’It’s had some effect, but whether it can truly heal him is another matter.’
’Tiansheng, all you can do now is rely on fate...’
Elder Wei’s condition was critical because his foundation had been damaged. This wasn’t something that could be fixed just by an ordinary Sacrificial Priest’s Cultivation cooking a few dishes.
With his family background, it wasn’t that he couldn’t find a true Seven Luminaries Level Sacrificial Priest to help. The key was that even they might not be able to cure him.
A fortuitous opportunity from the heavens and earth was far more crucial than any culinary creation from a Sacrificial Priest’s mortal hands.
Zhao Tiansheng’s Talent for Sacrificial Cultivation was extremely high, but reaching the point where he could seize the very workings of heaven and earth would likely still require a long period of Cultivation.
Zhao Tiansheng didn’t find anything wrong with what his Sister Chi had said.
In fact, he breathed a sigh of relief.
’As long as it has some effect, that’s what matters. Slow and steady is the way to go.’
’If I can help Grandmaster Wei’s old injuries get even a little bit better in the future, it’ll be a victory!’
As these thoughts raced through his mind, the speed of his stir-frying increased. Water celery was a dish that demanded precise control of the heat. Those who liked it adored its unique flavor—a mix of cilantro and celery—while those who disliked it loathed it with a passion.
Fortunately, Elder Wei wasn’t a picky eater, or else Zhao Tiansheng wouldn’t have served such a seasonal wild vegetable.
He waited until the fatty parts of the thinly sliced cured meat started to turn a faint, crisp gold. Then, he tossed in some garlic slices, ginger slices, and rehydrated dried chili segments. After a quick flash-fry to release their fragrance, he threw in the tender sections of water celery.
With the high heat of the stove, it didn’t take long to cook. The water celery was in the wok just long enough to be cooked through—barely more than ten seconds—before it was ready to be plated.
At that moment, the grease from the cured meat coated the verdant green stems of the water celery. The vegetable’s unique aroma mingled with the smoky, savory scent of the meat.
It was the kind of dish that immediately made one crave a bowl—or several—of hot, steaming white rice.
By the time Zhao Tiansheng brought over the Stir-fried Water Celery with Cured Meat and a bowl of white rice, Elder Wei had already polished off one and a half of the fish from the plate of Diving Carp. The spiciness made him stick out his tongue, his eyes wide, but he couldn’t bear to put down his chopsticks.
It had been many years since he had experienced such a hearty, uninhibited sensation—his whole body warming, breaking a sweat, a perfect coexistence of pain and pleasure.
...
"Tiansheng, this dish of yours... it gives this old Daoist the feeling of meeting a worthy opponent."
"Excellent, truly excellent!"
"HAHAHAHA!"
Elder Wei laughed heartily, and his laughter stirred the three Venerable non-human beings, who had just finished digesting the insights from their state of Enlightenment.
Seeing that it had already gotten what it came for, the Wheel of Hell Ghost didn’t linger. It merely glanced at Elder Wei and Zhao Tiansheng before turning to depart.
The Mountain Spirit and the Purple-striped Turtle, however, cupped their hands in a semblance of a salute before leaving. The Purple-striped Turtle even left a promise, saying that Tiansheng could seek its help with any trouble.
In response, Zhao Tiansheng simply waved, not saying whether he believed it or not. He watched with a smile as these non-human beings departed, concluding this feast.
The next one wouldn’t be for at least another seven days.
"Grandmaster Wei, please take your time eating. I’m going to sort out the things I brought back."
After letting Elder Wei know, Zhao Tiansheng turned and went back to the kitchen to get busy.
Elder Wei, who was by now mostly finished with his meal, started enjoying the rest of the rice wine, setting aside the rice and the stir-fried water celery for the moment.
Only after he had finished the last of his rice wine did the cultivating Jianning Garrison speak slowly.
"Tiansheng, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you must seek out those non-human beings..."
"...do you know which one you should go to?"
Zhao Tiansheng, who was in the middle of slicing pork belly, paused. He set down what he was doing and thought about it seriously for a moment.
"It should be... the Venerable Wheel of Hell Ghost, right?"
"If the matter isn’t too difficult, I could also look for the Mountain Spirit. But it would be best to avoid the Purple-striped Turtle."
"Is that right?"
The old Daoist, his face wreathed in smiles, nodded.
"Exactly right."
"The Wheel of Hell Ghost is straightforward. If it can help, and you pay the price, it will surely give its all."
"The Mountain Spirit looks clever, but its intentions are also simple. Only the Purple-striped Turtle, which seems to be on the verge of transforming into a Half-Demon, has a heart that is most like a human’s!"
"In the Cultivation of non-human beings, they either become too much like humans or not enough like them."
"Both extremes... are not very good."
Perhaps a little tipsy, Elder Wei couldn’t help but say a few more words.
HIC.
Letting out a drunken hiccup, the old Daoist picked up a piece of water celery with his chopsticks. He sniffed the ingredient, which had a somewhat unusual smell but carried the rich scent of spring, and put it directly into his mouth.
The bite was like shattering countless thin, crisp sugar flowers; the crunchy texture was exceptionally delightful. An instant later, the vibrant, spring-like flavor of the water celery cleansed his palate. Only then did the rich, savory saltiness of the well-smoked cured meat arrive.
Just like that, his drunkenness seemed to fade considerably. His other hand unconsciously lifted the bowl of white rice in front of him, and he shoveled in a large mouthful.
"If I keep eating at your place like this, this old Daoist will probably turn into a round ball in a few years."
"My old comrades would laugh themselves to death!"
Hearing this, Zhao Tiansheng couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear.
"A good appetite is a blessing. As long as it doesn’t affect your health, I’ll be happy to cook for you as long as you’re willing to eat!"
As he spoke, the pork belly he was working on had rendered down, leaving behind crispy pork cracklings. At that moment, the lard had been extracted, and the oil had reached the desired temperature.
The mysterious ingredient that Zhao Tiansheng had gone out to find was finally tossed into the wok. And this time, a peculiar fragrance began to waft not just in and around the small restaurant, but seemingly throughout the entire Jinning Town!
Wisps of a marvelous aroma rose silently, their source unknown, yet they seemed to drift into the land of dreams, causing the sleeping townspeople to drool uncontrollably in their slumber...