Braised spring bamboo shoots could already be considered a rare delicacy in Xiang Prefecture. Of course, similar cooking methods existed, but Elder Wei couldn’t claim to have seen many who could prepare it with Zhao Tiansheng’s simple, unpretentious, yet masterful touch.
After all, he came from a prominent family. While his Talent for the Dao of Sacrificial Cultivation wasn’t exceptional, he was still considered a rare genius on the path of Cultivation itself.
He had never lacked for resources or luxuries. In the past, he had prided himself on being above such material things.
But to think that a true appreciation for the finer points of flavor was only cultivated in him here in Jinning Town, by this young man Zhao Tiansheng... it was a strange turn of events indeed.
"This ’Diving Carp’ is the perfect dish to have with a drink!"
Seeing that Elder Wei seemed unsure of where to start, Zhao Tiansheng laughed and began to explain the dish to his Grandmaster Wei.
"There’s a light slurry, which gives the sauce a quality of clinging to the fish without fully binding to it. Grandmaster Wei, when you take a bite, make sure to get a little sauce with the fish. That’s when the full flavor reveals itself."
Of course, Elder Wei didn’t need Zhao Tiansheng to teach him how to eat. Instead, he leisurely picked up another piece of the braised spring bamboo and savored the sublime mixture of high-quality soy sauce, rich lard, and the crisp, sweet notes of the bamboo shoots.
The most brilliant part was that Zhao Tiansheng had selected only the most tender parts of the spring bamboo, leaving no fibrous residue in the mouth.
It was like eating a crisp pear. Even after being braised in oil, the bamboo slices surprisingly retained a juicy quality. Within this marvelous sensation, one could faintly perceive a vibrant trace of spring’s vitality.
This was the effect of Sacrificial Cultivation—infusing one’s own understanding of the dish’s meaning and artistic conception into the food itself.
"Did you think I don’t know how to eat?"
"It’s just that you’ve made so many dishes, I feel I don’t deserve it!"
Hearing Elder Wei’s words, Zhao Tiansheng waved his hand dismissively.
"Ah, don’t say that, Grandmaster Wei. It’s just a few simple dishes."
"I enjoy making them, and that’s all that matters as long as you enjoy eating them."
"Just a moment, I have one more stir-fry coming right up."
With that, Zhao Tiansheng turned and returned to the kitchen. It seemed that once he entered that little world of his, he was far more free and at ease than he was outside.
...
’This kid...’
Elder Wei was surprised, but he accepted the young man’s sincere goodwill.
’In any case, I won’t let Zhao Tiansheng be disadvantaged.’
As the delicious aftertaste lingered in his mouth, Elder Wei took another small sip of rice wine. The portion wasn’t much at all; he had to savor every drop.
As the seasonal, rustic dish and the sweet, mellow rice wine together awakened his palate, even a man like Elder Wei, who had tasted countless rare delicacies, had to admit: this was one of the finest pleasures the mortal world had to offer, the very essence of a hundred flavors rising from a hearth.
And yet, at that very moment, the spicy, savory aroma of the ’Diving Carp’ still lingered at the tip of his nose.
It made his mouth water uncontrollably.
"My, this dish is truly..."
"Extraordinary!"
For a dish to whet Elder Wei’s appetite to this degree was no simple feat. It was highly probable that its quality had broken through the known limits.
It had entered the ranks of the ’Garden Banquet’!
And one had to understand, Zhao Tiansheng hadn’t used any special ingredients for this dish. They were all common, everyday items. Calling them Yellow D Level would have been a stretch.
To create a dish of ’Garden Banquet’ quality from such low-grade ingredients was even greater proof of his Talent for the Dao of the Sacrificial Priest.
He could hear the sounds of Zhao Tiansheng preparing yet another dish in the kitchen.
CHOP CHOP, CLANG CLANG.
Considering another dish was on its way, Elder Wei followed Zhao Tiansheng’s advice and quickly took a bite of the carp while it was still hot, lest it cool and the flavor change.
The delicate flesh of the fish was as white as jade. It was like a snowflake, ready to fall apart at the slightest touch. With just a gentle pressure from the chopsticks, it broke apart like the petals of a white chrysanthemum, scattering into the crimson sauce and creating a lovely contrast with the red and green garnishes.
He gave his chopsticks a little swirl, and the rich aroma of chili and perilla enveloped the piece of fish.
It made Elder Wei swallow hard.
GULP.
The moment the bite entered his mouth, a flavor shot straight to the crown of his head. In an instant, it shattered the shackles that had kept his Star Essence stagnant for years. The energy flooded downward like a fish returning to the River, and a deep flush spread across Elder Wei’s face.
’Spicy!’
’And savory!!’
It was both spicy and savory, with an aroma that wafted between his nose and throat. The flavor plunged the Garrison cultivator of Jinning Town directly into a profound Enlightenment Realm.
The spiciness churned in his mouth, but anchored firmly at its core was the savory deliciousness of the carp. It was a strong, persistent flavor, like a cool drink during a heatwave, quenching his thirst and suffusing his entire body with a sense of relief.
Under that surging heat, his old injuries from years past seemed to reactivate, slowly revealing a dull ache accompanied by a subtle, almost imperceptible coolness.
...
’Sister Chi, you said if my cooking improved, it would help with Grandmaster Wei’s old injuries.’
’How about this dish today?’
As Zhao Tiansheng tossed thinly sliced cured meat into the wok, stir-frying it to render out the smoky lard, he mentally asked for Chi Xuan’s opinion.
With her experience, the ’Jade Food Immortal’ could naturally see Elder Wei’s current condition.
Elder Wei’s current state wasn’t exactly comfortable, but Zhao Tiansheng hadn’t made a mistake. On the contrary, now that there was hope for his old injuries to heal, it was as if the pain from all those years ago was returning. This wasn’t a bad sign. It was a sign of new life, of fresh vitality replacing the old, stagnant numbness.