Chapter 015: The Culinary Secret Manual

Qin Xuanxi rode her winged rhinoceros carriage out of Luo City, and the woman in the blue robe inside asked, “Master, where are we going next?”

Qin Xuanxi replied calmly, “To Weng City, to visit an old friend.”

Weng City governed five counties, one of which was Cheng County, and within Cheng County lay Qiu Yu Village. Naturally, Qin Xuanxi would not tell her two disciples that the old friend she intended to visit was a mortal named Song Ye, with whom she once had a marriage contract. Of course, she herself would never acknowledge the existence of that contract. She had already prepared her argument: after all, it was “Qin Xi Yi” who made the engagement with Song Ye, not Qin Xuanxi. At least their names were different!

Moreover, in these times of war and chaos, few of the village elders who witnessed her engagement to Song Ye would have survived to return to Qiu Yu Village. Thus, there would be no “witnesses” to accuse her of fleeing the marriage; and even if there were, they would not dare.

Since Qin Xuanxi had decided to visit Song Ye, this so-called “old friend,” it was only proper to bring a gift. She remembered that Song Ye had a fondness for the meat of demon beasts. Before leaving the beginner village, she had given him two demon beasts as a parting gift. Of course, a mortal like Song Ye would not know how to use demon beast flesh and blood to aid his cultivation; he simply enjoyed the unique taste.

Qin Xuanxi had tasted many demon beasts with delicious meat, but some of the finest possessed high cultivation value, and it seemed a waste to give such precious meat to Song Ye, who knew nothing of cultivation.

At that moment, Qin Xuanxi sensed that Immortal Master Wang of the Taixu Palace was thirty li outside the city. She recalled that many Immortal Masters from Taixu Palace liked to keep a type of demon beast called the Saber-toothed Black-armored Sheep as a mount. These sheep were covered in black scales, resembling armor, and bore long, saber-like teeth, hence their name. The flesh and blood of the Saber-toothed Black-armored Sheep had little value for cultivation, but its meat was exceptionally tasty. Thus, sheep thefts were common at Taixu Palace, as many cultivators with a craving for delicacies would sneak in to steal them.

Of course, these sheep were quite aggressive, and without sufficient cultivation, one might not even be a match for them.

Qin Xuanxi used a teleportation technique and appeared before Immortal Master Wang.

Wang was sitting atop his sheep, looking relaxed. When Qin Xuanxi suddenly appeared, he was so startled he nearly fell off its back.

“May I ask what brings the Demon Lord of Xuan Yuan to seek me?” Wang asked nervously.

Qin Xuanxi was direct. “I want your sheep. Will you part with it?”

“Of course! Of course!” Wang replied hastily, as though afraid that a moment’s hesitation would cost him his life.

He quickly dismounted, personally led the Saber-toothed Black-armored Sheep to Qin Xuanxi, and said, “Demon Lord, I also have a book, ‘The Culinary Compendium,’ describing seventeen ways to cook mutton. Please accept it!”

With a beaming smile, Wang produced a cookbook from his storage space and offered it with both hands.

Wang knew well that his mount had little cultivation value, and Qin Xuanxi likely wanted it for its delicious meat. His awareness was admirable; not only did he offer his mount without resistance, he also presented a recipe book. After all, Qin Xuanxi could kill him in an instant if she wished; his only hope was to preserve his life.

Qin Xuanxi still wore the violet Shaman mask, so Wang could not see her expression, nor guess whether she was pleased or angry. His hands holding the recipe book trembled slightly.

But Qin Xuanxi simply swept her hand, collected the sheep, and departed in a flash.

Wang breathed a heavy sigh of relief. His life was spared. To encounter this demon woman twice in a single day—truly, the unluckiest day of his life. Yet, he was fortunate; twice meeting her and twice surviving, though he lost a mount in the process.

Of course, he survived only because Qin Xuanxi disdained to kill him.

…

Qiu Yu Village.

At this moment, Song Ye had dragged a stool to sit beside the wooden sign at the village entrance, upon which the name “Qiu Yu Village” was written in bold characters.

Today, his beginner quest was still [Guard the Village]. In ten more minutes, he would complete an hour’s watch and finish the task.

He reckoned he had been trapped in Xuan Ying Continent for a year now.

A year ago, he never imagined that his “network lag” would be so severe as to keep him trapped in this world for an entire year. Judging by the current situation, it seemed he would remain trapped still.

He had guarded this village alone for more than a month. Though all the villagers had left, each household had left behind some grain, which he collected; enough to last him quite some time. Food and clothing were not an issue for now; what tormented him was the long and lonely passage of time. Not even an animal could be found for company.

He wished that, as half a year ago, some Miss Lin would drop from the sky to keep him company.

By his reckoning, it had been half a year since “Miss Lin”—Qin Xi Yi—left. She had never intended to return, as he had always expected.

He never planned to fulfill any major life event in a game world, even if this world was real.

Fortunately, Song Ye had a player space to help him pass the time. Each day, he could enter the space, strike the wooden dummy, and measure his daily change in damage.

He was now level 44. His stats:

[Health]: 469.
[Spirit]: 50.

His highest damage on the dummy was seventy-six thousand five hundred points, achieved that morning. Since his stats increased each day, his damage always rose slightly.

Just then, a slender figure landed before him.

The newcomer looked at him in surprise. “Teahouse owner? Why are you still in the village?”

Song Ye smiled and said, “Ah, isn’t this Immortal Master Zhang? Sneaking out alone to play—aren’t you afraid Immortal Master Su will find out and scold you?”

It was Zhang Zixuan herself, who had now been a disciple of Xuanqing Palace for half a year.