"Brother Bai wants to help out and learn cooking at Wanmin Restaurant? No problem at all! You've even taught me the recipe for Buddha Jumps Over the Wall—teaching someone like you cooking is a small thing!"
"Besides, Wanmin's cooking style is basically home-style food. The essence lies in its warmth and simplicity!"
"If your wife wants to learn too, just bring her over—I'll let my dad know!"
With Xiangling's support, Master Mao, who was busy outside, readily agreed.
After placing the ingredients that Zhongli helped gather in Wanmin Restaurant's back kitchen, Bai Mo explained his purpose to Xiangling.
"Jueyun Chilies, Qingxin, Glaze Lilies, apples…"
"Thanks to everyone's help, we've gathered almost everything—just a few ingredients left to go!"
"Guoba, light the fire!"
"Lu lu lu~"
Over the next few days, Bai Mo stayed at Wanmin Restaurant, learning Liyue cuisine while helping Xiangling handle the complex ingredients needed for Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.
Thanks to the assistance from Xingqiu, Zhongli, and other "friends," ingredients arrived fully prepared and ready for the final step—cooking.
As Xiangling placed the final piece of ham into a wine jar and added aged yellow wine, she sealed the top with lotus leaves.
"Phew, finally done!"
"Deer tendon, pork shoulder, pheasant, wild boar, chicken breast, softshell turtle, pigeon, sea snail, dried scallop, fish maw, ginseng, longan, abalone, ham, crocodile meat, lotus seeds, sea cucumber, morel mushrooms…"
"With so many ingredients, it'd take me at least half a year—maybe a full year—to gather them all on my own!"
Upon Xiangling's order, Guoba unleashed divine fire beneath the wine jar.
The flames danced, and light seemed to shimmer within Guoba's eyes.
Cooking Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is an extremely time-consuming process.
Each ingredient must be prepared via frying, stir-frying, boiling, or braising.
Once done, they are sealed inside a wine jar and slow-cooked for hours, requiring precise control of the heat—high, medium, low, then finally gentle baking.
By the time the whole process was underway, Xiangling was already exhausted.
But the scent soon wafted from the jar, growing stronger and richer by the minute, unable to be contained even by the three-layer lotus leaf seal.
Bai Mo stood beside her, practically drooling.
Gulp.
Slurp.
Delicious beyond reason.
He didn't need to think—this dish was resonating directly with his gourmet cells!
And he wasn't the only one.
Outside the restaurant, more and more people were captivated by the aroma.
"It really smells like back then…" murmured a long-haired woman in white and blue. "Though it doesn't quite match what Marcius once made, the flavor is close."
"Maybe next time I'll use the Divine Cooking Engine and invite everyone again," she added.
"Heh, Cloud Retainer, your competitive spirit is still strong," laughed a burly man nearby. "Competing with the younger generation, really?"
"The General is right. If you're that eager, why not challenge me in mechanisms instead?"
Zhongli sipped his tea with a gentle smile as his three old friends chuckled together.
Time passed, but old friendships endured.
Elsewhere, Hu Tao was reciting her latest satirical poetry to Xingqiu, with Chongyun and Yun Jin occasionally chiming in.
At another table, an elderly woman sat with a little girl.
"Granny, Senior Sister's cooking smells amazing! Did she use the bamboo shoots I picked?"
"She sure did, Yaoyao! You were a big help."
"Hehe~ it was nothing. Senior Sister's cooking is the real magic!"
Looking at her young apprentice, the elderly woman raised her teacup in a toast to Zhongli and his companions at the other table.
Old friends, reunited after long years.
Half an hour later, the fragrance had already spread across the entire Chihu Rock area.
People drawn by the scent began arriving at Wanmin Restaurant's front door, asking Master Mao if there was a new dish being cooked.
When they learned Xiangling was making Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, people couldn't sit still.
After all, this was the legendary dish that even ancient immortals once clamored to taste!
Some even offered thirty thousand Mora for a single bowl.
"The smell alone is worth the trip. No wonder it's described as 'When the jar opens, the fragrance floats through the streets; even immortals abandon cultivation to come down and taste it!'"
"To taste something like this even once, I could die without regrets!"
Yet Master Mao firmly declined all offers.
After all, the recipe came from Bai Mo, and the rare ingredients had been provided by his friends. Wanmin only provided the kitchen and staff.
He wouldn't take credit for what wasn't theirs to begin with.
Despite their disappointment, the crowd didn't disperse.
They lingered, hoping to negotiate with the young chef Bai Mo once the dish was ready.
As the fragrance grew stronger, even the Millelith had to come maintain order.
"This is getting out of hand," said Zhongli with a helpless smile.
