Chen Xiao was stunned. Though this was the first time he had heard of Fasting Pills, the meaning was clear just from the name. Every cultivator he had met or heard of before, whether they were martial practitioners or immortal cultivators, all ate food. But now, hearing that Xi Yunqing did not eat at all left him shocked.
The two of them remained silent. Fearing the atmosphere would turn awkward, Du Rong quickly said, "We wouldn't dare let an Immortal Master's residence be tainted by the smoke of cooking. We'll prepare our meals outside the valley instead."
Du Rong spoke so quickly that the words Xi Yunqing had been about to say were swallowed back down. He had originally planned to suggest they set up a cooking area outside the house, but after considering that they would only be staying for one night, he decided not to bring it up again.
Since Immortal Immortal Master Xi was on a fasting regimen, Chen Xiao did not want the scent of food to disturb him. So, when Du Rong went outside the valley to cook, Chen Xiao followed along to help. Skillfully gathering some dry branches, he returned to find that Du Rong had already dug a pit in the ground and was stacking stones along the edges. Chen Xiao neatly arranged the twigs into a small, well-ventilated pile, lit some dry leaves, and soon, a campfire was burning.
Unbothered by the cold, Du Rong waded into the stream. Within moments, he had caught over a dozen small fish, each about half a foot long and two fingers wide. Squatting by the water's edge, he cleaned them, removing the gills, scraping off the fine scales, and gutting them, then skewered them one by one onto twigs as thick as chopsticks. The fish were too small for quick roasting, so they had to be slow-smoked over a low flame.
Seeing this, Chen Xiao offered to take over. Du Rong had been working hard these past few days, and Chen Xiao wanted him to taste his cooking for a change.
At first, Du Rong wanted to refuse. As far as he knew, this young employer of his had no cooking skills. But Chen Xiao insisted, so he relented. After all, they were right next to the stream, if it turned out inedible, he could always catch more.
Chen Xiao first selected some salt from the seasonings and carefully rubbed a thin layer onto the fish. Then, he took a pinch of the fragrant spices that Du Rong had prepared by hand and stuffed them into the fish's bellies.
Letting the fish rest to absorb the flavors, he turned his attention to the fire. Spreading out the burning logs, he picked out the nearly extinguished embers. Once the fire had dimmed but not gone out, he propped the skewers on the stones and began roasting with practiced ease.
Du Rong, observing Chen Xiao's methodical movements, saw that he was turning the fish at just the right pace for even heating. He began to relax, this meal might not turn out so bad after all. Feeling at ease, he struck up a conversation.
"The immortal sect that Immortal Immortal Master Xi belongs to must be one of great prestige," he remarked.
Chen Xiao thought about it. He had never actually told Du Rong that Xi Yunqing was from the Chongxuan Sect. Curious, he asked, "How can you tell, Uncle Rong?"
With the tone of an experienced wanderer imparting wisdom to a junior, Du Rong explained, "Just look at his robes. That's no ordinary clothing like what you and I wear. Those are enchanted garments inscribed with talismanic patterns, serving the same purpose as my breastplate and bracers. You should know that inscribing talismanic patterns requires highly specific materials. For instance, my breastplate is made from the top layer of a fierce beast's hide, while a swiftness-enhancing garment I once saw at a pawnshop was woven from spirit plant fibers. But none of these compare to the comfort of a true enchanted robe."
He sighed. "The fabric of enchanted robes is even more precious. It's either woven from the silk of spirit-fed silkworms or made from cotton nurtured by spiritual springs. Not just any cultivator can afford to wear such things."
Chen Xiao suddenly realized, so Xi Yunqing was a rich man! But before he could marvel at this, Du Rong added another detail that further emphasized Xi Yunqing's wealth.
"And then there's the Fasting Pills he takes."
Chen Xiao was puzzled. "What about them? Immortals are always said to sustain themselves on wind and dew, fasting to achieve longevity. Isn't that quite normal?"
Du Rong gave him a surprised look. "Where did you hear such nonsense?" He shook his head and said earnestly, "There are a lot of exaggerated rumors floating around. You mustn't take them seriously, or you'll make a fool of yourself. Take Fasting Pills, for example. Because they share an ingredient with Nourishing Pills, their price has always been sky-high. Most cultivators wouldn't eat them unless absolutely necessary."
"Nourishing Pills? Are they expensive? What do they do?" Chen Xiao asked.
"They're used for healing injuries," Du Rong explained. "Whether it's damaged meridians or internal organs, Nourishing Pills are highly effective. A wounded cultivator recovering from an injury often goes through multiple bottles of them."
The last time Du Rong was injured, he had spent nearly all his savings on Nourishing Pills. They ensured a full recovery with no lingering effects or hidden wounds. Any cultivator with the means and foresight would never skimp on them.
"Fasting Pills are usually only consumed during closed-door cultivation, so the demand is low. Nourishing Pills, on the other hand, are always in high demand, making them a lucrative product for alchemists. With scarcity driving up the price, Fasting Pills remain expensive," Du Rong concluded.
In the time it took for their meal to cook, Chen Xiao had gained a wealth of new knowledge. For the first time, he truly understood what his old apprentice had once meant by "obscenely rich."
