Chapter 1837: Fellow Daoist, you too can't get by, right?

Watching the middle-aged man turn and leave without looking back, without a hint of hesitation, Ye Zhangqing didn't pay it any mind.

Right now I can't leave; since I've come, I might as well settle in, so I stepped into the courtyard.

As soon as I entered the gate, I saw many people gathered in the small courtyard—over twenty or thirty people living in this tiny place.

Upon seeing Ye Zhangqing, many turned their gazes toward him; after sizing him up, some looked away, some showed curiosity, and others gave a friendly nod and smile as a greeting.

"Fellow Daoist, are you a newcomer? Which faction are you from?"

Just then, a youth with shifty eyes and a thin, small build darted up to me in a few steps and, being overly familiar, asked.

Looking at this youth whose appearance was hard to describe, Ye Zhangqing simply replied.

"The Guo family."

"Oh, you're from the Guo family. I'm Huang Chong, from the Huang family."

"Ye Zhangqing."

"Huh??? Fellow Daoist, you don't have the Guo surname? Oh, I get it—you took your father's name, and your mother is from the Guo family, right?"

Hearing Ye Zhangqing's words, the kid named Huang Chong started to fill in the blanks himself; seeing this, Ye Zhangqing couldn't be bothered to explain.

Actually, this is normal—those assigned to this courtyard are all supposedly second-generation scions of the major powers of the Immortal Realm.

Furthermore, they are thoroughly without any standing—basically, in their own families and sects, they are considered fringe members.

So Ye Zhangqing hails from the Guo family but doesn't bear the Guo surname, which isn't unusual at all—there are several such people in this courtyard.

Thinking he had figured out the truth, Huang Chong promptly took the initiative to show Ye Zhangqing around and arrange his lodging.

Called lodging, it was really just a single bed.

With so many people living in the courtyard, having a room to oneself is obviously impossible; they share rooms two to a room.

And the room Huang Chong happened to have an empty bed in, so Ye Zhangqing naturally moved in.

The two returned to the room, Ye Zhangqing glanced at the sparse layout, then plopped down onto the bed.

Meanwhile, Huang Chong opposite him spoke enthusiastically.

"Fellow Daoist, you too were sent here because you couldn't get by at home, right?"

"Huh???"

Hearing that, Ye Zhangqing blinked, wondering how he couldn't get by.

Seeing his reaction, Huang Chong assumed he'd guessed again, and without waiting for Ye Zhangqing's reply, he went on talking to himself.

His words and expression were full of sighs, like an old man who has weathered the world.

"Actually, for people like us, being a spirit chef isn't bad."

"Although we come from great clans, in the clan we're not much better than servants—our fathers don't dote on us, our mothers don't love us."

"The cultivation resources the clan gives are pitifully scarce, and with my own talent lacking, the clan basically doesn't value us at all."

"Wanting to become a strong cultivator, or a pill master or artifact master, is basically impossible."

"Being a spirit chef at least gives you a skill to put food on the table; although the earnings surely can't compare to those of pill masters and the like, it's enough to scrape by."

"And even coming to this Cooking King Immortal City took my father a lot of effort; I suppose Ye Brother is the same, otherwise the clan wouldn't bother sending us here."

This Huang Chong is really overly familiar—just after meeting, he started talking nonstop, leaving Ye Zhangqing unable to get a word in.

But from his mouth I also learned quite a bit about what's going on here with Ma Qiankun.

In the Cooking King Immortal City, every elder has the right to open a hall and take disciples, and this hall is called the Fire Hall.

Basically, the Fire Halls of the various elders are all the same.

Earlier, when Ye Zhangqing entered the front courtyard, he saw those stoves, which basically only those of higher-born second-generation scions were qualified to use.

These people are basically collateral-branch descendants of the major families, but since their bloodline doesn't go beyond three generations, they aren't yet considered completely fringe.

In the clan, these people still have some name and recognition—at least they can be remembered.

Therefore, when they come to the Cooking King Immortal City, they can follow the elders and learn some true culinary arts.

But people like Ye Zhangqing, Huang Chong, and the like, whose blood ties to their families exceed three generations, are truly the offspring of fringe members.

Then they can only do the most basic tasks.

Namely, handling ingredients and such.

If luck is good, maybe they can pick up a skill or two.

In short, these disciples are just thrown into the Cooking King Immortal City by their families to sink or swim—so much so that even the city doesn't bother to court them.

Who made them be reborn with worse luck?

Of course, there are exceptions—for instance, if you have a talent for culinary arts, just like those without any background.

If an elder or a steward takes notice, you can truly learn some genuine skills.

"So, Ye Brother, you don't need to overthink it—while this world has so many people, there are those true dragons soaring above the nine heavens, and naturally there are also us lowly mice scurrying in the obscurity."

"Everyone wants to shoot straight to the heavens, but there aren't that many chances to do so; we, for our part, will honestly learn a trade and cultivate to a middling level of attainment."

"Just getting by steadily through life is enough—neither surpassing those above nor falling short of those below."

Hearing these sentiments, Ye Zhangqing smiled and looked at Huang Chong.

"Brother Huang, you sure take things lightly."

In response, Huang Chong grinned broadly, giving an utterly carefree, unbothered air.

"Whether you see things openly or not, what can you do about it?"

"As for people, who hasn't had dreams?"

"Not to hide it from you, Brother Ye, when I was young I also dreamed of defying fate, to have those main-branch descendants see us, not look down on us collateral-branch scions—don't underestimate the poor youth."

"But later I realized this was nothing more than a wishful fantasy."

"Their starting point is practically your endpoint—what do you have to compare with them?"

"Not to mention cultivation resources—your talent, aptitude, and bloodline power simply can't match theirs."

Other people's family bloodline is naturally richer than yours; even in the womb they're nourished with all kinds of heavenly treasures and earthly riches. As for us? We've got jack shit.

So the point is, a person's worth lies in self-knowledge; a true dragon has its own brilliance, able to soar above the nine heavens and rule over the world's rise and fall.

But even mice have their own way of life; clearly they're mice, yet they insist on dreaming the dreams of a true dragon— isn't that just fighting against oneself? In the end it only harms oneself, right, Brother Ye?

Huang Chong asked with a smile; hearing that, Ye Zhangqing nodded and likewise replied with a smile.

That's what Brother Huang said.

Haha, I said I and Brother Ye would hit it off at first sight, and indeed I wasn't wrong.

You and I should study well in this Cooking King Immortal City for several decades; once our training is complete, I think we can join forces, find an auspicious spot, open a restaurant, marry a few wives, and live out our lives in peace and ease—that would be a carefree and contented life.

As they spoke, Huang Chong's eyes were full of longing; perhaps this was his greatest wish in life.