Master Chef

As dusk fell, the exhausted You Tao smelled the aroma of food.

You Tao looked at Xiao Feng.

Xiao Feng pulled two fruits out of her pocket. "Are you hungry? Eat these!"

The You Tao wasn't smelling the aroma of fruit; it seemed to be the scent of a master chef's masterpiece. The enticing aroma made her drool involuntarily drip from the corner of her mouth.

"Xuetao, what's wrong with you?" Xiao Feng wanted to wipe the You Tao, but her own mouth felt like it was full of water, and her speech was somewhat slurred.

It was an irresistible fragrance.

Meng Yuchun said to Li Banfeng from the shadows, "The Food Cultivator, and the aroma is wonderful."

Li Banfeng initially thought the chef was a Food Cultivator, but he never expected that there really was such a sect as Food Cultivator.

You Tao couldn't hear Meng Yuchun's voice, but she saw a man dressed as a chef carrying a food box come to the edge of the Land Block.

She knew a formidable opponent had arrived, and she also knew that her chances of winning were slim.

But this is pioneering work, and if we can hold out for a while, the You Tao will definitely not give up easily.

The cook raised the food box higher and said to You Tao and Xiao Feng, "Don't be afraid, ladies. I saw that you were having a hard time, so I came to bring you some food."

You Tao unconsciously licked her lips. The aroma wafting from the food box made her so hungry that she almost dropped the knife.

The chef opened the food box, and a roasted chicken, yellowish-red in color, was revealed.

You Tao and Xiao Feng's eyes widened, as if the smooth, tender chicken skin, coated with sauce and oil, had already entered their mouths.

Meng Yuchun continued, "Food Cultivator skills, and color."

The cook, carrying a food box, entered the boundary of the Land Block.

He You Tao the knife and slashed at it.

The chef dodged the attack and, using the You Tao's knife blade, chopped off a chicken leg and brought it to the You Tao's mouth.

The You Tao hesitated for less than a second before opening its mouth and biting into the chicken leg.

She knew she was in a fight.

She knew that if she ate the other person's food, she would inevitably lose the battle, and might even lose her life.

But she couldn't resist.

After taking a bite of the chicken leg, You Tao threw the knife on the ground, sat down, and began to gnaw on the chicken, completely losing her will to fight.

"Food Cultivator skills, taste." Meng Yuchun took out a handkerchief, wiped the dew from the corner of her mouth, and then wiped it for Li Banfeng.

The aroma dispelled much of Li Banfeng's weariness, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "This Food Cultivator amazing!"

Meng Yuchun nodded. "I heard him tell some stories about his past. He once infiltrated his enemy's house, worked as a cook for a day, prepared a table full of dishes, and then massacred the enemy's entire family. I didn't believe it at the time, but after I tasted his cooking, I believed it."

He said that his enemy, while eating, watched his family members die one by one from the poison, yet he couldn't stop eating until he himself died. Although the enemy's cultivation level wasn't high, it was enough to prove the Food Cultivator.

You Tao continued eating the chicken leg without a care in the world, but Xiao Feng stepped forward to stop You Tao, saying, "Youtao, you can't eat this! This thing is definitely poisonous. Let's go quickly, you can't eat it, you can't..."

As they were talking, the chef cut off another chicken leg and handed it to Xiao Feng.

Xiao Feng lasted a little longer than You Tao; she pushed away the chef's chicken leg and tried to resist.

Meng Yuchun said to Li Banfeng, "You saw it right, this girl's cultivation is indeed not low. To be able to withstand this attack, she must have at least three levels of cultivation."

Li Banfeng didn't say anything, and continued to wipe his drool with a handkerchief.

The chef was very agile; as if by magic, the chicken leg in his hand reappeared near Xiao Feng's mouth.

Xiao Feng pushed him away again, picked up You Tao, and started to leave.

The You Tao wouldn't leave; after finishing the chicken leg in its mouth, it somehow ended up with a chicken wing in its hand.

The chef held the chicken leg to Xiao Feng's mouth again, but Xiao Feng closed her nose and quickly dodged.

"Benevolent Dwelling Heart!" Meng Yuchun noticed the traces of the technique. Under normal circumstances, even if one doesn't breathe, one can't block the aroma of this roast chicken. Xiao Feng used the technique of "Benevolent Dwelling Heart" to forcibly isolate the aroma from her body.

If Xiao Feng possesses the skill of Benevolent Dwelling Heart, it proves that her cultivation level is at least at the sixth level.

Li Banfeng nodded, thinking to himself, "It seems I'm not the only one using cheat codes."

The chef was also taken aback. He was a level seven Wandering Monster, while Xiao Feng was at least level six. If Xiao Feng's cultivation level were a little higher, the outcome of the battle would be uncertain.

He cut open the roast chicken, and inside the chicken's belly was a roast pigeon.

