Chapter 75: Meeting Again After Ninety Thousand Li
In reality, Chen Baiqing did not know how to cook at all.
The moment she entered the kitchen, she was like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden, able only to stare blankly at her surroundings.
This kitchen was completely different from the one in her home.
Here, the only thing she recognized was the large iron wok on the stove.
Chu Xingchen saw Chen Baiqing's predicament at a glance. He picked up a small stool from the side, brought her to the stove, and had her sit on it.
With a casual flick, he lit the stove fire. Pointing to the fire, he said, "Just let it burn well."
Hearing this, Chen Baiqing breathed a sigh of relief and quickly nodded her little head. She picked up a small piece of wood from the side and stared intently at the fire before her.
The firewood had originally been in the kitchen. Chu Xingchen always used a fire control technique to cook, simultaneously using his spiritual power to control the pots, bowls, and utensils.
Having Chen Baiqing do something within her abilities would make her feel needed, and she would naturally gain a sense of security.
The dishes to be prepared were not many. Chu Xingchen simply made a few and steamed some rice, and that was it.
While he was cooking, Li Xingtian, who had gone to buy candies and preserves, returned first. He walked into the kitchen carrying a large bag, which he placed on the table and opened.
Li Xingtian first took out a small bag from inside. Carrying the bag of preserves, he walked up to Chen Baiqing and extended the bag to her:
"Junior martial sister, eat."
Chen Baiqing looked up, slightly surprised. At this moment, she could sense that this senior brother of hers seemed to genuinely care about her?
She first cautiously glanced sideways at Chu Xingchen and saw that he gave her a gentle blink.
"Thank you... Senior brother." Chen Baiqing reached out and took the bag of preserves from Li Xingtian's hand.
Li Xingtian nodded lightly, then looked at his own master and asked, "Master, do you need any help?"
"No need. Your senior martial sister said she would rather die than eat the food you cook for the rest of her life."
Hearing this, Li Xingtian wanted to explain but hesitated. In the end, he could only sigh and leave the kitchen, this place of right and wrong.
After watching Li Xingtian leave, Chen Baiqing looked down at the bag of preserves in her arms. Even though the oil paper wrapped it well, a faint, seemingly nonexistent fragrance seemed to drift out again.
She had never eaten preserves before, but she had seen others eat them.
People from her village had eaten them mouthful by mouthful in front of her, telling her they were very, very sweet, very, very delicious.
It was something she could never eat in her lifetime.
That night, in her dreams, Chen Baiqing seemed to have eaten many, many preserves. They were indeed so sweet... even though she still did not know what "sweet" tasted like.
But she remembered that dream for a long time and still remembered it now.
"Eat it, your drool is about to flow out." Chu Xingchen's teasing voice came.
Chen Baiqing raised her head and saw that Chu Xingchen still had the same smile on his face, gently blinking at her.
She seemed to understand a little... what "master" meant.
Without much hesitation, she peeled back the thick oil paper. A bag of preserves now lay quietly in her small hands.
She picked out the smallest one from inside and carefully put it in her mouth.
"Master... it's really sweet."
Chu Xingchen, who was stir-frying vegetables, glanced over and saw that a small smile had finally appeared on Chen Baiqing's little face.
It did not take long for Li Yingling to return, carrying a package full of excitement. She took Chen Baiqing's hand to go change clothes.
As Chen Baiqing left, Chu Xingchen unleashed his full spiritual power and quickly carried several dishes to the stone table and chairs in the courtyard.
There was a table in the kitchen, but on the rare occasions when they truly wanted to eat, Chu Xingchen and the other two would sit at the stone table outside to eat.
Li Xingtian was already waiting outside in the courtyard. Unless his master specifically called him, he generally did not come to eat.
Today, he was rather proactive.
It did not take long for Li Yingling to lead Chen Baiqing out from the room.
Chen Baiqing's originally pretty face, accentuated by the clothes, looked even more outstanding.
Li Yingling led Chen Baiqing over and said with pride:
"Master, what do you think? Doesn't this outfit look very good?"
Chu Xingchen did not answer this question. Instead, he looked toward the gate.
A figure flickered in from outside the wall. Yao Qin's gaze quickly locked onto Chen Baiqing.
Yao Qin nodded lightly and said, "It does look very good."
"What a coincidence." Chu Xingchen looked at Yao Qin and asked, "Have you arranged everything?"
