Dao of Cooking

Chapter 23 – Trouble With Food

“Can you just… stop?” Zhu Luli yowled once again, her right hand shielding her scalp against the tiny claw that was trying to jab and poke at her brain.

Little Yao didn’t seem to care. She’d been acting this way after they’d gotten the news that their food was ready at the Adventurers’ Guild Hall and exited the inn they’d been staying in.

"The best spiritual beast you can get," my Father told me. Keen eyes and a sharp nose. Small and handy, has no trouble slipping through the narrow spaces. But nobody has told me that its attitude would only get worse and worse!

She didn’t know if it was because of the months she’d spent out in the wilds that left a mark on her, or the constant nagging in the form of spiteful squeaks she kept hearing even when she clamped her ears shut, but today she just wanted to lay on a silent corner, and sleep like there was no tomorrow.

She’d definitely earned a break. Kept herself alive through all these months, relying on nothing but the knowledge learned by studying diligently in school. She’d done it all, but she’d never quite managed to get a hold on this one beast.

“You’re going to get your food, stop acting like a spoiled kid!” Zhu Luli said as she tried to pull Little Yao’s claw that was stuck on her cheek away, and instantly regretted her words as her little companion gave her a side-eyed glance from beside her face.

I wish you could scream… At least that way, I wouldn’t have to suffer those judging eyes of yours!

She took a deep breath to press down the ball of fury growing in her stomach and peered out around her to see if there was anything she could find some solace in.

The sights around her were new, at least. Unlike Lanzhou, this place looked as if it was caught in a time bubble some hundreds of years prior, and got stuck there with all its wooden and stone buildings scattered mindlessly across the space.

Almost primal. No wonder why I’ve hardly seen a cultivator while I was here.

The spiritual energy in the air here felt like a trickle rather than a gurgling river, so much so that the other night she had to concentrate for an hour just to feel it. It was like trying to suck water from a broken straw. And after she’d managed to feel it, it took another hour to finish a dozen minor circles.

I could complete thirty circles back in Lanzhou in just one hour. If I were to stay here, I don’t think I could ever reach the 8th Step of the Body Tempering Stage.

As if it weren’t enough, they were out of stock when she tried to ask the prices for pills in the Alchemists’ Guild. They told her it was because of high demand.

Pills being short in supply wasn’t anything new for her, but according to the scribe in the Alchemists’ Guild, there wasn’t even a licensed Alchemist residing here, which meant that Zhu Luli had to make some changes to her original plan of exploring the Darkloom Forest while restocking her pills from Jianghzen. She would have to visit Lanzhou at some point.

They’re going to rip me off again. Uh… I hate this.

She still had that peak-grade Body Tempering Pill in her pack, but she was saving that pill to break through the Eighth Step of the Body Tempering Stage. Under these conditions, though, she was doubtful if there was enough spiritual energy here to aid the effort.

I’ve managed to complete seventy minor circles before coming here, I just need two more! It's gotten harder… But I think this isn’t bad either. What was that line again? Fortune… favors the bravest cultivators?

She flicked her long hair back to its place as she tried to remember one of Emperor Xia’s famous lines. He had so many of them that she’d made it a habit of posting his quotes on her wall back in the day.

When I had a roof over my head.

Zhu Luli shook her head as her thoughts strayed toward a dangerous path. Thinking about the past wasn’t helping. She’d known all the risks long before she’d decided to take on the world all by herself. She’d known it all, but then, knowing did little to ease the thumping of her heart.

Sunlight drilled through her eyes, making her squint up as a familiar building flashed from beyond the square. The structure stuck out like a sore thumb among the other humble buildings, white marble glinting. Dozens of people filed in and out from the double doors, bowing slightly as they passed before a sculpture, its two emerald eyes sparkling with wisdom.

Emperor… Xia!

She was about to crash down on her knees at the sight of Emperor Xia’s sculpture when Little Yao jumped on the ground, clasped her claws together, and bowed deeply. Gathering herself, Zhu Luli nodded solemnly and bowed her head as well.

We’re in his debt, her Father had once told her when they were speaking about the Sage Emperor. It was because of him that the Empire shed its contemptuous, and primal skin, allowing mortals and cultivators to live peacefully together. He’d made an example of the Mountain Sky Sect, felling thousands of cultivators with a wave of his sword when they refused to abide by the new laws.

