Hongyun Restaurant

Chu Feng had killed a total of two black goats, one fat pig, and ten chickens.

From being clumsy at first, he became comparable to Butcher Ding dissecting an ox, each knife stroke flowing like clouds and water. The animals didn't even have time to feel pain before they were dead.

Chu Feng used six months of his lifespan to improve his butchering skills, naming it the Butcher Ding's Ox-Dissecting Saber Technique.

Sharpening the knife doesn't delay the woodcutting. Only by increasing efficiency can he plunder more lifespan.

But after Chu Feng upgraded his butchering skill, he realized something was wrong.

Even in this martial arts prosperous era, practitioners were still a minority. Consuming two sheep and one large fat pig could already be considered a contribution to Hongyun Restaurant's booming business.

To achieve lifespan freedom through the restaurant's business, he was still far from it.

But with no other channels available, he could only continue for now, accumulating small amounts into a large sum.

He worked until nightfall and lay down on a communal bed that could fit six or seven people.

The smell of sweat and foot odor mixed with the musty smell of the room, creating a peculiar aroma.

Coupled with the continuous snoring beside him, he couldn't fall asleep for a long time.

However, thinking about his gains, Chu Feng felt much better. He checked his status panel.

[Name: Chu Feng]
[Cultivation: Late Stage Marrow Tempering]
[Plundered Lifespan: 2 years and 6 months!]
[Techniques: Dark Gold Marrow Polishing Technique - Perfected, Breaking Edge Saber Technique - Perfected, Savage Ox Muscle Tempering Art - Perfected, Butcher Ding's Ox-Dissecting Saber Technique - Mastered]

Looking at the meager lifespan displayed, Chu Feng still showed a happy smile, having confirmed a new way to collect lifespan.

Congratulations, the future is promising!

"Brother Chu, you're not asleep yet?"

Beside Chu Feng was the waiter who had previously driven him away.

After witnessing Chu Feng's superb butchering skills, he was sincerely impressed and had been looking for an opportunity to mend their relationship.

"Yeah, I'm thinking about some things and can't sleep," Chu Feng replied casually.

"Brother Chu, I just became a waiter. I offended you before, and I hope you don't mind."

After two days together, Chen Shi Tou realized he had judged Chu Feng by his appearance. This big brother in front of him was a capable person.

"Shi Tou, do you want to be a butcher?"

Chu Feng saw through Chen Shi Tou's little thoughts at a glance and asked directly.

This kid, instead of being in the main hall as a waiter, had gone to the back kitchen seven or eight times. If Chu Feng couldn't see through the kid's intentions, his two lives would have been lived in vain.

"Yes, I dream of it."

Anyone can be a waiter, but a highly skilled butcher is not something everyone can do.

He had never seen such a superb butchering method that could make animals die without feeling anything.

This filled him with longing!

"Alright, I'll teach you tomorrow," Chu Feng said with a smile.

It wasn't that he was overflowing with kindness, nor was it to integrate into this restaurant.

It was because after the animals were butchered, they still needed to be divided into parts, which greatly affected efficiency.

If someone could help him with the subsequent dissection process, he could free up more time for cultivation.

Even though he had lifespan to accelerate his cultivation, he couldn't be complacent. Small amounts accumulate to form a vast ocean.

In the early morning, the east gradually turned a fish-belly white, and Hongyun Restaurant began its daily operations.

"Master, you should wash your face first to wake up."

Chen Shi Tou held a wooden basin and looked at Chu Feng with sincere eyes.

The early morning sun shone into the water basin, creating ripples that turned into circles of fine golden scales.

Chu Feng put on his clothes, looked around, and washed his face in the basin. He asked casually, "Where are they?"

Chen Shi Tou thoughtfully handed him a towel and said, "They've all gone to work. The shopkeeper hasn't returned from his morning market procurement yet, so I wanted Master to sleep a little longer."

Then, he nervously pursed his lips and asked hesitantly, "Master, are what you said last night true?"

He was afraid that what Chu Feng promised last night was just a joke to tease him, which would be a great tragedy after great joy.

"Of course, why would I lie to you when I have nothing better to do?" Chu Feng said with a smile.

"Master above, please accept this disciple's three bows!" Chen Shi Tou excitedly knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times.

"Get up, I'm not one for so many formalities..." Chu Feng smiled and helped Chen Shi Tou up.

After washing up, Chen Shi Tou led Chu Feng around.

The restaurant wasn't busy early in the morning, so everyone was preparing for the day, tidying tables and chairs, cleaning, and so on.

