In truth, Niu You Dao had initially been unaccustomed to walking around with such long hair. So, he used to tie it back in a ponytail. But when Shu Qing offered to style his hair every morning, he agreed and even grew accustomed to the coiffure, finding a pleasant sensation in her actions.
— The Princess certainly does a better job of styling hair. — Niu You Dao murmured approvingly, his eyes closed.
Shu Qing smiled faintly and said in a gentle tone:
— They are all the same.
Niu You Dao hummed dismissively:
— Not the same. It is just that your status makes it improper for you to style my hair.
Shu Qing quietly whispered: It's nothing.
Niu You Dao smiled slightly and asked:
— Have you had breakfast yet?
Shu Qing, continuing to comb his hair carefully, replied:
— It's still early, I haven't eaten yet.
Niu You Dao: Do you smell it?
Shu Qing sniffed and looked around. Earlier, when she first entered the courtyard, she had indeed noticed an interesting aroma. So she asked:
— Is it related to breakfast?
Niu You Dao smiled. Yesterday, Yuan Gang discovered that the former owner of this courtyard had cultivated medicinal herbs. Among them were what they called "wooden seeds," which were actually Japanese camellia seeds, also used for oil. Yuan Gang was right, so he immediately began teaching the monks how to make oil.
Niu You Dao replied with a smile:
— Yuan Gang discovered something interesting yesterday, and this morning he decided to make youtiao with the monks early. Stay, let's try some together. (Youtiao: fried, hollow, elongated dough strips)
— Youtiao? — Shu Qing was surprised. She had never heard that name before.
Niu You Dao: Now that we have a bit of peace, Yuan Gang can finally start teaching the monks the art of cooking... By the way, do you know, as soon as that bear heard about it, he immediately went to oversee everything. He wants to take this matter very seriously. That demon turned out to be quite fainthearted. From now on, our dining hall will cook only for us. Princess, you are always styling my hair. If the Princess doesn't mind, you can eat with us.
Shu Qing smiled and replied: All right!
Hei Mudan brought water for washing, and Shu Qing had just finished styling Niu You Dao's hair. Hei Mudan looked at his hair, surprised. It was indeed well and neatly done.
After Lord Dao washed up, the two girls decided to go see how the youtiao were being prepared.
Niu You Dao was strolling in the courtyard, deep in thought, when Yuan Gang approached him.
Niu You Dao smelled the dough on him, but asked about something else:
— Do you have something against Hei Mudan?
Yuan Gang shook his head: No!
He said one thing but thought another. In truth, he didn't like Hei Mudan. He didn't like her shameless behavior. But he knew Lord Dao. Lord Dao was someone who accepted both the good and bad in a person. And Lord Dao paid no mind to Hei Mudan's flaws.
Niu You Dao stated: Later, bring Lu Sheng Zhong to me.
Yuan Gang nodded.
— She's a Princess! — Hei Mudan cried out indignantly from the doorway leading to the kitchen. She and Shu Qing had been stopped by Yuan Fang. He refused to let them into the kitchen.
Yuan Fang clasped his hands and said to Shu Qing:
— Princess, this is private property. Lord Dao agreed to transfer this recipe to us, and it is a path for the monks to earn money. Lord Dao also agreed to place the dining hall under the monks' control. Please forgive us.
In saying this, he simply didn't want anyone to learn the recipe.
Shu Qing didn't want to cause an awkward situation and was already about to give up on the idea of broadening her horizons.
But before leaving, Hei Mudan retorted:
— Bear, this kitchen isn't yours. You don't even have a sign saying this kitchen belongs to the Southern Mountain Monastery.
After the two women left, Yuan Fang picked up a golden, fried dough stick and began to chew, gazing contentedly at the departing Hei Mudan. Then he looked at the lintel of the doorway and whispered:
— Southern Mountain Monastery. That makes sense...
Finishing the dough, he clapped his hands and ordered Ru Ming, the head of the western courtyard, and Ru Huei, the head of the eastern courtyard, to be called.
— Abbot! — The two men clasped their hands.
Yuan Fang pointed to the door and said:
— This is our place now. Post guards. Strangers are not allowed to enter here or steal anything.
— Understood! — The two men replied.
Yuan Fang pointed at the door again and said:
— Immediately hang our Southern Mountain Monastery's sign above the door.
— ... The two men thought they had misheard.
Ru Ming hesitantly asked:
— Abbot, is it appropriate to call the kitchen our Southern Mountain Monastery?
Yuan Fang looked around:
— Do you not know why I rushed to Lord Dao and asked him for the rights to the dining hall? It's a way to earn money. Later, we can earn a lot of money. With this recipe, no matter where we go, we'll always be able to put food on the table. Understood?
The two men nodded. However, Ru Huei looked at the kitchen and didn't understand:
— But won't Buddha object to this?
