Chapter 461: Getting Ahead Without Forgetting You All

A group of sand-sculpture group members walked through Chen Shu's small courtyard, looking left and right as if they were touring a museum.

This courtyard is also quite pitiful; located on Yuding Mountain, its value is no worse than a residence in the center of Yujing City—at least, it cannot be bought with money—but it is rarely occupied for more than two months out of the entire year, and this time, it is rare to have so much vitality.

Zhang Suannai hopped and skipped, running ahead of Chen Shu, Qingqing, and the little girl, looking at them with her hands behind her back, and asked, "When are you all returning to Yujing?"

"In a while," Chen Shu said.

"Huh?" Zhang Suannai seemed very surprised. "Still have to wait a while?"

"I still have to stay at the Spirit Sect for a while."

"What about Qingqing and Xiaoxiao?"

"They are the same."

"Ah..."

"You go back first. Remember to help water Qingqing's flowers. The faucet is right in the courtyard; you can just pull the hose to water them. As for how exactly to water them and how much, let Qingqing tell you later," Chen Shu said. "Anyway, you have to go back to work."

"Oh..."

"What is it?"

"It's just me alone again."

"..." Chen Shu thought for a moment. "You can call Chen Banxia over. Anyway, going to school from your place is faster than from hers."

"That's true..."

Zhang Suannai walked away while deep in thought.

The other group members toured from the small courtyard's storage room to the kitchen, seeing the neat and abundant kitchenware and various seasonings, as if they had arrived in a new world they had never seen before; they were itching to pull out the kitchen knives to brandish them or pick up the soy sauce to see what brand it was.

It wasn't until Chen Shu stood behind them, looking at them with confused eyes, that the few of them laughed and retreated from the kitchen.

"Is there anything interesting to see here?"

"How long do you stay here in a year?"

"One or two months, I suppose."

"You stay for one or two months a year, why prepare so many cooking things?"

"To cook."

"Is the food in the cafeteria not good?"

"It's alright."

"Then why do you still cook?"

"I'm bored, I have free time."

In fact, if Chen Shu is here alone, he rarely cooks. Cooking for one person is too troublesome; if he cooks too little, it feels like a waste of time and energy, and if he cooks too much, he can't finish it or has to force himself to eat it, which also feels like a waste. It's better to go to the cafeteria next door to eat.

But if Qingqing and Xiaoxiao come, the cost-effectiveness of cooking rises sharply.

Especially since these two creatures are very picky about food; they have been spoiled by him and are always making a fuss about wanting to eat dishes not found in the cafeteria.

"Amitabha," Dharma Master Tongdeng pressed his palms together. "Qingcai Caike truly loves to cook."

"Senior Brother Chen is a good man," Yan Keling smiled sweetly.

"There aren't many men like this left," Wu Eiwei also said.

"For someone who loves to cook, cooking is a very happy thing. If it is cooked for someone they like, it is even happier," Little Master Xuanzhen said. "Qingcai Caike's attitude toward life is always worth us learning from."

"Indeed," Meng Chunqiu waved his fan. "A person like Brother Chen is truly rare. If he could be a bit more handsome, it would be even more perfect."

"Hmm..."

Brother Jiang nodded.

Chen Shu scratched his head and stared at them. After thinking for a moment, he tentatively asked, "Stay... for a meal?"

"That would be excellent."

"Good!"

"This is so embarrassing, Senior Brother Chen~"

"Many thanks."

"Then I will respectfully decline your modesty."

"Brother Chen, Boiled Meat Slices."

"Brother Chen, that, Spicy Blood Curd..."

"Then I want Yuer Chicken."

Listening to everyone's voices, Chen Shu only felt it was funny, then waved his hand with great confidence.

"Wait for it!"

Those who come are guests, and they should be treated well.

So he let everyone wander around the mountain while he took Qingqing down the mountain to buy groceries. After returning, he dove straight into the kitchen.

