Chapter 15: Going Out to Purchase

The Dao Yi Sect's rules are strict; moreover, every person in the Law Enforcement Hall is impartial and selfless, with no situation of favoritism or corruption.

So if Ye Zhangqing were to act out of greed and tamper with something, absolutely no one could protect him.

Seeing Qian Youcai's worried expression, Ye Zhangqing said helplessly.

"Steward Qian, what are you thinking? Even if I were destitute, I wouldn't stoop to stealing ingredients—that's just a few coins."

"Mainly, the number of people coming to the kitchen has increased recently, so the ingredients are being used up faster."

Hearing Ye Zhangqing's explanation, Qian Youcai's expression eased a little.

Indeed, although Ye Zhangqing wasn't born into a top-tier aristocratic family, he wouldn't stoop to scheming over a few trivial ingredients—that's just a few coins.

The kitchen's ingredients are almost all the most ordinary kinds; they really aren't worth much money.

However, Ye Zhangqing said the kitchen staff had suddenly increased recently, which made Steward Qian a little curious.

"How did the numbers suddenly go up? I recall there weren't many people going to the kitchen."

"Maybe my cooking skills have improved."

Ye Zhangqing laughed, but all he got in return was Qian Youcai's eye-roll.

"Come on, I don't know your kid's cooking skills; as long as it's edible, it's fine."

No longer dwelling on it, as long as Ye Zhangqing didn't have any ulterior motives, Qian Youcai quickly finished the purchase order.

"Take it."

"Thank you, Steward Qian."

"If you're free this afternoon, I'll go to the kitchen to sample your cooking and see if it's really improved."

"Anytime, welcome."

"Haha, go ahead, and be careful on the road."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Ye Zhangqing took the purchase order and left the outer steward's hall.

Ye Zhangqing truly liked the atmosphere of the Dao Yi Sect, lacking the melodramatic clichés of those novels from his previous life.

Throughout the Dao Yi Sect, no one will arbitrarily give you a hard time; even when you encounter difficulties, your fellow martial brothers and sisters will extend a helping hand.

Disciples of all ranks and elders each perform their duties, ensuring the normal operation of the Dao Yi Sect.

All the way down the mountain, he left Divine Sword Peak.

The Dao Yi Sect's thirty-six peaks, aside from the main peak, the remaining thirty-five peaks are like a formation, forming a circular mountain range.

Not far beyond the mountain range lie as many as a hundred villages.

These villages are under the protection of the Dao Yi Sect, but they are also responsible for cultivating spirit fields for the sect and raising low-grade demon beasts similar to red-pattern pigs.

By conventional understanding, these villages can be regarded as tenants of the Dao Yi Sect.

However, being able to live here is already quite fortunate for these villagers.

First, they need not worry about attacks from demon beasts or evil influences; second, having enough food and warmth is no problem, so they won't go hungry.

Moreover, the Dao Yi Sect also teaches these villagers some simple methods for strengthening the body, which they practice.

Although these methods are not on the same level as true cultivation arts, they at least strengthen the body and reduce ailments.

Furthermore, compared to the outside world, the younger generation in these villages finds it easier to join the Dao Yi Sect; with sufficient talent and qualified foundations, they can enter the sect to cultivate from childhood, which is akin to getting a head start.

Following the mountain path, he arrived at the village nearest to Divine Sword Peak, named Qi Family Village.

He was already quite familiar with the place, and upon seeing Ye Zhangqing, the villagers of Qi Family Village warmly greeted him in turn.

"Immortal Master Ye has arrived; what do you need to purchase this time?"

Even though he is a menial disciple, the villagers still hold him in great respect; anything connected to the Dao Yi Sect appears to them as an immortal from heaven.

Faced with the villagers' enthusiasm, Ye Zhangqing replied with a smile.

"Hmm, I need to purchase some things; where is the village chief?"

"He's at home; I'll take the immortal master there."

Having found the village chief of Qi Family Village, he told him what ingredients he needed to purchase.

They are basically common items, such as spirit rice, red-pattern pork, noodles, scallions, cucumbers, and milk tofu, etc.

A single Qi Family Village can provide all of these, and soon someone was sent to prepare them.

The only thing lacking was some seasonings.

After all, these seasonings aren't very useful and are not cheap, so the villages down the mountain don't produce them.

To obtain the needed seasonings, one must still make a trip into the city.

The three cities nearest to the Dao Yi Sect are collectively called Three Element City, arranged in a triangular layout with one city above the sect and two cities below to the left and right, surrounding the sect in three directions.

All are controlled by the Dao Yi Sect, extremely prosperous, ranking among the top ten large cities of Dongzhou.

At present, the closest city to Ye Zhangqing is First Element City; riding a black-scaled horse, he can reach it in one Shíchén.

Checking the time, Ye Zhangqing planned to go after making lunch; half a day would be enough.

Having gathered everything needed and stored it in a hundred-stuff bag, Ye Zhangqing bade farewell to the villagers of Qi Family Village and returned to the sect.

He happened to return to the kitchen just before mealtime.

"Mapo tofu won't work without pepper; we'll just make do with a meal for now."

Soon they became busy; as mealtime arrived, the original menial disciples, together with Hong Zun, Lu Youyou, and Liu Shuang and her master, all arrived promptly.

Especially Hong Zun, with a swift dodge, he directly took the first place.

"Peak Master, you................"

"What 'you'? Your own strength is lacking, yet you blame me?"

Hong Zun spoke righteously: "I took first place by my own ability—what's the problem? It's your own fault for being too slow."

Hearing this, the menial disciples dared not speak back, but secretly vowed to quickly learn a movement technique or martial skill.

Even if they can't outdo the Peak Master, they at least want to surpass their companions nearby.

In a moment, the many menial disciples looked at their companions beside them, their eyes turning hostile; this bowl of rice must be eaten by me first.

They still ate the meal as swiftly as a sweeping wind and scattered clouds, with Hong Zun eating the most.

Truly, the older one gets, the stronger they become—that appetite of his would make even youngsters shake their heads.

"You brat, you want to go to One Yuan City? You don't know that there have been traces of demonic cultivators in the city lately? The sect is still doing its utmost to apprehend them; at this time you'd better not go."

After finishing the meal, upon hearing that Ye Zhangqing would go to One Yuan City in the afternoon, Hong Zun said worriedly.

Demonic cultivators are no joke—Especially Ye Zhangqing, who has only achieved great accomplishment in the Body Tempering Realm; if something goes wrong, he wouldn't even know how he died.

In response, Ye Zhangqing said somewhat glumly.

"That's a bit troublesome—the kitchen's seasonings aren'tcomplete enough, so many dishes can't be made."

Ye Zhangqing wanted to quickly whip up some new dishes, while Hong Zun beside him, upon hearing that, had his eyes light up instantly—new dishes?

"But don't be afraid either—although demonic cultivators are troublesome, on the territory of our Dao Yi Sect, could they really overturn things? You brat, you want to go to One Yuan City, but you don't have a mount yet, right? Old man, I'll give you one."

As he spoke, Hong Zun's mind stirred; soon, two immortal cranes—one large and one small—flew over from the horizon and landed steadily in Yuàn zhōng.

Upon seeing those two immortal cranes, Lu Youyou and Liu Shuang were stunned, and Liu Shuang couldn't help but ask.

"Master, you wouldn't be wanting................"

"Haha, Ye Zhangqing, who manages the kitchen of my Divine Sword Peak, inevitably needs to go out for purchases; having a good mount would also save a lot of time."

In response, Hong Zun explained with a laugh, definitely not because he was gluttonous.