Chapter 4: with translation of chapter title

Upon hearing that, Ye Zhangqing began cooking noodles, and the three of them curiously came to the big table.

As they drew nearer, they all smelled a fragrance, their gazes instantly locking onto that basin of mixed sauce; this aroma came from there.

"So fragrant."

Their expressions changed; the fragrance made their index fingers twitch, and the craving worms in their stomachs erupted completely at that moment.

"Junior Brother Zhangqing, is this made by you?"

Saliva dripped from the corner of his mouth as he turned his head and asked Ye Zhangqing.

"That's right."

"Can we... have a taste?"

"Don't rush, senior brothers; this mixed sauce tastes good only when paired with noodles."

Just eating the sauce, upon hearing this, Ye Zhangqing's mouth twitched; wasn't he just indifferent a moment ago?

Upon hearing that, the three dared not move, only standing obediently by the table; yet their eyes staring at that bowl of mixed sauce emitted endless light, and the drool at the corners of their mouths kept flowing.

"Holy shit, junior brother, your drool dripped onto my shoe."

"Senior brother, you're not any better; your collar is already wet."

"Ah........"

Never before had they felt time pass so slowly; looking at that basin of sauce, then at Ye Zhangqing cooking noodles, the three felt today's noodles were being cooked unusually slowly.

Usually, when eating noodles, aren't they ready as soon as the water boils?

"Junior Brother Zhangqing, isn't it ready yet?"

This was already the third time they'd urged him; hearing that, Ye Zhangqing replied helplessly.

"Just one more boil of water and it'll be done; senior brothers, don't rush."

"How could we not be anxious? The saying goes, 'If you're not eager for your meal, you have problems as a person.' Junior Brother Zhangqing, I think it's about ready; I prefer my noodles a bit firmer."

For a taste of that sauce, the three had already lost all shame.

Previously, when they came to the canteen, they'd only show up if they had no choice; now even the "dry‑rice people" have come out.

Meanwhile, as the three waited, other menial disciples arrived one after another, entering the small courtyard.

Like the three, upon seeing the big pot and table they were momentarily stunned, but after smelling the sauce's fragrance, each became unsettled.

This flavor, to them, was simply irresistible.

"Junior Brother Zhangqing, is it done yet?"

"I can't wait any longer; why don't you just give me a bowl of raw noodles, senior brother? I usually like to eat living things."

The noodles of the three senior brothers who arrived first were done; Ye Zhangqing topped them with the mixed sauce, scallions, cucumber, and other accompaniments.

He also instructed the three to mix the noodles and sauce together before eating.

The already irresistible aroma of the mixed sauce, at this moment, as the three stirred, became even more pervasive, causing everyone around to drool.

"Damn, it really is fragrant."

"I don't know what exactly it tastes like."

The fellow senior brothers stared fixedly at the three, all wanting to know what flavor this bowl of never‑seen‑before braised noodles had.

After mixing evenly, as the three lifted a chopstick‑ful to their mouths, everyone held their breath, waiting for the three's verdict.

Meanwhile, Ye Zhangqing, who was still cooking noodles on the other side, shook his head and laughed helplessly; what was the fuss over a bowl of noodles?

"How is it, junior brother? How does it taste?"

"Is it good or not?"

Seeing the three chewing their noodles while wearing expressions of utmost enjoyment, the fellow senior brothers all anxiously asked.

"Just give us a word on whether it's good or not."

The three didn't answer, but the next second they instantly turned into voracious abyssal mouths, continuously sucking the noodles from that bowl into their mouths with storm‑like force.

It felt as if they'd been starving for days; seeing this, everyone present realized without doubt that the braised noodles were absolutely delicious.

One by one, they frenziedly gathered around Ye Zhangqing, eagerly awaiting their own bowl of noodles.

For a moment, the entire canteen courtyard was filled with shouting.

"Junior Brother Zhangqing, give me a larger portion; senior brother has been body‑training lately and has a big appetite."

"Damn, weren't you saying yesterday you wanted to switch to alchemy? You even planned to go to Yaowang Feng; training your body is pointless, junior brother don't listen to him—senior brother has been refining artifacts lately, give me a big bowl."

"Junior brother, is it ready? Look, the noodles are practically floating up—it's fine, it's fine."

"Junior brother, where's my raw noodles? Senior brother doesn't like cooked food; just give me raw noodles."

Ten or twenty people surrounded Ye Zhangqing, clamoring, but he was utterly unaffected, cooking the noodles in an orderly manner.

This big pot can cook at least over ten bowls of noodles at once.

Not long after, the second batch of noodles came out of the pot; seeing this, many senior brothers' eyes instantly turned red, as they gazed at those ten‑plus bowls of noodles like they were beholding some rare treasure.

The eldest among the senior brothers said:

"Fellow junior brothers, I feel our Dao Yi Sect has always upheld the tradition of respecting elders and loving the young, so this braised noodle........."

"Mine."

That senior brother was still about to say something, but before he could finish, the many junior brothers roared and surged forward, instantly shoving him out of the crowd.

"I came first; don't you understand first‑come, first‑served?"

"Didn't you hear that senior brother just say we should respect elders and love the young? I'm the senior brother, so this bowl of noodles ought to be yielded to me."

"No, other things can be negotiated, but this bowl of braised noodles must be mine."

"Junior brother, I'll give you a body‑refining pill if you let me eat this bowl of braised noodles first."

"I'll give you two, senior brother—just let go."

For a single bowl of braised noodles, the senior brothers were even willing to trade a body‑refining pill for it.

You must know this body-refining pill is a necessary pill for body-refining realm cultivators' Xiūliàn; as Menial Disciple, they only get ten per month.

But now it's just to exchange for this bowl of braised noodles.

Moreover, everyone hasn't eaten yet, but just smelling the flavor confirms that this braised noodles are absolutely a delicacy fit for humans; otherwise, why would those three have eaten it like starving tigers pouncing on food?

That eating speed is simply not human.

In fact, right now there's no doubt that the three Shī xiōng who have already tasted the flavor have the most say.

At this moment, a large bowl of braised noodles has already been eaten by the three; smelling the aroma, eating it is extremely delicious, leaving one wanting more.

The sauce mixed with the noodles makes this flavor simply irresistible.

So, after finishing a bowl, the three wasted no hesitation and quickly came before Ye Zhangqing.

"Junior brother, another bowl."

Upon hearing this, the other fellow disciples who had been fighting over the braised noodles all turned their gazes to the three, each eye flashing with danger.

The eldest Shī xiōng before even showed a half-smile expression and said.

"Shī xiōng feels you should now line up, letting those who haven't eaten fellow disciples eat first, what do you say?"

For a moment, the sense of oppression from over twenty fellow disciples made the three's hearts skip, they unconsciously swallowed saliva; reason told them they should listen to the Shī xiōng's words, but their mouths uncontrollably said.

"But Shī xiōng, I still want to eat."

At the same time, other disciples had already snatched the braised noodles, imitating the three's way of mixing, and upon taking a bite, the whole person instantly felt as if they had attained sublimation.

"Good...... delicious."