The aroma of the pigeon was even more intoxicating, Xiao Feng quickly retreated, trying to keep her distance from the chef.

The cook pursued relentlessly, but Xiao Feng had no way to retaliate.

This is the weakness of House Cultivator. When far from the house, the combat power is greatly reduced. Most techniques such as keeping Golden House Hides Beauty or Deep Mansion cannot be used. When encountering an opponent of similar level, it is difficult to resist.

The chicken leg was right around his mouth, the oil dripping onto his lips. This seemingly playful scene was actually the chef's killer move, honed over decades.

Left with no other choice, Xiao Feng resorted to her "Homesickness Like An Arrow" technique.

She knew the house wasn't there, and she couldn't possibly run back. She was determined to use her skills to increase her speed and escape the cook's pursuit.

After running for a while, she succeeded.

The cook stopped chasing.

He returned to his original spot and handed the chicken leg, along with the whole chicken, to You Tao.

The You Tao picked up the roast chicken and began to tear into it without restraint.

The cook chuckled, "Eat slowly, there's still a pigeon inside, be careful of the bones."

Xiao Feng stood there, stunned, before realizing something.

The You Tao are still in the Land Block, but she has already crossed the boundary.

She was eager to return to the Land Block, but the cook warned her, "According to the rules of land reclamation, you have already left the Land Block, and you cannot come back until the reclamation is completed."

The chef was telling the truth; this is the rule no matter where you're pioneering a new area.

Xiao Feng shouted, "Tao'er, let's go! Didn't you clear the land all for me? Now that I can't get in, what's the point of you clearing the land?"

You Tao bit into the chicken and looked up at Xiao Feng.

She really wanted to go with Xiao Feng, but she just couldn't stop eating. Even if she were to walk and eat at the same time, she couldn't manage it.

She just wanted to sit there and finish the chicken; she couldn't even spare a word to say to Xiao Feng.

The chef spoke up for the You Tao, saying, "Miss Xiao Feng, what you said is incorrect."

The You Tao did come to clear the land for you. Once she clears the land, she can protect you here. You should help her out. Why force her to leave?

Don't you want her to help you clear the land? Don't you want her to protect you?

"That's right. With your high level of cultivation, you certainly don't need her protection. I've been wondering about that myself. Why did you insist on taking her with you?"

"That's none of your business. I can't let Tao'er suffer!" Xiao Feng ignored the chef and tried to rush into the Land Block again.

Meng Yuchun didn't need to be polite at this point.

Xiao Feng is no longer a pioneer, yet she still wants to move into the Land Block, which is clearly breaking the rules.

Meng Yuchun rushed forward, picked up Xiao Feng and flew into the air, then slammed Xiao Feng heavily to the ground.

Throughout the entire process, Meng Yuchun did not manifest herself, Xiao Feng struggled for a long time but could not get up.

You Tao's eyes reddened; she wanted to help Xiao Feng, but she couldn't control herself.

Meng Yuchun's voice came from mid-air, a mixture of low and mournful tones, making it impossible to distinguish the tone or even whether it was male or female.

"Why have you come to my territory? Who sent you here?"

Xiao Feng remained silent.

The cook stepped forward and opened the food box on the lower level.

There was a roast duck in the food box.

Smelling the aroma of the duck, You Tao almost put down the roast chicken.

This smells amazing!

The cook tore off a piece of duck meat and put it to Xiao Feng's mouth. Xiao Feng tried to struggle, but Meng Yuchun stomped her to the ground.

The cook stuffed duck meat into Xiao Feng's mouth. Xiao Feng wanted to spit it out, but she couldn't.

This roast duck is so delicious.

From the duck skin to the duck meat and then to the duck bones, everything melted in my mouth, turning into a non-greasy oil that slid slowly down my throat.

The cook tore off a duck leg and said to Xiao Feng, "Miss, I advise you to tell the truth. What are you doing here?"

If you don't tell the truth, I'll keep feeding you duck meat. If you eat another half, you'll be dead.

After saying that, the cook tore off another piece of duck meat and stuffed it into Xiao Feng's mouth.

Xiao Feng felt a sharp pain in her abdomen, but she still couldn't help but swallow it.

"I'll talk, I'll talk!" Terrified, Xiao Feng blurted out the truth, "A Xia sent me, it was A Xia!"

While eating roasted chicken, You Tao stared blankly at Xiao Feng.

Did A Xia send her?

Didn't I come here to hide from A Xia?

What exactly happened?

The cook tore off another piece of duck meat. "You'd better explain in more detail."

Xiao Feng shook her head repeatedly, signaling the cook not to bring the duck meat over. She stopped resisting and explained the whole story:

"One day, A Xia told me that she had found a good place through divination. The Local Earth God of this place was dead, but the deed was still there."