Yuan Fang's eyes widened:
— The kitchen isn't ours. Why would we not let other people in? But if we hang a sign, it will be considered our property. We are Lord Dao's people, and everyone will show us respect because of Lord Dao. I won't always be here, so how could you possibly stop anyone? But with a sign, it's different. That way we will conduct business and earn money. What's so hard to understand about that?
— Amitabha Buddha! — The two men bowed piously.
Ru Ming rushed off to make the sign. And before long, the sign for "Southern Mountain Monastery" appeared on the door.
The pleasant aroma of youtiao spread as everyone ate heartily. Shu Qing praised the youtiao.
Duan Hu also nodded, eating stick after stick. Then he turned his head and asked:
— Bear, why did you hang the "Southern Mountain Monastery" sign on the kitchen? And why aren't you letting people in?
— Cough, cough... — Yuan Gang, hearing this, immediately started coughing. Food even fell out of his mouth.
Niu You Dao looked up, surprised, at Yuan Fang:
— You hung a sign on the kitchen?
He himself couldn't believe it. After all, a monastery was not a simple place. How could he do such a thing? This was sacrilege!
Yuan Fang scratched his hands and said with a chuckle:
— We're already running errands, so now we can at least establish a monastery here. Besides, we can continuously prepare food for Lord Dao. There's no need to ask others to cook anything. Then we won't have to worry about anything ourselves.
Niu You Dao was speechless. He and Yuan Gang had seen through the bear's thoughts. Yet, they were amazed by his ingenuity.
Shu Qing and Hei Mudan exchanged bewildered glances. Hei Mudan had only said something about the sign out of spite, but who knew the bear would actually listen to her words.
Niu You Dao looked at his rice bowl, then pushed it aside and said to Yuan Fang:
— I want meat. Prepare several meat dishes tonight!
— ...Yuan Fang's eyes widened at this. How could this be?
However, Yuan Gang later calmed him with an idea. Subsequently, another inscription appeared on the kitchen sign: "Wine and meat pass through the intestines, but Buddha remains in the heart!"
After eating, Shu Qing returned to her quarters, and Lu Sheng Zhong was brought to Niu You Dao.
In the pavilion, the Bird Kings constantly whispered amongst themselves.
Niu You Dao, sitting in the pavilion, looked at the now well-groomed and properly dressed Lu Sheng Zhong. He sighed and said:
— I've offended Brother Lu for some time now. — He gestured for him to sit.
Lu Sheng Zhong didn't sit. He recalled how he had been treated worse than a pig or a dog all this time. He said unhappily:
— Niu You Dao, what do you want? If you truly wish to harm me, then act!
— Sit, let's talk. — Niu You Dao gestured again for him to sit.
Lu Sheng Zhong offered a helpless smile and slowly sat opposite Niu You Dao. He watched as Niu You Dao personally poured him tea.
— You didn't kill me. Am I useful to you?
— Truly an intelligent man. — Niu You Dao smiled, set down the cup, and said:
— In fact, I admire Brother Lu! It's just that Brother Lu had bad luck. If not for that poem I personally wrote for Song Yang Qing, it's unknown how that assassination attempt on me would have ended.
Lu Sheng Zhong replied: Was it only worth that?
Niu You Dao asked: Does Brother Lu know the situation in the Wuliangshan Sect?
Lu Sheng Zhong: I've been locked up by your monks all this time. I haven't seen daylight, how would I know? However, I do know that they have now offended Wang Heng, and it must not be easy for them now.
Niu You Dao raised his cup, indicating for Lu Sheng Zhong to drink as well. He then asked:
— Does Brother Lu know the current situation of the Song family?
Lu Sheng Zhong calmly took the cup and, closing his eyes, sipped the tea. It had been so long since he had savored such an aroma. Then, with his eyes still closed, he replied:
— How would I know? Why ask such questions?
— Song Jiu Ming has been removed from his post. Someone killed his entire family and brought their heads to me. Song Jiu Ming, Liu Lu, Song Chuan, and others. If Brother Lu is interested, I can ask someone to bring their heads. — Niu You Dao raised his cup and continued to drink.
Lu Sheng Zhong was startled. He asked:
— Did you kill them?
Niu You Dao took a sip of tea and asked:
— How do the Liuxiang Sect, Flowing Clouds Sect, and Subtlety Mountain Sect compare to the Wuliangshan Sect? Now these three sects have come to me. Their leaders are currently staying outside. I summoned them!
Lu Sheng Zhong's eyes widened. All these sects were far more powerful than the Wuliangshan Sect.
Niu You Dao continued:
— Brother Lu probably doesn't know that Prince Shang has now taken control of Qingshan County. And Zhou Shou Xiang, the ruler of the Southern Domain, along with the imperial court, silently accepted it. Soon, Kuangai County, one could say, will also be in the Prince's pocket. I wonder, does Brother Lu still wish to return to the Wuliangshan Sect?