To live up to the vigorous boasting of Brother Meng and the neighbor surnamed Zhang in the group, Chen Shu put in a lot of effort this time. He even specially bought some seasonings that were not prepared in the kitchen of the small courtyard on Yuding Mountain because they were rarely used, determined that if he couldn't finish them, he would take them back to Yujing, but the taste could not be compromised.

This busyness lasted for the better part of the day.

By evening, the dishes were spread across the table.

First were the Boiled Meat Slices, Spicy Blood Curd, and Yuer Chicken ordered by Brother Meng, Brother Jiang, and Zhang Suannai.

Then Chen Shu also made Ginger Fried Duck, Pickled Pepper Chicken Giblets, Sour Soup Beef, and Pickled Fish, forming seven meat dishes, plus a Sour Radish Old Duck Soup, and deep-fried some Crispy Meat with peppercorn flavor as soup and snacks.

Considering the presence of a monk, Chen Shu carefully washed the kitchenware and made a few signature vegetarian dishes.

They were Sweet and Sour Chinese Cabbage, Pickled Pepper Shredded Potatoes, Mapo Tofu, and Tiger Skin Green Peppers.

He used no animal fat, nor did he use garlic or scallions, and he specially made several dishes that had not been seen at Xinzheng Temple last time. He had played a little trick so that Dharma Master Tongdeng could also have a relatively good dining experience. However, Dharma Master Tongdeng told him tactfully that they did not keep the precepts that strictly; usually, when eating out at restaurants, even if they warned the shopkeeper, it would still be contaminated a little. This did not matter; sincerity is what counts.

Because there were eleven people, Chen Shu specially borrowed a large round table from the cafeteria next door and placed it in the center of the courtyard, where everyone sat in a circle.

The group leader spoke first: "Commemorating the first time our group has collectively eaten food made by Qingcai."

"Amitabha, thank you, Qingcai Caike."

"Thank you, Qingcai Caike."

"I miss Senior Brother Wuming."

"Stop talking, eat quickly."

Zhang Suannai had already reached out with her chopsticks first.

This time, the Yuer Chicken Chen Shu made was different from last time; the last time it was pickled vegetable and bamboo shoot Yuer Chicken, which had more broth than standard Yuer Chicken, but this time it was the opposite. Chen Shu reduced the red oil and broth of the Yuer Chicken and added more coarse chili powder and spices, effectively making it a dry-tossed version, which gave it another kind of feeling.

"Slurp..."

With one bite, the taro was soft and tender.

Each piece of chicken and taro was coated in coarse chili powder, fiery and spicy; the flavor was thicker and more mellow than standard Yuer Chicken.

Zhang Suannai was already shouting "wow" in her heart, but on the surface, she remained calm, instead quietly peeking at the others.

In this matter, she felt that she was not on the same level as the others; the others were all inexperienced, while she was someone who had seen the world often.

Therefore, she couldn't wait to see the reactions of others—

She saw that silly dog Group Leader, under the coaxing of his younger brother, first reach his chopsticks toward a piece of taro, but he seemed not to have expected the taro to be so soft, or perhaps because he had just ascended to the Eighth Stage and his control over his body was not yet very strong, he used too much force with a light pinch, and the taro broke into two pieces.

In that instant, the Group Leader was stunned for a moment.

The others also blinked their eyes as they peeked at him.

Imperial Family table etiquette, gone without a trace.

The Group Leader's silly dog younger brother even recited leisurely: "The smallness of the taro, take half of it every day, and it will never be exhausted for ten thousand generations..."

He recited it quite convincingly...

Chen Shu couldn't help but reveal a smile.

Zhang Suannai didn't know what he was smiling at either, but she found it funny too, so she laughed along.

"Elder brother! Please continue!"

"..."

The Group Leader was silent, glanced at him, reached out a finger, and with a summoning technique, the taro that had been pinched in half automatically merged back together and flew into his bowl.

"You cheated..."

