novelraw Chapter 12 – Was discovered
Chapter 12 – Was discovered
At the peak of Divine Sword Peak, inside a simple cave abode, apart from basic tables and chairs, it was filled with wine jars and a single meditation cushion.
At this moment, a drunken old man in gray clothes sat cross-legged on the cushion without any regard for his image.
In front of him were Lu Youyou and Liu Shuang, who had just returned.
The old man was none other than Wine Sword Hongzun, the Peak Master of Divine Sword Peak, one of the Thirty-Six Peaks of the Dao Yi Sect, a powerful cultivator who had surpassed the Elemental Infant Realm.
"Hic, where did you two girls run off to so early in the morning?" Hongzun slurred, hiccupping as he spoke. Liu Shuang was about to answer, but Lu Youyou quickly interjected.
"Master, Senior Sister and I went for a stroll in the town at the foot of the mountain."
Hearing this, Liu Shuang looked at her junior sister suspiciously, not understanding why she would lie to their master. It would have been fine to say they went to the kitchen at the foot of the mountain.
However, she didn't expose her, and Hongzun didn't seem to care, still speaking drunkenly.
"Don't run around aimlessly if there's nothing to do, especially you, Youyou."
"Understood, Master," Lu Youyou replied obediently.
After giving them some guidance on their cultivation practice, Hongzun let them leave after almost an hour.
"Junior Sister, why did you lie to Master?"
"Shh, keep your voice down, Senior Sister."
As soon as they left the cave abode, Liu Shuang asked in confusion, and Lu Youyou gestured for silence, glancing back at the cave before quickly pulling Liu Shuang away.
Once they were far from their master's cave abode, Lu Youyou explained to Liu Shuang.
"Senior Sister, tell me, is Junior Brother Changqing's cooking delicious?"
Not knowing what Lu Youyou was getting at, Liu Shuang nodded nonetheless.
"Then, would you like someone to compete with you for it?"
She shook her head, indicating her unwillingness.
"Exactly, Junior Brother Changqing's cooking is so good that anyone who has tasted it can't forget it. The more people know, the more rivals we have. Conversely, with one less person, we have one less competitor and can eat more."
Lu Youyou explained with a look of 'I'm so clever,' and Liu Shuang, after hearing this, also showed a look of sudden realization.
Indeed, Junior Brother Changqing was a treasure, and such a gem should be kept hidden.
No one wants an extra competitor for no reason.
"Junior Sister makes a good point."
"Exactly, so Senior Sister, we mustn't tell anyone about Junior Brother Changqing."
"I understand."
The two girls, thinking themselves clever, were unaware that after they left, Hongzun in the cave abode wore a smile.
"Two little girls, trying to deceive your master. I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice, and you haven't even wiped the oil from your mouths."
As mealtime approached, all over Divine Sword Peak, menial disciples hurriedly finished their tasks, eager to rush to the kitchen to queue up. The stir-fried pork was simply too tempting, and they planned to eat two bowls of rice later.
"Senior Brother, if there's nothing else, we'll be off."
"Don't rush, Junior Brothers. I happened to catch a snow rabbit today. Stay and eat with me before you go."
In the Inner Sect disciple area, two female menial disciples had just finished their tasks and were about to leave when an Inner Sect disciple invited them to stay.
It wasn't uncommon in the Dao Yi Sect for Inner and Outer Sect disciples to invite menial disciples for meals. In the past, menial disciples were indeed overjoyed and never refused such invitations.
Moreover, snow rabbits were genuine spirit beasts, beneficial for cultivation practice.
But now, the two girls were solely focused on getting to the kitchen to eat, and they refused without a second thought.
"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother, but we have other matters to attend to. Please don't take offense."
"I see, I won't insist then. Take care, Junior Sisters."
"Thank you, Senior Brother."
After declining the Inner Sect Senior Brother's invitation, the two girls sprinted straight toward the foot of the mountain. Watching their rapidly disappearing figures, the Inner Sect disciple sighed.
"It seems they really have urgent matters, reaching such speeds with Body Refinement Realm cultivation."
If it weren't for something urgent, who would run like mad for no reason?
After all, in the Body Refinement Realm, without spiritual power, sprinting at full speed consumed a lot of stamina.
Yet, these two female menial disciples didn't hesitate, running as if their lives depended on it.
He was filled with emotion, but if this Inner Sect Senior Brother knew that the two girls did this just to secure a good spot in the kitchen, who knows what he would think.
From all directions, menial disciples were running as if their lives depended on it, leaving many disciples who witnessed this scene utterly baffled.
"What's up with these menial disciples?"
"No idea, did something happen at home?"
"Bullshit, one family having trouble is understandable, but every damn family? We've seen more than a dozen menial disciples like this along the way."
Completely clueless, and as these menial disciples ran, they shouted.
"Slow the hell down, I can't keep up."
"If you can't keep up, just rest. Don't worry, I'll eat your share."
"Damn, you want to eat my meal."
Saying this, they seemed to be injected with adrenaline and chased after them.
Half an hour before mealtime, a long queue had already formed outside the kitchen, with Lu Youyou and Liu Shuang among them. Although they arrived a bit late and weren't at the front, they were still relatively ahead.
The queue stretched outside the courtyard, with everyone craning their necks toward the kitchen, just waiting for the call to eat.
"What are you all doing?"
At this moment, at the end of the queue, an old man asked the menial disciple in front.
Hearing this, the menial disciple turned to look and didn't recognize the old man as Wine Sword Hongzun, the Peak Master of Divine Sword Peak.
After all, they rarely interacted with direct disciples, let alone a Peak Master. Usually, being able to speak with some Outer Sect stewards was quite good.
Not recognizing Hongzun, the menial disciple still explained enthusiastically.
"This is the Divine Sword Peak kitchen, we're all here to eat. Senior, are you here to...?"
"Me? I'm here to eat too."
Hearing this, Hongzun didn't expect that Lu Youyou and Liu Shuang rushed here just to eat, and it was at his Divine Sword Peak's kitchen.
He found it a bit odd, but also curious, so he decided to see what was so special about this small kitchen that attracted his two disciples.
Hearing that Hongzun was also here to eat, the menial disciple didn't think much of it, just reminded him.
"There's no problem with eating, but the kitchen rules state that everyone must queue."
"Queue? Even I have to?"
Hearing this, Hongzun was stunned. As a Peak Master, he had to queue to eat at the kitchen?
But the menial disciple wasn't intimidated by his confusion, instead pointing to the front, where Lu Youyou and Liu Shuang were at the courtyard gate corner.
"See those two Senior Sisters? They're direct disciples, but they also have to follow the kitchen rules, so Senior..."