Chapter 480

Seeing this ghost chef become nervous like this, Ye Zhangqing couldn't help but smile slightly.

So you evil spirits also get nervous, huh?

Generally speaking, that wouldn't happen, but.......... I.......... I.........

Upon hearing that, the ghost chef stammered in explanation, but for a long time couldn't utter a complete sentence.

Don't be nervous, I'll try it first.

Sigh, okay.

He picked up a piece of demon beef and put it in his mouth; Ye Zhangqing tasted it slowly, chewing very slowly, completely unlike Hong Zun and the others' wolfish gulping.

And watching Ye Zhangqing, the ghost chef grew increasingly nervous.

After about ten or so breaths, seeing Ye Zhangqing swallow it, the ghost chef cautiously asked.

........ Senior, how do you feel?

Huh???

What are you calling me?

Senior.

Forget it, we two at this age probably aren't suitable.

The skilled comes first; since your culinary skill is better than mine, that makes you my senior.

The ghost chef insisted on calling him senior, and Ye Zhangqing had no choice; finally, under its earnest gaze, Ye Zhangqing said sincerely.

You must have put a lot of thought into the marinating, right?

Many chefs marinate meat when stir-frying; that's not a problem, but nothing should be done to excess.

What is the purpose of marinating? To infuse flavor? To keep it tender? Those are correct, but if overdone, it will strip the meat of its original aroma.

Next is the heat control.

For demon beef, the most important thing is heat control; too well-done won't work, too rare also won't work.

Next is the base sauce; when the ghost chef thickened it just now, he deliberately reduced the liquid too much, so that upon eating the beef, it gives a dry feeling.

Listening to Ye Zhangqing's evaluation, the ghost chef listened attentively like a well-behaved student.

Until Ye Zhangqing finished speaking, the ghost chef suddenly knelt down, startling Ye Zhangqing on the spot.

What are you doing?

We were talking fine; why are you kneeling? What do you mean?

Please, senior, accept me as your disciple.

However, the ghost chef's answer left Ye Zhangqing bewildered; I just wanted to taste this ghost chef's cooking, how did I end up bowing to become a disciple?

Besides, humans and ghosts follow different paths; we're probably not suitable.

Seeing the ghost chef's earnest, respectful expression, Ye Zhangqing spoke with a complex expression.

We're just exchanging ideas; there's no need for this.

No, senior is the most skilled spirit cook I, Lao Zhu, have ever seen; please, senior, accept me as your disciple—I am willing to serve you before and after, to die a thousand deaths without hesitation.

It's not that serious; please get up first and then we can talk.

If Shīzūn doesn't agree, I won't get up.

Humans and ghosts follow different paths; I am a disciple of the Dao Yi Sect, you are a Guigu evil spirit—this isn't suitable.

I, the disciple, am willing to leave Guigu and join the Dao Yi Sect.

Huh???

The more we talk, the more absurd it gets—I, the leader of the orthodox Dao Yi Sect, could possibly accept an evil spirit?

After much persuasion, they finally got the ghost chef to stand up; then the two went to the courtyard, and through casual conversation, Ye Zhangqing learned that the ghost chef's name was Zhu Wu.

All the while bustling about, fetching a chair for himself, hearing he was thirsty, he even personally boiled water and brewed tea for himself.

Watching the busy Zhu Wu, Ye Zhangqing called out helplessly.

Zhu Wu.

Shīzūn, you called me?

Don't call me Shīzūn; we two really aren't suitable.

Anyway, the disciple has already acknowledged you as his master for this life.

This Zhu Wu doesn't look very smart, but he is quite stubborn; seeing his determined expression, Ye Zhangqing directly changed the subject.

By the way, how do you evil spirits come about? Do people become evil spirits after death?

The Dao Yi Sect also has an introduction to evil spirits, but Ye Zhangqing had only skimmed it; anyway, with nothing to do, it wouldn't hurt to learn a bit.

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

Not everyone, actually; becoming an evil spirit after death is all because of a single thought................

According to Zhu Wu, the heavenly way has its own cycle of reincarnation; after death, people enter reincarnation.

However, some people, because of various attachments in life, cannot let go of this life; they want to escape reincarnation and exist in another way.

Such people will become evil spirits.

It could be due to hatred, desire, or unwillingness; in any case, there are various reasons.

However, as the saying goes, the heavenly way has its own rules; if you want to break free of those rules, you must inevitably pay a price.

Those who cannot let go of this life and are unwilling to enter reincarnation will be punished by the heavenly way.

The most obvious is the stripping of all ethnic identities.

Once you become an evil spirit, it means you are no longer any ethnicity of the Haotu Shijie; you are not recognized by all ethnicities, and are opposed and rejected by the entire world.

Evil spirits are not limited to humans; the Demon Race and other ethnicities can also become evil spirits.

The heavenly way lets evil spirits feed on all ethnicities, and all ethnicities regard evil spirits as enemies—this is the price of not entering reincarnation.

Finally, once one becomes an evil spirit, they no longer have the qualification to enter the heavenly dao's cycle of reincarnation.

Once killed, it is complete annihilation, no longer existing.

"Every person who is unwilling to enter reincarnation and ultimately becomes an evil spirit believes they can reclaim everything they had in life."

"But only after truly becoming an evil spirit does one realize that this is merely self-deception; in fact, you cannot reclaim anything."

"The first stage of becoming an evil spirit is a muddled Ling Zhi; under the influence of the heavenly dao's rules, you will instinctively harm those closest to you."

"Originally, it's because you cannot bear to part with these loved ones that you refuse to enter reincarnation; but in the end, it is precisely because of this thought that you personally harm those closest to you."

"This must be the heavenly dao's curse; all your hopes, in the end, are destroyed by your own hands."

"But by the time you come to your senses, there is no longer any chance for regret."

At the end, Zhu Wu spoke with a complex expression: those low-ranking evil spirits—whose hands are not stained with the blood of their own kin?

And as one's cultivation slowly rises and Ling Zhi gradually recovers, you yet have no chance for regret, only able to rot and twist alone in a dark corner.

After hearing Zhu Wu's words, Ye Zhangqing asked curiously.

"And you—what made you become an evil spirit? Unable to bear parting with loved ones?"

"I have none; I was an orphan from childhood, and as I grew up I wandered alone, without even a friend."

"Then you................"

"The disciple wishes to prove the Dao through cooking, so he is unwilling to enter reincarnation."

Huh???

I originally thought Zhu Wu also had a sorrowful past, but its answer was beyond Ye Zhangqing's expectation—damn, proving the Dao through cooking.

Just because of this? So you damn well prefer to become an evil spirit, to suffer the heavenly dao's curse?

Looking at Zhu Wu's honest face, Ye Zhangqing increasingly felt that this guy might be missing a screw in his head.

Just as they were speaking, Bai Hua Xianzi walked in.

"Husband, why have you stayed inside for half a day, what are you doing?"

Seeing Bai Hua Xianzi, Zhu Wu hastily rose and performed a respectful salute.

"Disciple Zhu Wu, I have paid my respects to Madam."

Huh???

A single 'Madam' left Bai Hua Xianzi stunned in place.