Chapter 737: The First Blossom's Sword‑Practice Record (11)

"I heard that on the Zhu Ming Fairy Boat there is a tall tower, and a cat‑like immortal lives atop. Swordsmen only need to eat a single bean it cultivates, and not only can they instantly recover from extreme fatigue to optimal condition, but also will not feel hunger for ten days," Jiao Qiu added.

"This one! This one!"

"This one is also fake."

Xing crossed his arms: "You came specifically to entertain March, right?"

San Yue Qi muttered dissatisfied: "Are you really a physician? I came to ask for medicine, why are you here just spouting jokes to amuse me?"

Jiao Qiu calmly waved his palm fan: "Don't be impatient, I'm just testing whether Miss San Yue's request for medicine is sincere. After all, this miraculous elixir's shelf life is short; if I work hard to make it and you don't dare try it, wouldn't that be a waste?"

"Shelf life… are you making medicine or food?"

"In our Finger‑Staining Sect's medical theory, medicine is food, food is medicine. One becomes like one's food, so eating according to the ailment can cure disease." Jiao Qiu paused, his smile deepening, "Well, since Miss San Yue is earnest in seeking medicine, next time we meet I will bring the 'miraculous elixir' you want; you must not refuse."

——

Little Chef.

"Oh? I didn't expect Mr. Jiao Qiu to also be an expert in medicinal cuisine."

Liu Maoxing patted the flour on his hand, looked up at the gentlemanly physician in the sky.

"'Finger‑Staining Sect'… strange name, but it resembles our 'medicine and food share the same origin' philosophy. The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic says: 'Five grains nourish, five fruits assist, five livestock benefit, five vegetables fill.' Using food to regulate the body is the wisdom of Chinese cuisine for millennia; I didn't expect a similar idea on a distant universe's other fairy boat."

"That's called 'Heaven's Dao does not grant alone.'" Zhou Meili lifted a finger, gently wiggling it, "Our ancestors' insight may be grasped by others. However, food is mainly for 'nourishment', not 'treatment'; even the best medicinal cuisine cannot match the precision and power of a specially formulated prescription."

"San Yue Qi isn't ill; if she simply wants to improve sword‑training efficiency… there is indeed a dish that can help her, only we don't know if the fairy boat has the ingredients."

"Huh? Such a dish really exists? What is it?"

"Of course, I call it—'Swift Wind Calming Spirit Ginseng Beef Soup'!" Liu Maoxing, while kneading dough on the board, explained to Meili, "Training consumes Qi and blood and spirit; muscles also become sore and fatigued from repeated sword swings. So, a dish that solves all those problems would be perfect."

"As for how to make it… not hard. Take beef shank, simmer slowly in mountain spring water. Ginseng slices and astragalus are Qi‑tonifying herbs; used directly they taste too strong and suppress appetite, so wrap them in gauze to let their properties seep into the broth, extracting essence while removing astringency. Then tear white fungus into small clusters, soak in warm water, finally add goji berries and simmer, seasoning with a pinch of salt and white pepper powder."

"Oh… sounds pretty good, let's have that tonight."

Little Chef curiously asked: "Meili, are you also going to practice sword?"

"I don't practice sword, but can I not eat?" Zhou Meili smiled slightly, "I'll go get the ingredients; tonight I also want a feast."

——

"Refuse…? Rest assured, I will never waste the medicine Mr. Jiao Qiu painstakingly prepared!"

Jiao Qiu nodded: "Today's matter must not be told to your two masters. If Miss San Yue agrees, I will go collect the herbs and take my leave."

Jiao Qiu leisurely left.

A few days later, San Yue Qi and Xing received Jiao Qiu's message, arranging to meet at the old place.

"Here it is, the 'miraculous elixir' you wanted, I packed it in a thermos for you."

Jiao Qiu pulled a palm‑sized box from his chest.

San Yue Qi curiously examined: "…what kind of medicine is in this box?"

"I left in a hurry, made less… this has cold‑served Millennium Ginseng, Black Jade Turtle Jelly, Hand‑torn Ice Mountain Snow Lotus."

San Yue Qi held her forehead: "…it's over, my food‑safety radar is beeping loudly."

"What is cold‑served Millennium Ginseng?"

Jiao Qiu explained unhurriedly: "Take the ginseng out of the kimchi vat, slice thinly… add vinegar, ginger, garlic, red‑oil sauce to make."

"Then how can it be called Millennium Ginseng?"

"This recipe… I mean the formula's lineage has lasted a thousand years. Can't we call it 'Millennium'?"

——

Genshin Impact.

【48】 "Tsk tsk, Black Jade Turtle Jelly, Hand‑torn Tianshan Snow Lotus… When I first learned spear, why didn't we have such good meals?" Hu Tao propped her chin, poking the fish meat in the bowl with chopsticks intermittently, "If Miss San Yue truly believes Jiao Qiu, after this 'miraculous elixir' she'll gain five pounds in three days, right?"

"Tsk tsk, black jade turtle jelly, hand‑torn Tian Shan snow lotus… When the hall chief first learned spearplay, how come I didn't have such good grub?" Hu Tao propped her chin, chopsticks intermittently poking the fish meat in her bowl, "If San Yue Xiaojie really believed Jiao Qiu's words, after this meal of 'miraculous elixirs' she'd surely gain five catties in three days."

Xiangling also looked quite hungry, couldn't help: "Then I'd gladly gain five pounds, Mr. Jiao Qiu knows his stuff! But speaking of it, is he really a physician? The more I watch, the more I think he's a chef."

"Possibly both." Zhongli said leisurely, "Mr. Jiao Qiu normally serves as an aide on the Yaoqing Fairy Boat, advising that great victorious general, so his main duties are aide and physician; cooking is his private hobby."

"I see, then does Liyue have such miraculous elixirs that make practice twice as effective?" Xiangling asked curiously.

Hu Tao scooped a large chopstickful of fish into her mouth, mumbled, "I don't know if the fairy boat has them, but Liyue certainly doesn't—no, maybe the immortals have, but they never circulate in Liyue Harbor. If the Geo Archon still lived, I could ask him."

Finishing, she lightly tapped Zhongli with her elbow, bringing her face close: "Sir, you are well‑read and knowledgeable, could you tell us some of Liyue's miraculous elixirs?"

The master smiled, "If one seeks a pill that lets one 'ascend in a single step', even the Geo Archon would be helpless. Generally speaking, Liyue's ancient texts do record many 'medicinal cuisines' and 'food tonics', which align with Jiao Qiu's theory, but they aim to nurture the body, solidify foundations, or address specific cultivation ailments."