The Eastern Sword, they called him, for there was no place under the Eastern Skies that his sword couldn’t reach. But Zhu Luli admired his wisdom more, and it seemed she was right as even here, in a remote city, they built one of his famous libraries. To think that Zhu Luli’s father had been blessed enough to see that man in person… She couldn’t be more jealous.

I wonder if he’s still alive. Maybe he is, and he’s roaming the skies, or perhaps strolling beyond the heavens. My Father was too sure of himself when he said that Emperor Xia was guarding the Three Realms for our sake.

Shaking her head, Zhu Luli made her way through the crowd and strolled into an alley. She was so occupied with her cultivation that she hadn't had a chance to explore the city the other day, but once she satisfied the need for her precious companion, she would pay a visit to the Library.

It took her a couple of wrong turns, a little chat with a stall owner, and a chase with a group of kids trying to pet Little Yao before finally giving up when she made a show of her claws to find the Adventurers’ Guild. She’d also seen a man with bushy eyebrows dragging two children away, supposedly two little thieves caught right in the act.

Out in the wilds, deep into the forests, she could find the way out with the ease of a master, but the stone and wooden faces of the buildings didn’t give her anything to work with, blending into a confusing mess people called a city. There were just too many distractions for her to stay focused.

When she stepped inside the Adventurers’ Guild Hall, she found the same scribe dozing off behind the high table, his right fist supporting the side of his head as he slowly swayed back and fro. The building itself was nothing special, a one-story affair that seemed more like it was built just to make a show of it that they got an Adventurers’ Guild here in Jiangzhen rather than serve as a real base for adventurers.

Unlike other Guild Halls, this place didn’t even have a tavern next to it, where licensed cultivators could share valuable information and tricks of the trade. There wasn’t the laughter of the survivors, the clanks of the wine glasses, and the bustle of a heated crowd. Just a single man and a wooden board, with a bunch of chairs lying sullen in the corner.

“I’ve been told my reward is ready,” Zhu Luli said with a practiced smile, knocking at the table to announce herself. Little Yao was more than ready to claim that reward, shaking her furry tail like a highly motivated dog from beside her face.

“Reward…” the scribe muttered, eyes slowly coming alive and widening as he stared at Zhu Luli. “What reward?”

“The food,” Zhu Luli said, still keeping that professional smile. It was one of the things her Senior Sister Feilin taught her back when she was studying at the Luminous Sun School, saying that a little smile could go a long way.

As expected, it took a few seconds before the scribe gathered himself, rubbing his eyes tiredly. “The food… Yes, I think my brother put it somewhere here. Where was it? In a sack… Sack?”

He searched for quite a while before pulling up a sack from under the counter, scratching his head as he smiled at her. “It’s here, still hot. Can I see your badge? I need to write the number down.”

Zhu Luli flashed the badge into his face, a bronze one she was hoping to upgrade once she stepped into the Qi Condensation Stage. As it was, the badge was just a simple tool that brought no specific benefits. After she got the silver one, she could then get access to certain dungeons to broaden her research.

Soon… I’ll become a Qi Condensation expert soon.

After taking the badge, the scribe noted down the number etched onto its surface before giving it back. He then bowed his head slightly and waved a hand toward the board that stood on the right side. “We wish you a pleasant journey, Miss. If you want, you can check the other missions on our board. We’re in deep need of cultivators as of late, especially our farmers.”

“Oh?” Zhu Luli cocked an eyebrow at the man after taking the badge and the sack. “I have to admit, I haven’t seen many cultivators in this city. Can’t blame them, though. The spiritual energy here is too thin.”

The scribe nodded sadly. “That’s an unfortunate truth, but we’d usually get one or two visits each day from our local cultivators which was enough to keep our farms and fields safe. But there has been a serious lack of interest in the missions for the last few weeks. So if you would be kind to help—“

“I’ll take a look after I’m done with this one,” Zhu Luli said as she glanced at Little Yao with a helpless smile.

“You’re too kind, Miss,” the scribe said. “I’ll be waiting.”

……..

Back in the inn, Zhu Luli smoothened her clothes before placing the sack on the wooden table. The room itself wasn’t much, but she’d seen far worse. At least this one had a table and a chair for her studies.