"Ziyang, remember, do not speak while eating, do not speak while sleeping."

"..."

Zhang Suannai snickered and quietly peeked at the others again.

She knew Chen Shu's craftsmanship; it was absolutely top-tier, and most importantly, he often made dishes that couldn't be eaten outside. This novel flavor had a built-in bonus effect of amazement when encountered for the first time, especially since the dishes Chen Shu made placed great importance on seasoning, which had a very strong impact on the taste buds.

She saw that mentally challenged monk had already eaten two bites of Sweet and Sour Chinese Cabbage and was already frantically shoveling rice.

That instigating Daoist had eaten a slice of Boiled Meat Slices and had already quietly widened his eyes, that muscular girl was nervously peeking at the spicy blood curd, not daring to take a bite, and that "hey hey hey" who wore half a mask was eating many pieces of Ginger Fried Duck in a row.

The taste was so good that no matter which dish they reached their chopsticks toward first, they would be easily conquered by it, and then couldn't help but aim their chopsticks at it repeatedly.

Sounds of exclamation rose one after another.

For some reason, seeing the fuss this group of people was making, Zhang Suannai felt a strange sense of superiority in her heart—

A bunch of silly dogs who have never seen the world.

I have long been used to eating this.

Zhang Suannai happily withdrew her gaze and continued to bury her head in struggling with the Yuer Chicken.

"Today at Yuling Hall, I heard the Old Sect Master, the Dao Head, the Sword Master, and the Sword King talking about Cao Ci." Chen Shu used serving chopsticks to pick up a piece of tiger-skin green pepper—vegetarian dishes were uniformly picked up with serving chopsticks—but he stopped his chopsticks and looked at everyone, "Cao Ci might be about to make a move soon; perhaps they will go out personally to stop him."

Everyone made some "mm-hmm" sounds, concentrating on eating.

Chen Shu:??

In the end, it was Zhang Suannai who saw he was pitiful and spoke up to play along:

"And then?"

Chen Shu turned his head to look at her, then looked at the others, was silent for a few seconds, waved his hand, and decided forget it, it was not worth mentioning.

"??"

Zhang Suannai's face turned green and then white.

So she turned her grief and indignation into appetite, buried her head, and focused on dealing with the Yuer Chicken in front of her, deciding that no matter what, she would not make a sound.

However, after only a few seconds, she raised her head again and said to Dharma Master Tongdeng: "I recommend you try the Yuer Chicken, really, I sincerely recommend it; I think this is the most delicious dish Chen Shu makes... one of them."

No response was received.

"!"

Fine! None of you will talk to me! I won't talk to you either!

Zhang Suannai lowered her head again.

Time passed bit by bit.

As their stomachs gradually bulged and their appetites decreased, the speed of the crowd gradually slowed down, and they finally had time to communicate.

"Qingcai Caike, what did you say just now?"

"It seemed to be about Cao Ci's matter..."

"Why didn't any of you reply to Senior Brother Chen?"

"I thought you would reply."

"I thought you would reply."

"I thought the Group Leader would reply."

"Didn't Zhang Suannai reply?"

"Her? Isn't that the same as not replying?"

"Stupid dog! I, your grandmother, am a person of great magnanimity; for the sake of the Yuer Chicken, I won't hold it against you!"

"I heard that Senior Cao's origin has been fully collected; if he wants to begin the fusion, this year is the best opportunity. After this year, those who originally worshipped him might slowly lose interest due to the passage of time," the group leader said indifferently, though his eyes were fixed on the Ginger Fried Duck, "The longer it drags on, the more disadvantageous it is for him."

"Yes," Little Master Xuanzhen also said, "Our growth rate will also put pressure on him."

"Brother, no talking while eating, no talking while sleeping."

"That's coming up soon, then."

"It shouldn't have anything to do with us, right?"

