Talking Matchmaker Yue into It

Qin Fen looked as though he was watching while spouting nonsense. Another apprentice beside him watched him as he chopped furiously, and less than a few seconds later, there came an "Ow!"

Everyone turned to look at him. The apprentice hurriedly stuck his finger into his mouth.

The apprentices close to him were speechless. Did he think he could use Dual-Mindedness too? See? He'd cut his hand. Why imitate him when there was nothing wrong with him? That guy wasn't human.

The injured apprentice looked miserable as he walked aside to bandage himself.

His movement pulled Qin Fen out of his thoughts. He counted the plates beside him. Of the five potatoes, he had cut four.

"So I've only cut four. There's still one left." Qin Fen muttered softly and picked up the last one.

That "only" was used so well. The apprentices beside him shuddered violently and instinctively checked the time. Just over two minutes, and four Big Potatoes had already been cut. It was practically godlike speed, yet he seemed a little dissatisfied.

That speed was not even his limit, but remember, this guy had been chopping absentmindedly while using Dual-Mindedness. That was utterly insane.

Qin Fen was no longer distracted. He picked up the last potato, and instead of slowing down, he sped up. The hand wielding the knife moved like a machine, while the blade's rapid up-and-down motion even left afterimages—the sight produced only by high-speed oscillation.

"So fast." An apprentice swallowed.

"Yes, but that hand speed from before was the truly terrifying part. Master Zhang can manage this speed too." The other apprentice did not continue. Dual-Mindedness was simply too bizarre. It was so badass that he barely seemed human.

Qin Fen neither heard nor noticed the low murmurs around him. His greatest virtue was seriousness. Whenever he did something, he focused completely and gave it his all.

He now treated the potato as his task. Lifting the cleaver, he flicked the handle with his fingers. The blade spun sharply, then he steadily caught the handle and gently set it on the cutting board.

That final move was practically acrobatics. Several apprentices' balls nearly shattered. This was not a movie or television drama.

That last flourish was not something Qin Fen had intended to show off. To put it plainly, it was the Food God's habitual finishing move, and Qin Fen had copied it perfectly.

Seeing the others glance at him before returning to work, Qin Fen stepped aside. Still wearing his white coat, he rinsed his hands, dried them on a towel, then went to a corner and took out his phone. Modern people playing with their phones during breaks were just that deranged—if there was an opportunity, they took it; if there was none, they created one.

This was not slacking off. Since he had finished what Zhang Ye assigned him, he could rest for a while. Chopping vegetables had consumed physical energy too.

There were major changes in Moments this time. Most of the posts came from immortals who had attended the Peach Banquet, and their comments were largely similar, expressing praise for the feast. Most focused on Beijing Roast Duck and cold noodles. As for the Peaches of Immortality, the stars of the event, they had become supporting players.

It seemed the Heavenly Court's food culture was rather monotonous too. There had barely been any innovation. This Beijing Roast Duck had stirred up a wave, and the Food God had practically become the most popular male immortal in the Heavenly Court. Many immortals invited him to meals and tea, though there was no need to mention their true purpose. They wanted him there as a cook.

Even the Jade Emperor had begun to appreciate him, having him handle several consecutive meals.

Matchmaker Yue: Sigh, tying Red Threads is difficult. After thinking it over and over, I still have no good solution. There are only a few mortal nations in the Earthly Immortal Realm. Since the Immortal-Mortal Severance, only a small number of people have remained in the Earthly Immortal Realm, though they have developed somewhat. Perhaps I should go take a look. I remember that some of their festivals and events used to give rise to opportunities for me to make matches.

Looking at Matchmaker Yue's message, Qin Fen wanted to laugh. Was he preparing to go out and gather inspiration? He could not let him have it too easy. He would leave a hook.

With that thought, he immediately tapped the chat box. "Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. When three walk together, one can be my teacher. Since Fellow Daoist has considered going down to the Earthly Immortal Realm, it is indeed one possible method. However, there are many from the Demon Tribe in the Earthly Immortal Realm, so you must be careful."

Just as Matchmaker Yue was preparing to depart, he suddenly heard a voice in his mind. His body trembled slightly. As a high-ranking immortal, his reaction was not as embarrassing as the Food God's or the Earth God's.

"May I ask how I should address you, Fellow Daoist? How did you know I was preparing to descend?" Matchmaker Yue calculated with his fingers. Damn it, nothing but blankness. He could not help frowning. The other party could calculate him, but he could not calculate the other party. Clearly, this person had long obscured the heavenly secrets, and his cultivation was above Matchmaker Yue's.

"What is destined will come in time; what is not destined cannot be forced. Though the Earthly Immortal Realm is closer to mortal life, and the young men and women there are freer than those in the Immortal Realm, that does not mean you will find the answer you seek. After all, they still value matching social status. Marriage also follows parental orders and the words of matchmakers.

"The Heavenly Court has been closed off for too long. A sudden new policy will inevitably require a period of adjustment. The two situations cannot be treated as the same. So it is understandable that the young do not understand or know how, while the old ways of their elders interfere. They are feeling their way across the river by the stones."

That phrase, feeling their way across the river by the stones, captured the essence of it perfectly. Matchmaker Yue nodded firmly. Was that not exactly right? Marriage had once been forbidden, and now it had suddenly been allowed. If not for the older generation already knowing one another, it truly would have been difficult. The newer generation were all complete rookies, and with the Heavenly Court's many rules, they did not dare go too far.

"Please, Fellow Daoist, enlighten me!" Matchmaker Yue clasped his hands toward the void.

Ha, Qin Fen laughed. "On this descent, simply walk and observe. Marriage Fate is ordained by Heaven, so do not force it. Remember four words: free love." If you keep messing around...

Free love? It sounded very reasonable. Smack! Matchmaker Yue slapped his thigh. Right, free love. This was good. Parental orders and the words of matchmakers were all forced. Only what one chose for oneself was true love. With contact came understanding, and with understanding came innocent love. Was that not what he had pursued from the beginning?

Later, because the workload had become too great, he had relied on the Book of Matchmaking to automatically pair people according to calculations. Inevitably, he had done many foolish things, creating countless tragic yet moving love stories. As the immortal in charge of Marriage Fate and the love affairs of all under Heaven, he felt it necessary to bring together all lovers.

Priceless treasures were easy to find; a devoted lover was hard to come by.

"Thank you for your guidance, Fellow Daoist. May I ask your honored name and Daoist title? Once this matter is settled, I will surely drink and make merry with you." Matchmaker Yue felt that this was someone who understood him. Free love, feeling one's way across the river by the stones—those words were wonderful.

"This humble Daoist is Nature. Dao Follows Nature!"

Good, what an excellent Dao Follows Nature. Man follows Earth, Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows the Dao, and the Dao follows Nature. His cultivation was indeed profound. In a single sentence, he had revealed Matchmaker Yue's current predicament. Matchmaker Yue composed himself and found himself looking forward to this journey.

"Thank you for your guidance, Fellow Daoist. I hope you will continue to offer your teachings in the future. I shall be off now."

Just as he was leaving, Qin Fen suddenly sent another message. "Since you are feeling your way across the river by the stones, be bolder and take bigger strides. Whether the cat is white or black, any cat that catches mice is a good cat!"