Longing

The tongues of fire swept over the corpse, burning it to ashes. A gust of wind rose, scattering the bone ash across the ground.

The autumn wind was bleak. Some among them were ordinary people unable to cultivate; without cultivation, they could not withstand changes in temperature, and the autumn chill left them shivering.

Qin Leyan saw this and stepped forward, saying gently, "The night is deep and the wind is cold. You should all go back and rest first. Do not let yourselves catch a chill."

Hearing this, Bai Suji called for her brothers and sisters to head back. They had only just regained their freedom—how unfortunate would it be if they caught a cold now?

After they left, Bing Ling returned carrying a heap of food. Of course, all of it was raw.

His stomach had been growling, so he had wandered around looking for something to eat. He could hardly take the pastries from other people's rooms, so he had gone to the kitchen instead.

There was food in the kitchen, but it was all raw.

Bing Ling did not mind in the slightest. He packed up all the raw ingredients, thinking that since Qin Xiaoran often went out on expeditions, he ought to know how to cook.

"Xiaoran, I'm hungry. All these ingredients from the kitchen are raw—could you process them for me?"

At the mention of food, Feng Wuhen and the others felt hungry as well. Together with Bing Ling, they turned to look at Qin Xiaoran, who was sitting on the ground recovering.

Qin Xiaoran had only just regained a little strength through meditation when these few bottomless pits started thinking about making him cook. But the key was, he did not know how at all!

"Why would you think I know how to cook?"

Hearing that, Feng Wuhen and the others looked at Bing Ling. He had been the first one to say it. Bing Ling looked at Qin Xiaoran as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "When you go out on expeditions, don't you eat? There may be inns, but often there aren't any. Wouldn't you have to cook for yourself then? So I thought you could cook. That's normal, isn't it?"

Qin Xiaoran gave a soft laugh. "Heh, your reasoning is quite sound, but I am an immortal cultivator. I can practice Grain Avoidance.

So I have no need to eat, and naturally, I do not know how to cook. Sorry to disappoint you!"

Qin Xiaoran's words were like a bolt from the blue striking Bing Ling's head. The ingredients in his arms fell to the ground as a result.

Seeing Bing Ling's expression as though he had truly been struck by lightning, Feng Wuhen suppressed a laugh and bent down to pick up the ingredients.

"I was originally hoping to taste Eldest Senior Brother's cooking. Now, you can all taste mine instead!"

After Feng Wuhen picked up the fallen ingredients, he had Bing Ling lead him to the kitchen. Shen Ziheng, the younger-brother devotee that he was, did not leave his brother's side for even a moment.

He helped Feng Wuhen carry half the ingredients and followed closely beside him the whole way.

Meng Hongying was very interested in Feng Wuhen cooking. She pulled Qin Leyan along to go watch the excitement.

Mo Qingran looked at Qin Xiaoran, who had been abandoned by his junior brothers and sisters, and teased, "Tsk, tsk. Who would have thought that Fellow Daoist Qin, always said to be capable of anything, would have a day when he was disliked—by his own younger sister and junior brothers and sisters, no less."

Knowing Mo Qingran was deliberately teasing him, Qin Xiaoran did not get angry. Instead, he headed in the direction Feng Wuhen and the others had gone, calling to Mo Qingran's group without looking back, "What are you three still standing around for? Aren't you coming to see what delicious food Junior Brother Feng has made?"

Feng Wuhen carried the ingredients into the kitchen. Seeing Shen Ziheng and Bing Ling follow him in, he immediately put them to work. "Brother, help me wash these vegetables. I'll go steam the rice."

After hearing him, Shen Ziheng and Bing Ling searched around the kitchen. Each found a wooden basin, then scooped water from the vat until the basins were full.

Then they put the vegetables in. The water was so full that it immediately overflowed the moment the vegetables went in.

Neither of them cared. Squatting beside the basins, they carefully washed the vegetables.

After setting the rice to steam, Feng Wuhen thought that since it was already late, he would not make several separate dishes. It was too much trouble.

He decided to make one of his specialties—an everything stew. He washed the ribs and chopped them into pieces, then chopped an entire chicken into chunks and took out a slab of pork belly, slicing off several pieces.

Then he chopped the scallions, ginger, garlic, and the vegetables Shen Ziheng and Bing Ling had washed. After that, he lit the stove and stuffed several pieces of firewood inside so the fire would burn longer.

Next, he washed his hands, tossed the slices of pork belly into the pot, and rendered out the fat. When the oil turned golden, he added the scallions, ginger, and garlic, stir-frying them until fragrant.

Then he added the chopped vegetables one after another. Once they were nearly done, he added the chicken and ribs as well, followed by all kinds of seasonings—salt, chili powder, soy sauce...

Meng Hongying and the others stood at the doorway watching. The longer she watched, the more Meng Hongying felt something was off. "The meals we eat are all the same. Even if there are side dishes, I've never seen anyone toss everything into one pot and stew it like Junior Brother Feng is doing. Can that really taste good?"

Qin Xiaoran and Mo Qingran had traveled far and wide over many years of expeditions, yet they had never eaten anything like this either. Still, judging by the fragrance drifting through the air, it certainly could not taste bad.

Shen Ziheng had a very good temper and was highly tolerant of others. Even though Meng Hongying could be somewhat willful at times, he had never said a word about it.

But upon hearing Meng Hongying's words this time, he could not help but speak more sharply. "My brother's cooking will definitely be delicious. If you don't want to eat, give me your portion."

The aroma had long since made Bing Ling drool with craving. Hearing Shen Ziheng's words, he raised his hand and said, "Give half to me too!"

Meng Hongying had merely been puzzled and curious, yet the moment she spoke, she was snapped at. Speechless, she rolled her eyes toward the heavens.

She had known Shen Ziheng for quite a few years already. How had she never realized before that this fellow was a younger-brother devotee?

Looking at the huge pot of stew and the basin of steamed rice beside it, Feng Wuhen feared there would not be enough to eat, so he decided to make a few flatbreads as well.

By the time everything was ready, dawn was already beginning to break. It was just right for breakfast.

Looking at the huge pot of stew, Feng Wuhen directly ladled it into a wooden basin normally used for washing vegetables. Just as he was about to carry it outside, someone squeezed him aside.

"I'll do it, I'll do it. Junior Brother Feng has worked hard for most of the night. Leave carrying the food to me."

Hua Yichen had watched him busy himself for so long; how could he possibly let Feng Wuhen carry the dishes? He squeezed over, lifted the large basin of food, and walked outside.

The others had already taken their bowls and chopsticks, waiting only for Feng Wuhen to come and start the meal. Once the large basin of food was brought over—

Bing Ling could not wait to pick up a piece and eat it. "Mmph, hot, hot—but it's really, really delicious!"

At his words, everyone immediately picked up their chopsticks. Every one of them was amazed by the flavor. Meng Hongying especially—she had been worried it would not taste good prepared this way, but now she ate more eagerly than anyone, even fighting Bing Ling over the ribs.

Seeing them eat so happily, Feng Wuhen was happy as well. Yet this basin of everything stew reminded him of his former life in the village, and of those villagers who had treated him so well.