"Once we find this place and obtain the Local Earth God's decree, A Xia can become the Local Earth God, and that entire area will be our home. My cultivation will also increase dramatically!"

You Tao ate her roasted chicken, she stared at Xiao Feng in astonishment. Xiaofeng's words were mumbled and indistinct, as if she were saying something.

The cook knew what the You Tao were saying and ate his food, while most people couldn't speak clearly.

The cook asked Xiao Feng, "This girl You Tao wants to ask you why you lied to her?"

Xiao Feng said to You Tao, "I didn't mean to deceive you. I was just worried you'd be scared. It's good for both of us that A Xia has become the Local Earth God. How could I bear to let you suffer a loss?"

The cook was silent for a moment, then smiled, "Miss Xiao Feng, what you're saying sounds very convincing. Someone else who's easily fooled might actually have been fooled by you."

But I'm not so easily fooled. Perhaps it's because I've lived too long. If I'm not mistaken, this whole charade you and A Xia staged wasn't to deceive this You Tao girl, but rather to swindle your family's house, wasn't it?"

Xiao Feng panicked a little. "Why would I lie about the house?"

The cook chuckled, "Because the House Cultivator is special. The dwelling, the Home Spirit, and the House Cultivator —only when these three are combined do they form a complete Daoist sect."

If the House Cultivator colludes with the Home Spirit to leave, he is abandoning the house, and the house will inevitably be forced into a bloody battle.

However, if the House Cultivator breaks with the Home Spirit, or even stages a self-inflicted injury, the house can choose to part ways amicably.

Your elaborate scheme with Home Spirit was very convincing. I heard that Zhai Ling even got injured protecting you.

In this situation, the house would definitely want you to escape as soon as possible. If it were a gentle house, it wouldn't try to keep the Home Spirit, right?

Xiao Feng remained silent. Meng Yuchun said to Li Banfeng, "The cook is right. If the House Cultivator spirit has broken with the Home Spirit, or even killed each other, a gentle house spirit will choose to part amicably."

Li Banfeng nodded.

It turned out that the bamboo house wasn't weak, but rather that it was gentle in nature.

You Tao she ate roasted chicken, her eyes welled up with tears, and she mumbled incoherently.

The cook translated, "Miss You Tao asked you, 'Why did you lie to her even after we left the house?'"

Xiao Feng said to the You Tao, "That's because I can't bear to part with you, I can't live without you!"

The cook shook his head and sighed, "Miss Xiao Feng, you look so honest, but you're anything but honest in your words."

Xiao Feng shouted, "I'm telling the truth!"

"It's true that you can't bear to part with her, but that's not quite the right way to put it. You really can't leave her, and you can't live without her, but don't put it in such a sentimental way."

Your cultivation level is indeed quite high, but your House Cultivator is lacking. When you go on a long journey, you'll need someone to look after you, otherwise a human trafficker might kidnap you. That's why you can't do without this experienced You Tao girl.

You're not good at being cunning in front of outsiders, but you're really good at deceiving your own people.

Xiao Feng shook her head repeatedly and said, "I'm not lying to you, Tao'er, don't believe him."

"Still not admitting it?" The cook chuckled. "Let me explain the whole story to you."

You and A Xia tricked the house and ran all the way here, all to find this place where the Local Earth God no longer resides.

You forced You Tao to clear land here because you wanted to help A Xia test whether there were still any Local Earth God here.

You Tao recalled the scene in the tent last night, with Xiao Feng constantly muttering, "It's here, it really is..."

When the You Tao woke up, she said there was a snake.

Were they really talking about snakes back then?

Wrong!

She was talking to A Xia at the time!

She was telling A Xia that there really was Local Earth God here!

A Xia has been with them these past few days!

While eating You Tao chicken, Youtao kept looking at Xiao Feng.

Xiao Feng dared not look at the You Tao anymore; the cook's every deduction was remarkably accurate.

The cook continued, "Once it was confirmed that there was Local Earth God here, and Miss You Tao really wanted to start cultivating the land, you interfered again."

Because you don't want the You Tao to clear the wasteland, you don't want the You Tao to stay here, you want the You Tao to follow you, to shelter you from the wind and rain, to help you through the night, and to keep you company, right?"

Xiao Feng remained silent.

The You Tao shed tears.

Next, the cook asked, "How did you know that the Local Earth God was in trouble?"

Xiao Feng said, "It was A Xia who calculated it."

The cook tore off a piece of duck meat and said, "If you don't tell the truth, you're really going to die."

Li Banfeng listened attentively, having repeatedly instructed the cook to make sure he got to the bottom of this issue.

This matter is of great importance, and we must find out the source of A Xia's information.

P. S.: This cook is so good, it not only touches the heart but also pleases the stomach.

Thumbs up for Ban Feng, thumbs up for the record player, let's get them to 20,000, thank you all, I'm truly grateful to you all.