Medicinal Chef Seeks Bookmarks

"It was my fault. Let me introduce myself again. I am Song Changsheng. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Zhu." Song Changsheng gave a solemn cupped fist salute.

"So, Fellow Daoist Song agrees to be friends with Zhu?"

"Fellow Daoist Zhu possesses a chivalrous heart and was willing to speak up for justice on behalf of a complete stranger. To make your acquaintance is Changsheng's good fortune."

Song Changsheng was still quite willing to make friends with those who bore goodwill. After all, living in this world, having one more friend was always better than having one more enemy.

"Hahaha, Fellow Daoist Song overpraised me. I simply could not stand watching that man swindle and deceive people everywhere.

"Today, I felt an instant rapport with you. If Fellow Daoist has nothing else to do, why not find a place and have a few drinks?" Zhu Yiqun spoke humbly, but inwardly, he was already over the moon.

Song Changsheng had already finished looking around for the most part. Hearing Zhu Yiqun's words, he nodded. "That sounds excellent. I heard that Liuyun Market's Jade Food Pavilion has outstanding craftsmanship. Why don't we go there and sample their fare?"

"Hahaha, splendid. Fellow Daoist Song, after you." Zhu Yiqun readily agreed. He had been the one to suggest drinking, so it would have been inappropriate for him to choose the place as well. After all, the two were not that familiar yet...

Jade Food Pavilion was a bustling restaurant. Its owner belonged to none of Ling Province's factions, and did not even belong to the Great Qi Cultivation World.

That was because it was a chain restaurant spanning multiple nations, with an exceedingly deep background. It was said that even in the most chaotic places, once you entered Jade Food Pavilion, no one could do anything to you.

Over time, dining at Jade Food Pavilion had become a symbol of status.

Song Changsheng chose this place partly to show his regard, and partly to prevent anyone from harboring ill intentions.

Friends were friends, but one still needed the proper vigilance.

"Honored guests, how many are in your party, and what would you like?" The moment they entered, a smiling waiter came forward to greet them warmly. His attitude was respectful without being fawning, and he struck the balance perfectly.

Song Changsheng looked around and found that although the first floor was spacious, it was somewhat noisy. He did not like such an environment, so he said to the waiter, "Do you still have any private rooms? Give us one by the window, and bring us some of your signature wine and dishes."

The waiter immediately nodded. "Of course. This way, honored guests."

The waiter led the two of them to a private room named "Orchid." After pouring tea, he said, "Honored guests, the wine and dishes will arrive shortly. Please wait a moment."

"Thank you for your trouble." Song Changsheng knowingly took out two Spirit Stones as a tip.

After the waiter left, Song Changsheng invited Zhu Yiqun to sit and asked, "May I ask which sect Fellow Daoist Zhu comes from?"

Zhu Yiqun smiled. "I come from a Rogue Cultivator background. I cannot compare to Fellow Daoist Song."

Seeing that he did not seem to be lying, Song Changsheng was immediately rather surprised. The other man appeared to be about the same age as him, yet he could not see through him. His cultivation must be impressive.

If he truly was a Rogue Cultivator, then this man's talent was astonishing.

Though he saw Song Changsheng's confusion, Zhu Yiqun had no intention of explaining. Instead, he pointed at Song Changsheng's waist and said, "Fellow Daoist Song, I can smell the wine aroma. You have good wine on you."

Song Changsheng froze, then removed the Treasure Gourd from his waist and said in surprise, "Fellow Daoist's sense of smell is truly keen. You even noticed that?"

The fat man burst into laughter. After draining the tea from his cup in one gulp, he placed it in front of Song Changsheng and said, "Not only is my nose sharp, my eye for people is also first-rate. The first time I saw you outside the Market that day, I felt you were someone worth befriending.

"Today, after smelling this wine aroma, I became even more certain. Fellow Daoist enjoys fine wine, while Zhu enjoys fine food. We truly complement one another."

"Hahaha, I fear Fellow Daoist has had his eye on my Spirit Wine all along, hasn't he?"

Song Changsheng teased him, then pulled out the stopper and filled both cups. For a moment, a wine aroma that seeped into the heart and spleen spread throughout the private room.

Zhu Yiqun's eyes lit up as he lifted the wine cup and took a light sniff, then sipped a little. He immediately narrowed his eyes. Only after a long while did he lick his lips and say, "This wine enters smooth and mellow, gliding down without any burn, with a lingering aftertaste. Good wine—truly good wine."

With that, he drained the Spirit Wine in his cup in one gulp, an incomparably satisfied expression appearing on his face.

Song Changsheng filled his cup again and smiled. "My mother brewed this Spirit Wine herself. If I did not find Fellow Daoist so congenial, I would not bear to take it out."

"Is that so? Then I must drink more." Zhu Yiqun tipped back his head, and another cup was instantly emptied.

The two raised their cups and drank together.

Soon after, the waiter brought up the wine and dishes as well.

A small dish of dried meat, a steamed Spirit Fish, and several meat and vegetable dishes.

The moment they were placed on the table, the aroma of the dishes firmly suppressed the wine aroma that had previously filled the room.

"Jade Food Pavilion truly lives up to its reputation. Its color, aroma, and flavor are all complete, and the ingredients and seasonings are all top-quality spirit ingredients." Zhu Yiqun said with satisfaction.

"Fellow Daoist Zhu says he is a lover of food. Where does Jade Food Pavilion's cuisine rank in your heart?" Song Changsheng asked after taking a light sip of wine.

Zhu Yiqun smiled, then said with complete confidence, "Among the places I have eaten, Jade Food Pavilion can rank in the top five. But among the places I know of, Jade Food Pavilion would rank beyond fifty."

Song Changsheng picked up a piece of fish. The moment it entered his mouth, its wonderful flavor astonished him. Hearing Zhu Yiqun's words, he could not help asking skeptically, "Jade Food Pavilion can only make the top five? Fellow Daoist has eaten at four places even better than this?"

"Of course. But there are three among them that you would not recognize even if I told you." Zhu Yiqun nodded with certainty.

"Then that means there is one I know?" Song Changsheng frowned as he searched through his memories, only to find that nowhere in Ling Province could compare with Jade Food Pavilion.

Seeing him frown in deep thought, Zhu Yiqun gave a mischievous smile and pointed a plump finger at his own nose. "It's me, Fellow Daoist Song. Tell me, do you know me or not?"

"Fellow Daoist, aren't you a lover of food? Could it be that you also know the culinary arts?" Song Changsheng looked him over with a face full of suspicion. When cultivators claimed to know cooking, they meant being a ranked Spirit Chef, not merely knowing how to wave a spatula a few times.

"Fellow Daoist is being narrow-minded. How can a lover of food not know the culinary arts? I am but a First-Tier Peak Grade Medicinal Chef." Zhu Yiqun gave a solemn cupped fist salute.

Song Changsheng was truly astonished now. Medicinal Chef was a genuinely obscure profession, second only to Sword Smith in rarity. He had not expected this fat man to possess such a skill.

"Looks like Fellow Daoist still does not believe me. Then I shall have to show you a little something."

Zhu Yiqun took a small porcelain bottle from his sleeve. He removed the stopper and poured some yellowish-brown powder onto the dried meat, saying proudly, "This is a seasoning I specially made myself. It is not that Zhu is boasting, but no matter what dish it is, adding some of this will surely raise its flavor to another level. Please, Fellow Daoist, give it a taste."

Song Changsheng picked up a piece of dried meat, half-believing and half-doubting. Only after discreetly confirming that it was not dangerous did he put it into his mouth.

After chewing slightly, Song Changsheng's pupils instantly widened...