao was speechless. While the meat looked appealing, these were certainly not the kind of cultivators he had envisioned.
One time, as he stood above a cliff gazing at the night sky, a pleasant aroma drifted up from below. Down there, they were stirring meat in a cauldron.
Black Peony and the others were quite taken with this secret cooking method. But with only one cauldron, only one person could cook at a time. So they took turns, and whoever's turn it was would go procure the ingredients.
Niu You Dao noticed that their speed had noticeably slackened. But then, what was there to be surprised about, considering they bought ingredients and cooked at every convenient opportunity?
Niu You Dao gradually grew accustomed to this, as well as the clatter of the cauldron and other cooking utensils along the way. He even mused that, should the chance arise, he could show them another recipe.
These four had completely transformed their culinary habits. Whenever they had the chance to grab a bite at a post station or a tavern, they now preferred to procure the ingredients themselves and cook.
After all, their journey was long and tedious, so Niu You Dao merely turned a blind eye to their culinary pursuits.
Thus, they departed the borders of the Zhao Kingdom and entered the lands of the Han Kingdom...
Amidst the emerald mountains, a group of over twenty individuals rode on horseback. At their head galloped a young man in white robes with a black cloak, followed by a retinue of half cultivators and half soldiers.
They ascended the mountain, and the young man waved a hand, bringing them to a halt. The cultivator behind him inquired:
"Senior Master, what is it?"
The young man rode on a short distance, took a sniff, and then, glancing around, uttered:
"Do you smell it?"
Behind him, two cultivators took a deep sniff, then soared upwards directly from their horses. They headed straight in the direction of the aroma.
Between two mountains, where a mountain stream meandered, Niu You Dao and his companions had made camp.
Black Peony was just then braising meat in sauce. A fragrant aroma wafted from their campfire. Niu You Dao, seated nearby, was speechless. So many days of constantly eating this meat. Had they not grown tired of it yet?
Suddenly, two figures descended from the sky. Several people turned their heads and noticed two middle-aged men observing them intently.
Niu You Dao slowly rose, his guard immediately up. It seemed these two were Jin Dan level cultivators.
It was unknown whether they were friends or foes. Black Peony and the others exchanged uncertain glances, wondering if the Song family had perhaps finally tracked them down.
The two cultivators eyed the simmering wing in the cauldron and, cupping their hands, inquired:
"May we be so bold as to inquire what is in the cauldron?"
Niu You Dao waved a hand, "Please!"
One cultivator approached, picked up a braised wing, and sniffed it. A rich, fragrant aroma wafted into his face. He couldn't resist and approvingly exclaimed, "This must be a delicious dish! What is this? How did you prepare it?"
Niu You Dao walked directly up to the two men and, with a smile, inquired:
"We haven't met before."
The two men exchanged glances and immediately, without a word, soared upwards. They vanished into the sky.
Now everyone was certain they were Jin Dan cultivators!
Black Peony and the others exhaled in relief. They had left, and that was good. It meant they wouldn't cause any trouble.
But who could have known that soon, they would hear the thundering of hooves, and a group of riders would approach? A young man in white robes calmly and elegantly rode up to them.
Niu You Dao and the others stiffened. They saw the two Jin Dan cultivators amongst their ranks, but now, there were even more cultivators.
Government soldiers were also present among them.
Black Peony and the others began to regret their decision. They shouldn't have cooked here. It seemed their culinary efforts had attracted uninvited guests.
The young man shed his cloak, dismounted his horse, and, accompanied by his guards, approached the campfire. He cupped his hands and spoke:
"We caught a whiff of a delicious aroma, and simply couldn't resist. We wished to broaden our horizons and discover what smelled so enticing. Please forgive our intrusion."
He immediately greeted Niu You Dao, having noticed how Black Peony and the others involuntarily gravitated towards him. The young man instantly discerned that Niu You Dao was their leader.
Niu You Dao politely replied, also cupping his hands, "Indeed, it is nothing. May I inquire, where is this esteemed guest from?"
The refined young man replied, "Shao Ping Bo of Beizhou."
Niu You Dao pondered. Beizhou and the surname Shao. He couldn't help but inquire:
"Are you perhaps the ruler of Beizhou?"
Shao Ping Bo replied with a smile:
"That is actually my father! I see you are an extraordinary individual. May I ask where you are from?"
He wasn't flattering Niu You Dao. Among the entire group, Niu You Dao was the youngest, yet he was clearly the one in charge. This signified he was indeed a person of considerable talent.
Niu You Dao was speechless. He had actually encountered Shao Deng Yun's son...
"I am no high-ranking person; merely a messenger, Zhang San. I have just received orders from Chancellor Zhuge, and I am returning to the capital to execute them."
Although he was spouting nonsense, Black Peony and the others evinced no surprise. After all, it was unclear whether the person before them was friend or foe. Thus, it was best to safeguard themselves by claiming a position.