Yao Qin nodded lightly and naturally sat down on the stone chair:
"Everything has been arranged for now. But tomorrow, I still have to go to the Qingfeng Sect to tie up loose ends, and as for the Wind Sword Sect, I'm afraid we have already alerted them."
"Should I go with you?"
"There's no need, you have already helped me greatly. The remaining matters can be left to the Bamboo Jade Court to handle." Yaoqin looked at Chen Baiqing and asked, "Are you planning to take her as your disciple?"
Chu Xingchen nodded and admitted, "Mhm, she is already my third disciple now."
"If it is you taking her in, then I can be more at ease."
After saying this, Yaoqin's gaze then slowly drifted toward the food on the stone table.
Seeing this scene, Chu Xingchen decisively instructed Li Xingtian, who was at the side:
"Xingtian... go get a pair of bowls and chopsticks for your Martial Aunt Yaoqin."
As Li Xingtian brought another pair of bowls and chopsticks, this dinner officially began.
However, Chen Baiqing felt a bit uncomfortable, just silently eating plain white rice. If it were not for Li Yingling vigorously serving her food from the side, she likely would have only eaten white rice tonight.
Yaoqin did not say much either, as if she had come today just to freeload a meal.
Li Yingling, on the other hand, was responsible for livening up the atmosphere:
"Master! This trip with Martial Aunt Yaoqin must have been very exciting, right?"
Chu Xingchen answered without hesitation:
"Naturally, it was exciting! Your Martial Aunt Yaoqin was so impressed by your master's performance that she was filled with utter admiration!"
Yaoqin stopped her chopsticks and softly remarked:
"If you had not misunderstood my final meaning, then I suppose it is fine to say so."
"Yaoqin! Speak quickly! Have you been corrupted by Yingling!"
"Master! That is slander!"
Chen Baiqing watched as her own senior martial sister, full of fighting spirit, bantered with their master, while her senior martial brother calmly picked up dishes, quietly eating his own meal.
Yaoqin, with her icy temperament, now had a faint smile on her face as she watched the two bicker.
Chen Baiqing felt that she seemed to have gained a deeper understanding of the word "master."
The joyous night banquet would eventually come to an end.
After finishing her meal, Yaoqin took her leave.
Chen Baiqing slept with Li Yingling tonight.
As Li Xingtian was about to return to his room to continue cultivating, he received a piece of advice from his master.
"Your mastery of divine abilities is too poor. Practice more from now on."
Li Xingtian was somewhat confused... but he agreed nonetheless.
——————
The next morning.
The gate of the courtyard residence was knocked upon.
When Li Yingling opened her eyes, she found that Chen Baiqing, who was beside her, had already proactively run out of bed and was rushing to open the door barefoot.
"Wait! Put on your shoes first!"
After Chen Baiqing obediently put on her shoes, she trotted to open the door.
Li Yingling sighed helplessly and followed behind Chen Baiqing to open the door.
The person knocking was a young woman wearing a white veil. She surveyed the two with a puzzled gaze, then asked softly:
"Excuse me, is this the residence of Senior Chu Xingchen? Yaoqin entrusted us to bring something to deliver to him personally."
Li Yingling nodded and replied, "Martial Aunt Yaoqin? Yes, I am Chu Xingchen's eldest disciple. Just give the items to me."
"My apologies, but Yaoqin said it must be given to him personally."
"Then please wait a moment, I will go call Master."
Just as Li Yingling turned around to knock on the door, she saw her master already walking out while yawning.
Chu Xingchen stretched as he walked to the veiled woman, "I am he. What did Yaoqin give me?"
"A storage ring and a letter." After the veiled woman handed the items to Chu Xingchen, she said, "The items have been delivered. I will take my leave now."
Chu Xingchen nodded lightly. After glancing at the storage ring, he chose to open the envelope first.
Inside were only two short lines of words.
[See you again in ninety thousand li]
[Signature: Xie Lingyu]
Chu Xingchen refolded the letter and his divine sense probed into the storage ring.
It was filled to the brim with spirit stones.
There must have been at least a thousand of them.
————
ps: To reiterate, this is a lighthearted and comedic novel. This book will absolutely not have tragic moments, because the author does not like them either.
By the way, to supplement a term entry: [Black: Purely negative state] [Gray: Cultivation negative state] [White: Comprehensive minor positive bonus] [Blue: Positive bonus] [Purple: Strong positive bonus] [Orange: Highly strong positive bonus] [Gold: Golden Legend]
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