His cooking skills hadn't rusted. The fish turned out crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, with a mouthwatering balance of salt and smoky aroma.
Du Rong, after taking a bite, couldn't stop praising it. "I've never had anything this delicious before!" he exclaimed.
His words might have been an exaggeration, but his praise was sincere.
Out on their usual journeys, food was never a matter of taste, just sustenance. Meals were prepared as quickly as possible: cooked, eaten, and followed by either rest or a shift on watch. Sometimes, when traveling, they would eat on the move, barely caring about taste, temperature, or freshness. If they didn't eat, they wouldn't have strength. Without strength, they would get injured or die. No one had the luxury to fuss over flavor; they just stuffed food in their mouths and swallowed.
In that sense, Du Rong's remark that this trip felt like a sightseeing excursion wasn't wrong at all.
After finishing their meal, Du Rong decided not to remove the stones covering the ashes, as they might need them again early the next morning. Besides, they were by the stream, where there was little vegetation to catch fire.
The two returned to the valley, where Immortal Immortal Master Xi was meditating in the quiet room.
Not wanting to disturb him, Chen Xiao chose to take a walk around the open space in the valley to aid digestion, while Du Rong sat some distance away from the wooden house and began meditating.
Chen Xiao had barely completed a lap when Xi Yunqing emerged from the house. Seeing Du Rong in meditation, he remained silent and instead gestured for Chen Xiao to come inside. Chen Xiao immediately stepped in, making sure to tread lightly.
Inside the quiet room, Xi Yunqing turned to him and raised a hand slightly. "Sit."
Chen Xiao glanced around. The room was sparsely furnished, there were no tables or chairs, just a thick carpet spread across the floor. Seeing that Xi Yunqing had taken a seat on the ground, he followed suit without hesitation.
With both of them sitting cross-legged, the difference between a cultivator and a non-cultivator became evident. Xi Yunqing sat with a straight back, his posture naturally refined and dignified, even in such a casual position. In contrast, Chen Xiao, though able to sit upright with his chest lifted, felt far less composed when it came to sitting cross-legged. Compared to the immortal master before him, he couldn't shake the feeling that he looked soft and unsteady. He knew it was just an illusion, but the contrast was too stark to ignore.
Noticing this, a faint smile flickered in Xi Yunqing's eyes. "No need to sit so rigidly," he said. "Just make yourself comfortable."
Chen Xiao forced a stiff smile. "It's fine. I'll get used to it." He reassured himself, this was nothing. It wasn't like he was kneeling, which would make his legs go numb. Sitting cross-legged was supposed to look bold and effortless... right?
Xi Yunqing was naturally reserved, his expressions unreadable. Now was no exception. With the same calm demeanor, he said, "Tonight, the two of you will have to make do with resting in the quiet room."
Having come to understand him a little, Chen Xiao knew that beneath his cold exterior lay a warm heart. He quickly replied, "It's no trouble at all. Having a place to shelter from the wind and rain in the wilderness is already a blessing."
With that settled, silence fell between them once more. Xi Yunqing was used to being quiet. Other than a few elders, few people actively engaged him in conversation, which only reinforced his natural tendency to leave conversations hanging. Fortunately, Chen Xiao was intrigued by the immortal master and wasn't about to let the silence linger for long. He took the initiative to ask, "Immortal Immortal Master Xi, did you build this wooden house yourself?"
It was an obvious question. The cabin looked brand new, freshly built. But small talk often began with easy questions, allowing the conversation to flow.
Sure enough, Xi Yunqing answered, "That's right. The timber came from the nearby forest; tall, straight trees."
His construction method was simple and direct. He selected straight trees, felled them, cut them into sections, and split them into planks.
Since he hadn't planned to stay behind alone, he had brought no tools, only what he carried on him.
There had been no proper equipment to build the house, but given his high cultivation and expertise as a sword cultivator, a single weapon had sufficed for everything. Proper wooden structures were meticulously crafted, their joints seamlessly fitted together. His, however, was entirely wooden but much rougher, with wooden nails and pegs left exposed in places.
To be honest, at first, he had felt a little embarrassed inviting Chen Xiao and Du Rong to stay in such a crude dwelling. But surprisingly, Du Rong hadn't shown the slightest discomfort, and Chen Xiao had even looked at it with admiration. Even though this wasn't the first time, Xi Yunqing couldn't help but think, this young man was indeed different from others.
Of course, Chen Xiao was impressed. A rugged, hand-built cabin like this had a distinct charm, something rarely seen in his homeland. Such raw and authentic structures could only be found in regions with dense forests and abundant resources.
Still, one detail intrigued him. "Why is the roof so high?"
Xi Yunqing replied, "The houses where I grew up all had high ceilings. Ordinary rooms feel cramped to me."
When traveling, he could adapt if necessary, but since he was building his own place, it was only natural to construct it according to his own preferences.
And just like that, the conversation found its rhythm. Picking up on Xi Yunqing's words, Chen Xiao continued, "Are all the buildings in the Chongxuan Sect built with such high ceilings?"