Chapter 208: Master Qian

Mo Hua shook his head and said, "Heaven has endowed me with talents for a reason—how could they be useless?"

An Xiaofu blinked in surprise. "What use could they possibly be?"

Mo Hua thought for a moment, realizing he couldn't explain it clearly either—he himself couldn't detail the specifics of cuisine—so he said:

"Your family runs a Spirit Cuisine Hall, and your taste is exceptional—how could it be useless?"

An Xiaofu sighed. "Our family runs a Spirit Cuisine Hall out of necessity…"

"Necessity?"

Seeing the day was still early and the meat delicious, and rare to have someone to talk to, An Xiaofu took a bite of meat, sipped his fruit wine, and began chatting with Mo Hua:

"The An family originally dealt in artifact forging and pill refining, but after losing out to the Qian family, our business collapsed, and we were forced to rely on ancestral property to run a Spirit Cuisine Hall…"

"My grandfather hated running a Cuisine Hall—he still wanted to forge artifacts and refine pills. He thought running a Cuisine Hall was shameful."

…

"Is a Spirit Cuisine Hall so bad?" Mo Hua asked, puzzled.

"I think it's fine. My grandfather thinks it's not." An Xiaofu muttered, "Besides, among the hundred arts of cultivation, there are high and low ranks."

An Xiaofu began counting on his fingers:

"First come array arts—hardest to learn and most widely used. Array Masters are always regarded as superior wherever they go. Next are pill refining and artifact forging, along with talisman crafting—all respectable."

"Other fields like Spirit Cuisine, Spirit Planting, weaving, craftsmanship, and demon hunting are all looked down upon."

"Don't get angry when I say this," An Xiaofu said weakly. "Many cultivators from great clans and sects believe Spirit Cuisine and demon hunting are trades only lowly wandering cultivators take up—they look down on them."

Mo Hua understood this in his heart, but found it unconvincing. "If no cultivators practiced Spirit Planting, Spirit Cuisine, or weaving, what would they eat or wear? No food, no clothes—what's there to be proud of?"

An Xiaofu nodded vigorously. "Exactly, exactly!"

An Xiaofu loved eating—he believed eating was the most important thing, and anything related to food was vital.

Liu Ruhua prepared several other dishes: demon meat and wild mountain vegetables. Though the ingredients were ordinary, the flavors were excellent and uniquely distinctive.

An Xiaofu, cheeks bulging from fullness, praised, "Mo Hua, your mother's cooking is delicious."

Mo Hua was happier than if he himself had been praised. "Of course!"

After finishing their meal, they waved goodbye to each other.

Mo Hua watched An Xiaofu's retreating figure and pondered inwardly:

What use could a superior sense of taste be?

Become a Cuisine Master? Open a Spirit Cuisine Hall?

But the An family already runs a Spirit Cuisine Hall…

Mo Hua had a faint idea forming in his mind, but he needed to think it through more carefully.

Qian Shunzhi had inquired for several days and finally gathered some leads, then went to report to the clan lord, Qian Hong.

"A new villa was recently built in Chengnan, with a plaque reading 'Bai Residence.' Inside lives a woman wearing a veil, accompanied by two young cultivators, one male and one female—but it's unknown whether she's skilled in array arts."

Qian Hong's eyes flickered with caution. "That's likely a scion of a great clan on a pilgrimage. We can't provoke them, and they wouldn't help demon hunters. Any other leads?"

Qian Shunzhi said, "An elderly cultivator passed through, his movements unclear—he left Tongxian City after a few days. Several middle-aged Array Masters stayed at inns here and have some ties with the city's families…"

Qian Hong pondered a moment, then said coldly, "None of these fit. Go investigate further."

Seeing Qian Hong's displeased expression, Qian Shunzhi pulled out several array diagrams and handed them over.

"Among the demon hunters, there's a young Array Master. These arrays were drawn by him—some are original works from his hand, others are copies I had made."

Qian Hong took them, glanced once, and was disappointed. "All are common arrays—below first rank."

Though he wasn't an Array Master and couldn't distinguish the types, he could still count the array lines.

These arrays, old and new, showed skilled brushwork, but most had only five or six array lines.

A young cultivator of ten or so years drawing five or six array lines is already an exceptional talent—no wonder they call him 'Little Array Master.'

But the Qian family wasn't seeking this Little Array Master—they sought the mysterious first-rank Array Master.

"Send more people out. Keep searching," Qian Hong ordered.

"Yes."

Qian Shunzhi bowed respectfully, then turned to leave—only to be called back by Qian Hong.

Qian Hong thought for a moment, then handed the array diagrams to her. "Take these to Master Qian. See if he can find any clues."

Qian Shunzhi respectfully agreed and delivered the array diagrams and their copies to Master Qian.

Master Qian was in the Qian family's library, discussing matters with a group of Array Masters.

Some of these Array Masters were from the Qian family, others had close ties with it, and still others, though not closely connected, had accepted Master Qian's invitation and came anyway.

Tongxian City was large, and Array Masters were few—they saw each other often and inevitably had some connections.

The Qian family was the largest and wealthiest in Tongxian City; they naturally couldn't afford to offend it.

A first-rank Array Master was no ordinary person and couldn't possibly have no ties to any family.

Master Qian had summoned these Array Masters to see if any of them had clues—or any prior connection.

If there was indeed a connection, everything would be easier—they could use that link to cultivate ties with the Array Master.

But after hours of discussion, they still had no leads.

The first-rank Array Master had appeared as if from nowhere—no one knew his origins.

As everyone was at a loss, Qian Shunzhi entered with the array diagrams.

Master Qian took them, studied them, frowned, then passed them around for the other Array Masters to examine.

"What do you make of these?" Master Qian asked.

"These arrays are well-drawn."

"Very methodical."

"The brushwork is extremely fluent—clearly shows deep skill."

"A pity they're only low-grade arrays, five or six array lines — nothing remarkable to see…"

A group of array masters discussed among themselves.

The last, a thin-faced array master, deliberated: "If these arrays really were drawn by that young array master, then he must have some connection to that first-grade array master."

The other array masters nodded in agreement. "If there were no connection, someone so young couldn't possibly draw arrays this well."

As they chatted, a disciple of the Qian family entered the room and said deferentially: "Master Luo has arrived."

Master Qian rose at once, and the other array masters also stood, hurrying to the doorway to bow with cupped fists to the newcomer:

"Greetings, Master Luo!"

The newcomer was indeed Master Luo — one of the very few true first-grade array masters in Xiancheng, certified by the Dao Court.

The other first-grade array masters in Xiancheng were already advanced in years, preferred quiet, and no longer kept company; only Master Luo still occasionally made the rounds.

Master Luo returned their bows one by one. "You are all too kind."

Then, turning to Master Qian, he said, "Master Qian, it's been a long time."

Master Qian hurriedly declined: "Not at all, not at all. Before Master Luo, how could I possibly bear the title of 'Master'?"

Master Luo laughed: "Brother Qian, you're being too modest. Given your attainments in arrays, becoming a graded first-grade is only a matter of time."

Master Luo entered the main hall and took the seat of honor; the other array masters seated themselves in order of rank.

A maid of the Qian family came forward to serve tea.

Master Qian said: "This is Cloud-Mist Tea from Lu Peak — jade-green and tender, beautiful in both color and fragrance. Please, Master Luo, have a taste."

Master Luo's eyes brightened slightly. He lifted the cup and raised the lid; the tea's vapor rose in a swirl, like clouds and mist. He took a sip — sweetness slid down his throat and seeped into his heart — and could not help nodding in praise: "Excellent tea!"

Once seated and tea tasted, the group got down to business.