[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-book-of-strange-tales":3,"chapter-the-book-of-strange-tales-the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-72":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Book of Strange Tales",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2317352,4532,"Chapter 72: The Junior Sister","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-72",72,"\u003Cp>By day, the Daoist temple was serene and crisp with breeze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several cats walked in line along the top of the courtyard wall, light-footed; behind them trailed a fox, none knew how it had climbed up—it moved less gracefully than the cats, yet never clumsy, its demeanor showing intense focus, as if practicing the cats’ art of walking on walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below, in the courtyard, three people stood divided into two groups.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The junior sister brought out a wooden table from the dining hall, placed the sand tray used by the sixth senior for spirit-writing, snapped off a dried branch as a brush, and diligently practiced writing characters, murmuring softly to herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cold, comes, heat, goes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Autumn harvest, winter storage…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With each character she wrote, she whispered its name aloud—she couldn’t skip the chant; without it, she couldn’t write the character at all, and wouldn’t even know what the next one was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two beside her were engaged in teaching and learning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is called a flat-edge chisel—it can hollow out wood, carve grooves, or shape curves; this is a flat scraper—it cuts straight lines or smoothes flat surfaces; this is a beveled chisel—it carves fine, elongated lines or intricate details; this is a gouge—mainly used to plane wood smooth; this is the carving knife—used for the finest, final touches.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third senior sat casually on stone steps, addressing Lin Jue with a set of carving knives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The art of carving beans into soldiers breaks down into three steps:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Carving, consecration, and spirit infusion;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Carving is the first step—seems dull, but once you get into it, it’s fascinating, perfect for passing time on the mountain, far better than digging soil or playing with mud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t underestimate this step! Though a bean soldier’s strength and power depend mostly on material and consecration, and its combat skills come from spirit infusion, carving is still vital!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Every cut must channel spiritual energy to imbue it with vitality—craftsmanship cannot be ignored!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Legend tells of a craftsman who knew nothing of Dao cultivation or magic, yet through pure skill reached the divine—he carved objects so lifelike they became real, directly attaining the Dao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue couldn’t help but be astonished:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Such a thing exists?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The world is vast, full of wonders. All arts and techniques ultimately lead to the Dao—why assume your spiritual methods must surpass others’ lifelong dedication? Why believe your path must be easier or lead farther?” The third senior smiled, picking up a piece of wood. “This is soft mountain wood—practice with it. I’ll teach you the simplest first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wood shavings scattered across the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearby, the sound of writing was a soft rustle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gust of autumn wind sent the shavings skittering everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stove’s flames flared brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue’s practice of the bean-soldier art wasn’t wasted—wood shavings made excellent kindling, and the wood itself was firewood; after carving, it was perfect for burning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now the stove was full of shavings, glowing red; when the flames roared up, Lin Jue tossed in a few chunks of wood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several days of practice, the wood had been carved into a rough sphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue reached out and patted the fox curled beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few cats lay dozing nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Autumn’s chill arrived sharply; as days grew colder, tending the fire became a pleasure. The cats loved crawling near the stove, keeping company while it burned—each time they lit the fire, they had to first shoo out the cluster of cats piled inside the hearth. At first, Fu Yao had joined them, but when Lin Jue noticed her fur turned pitch-black and scolded her, she stopped going altogether.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior, I’ll tend the fire.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The junior sister crept over, her fair brows slightly furrowed, her face clearly burdened with worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue carefully stepped over the line of cats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The junior sister stepped in just as carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox, seeing him leave, glanced at him, then rose and followed, settling down beside the stove.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Autumn brought plump fish, crabs, and wild rabbits; this morning, the cloud leopard had brought two fat wild rabbits to the temple, and the seventh senior had caught two mandarin fish in the river below. Lin Jue thought a moment, went outside to dig up plenty of fresh ginger, added newly ripe green Sichuan peppercorns, and cooked a Sichuan-pepper-ginger rabbit stew, while the mandarin fish were steamed with salted pork.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The junior sister’s talent lay in the Five Elements; she had learned the fire-element spiritual art and progressed rapidly, closely following Lin Jue—her control over fire was absolute: she could make it roar or dwindle with a mere gesture or breath, no need to add or remove fuel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the kitchen filled with a rich, pungent aroma, accompanied by the sizzle of hot oil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the sounds softened and the scent lost its sharpness, becoming mellow, only the crackle of fire and the gentle bubbling of the pot remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wave of her hand dispersed the white smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the pot, white rabbit meat swirled, some tinged with hues like sunset, rising and falling in the rich broth; the surrounding fat, tinted faintly yellow-green by ginger and green peppercorns, carried a sharp, familiar fragrance that made Lin Jue feel at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a ladle, he scooped up a corner piece of rabbit, tasted it—it was just right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue was thoroughly satisfied, pinched off another piece for Fu Yao, and offered one to the junior sister tending the fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Taste it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?” The junior sister looked up, startled. “Aren’t we supposed to wait until it’s on the table and Master gives the word before eating?