Before long, the shopkeeper returned from the morning market with twelve chickens, seven or eight fish, and three black goats.

Seeing this, Chu Feng lost interest in wandering around and immediately returned to the kitchen to slaughter these animals.

[Killed two black goats, plundered 1 year and 6 months of lifespan.]

[Killed ten wild chickens, plundered 10 months of lifespan.]

If it weren't for those fish, which the renowned chef insisted must be killed and cooked fresh, Chu Feng wouldn't have let them go!

Today's workload was much lighter than the previous two days, and Chu Feng finished quickly.

"That's it? Not enough!"

Chu Feng put down his cleaver, stretched, and let out a bored sigh.

Chen Shi Tou, standing nearby, said, "Master, you were too fierce these past two days. There was still a lot of meat left over from yesterday."

Chu Feng was speechless. This wasn't a modern slaughterhouse, after all. The fact that the restaurant could consume so much meat was due to the large number of martial artists.

"Master Li, my work is done. I'll be taking my leave."

Chu Feng greeted a stout, middle-aged man about fifty years old.

Li Zhenshan didn't reply. Instead, he picked up the expensive Celadon Glazed Cup beside him and took a sip of tea.

Chu Feng had seen this kind of porcelain at the Fang family's place. It was fired with precious jade in the glaze, giving it a color like "the sky after rain breaks through the clouds," making it extremely difficult to produce, with less than one in a hundred pieces succeeding.

Such precious porcelain was carefully treasured even by the Fang family, yet this cook used it for drinking tea. It was truly rare.

No, cooks who drank tea in this era were rare in themselves.

Seeing that the other party didn't speak, Chu Feng just smiled and left with Chen Shi Tou.

As they walked out of the kitchen, Chen Shi Tou couldn't help but complain, "Isn't this Li Zhenshan too arrogant? He completely ignored you, Master."

"Don't worry about others. Respect is earned. When you are strong enough, others will naturally respect you."

Chu Feng poured a hearty dose of "chicken soup" into Chen Shi Tou. He himself had grown tired of hearing this phrase in his past life.

But when Chen Shi Tou heard it, it was like a sudden enlightenment, as if he had discovered his life's purpose.

Chen Shi Tou had wanted to apprentice under Li Zhenshan before, but he was harshly rejected, leaving him with a psychological shadow whenever he saw the man.

Now, Chu Feng's words were like a shot of adrenaline, and he declared with renewed fighting spirit.

"I understand, Master. I will study the art of butchery diligently and not embarrass you."

Chu Feng smiled and nodded. Having an understanding disciple was quite fulfilling.

As they walked and talked, Chu Feng learned that Chen Shi Tou was actually the shopkeeper's nephew.

No wonder the kid could switch positions so easily; he had this connection.

When they reached the main hall, they saw the shopkeeper tallying yesterday's income and expenses on an abacus.

Seeing Chu Feng arrive, he looked up and greeted him, "Master Chu, your skills are truly superb. You finished your work in such a short time."

"Thank you for taking me in, Shopkeeper. How could I dare be lazy?" Chu Feng bowed in return.

The shopkeeper stroked his beard and smiled, "Yesterday, Shi Tou told me you wanted to teach him the art of butchery. I didn't dare to believe him."

"Shi Tou is intelligent and quick-witted. I like him deeply. The art of butchery is just a minor skill; it's good that he's willing to learn," Chu Feng replied with a smile.

"Good, good. Master Chu Feng is truly noble." The shopkeeper was overjoyed.

Chu Feng was, after all, an outsider and might leave at any time.

But Chen Shi Tou was his own nephew. If he could learn that miraculous art of butchery, it would be an extremely good thing.

In his excitement, the shopkeeper took out three taels of silver from the counter and said, "Master Chu Feng, for teaching my unworthy nephew, please accept this money as a tuition fee. I hope you won't find it offensive."

Chu Feng accepted it calmly.

Just then, a man reeking of stench and wearing ragged clothes shouted from outside the door.

"Shopkeeper Chen, do you still have yesterday's swill at your esteemed restaurant?"

Chu Feng thought it was someone collecting the restaurant's leftover food and didn't pay much attention.

However, as he looked over, he suddenly noticed the man walking with a limp, and his figure seemed vaguely familiar.

Chu Feng observed carefully and realized this person was Lin Da Niu, whom he had been looking for.

He was shocked. After all, the Lin Da Niu he knew wouldn't come to this restaurant to collect swill, nor would he be a cripple.

Chu Feng remained calm and didn't rush forward to speak. Instead, he turned to Chen Shi Tou and asked, "Who is this person? Why is he a cripple?"