Chapter 480

Watching the ghost chef looking so nervous, Ye Changqing could not help but smile slightly.

"So, you evil spirits can get nervous too."

"Generally speaking, no, it's just... I... I..."

Hearing this, the ghost chef stammered an explanation, but could not get a complete sentence out for a long time.

"Don't be nervous, let me taste it first."

"Ah, ah, okay."

Picking up a slice of demon beef and putting it into his mouth, Ye Changqing tasted it slowly, chewing very carefully, completely unlike the wolfing down done by Hong Zun and the others.

Watching Ye Changqing, the ghost chef became increasingly nervous.

After about ten breaths, seeing Ye Changqing swallow, the ghost chef asked cautiously.

"Um... Senior, what do you think?"

Huh???

"What did you call me?"

"Senior."

"Forget it, I don't think our ages are appropriate for that."

"The one who masters the craft first is the superior; your skills are better than mine, so you are my senior."

The ghost chef was determined to call him senior, and Ye Changqing had no choice. Finally, under its eager gaze, Ye Changqing said objectively.

"You put a lot of thought into the marinating, didn't you?"

Many chefs marinate meat when stir-frying, which is fine, but nothing should be overdone.

What is the purpose of marinating? To add flavor? To keep it tender? That is all correct, but once it is overdone, it will strip away the original fragrance of the meat.

Next is the heat control.

Demon beef relies most on heat control; too tough won't do, and too tender won't do either.

Then there is the base sauce. When the ghost chef thickened the sauce just now, it deliberately reduced it too much. As a result, the beef feels dry when it enters the mouth.

Listening to Ye Changqing's evaluation, the ghost chef listened as seriously as an obedient student.

Until Ye Changqing finished speaking, the ghost chef suddenly knelt down, which gave Ye Changqing a shock on the spot.

"What are you doing?"

We were talking perfectly fine, what is the meaning of you kneeling down?

"Please, Senior, take me as your disciple."

However, the ghost chef's answer left Ye Changqing with a head full of question marks. No, I just wanted to taste the ghost chef's cooking, why am I suddenly being asked to take a disciple?

Besides, we are human and ghost, our paths are different, I'm afraid this isn't appropriate, right?

Looking at the earnest and respectful ghost chef, Ye Changqing said with a complex expression.

"We are just exchanging ideas, there's no need for this."

"No, Senior is the most formidable spirit chef I, Old Zhu, have ever seen. Please, Senior, take me as your disciple. This disciple is willing to serve you through thick and thin, and will not shrink from any sacrifice."

"It's not that serious, get up first and we'll talk."

"If Master doesn't agree, I won't get up."

"Our paths are different. I am a disciple of the Dao One Sect, and you are an evil spirit from the Ghost Valley. This is not appropriate."

"This disciple is willing to leave the Ghost Valley and join the Dao One Sect."

Huh???

The more it talks, the more ridiculous it gets. I am the leader of the righteous path, the Dao One Sect; can I accept an evil spirit?

After much persuasion, he finally got the ghost chef to stand up. Afterward, the two went into the courtyard, and through chatting, Ye Changqing learned that this ghost chef's name was Zhu Wu.

It bustled about, getting him a chair, and upon hearing he was thirsty, it even boiled water and made tea for him personally.

Watching Zhu Wu busy back and forth, Ye Changqing called out helplessly.

"Zhu Wu."

"Master, are you calling me?"

"Don't call me Master, we really aren't a good match."

"In any case, this disciple has already decided on you as Master for this life."

This Zhu Wu didn't look very bright, but it was quite stubborn. Seeing its firm expression, Ye Changqing changed the subject directly.

"By the way, what's the deal with you evil spirits? Does everyone turn into an evil spirit after death?"

There were introductions to evil spirits within the Dao One Sect, but Ye Changqing had only read a rough overview. Since he was idle, it wouldn't hurt to learn a bit.

Facing Ye Changqing's inquiry, Zhu Wu sat respectfully on a small stool nearby and replied truthfully.

"Not everyone, actually. Becoming an evil spirit after death is all because of a single 'thought'..."

According to Zhu Wu, the Heavenly Dao has its own cycle of reincarnation, and people enter reincarnation after death.

However, some people, because of various things in their lives, cannot let go of the present life and want to escape reincarnation to exist in another way.

And such people become evil spirits.

It could be because of hatred, desire, or unwillingness; there are all sorts of reasons.

But as the saying goes, the Heavenly Dao has its own rules. If you want to break free from these rules, you must pay a price.

Those who cannot forget this life and are unwilling to enter reincarnation will be punished by the Heavenly Dao.

The most obvious one is the deprivation of their status among the ten thousand races.

Once you become an evil spirit, it means you are no longer part of any race in the Vast Earth world; you are not recognized by the ten thousand races and are rejected and excluded by the entire world.

Evil spirits are not just humans; the demon race and other races can also become evil spirits.

The Heavenly Dao makes evil spirits feed on the ten thousand races, and the ten thousand races view evil spirits as enemies. This is the price of not entering reincarnation.

Finally, once you become an evil spirit, you lose the qualification to enter the Heavenly Dao reincarnation.

Once killed, you are completely annihilated and cease to exist.

"Every person who refuses to enter reincarnation and eventually becomes an evil spirit thinks they can take back everything they had in life."

"But only after truly becoming an evil spirit do you realize that this is just self-deception. In fact, you can't take anything back."

"In the first stage of becoming an evil spirit, your mind is unclear. Under the influence of the Heavenly Dao rules, you will instinctively harm the people you love most."

"The original intention was that you couldn't bear to leave these loved ones, so you didn't want to enter reincarnation, but in the end, it is precisely because of this thought that you personally harm the people you love most."

"This is the curse of the Heavenly Dao, perhaps. All your hopes are ultimately destroyed by your own hands."

"And by the time you realize it, you have already lost the chance to regret."

Speaking to the end, Zhu Wu said with a complex expression. Among those low-level evil spirits, which one hasn't stained their hands with the blood of their own kin?

And by the time your cultivation slowly improves and you gradually regain your sanity, you have already lost the chance to regret and can only rot and twist away in a dark corner alone.

After listening to Zhu Wu's words, Ye Changqing asked curiously.

"Then what about you? Why did you become an evil spirit? Couldn't bear to leave your loved ones?"

"I didn't have any. I was an orphan since I was a child, and when I grew up, I drifted around alone, without even a friend."

"Then you..."

"This disciple wanted to attain the Dao through cooking, so I was unwilling to enter reincarnation."

Huh???

He had thought Zhu Wu also had a sad past, but its answer was beyond Ye Changqing's expectations. Attaining the Dao through cooking, what the hell?

Just because of this? So you were willing to become an evil spirit? To endure the curse of the Heavenly Dao?

Looking at the simple-minded Zhu Wu, Ye Changqing felt more and more that this guy was missing a screw in its head.

Just as they were talking, the Hundred Flowers Fairy walked in.

"Husband, you haven't come out for so long, what are you doing?"

Seeing the Hundred Flowers Fairy, Zhu Wu stood up quickly and bowed respectfully.

"Disciple Zhu Wu, greets Mistress."

Huh???

The title "Mistress" left the Hundred Flowers Fairy stunned on the spot.