Little Yao was perched on top of her right shoulder, eyes narrowed and claws trembling like a hawk savoring the thrill of the sight of its prey. Unlike normal squirrels, which were rare to begin with, a Browntail could eat twice its size in a single day and was known for its insatiable appetite. Meat or vegetables hardly made a difference for them, but they were especially fond of spiritual food.

“Easy now,” Zhu Luli said as she carefully took the plate from inside the sack and placed it on the table. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of food. There was a bun, sliced open, and a round meaty thing placed in between the halves. She almost couldn’t recognize the Pettydiggers, as the thin stalks looked as if they’d grown root-like outcroppings.

“What are these things?” she muttered, disturbed and disoriented as she poked one of the stalks with a finger.

She knew that she’d get spiritual food from the mission, but never in her life, she’d dreamed they’d give her a twisted form of cuisine that only used spiritual herbs as ingredients. It was true that Little Yao could use some of that sedative effect of the Gnarled Souls, but other than that, the thought of eating a Gnarled Soul mixed with Pettydiggers made her stomach turn.

A sudden crunch pulled her awake as Little Yao started chomping down the gnarled needles. Her beady eyes slowly widened as she took another bite, and before long the first needle was gone.

“Are you… sure about this?” Zhu Luli asked unknowingly, staring down the needles with doubt. But Little Yao was too busy wolfing down another needle to pay her attention. Her claws worked around the food with practiced ease, and she used them like a fork which made the whole thing seem ridiculous as the needles were nearly as big as her face.

It can’t be bad if Little Yao likes it. I guess I should try one…

Bracing herself, Zhu Luli pinched her eyes shut as she slowly took one of the needles. She was about to have her first bite when her heart pounded in her chest, shivers running down her spine. Eyes shot wide open, she shook her head and put the needle back, trying to fight back against the urge to vomit that rocked her from within.

“I’ll start with the bun,” she said, gulping down. At least that thing had a normal side about it, unlike the abominations that Little Yao gobbled one after another.

Fingers trembling, this time Zhu Luli managed to let her lips touch the food. Her teeth sunk into the bun with a soft crunch before a wave of flavors splashed inside her mouth. She stumbled back, heart thumping in her chest, breath caught in her throat. She took the bite and let it sail across her mouth, the meaty part of the bun, which she now recognized as Rootremedy beans mashed together, slowly making its way down her throat.

She let out a giggle when the wind tickled her from within as if suddenly the breeze picked up its pace. The airy feeling and the strong garlic taste mixed with the earthly tone of the beans were things she’d never thought would blend perfectly.

This was the touch of a master. She could almost feel the gentle care behind the effort, and the skill that had turned these spiritual herbs into a glorious dish.

What… is happening?

But then the wind grew stronger and started poking her from within, making her wince in pain. She pressed a hand over her stomach as a monstrous wave of spiritual energy burst inside.

Fear crept into her thoughts as she desperately tried to control this wave, but it felt like trying to stop a dam from collapsing. The energy trickled out through her hold and scattered around her body, coursing across her meridians without a care in the world. If she didn’t do something this furious wave could cripple her cultivation base.

She took a breath to calm herself, tapping into the experience she’d gained all those years.

Smile, breathe, and go slowly.

Clenching her jaw, she forced the waves into a minor circle with all her worth, tears streaming down her face. She was caught off guard, unaware, but then it wasn’t the first time she had to find her way through trouble.

It was only when the waves calmed into that rhythmic cycle inside her meridians that Zhu Luli felt the pain slowly wearing off. Her nails had drilled painful holes in her palms, sweat pouring down her back, but she was still alive, still breathing.

You… You’ve said nothing!

She glared at her spiritual beast, who should’ve warned her in the first place, but Little Yao was busy tearing apart the needles, burping contently at the side. She gave her a side-eyed glance in the matter of a disappointed mother looking at her child, then turned and finished another needle.

Zhu Luli leaned back in the chair, too tired to lift a finger, as spiritual energy swirled around her body. One minor circle after another was completed effortlessly, without her needing to do anything.

Of all places, I chanced upon a Spirit Chef here in Jiangzhen! This can't be real...

Who would have thought she'd stumble upon a meal prepared by one of those legendary chefs who, despite their talent, chose to forgo Alchemy to pursue the Dao of Cooking?

…….