This last sentence was said by Wu Eiwei; the voice was very cold, but after everyone heard it, they couldn't help but shift their gazes simultaneously, secretly glancing toward Chen Shu's side—only to see Zhaoye Qing silently eating pickled pepper chicken giblets, head bowed while drinking the Sour Radish Old Duck Soup in her bowl, turning a deaf ear to their conversation.

A Secret Sect Practitioner, truly cold and aloof.

The few who didn't get an answer had no choice but to retract their gazes and continue the battle.

The sunset at the horizon was brilliant, the evening glow like blood.

"Many thanks for the hospitality."

"Many thanks, Qingcai Caike."

"Many thanks, Senior Brother Chen..."

"We shall take our leave..."

"..."

Everyone ate their fill and left satisfied.

And what satisfied them was by no means just the taste.

The highest-standard banquet in this world is a meal cooked by one's own hands. Food culture is an important component of Xia culture; after finishing such a meal, it seemed that the relationships between them had also grown a bit closer.

How could Chen Shu not be satisfied as well?

In the coming days, the Spirit Sect gradually became quiet.

Once the disciples who had rushed back to the sect to attend the ceremony finished the other things they had incidentally needed to do and left the sect one after another, returning to the four corners of the world, this Yuding Mountain also returned to its former tranquility, and the Sect Master also became free.

Chen Shu continued to study the Blazing Sun World-Extinguishing Divine Art, often going to find the Sect Master to ask about difficult points and absorb his experience.

It was a pity that the Sect Master still refused to play chess with him.

At the same time, the news of the Spirit Sect's change of Sect Master also spread across the country and even the globe.

The Spirit Sect, which had been passed down for five thousand years, possessed two Ninth Stage experts, held countless high-level talents and patented technologies, and had extensive industrial involvement; its change of Sect Master was much bigger news than those world-class enterprises changing chairmen, plus the mysterious attribute bonus of ancient cultivators, so everyone was very concerned.

Common news reports generally used footage of big shots like the Yi Emperor arriving at the Spirit Sect and stepping onto the red carpet to meet the Vice Sect Master, or footage of them arriving at the Spirit Sect and offering incense to pay respects to the Spirit Saint, but there were also many clever media outlets that focused on the group of extraordinary young people behind them.

As it happened, most of these young people were acquaintances.

Coupled with the propaganda department's intentional promotion of them, this type of news also had quite high popularity.

So much so that even Wei Lvshi saw it.

Chen Shu, on the contrary, hadn't been scrolling through short videos.

A Spell like the Blazing Sun World-Extinguishing Divine Art was incomparably complex, yet it had a fatal attraction for him; if he had known it would be like this, someone like him, a salted fish, might have subconsciously developed a resistance to it and not wanted to touch it, but once he started, it resulted in Lazy Cancer retreating and becoming obsessed.

Even the unshakable one hour was omitted.

Qingqing called it a relief.

When these news items were seen, it was still because of the messages Wei Lvshi and Chen Banxia posted in the group.

Wei Lvshi: 【Image】

Wei Lvshi: 【Image】

Wei Lvshi: 【Image】

Wei Lvshi: @Chen Shu

Wei Lvshi: Not bad, you have much more capability than I imagined; you hid it so tightly, you did.

Chen Banxia:???

Chen Banxia: Little brother, you hid it deep.

Chen Banxia: I thought you just had good talent and were valued by the Spirit Sect; I didn't expect you to be doing so well.

Wei Lvshi: Come out and explain @Chen Shu

Chen Banxia: Come out and get beaten @Chen Shu

Chen Banxia: This dog is probably scared.

Chen Jiaoshou: I heard that after the new Spirit Sect Master took office, they are going to start promoting the popularization of Purple Spirit Crystal; is that true or false?

Chen Shu looked at the messages and scratched his head.

Then he decisively typed a reply—

Chen Shu: Don't worry.

Chen Shu: Now that I've struck it rich, I won't forget you all.

Wei Lvshi and Chen Banxia did not reply.

Perhaps they were stunned into silence.