Chapter 2498: That's my beloved disciple

Just as the girl was full of suspicion, she suddenly noticed that the Master was staring intently at the senior fellow disciple on the bed, a faint cold smile appearing on his face.

Heh heh heh…

That laugh sounded especially out of place in the quiet room, making people feel creepy.

The girl couldn't help but shiver, and the doubts in her mind grew heavier.

She widened her eyes and stared straight at Vice Palace Master Zhao, full of suspicion as she asked.

"Master, why are you laughing like that?"

Vice Palace Master Zhao didn't expect the girl to suddenly ask, he blinked slightly, then quickly came to his senses and gave a perfunctory reply.

"Oh, it's nothing; I as your master am just worried about your senior fellow disciple's condition."

However, the girl was not satisfied with that answer. She furrowed her brows tightly and pressed on.

"But, Master, the way you just laughed was really… sinister, not at all like you're worried."

Vice Palace Master Zhao's face instantly turned a bit embarrassed; he didn't expect the girl to so directly expose his lie.

His old face flushed slightly, he gave an unnatural cough, then muttered irritably.

"As your master, I am just worried; why are you so suspicious, child?"

After saying that, he seemed to suddenly remember something important and quickly added.

"Since your senior fellow disciple is fine, stay here to take care of him; I as your master still have other matters to attend to."

Although the girl still had some doubts in her heart, seeing Vice Palace Master Zhao in a hurry, she didn't want to keep pressing. She nodded and replied.

"Yes, Master."

Seeing this, Vice Palace Master Zhao breathed a sigh of relief as if a weight had been lifted, then turned and hurried out of the room, as if something frightening were chasing him from behind.

The girl watched Vice Palace Master Zhao's retreating back, feeling increasingly strange in her heart. She couldn't help muttering to herself.

"What's wrong with the Master? Why does he feel so weird……"

However, the girl didn't dwell on this, after all the most important thing now was to take good care of the weak senior fellow disciple.

She quickly adjusted her state, wholeheartedly devoting herself to the role of caring for the senior fellow disciple, showing meticulous care and attention.

At the same time, Vice Palace Master Zhao, without hesitation, rushed toward the Heavenly Family Manor after leaving the Heavenly Palace.

He had long heard of Ye Zhangqing's culinary skill, and his heart was full of curiosity.

Know that Vice Palace Master Zhao doted on his two disciples excessively; from childhood they lived in luxury, never suffering the slightest grievance.

Vice Palace Master Zhao treated them as if they were his own children, his care being thorough.

However, this time he heard the disciples praising Ye Zhangqing's culinary skill without cease, which made him feel quite surprised.

After all, his disciples are not the type to lightly give high praise to others' cooking.

Thinking this, Vice Palace Master Zhao became even more convinced that Ye Zhangqing's culinary skill must be extraordinary; otherwise, how could his disciples, out of gluttony, gnaw raw meat and end up poisoned?

Since the disciples so highly praised Ye Zhangqing's culinary skill, even suffering poisoning because of it, as their master he had to personally taste it anyway, to see if it was truly as delicious as they said.

"This old man wants to see just how sinister this culinary skill really is."

Vice Palace Master Zhao secretly thought, his steps quickening, as if eager to uncover the mystery.

Not long after, Vice Palace Master Zhao arrived at the Heavenly Family Manor in a flurry.

When he appeared at the gate, a Heavenly Family person was obviously startled, but quickly came to his senses and hurriedly bowed respectfully.

"Palace Master Zhao, why have you come, old sir?"

Vice Palace Master Zhao, a highly esteemed figure in the Heavenly Palace, is not only one of the three Vice Palace Masters, but also the leader of the Beyond the Heavens Human Race cultivators.

His presence undoubtedly represents the core of power in the Heavenly Palace.

Ordinarily, wanting to see Vice Palace Master Zhao's face is almost harder than climbing to heaven.

However, today this exalted figure suddenly came in person to pay a visit, leaving that slightly nervous Heavenly Family person astonished.

Faced with this unexpected guest, the Heavenly Family person seemed somewhat at a loss.

He nervously gazed at Vice Palace Master Zhao, secretly guessing the visitor's purpose.

Vice Palace Master Zhao paid no mind to the Heavenly Family person's nervousness; his expression calm, he got straight to the point.

"Where are your family's ancestors?"

Before his words even finished, the Heavenly Family Ancestor, Huang Lao, and Miao Cuihua hurried over.

Seeing Vice Palace Master Zhao, they dared not be negligent, hastily clasping their hands in unison and saying in unison.

"Elder Zhao."

Even someone like Huang Lao, when facing Vice Palace Master Zhao, regards himself as a junior and dares not be arrogant.

Vice Palace Master Zhao nodded slightly, indicating that no further ceremony was needed. He then took a seat in the Front Hall, while the Heavenly Family Ancestor and the two others exchanged glances; finally, Huang Lao cautiously spoke up.

"Um, Elder Zhao, I don't know why you've honored us with your presence today; do you have any instructions?"

Huang Lao's words carried a hint of caution, as if he were wary of Vice Palace Master Zhao's intentions.

Facing Huang Lao's question, Vice Palace Master Zhao's lips curled slightly, he narrowed his eyes in a half-smile, and spoke slowly.

"Little Huang, I've heard that the youngster you've been protecting lately is no ordinary person, especially that culinary skill of his—it's practically divine; if I remember correctly, that kid should be called Ye Zhangqing, right?"

Upon hearing this, Huang Lao couldn't help but startle slightly, evidently caught off guard.

He hesitated a moment, then regained his composure and quickly nodded in reply.

"Elder Zhao, you overpraise him; that child does have some talent, but he's still young and needs more training."

Vice Palace Master Zhao waved it off indifferently and continued.

"I'm not exaggerating; my beloved disciple almost died from poisoning because of this."

"Huh?" Upon hearing this, Huang Lao and the two others stared at each other, full of suspicion.

They simply couldn't understand what Vice Palace Master Zhao meant by that remark, or what hidden scheme lay behind it.

Huang Lao looked at Vice Palace Master Zhao, full of suspicion, and pressed further.

「Zhao Lao, what exactly do you mean by this? I'm getting more confused the more I listen. 」

Zhao Vice Palace Master saw this, the smile at the corner of his mouth becoming more obvious, he deliberately kept them in suspense, slowly explaining.

「Still not clear? My disciple almost died from poison because of this, couldn't even get out of bed. 」

Huang Lao and the three others listening, still completely baffled, as if fallen into a mist.

They exchanged a glance, the doubt in their hearts growing deeper, Huang Lao couldn't help but ask again.

「Hmm, then what? What does this have to do with Ye Zhangqing's Chúyì? 」

Zhao Vice Palace Master seeing this, couldn't help but laugh helplessly, he felt that Huang Lao and the others were really too slow.

So, he simply laid it out plainly.

「I've heard that Ye Zhangqing's Chúyì is unsurpassed, miraculous; my disciple, just because he tasted the dish he made, was bewitched by the deliciousness, almost unable to walk. 」