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just a taste.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did she dare reach out, carefully pinch the meat without touching the ladle, and slip it into her mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Freshly dug young ginger, at its peak this season, carried not only its own fragrance but a distinctive spicy heat. The green peppercorns were slightly numbing, more astringent than mature ones; the rabbit meat was tender, never dry, thoroughly infused with flavor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The junior sister’s eyes widened in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only because this was a flavor she’d never tasted, a new category of taste—but because in her mind, rabbit meat was terrible, especially wild rabbit: tasteless, greasy-free, dry to chew, with a faint gamey stink beneath the texture. Whenever the cloud leopard or the fourth senior’s mountain friends brought wild rabbits, they always tasted like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this pot was entirely different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue asked casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Delicious!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wonder and worry mingled in the junior sister’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then have another piece.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Senior… isn’t that improper?” she whispered. “We must wait until it’s on the table and Master speaks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s the rule, but the one who tends the fire and cooks deserves some privilege—even soldiers’ cooks get to eat more.” Lin Jue smiled. “Besides, you really need to taste it properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The junior sister was stunned—she’d never heard such reasoning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before coming to the mountain, at home, there was no such thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before she could think it through, another piece of meat was offered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could only take it, her expression heavy with worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong? You’ve had that frown all day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tomorrow’s my turn to cook.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The junior sister sighed with worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating the sixth and seventh seniors’ meals, though she had no cooking skill, she’d thought she could manage—just put in more effort. But she never imagined this senior, barely older than herself, possessed such talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These past few days, as her cooking day neared, her worry deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior, if they’re used to your cooking, and then eat mine… will they curse me to death?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could they?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’ll hate it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not that bad…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl’s worry grew heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue chuckled, ladling out food. “If you’re worried, I’ll cook for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How can you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl looked up sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not? When I cook, don’t you come every day to help tend the fire and do chores?” Lin Jue said. “Next month, I’ll cook for you—you keep helping me with the fire.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But that’s not right…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice had weakened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I enjoy it. What’s wrong? Besides, if you keep cooking, it’ll be too… I can’t get used to it.” Lin Jue spoke honestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The mountain’s too dull.” Lin Jue said. “But you still need to learn.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll work hard!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The junior sister’s expression hardened, her gloom vanished, her eyes brightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then came a flicker of doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you really like cooking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not? It’s fun—and you wash the pots and bowls for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why do all of you have hobbies? The first senior likes farming, the second likes playing the qin, the third likes carving and brewing and drinking, the fourth likes playing the flute, the fifth likes molding clay and firing porcelain, the sixth likes carpentry, the seventh likes fishing and wandering.” The junior sister grew more confused. “Even you like cooking. Why do I have no hobby at all?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue looked at her with sudden pity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because you’ve always been doing hard labor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mountains truly are peaceful; as Third Senior Brother said, once cultivation is on track, doubts about spiritual methods vanish, and spells only require personal practice and insight—no more daily morning sutra recitations, leaving one bored out of one’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You must find something to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Go into the mountains to cultivate and practice spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beauty of the deep mountains changes often.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stream and mountain are companions; the clouds and moon are peers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Return to the Daoist shrine to practice carving and tend the fire for cooking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The firewood thrown into the stove gradually shifted from rough spheres to neat shapes, then took on forms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The daily dishes were never the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes, in high spirits, he’d bring out jars of wine and gather for a feast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Awakened by the bright moon, drunk beneath the clear wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Month after month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s easy to go from frugality to luxury, hard to go from luxury to frugality. When Little Sister’s month ended, it was Senior Brother’s turn—but still Lin Jue cooked. When Second Senior Brother’s turn came, still Lin Jue cooked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue didn’t care at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the Senior Brothers always treated them well—whether asked for advice or help, they never hesitated. Compared to that, cooking a few meals was nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he said, it added flavor to mountain life and was, in a way, a kind of pleasure.\u003C\u002Fp>",1751,"2026-06-20T14:45:35.226Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3932b4ab3b5c1d8d83d220a80dd17c6b7b43960d1b64ffb6a67dffbc64c6f14f","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-73","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-71",608,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-book-of-strange-tales-cover.jpg"]