"It's no surprise," Cloud Retainer mused. "Back then, Marcius cooked on Mt. Hulao and even that attracted many. Liyue Harbor today is far more crowded."
"Indeed," True Lord of Lishui and Mountains said. "This flourishing age has made us immortals somewhat out of place… perhaps it's time to withdraw."
Hearing her old friend sigh, Madame Ping smiled and invited them all for tea.
"Cloud Retainer, it's been too long. I have some fine jade-leaf tea I picked myself—let's catch up!"
"I also gathered my own tea and processed it myself this year. Let's see whose tastes better!"
Old friends, familiar rivalries—it all brought warmth to the heart.
Another half hour passed. Finally, Xiangling stood up from the kitchen.
"It should be ready. Guoba, what do you think?"
"Lu lu lu!" Guoba nodded eagerly.
"Alright, let's serve it!"
They carefully moved the massive wine jar off the stove—it had become a "Plus Version" due to the large number of hungry guests.
Xiangling peeled back the lotus leaves.
In that moment, Bai Mo was engulfed by an extraordinary aroma.
It wasn't just food—it was nature.
Mountain mist, forest air, stream water, and the mystery of the deep sea…
The scent carried the richness of game meats, the freshness of seafood, and the warmth of precious spices all layered together.
His mouth was watering uncontrollably.
Xiangling smiled and handed him the first bowl.
"You're the biggest contributor—this first bowl's yours!"
No one objected. Bai Mo took the bowl, his hands almost trembling.
The golden broth shimmered in the sunlight, radiant like captured sunshine.
He took a sip.
Instantly, a profound, enduring umami exploded on his tongue, awakening every taste bud.
It was silky smooth, rich and comforting, filled with flavor.
Each ingredient spoke in harmony—meat, seafood, herbs—all distinct yet perfectly blended.
The meats melted in his mouth, having soaked up the broth's essence.
The seafood danced like waves on the tongue, adding briny freshness.
And the spices—oh, the spices!
Jueyun Chilies teased his taste buds with heat.
Matsutake mushrooms brought fragrant earthiness.
Bamboo shoots added a touch of forest breeze.
Each bite wasn't just a meal—it was a story. A memory. A journey.
This wasn't food. This was an experience.
Even his gourmet cells stirred with energy.
"Another bowl!"
"Coming right up!" Xiangling grinned.
"But, Bai Dage… your skin's glowing?! It's radiant and tight—was that the soup?"
"Doubt it. You try it and see!"
Everyone fell into silence as they devoured their share of the culinary masterpiece.
Xiangling declared:
"This dish will be the cornerstone soup of my life's menu!"
Ding—Congratulations!
You have tasted Red 6-Star Recipe: [Special Buddha Jumps Over the Wall]!
You gained 878,000 Gourmet Points!
Unlocked Reward: Newborn Gourmet World!
Recipe Recorded.
A new world?!
Bai Mo was stunned.
He hadn't even processed the fact that his gourmet cell awakening jumped by 30%, or that his gourmet points had passed 900,000.
If it was really a new world…
He might not need to vie for Madame Ping's Serenitea Pot after all.
But now wasn't the time.
He returned to his meal, surrounded by happy friends and old legends.
After saving some portions for Zhongli and the others, Bai Mo only sold five bowls to the public—at fifty thousand Mora each.
Two were bought by wealthy merchants.
Three were purchased by none other than Miss Ganyu, secretary to the Liyue Qixing.
He even gave one to her for free, touched by her presence.
"Thank you, Chef Bai." Ganyu smiled. "Just now, I felt my master's presence. Was she… here?"
"Master?"
"Ah, don't mind me. I misspoke."
Meanwhile, Master Mao announced plans to develop a "civilian version" of the dish—Buddha Jumps Over the Wall tailored to everyday people.
The crowd dispersed, buzzing with excitement.
That day would become the talk of Liyue for months.
Later that evening, Xiangling and Yaoyao brought food to their masters, while others still lingered around the table in bliss.
Even though the wine jar was large, everyone only got one or two bowls.
"After eating this, every other dish might taste like wax," Xingqiu sighed.
Chongyun nodded. "We're used to dry rations in the wild. I don't think I can go back to that after this."
"Pfft, easy fix," Hu Tao shrugged. "Bring a chef along next time!"
"Who travels the world with a chef?!" Xingqiu rolled his eyes.
Bai Mo chuckled. "Maybe we should invent instant food—like ramen—for travelers like you."
"Instant what?"
"Instant noodles—steam and fry the noodles, package them with seasoning, pour hot water and eat within minutes!"
"That sounds awesome! Let me try it first!"
"Hey! I'm the Hall Master! I should get the first taste!" Hu Tao pouted.
As the bickering continued, Bai Mo simply sipped his tea, smiling.
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T/N:
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