"Oh? So you are Chancellor Zhuge's people?" Shao Ping Bo nodded, took another sniff, and fixed his gaze upon the cauldron:
"It smells wonderful. May this humble Shao try a taste?"
Niu You Dao smiled. "Very well. Since Sir Shao desires it, I would not presume to refuse. However, it is not quite done yet; it would be better for Sir Shao to wait a little longer."
"Of course." Shao Ping Bo nodded.
Behind him, all his people dismounted their horses. He then asked Niu You Dao again, "May I ask what exactly Chancellor Zhuge requested of Brother Zhang?"
Niu You Dao understood that Shao Ping Bo wished to verify his status.
"Nothing much, truly. Recently, Chancellor Zhuge transmitted some news to the capital. Following that, searches were conducted at every post station. Now, the capital is requesting further details. As everything cannot be explained in a mere letter, Chancellor Zhuge dispatched me."
Shao Ping Bo seemed slightly taken aback:
"The stablehands' matter? Is this news from Chancellor Zhuge?"
Niu You Dao retorted with a question:
"Is something amiss? Does Sir Shao possess alternative information?"
Shao Ping Bo waved his hand, indicating he wished to speak no further of the matter. Observing Niu You Dao's unperturbed expression, he seemed to have believed Niu You Dao's claimed status. He then inquired again:
"Brother Zhang, it seems you are also a cultivator. May I ask which sect you hail from?"
Niu You Dao initially considered naming a sect from the Han Kingdom. However, he wasn't sure what Shao Ping Bo might know. So he simply smiled and replied:
"From none. I am a simple rogue cultivator."
Shao Ping Bo merely hummed in response. It was uncertain whether he believed him or not.
The meat in the cauldron was now ready. Black Peony set the cauldron upon a stone, and Niu You Dao gestured invitingly to Shao Ping Bo.
However, one of the soldiers stepped forward and sprinkled a white powder onto the meat. He was testing the food for poison. Upon confirming the dish was safe, he nodded.
Immediately, another soldier presented Shao Ping Bo with golden chopsticks. He took them and, without ceremony, plucked a piece of meat from the cauldron.
He slowly brought the piece to his mouth, inhaled its aroma, and then took a bite. Shao Ping Bo slowly chewed the meat with closed eyes, then sighed and declared:
"Rich, yet not cloying. An exquisite aroma!"
However, he then returned the chopsticks to his subordinate. He had tasted only a single piece of meat, then waved to the others:
"Everyone, try some. This is truly delicious food!"
He didn't even bother to ask Niu You Dao for permission.
Over thirty people approached and, bit by bit, sampled the meat. Thus, the entire dish was consumed. Shao Ping Bo cast a sidelong glance at the others. In certain matters, these people certainly knew their place.
Once everyone had tasted it, Shao Ping Bo looked at Black Peony:
"Sister, you cook wonderfully!"
Black Peony modestly replied, "Sir Shao overpraises me. The true master is Sir Zhang. I merely follow his lead."
"Hmm!" Shao Ping Bo turned and looked at Niu You Dao. "Brother Zhang, perhaps you would accompany me to Beizhou?"
Niu You Dao looked at him, bewildered.
Shao Ping Bo explained, "I intend to host an important guest and would like you to demonstrate your culinary skill for us there."
"What? You wish to specifically take me to be your personal cook?" Niu You Dao replied with a stony expression:
"I am bound by official duties. Regrettably, I will be unable to fulfill your expectations, Sir."
Shao Ping Bo said, "Do not fret. It is not far from here. You won't even need to enter Beizhou itself. Your journey is extensive, and nothing will happen in a single day. And if Chancellor Zhuge or the imperial court were to learn anything, simply lay all the blame upon me."
"If Sir Shao truly requires a cook, then take her. She is quite adept at it, isn't she? Excellent." Niu You Dao pointed at Black Peony. It wasn't that he merely wished to avoid being a cook, but rather that he absolutely did not want to go to Beizhou, especially with such an arrogant Shao Ping Bo.
If not for the other's evident strength, he wouldn't even have offered Black Peony to him.
Shao Ping Bo declared, "I am hosting an honored guest, and I require the finest cook. Brother Zhang, there is no need to refuse. It is settled then!"
He turned and didn't even give Niu You Dao a chance to utter another word. He simply departed, mounted his horse, and rode on.
Black Peony cursed inwardly. She had only wanted to appear modest, but in the end, she had inadvertently sold out Niu You Dao.
Several cultivators then surrounded Niu You Dao and his companions.
"Please!"
Finding themselves in such a predicament, Niu You Dao and the others had no choice but to follow them.
The cauldron and other cooking utensils remained where they were, and Black Peony and the others had already lost all interest in preparing such delectable food. This would certainly be a lesson for them.
As soon as they emerged from the mountains, they turned back. However, they did not head towards the Zhao Kingdom, but instead veered in the direction of Beizhou.