Finished the Meat, and Now Even the Sauce?

The next day, the delivery cart had barely stopped before Xu Cheng went up to meet it.

Usually, he moved the sacks of rice first, but today he went around the back of the cart, his eyes going straight to the wooden basin holding the meat.

"Did you bring the pork belly?"

"Yes. Chef Zhou specifically requested it yesterday. We picked out some good meat."

Hearing that, Xu Cheng finally relaxed. He lifted the cloth covering it and took a look. Layers of fat and lean alternated neatly, and the skin had been cleaned thoroughly. It looked good.

But before he could reach for it, someone beside him had already picked up the basin.

He turned to look. It was Zhao Hai.

"What are you doing here?"

"Helping."

Zhao Hai answered perfectly naturally, carrying the basin of meat inside.

Xu Cheng stood there, looking at the meat, then at the rice sacks at the back of the cart.

He certainly knows how to pick his jobs.

Everything was ready early that morning, but Chen An did not start immediately. He made breakfast as usual, then cultivated with Chen Xin for a while. Only after lunch did he begin preparing the evening's Dongpo Pork.

This dish could not be rushed.

First, he carefully scraped and washed the pork belly clean, cut it into large, square pieces, and blanched it to remove the bloody scum. After taking it out, he rinsed the surfaces clean again.

The pieces could not be too small. They would shrink during braising, and if they ended up as a few tiny scraps, that would defeat the point.

Chen Chuan brought over the cleaned clay pot. Chen An lined the bottom with scallions and ginger, arranged the meat neatly inside, then covered it with another layer of scallions and ginger.

He added rice wine, soy sauce, and sugar in turn, followed by some water. The liquid did not need to cover the meat. He put on the lid and brought it to a boil over high heat.

It needed a long braise today, so Chen An used an ordinary clay pot for this first stage. He would switch to the Dragon-Transforming Pot for the final steaming.

The Soul Power he saved would be just right for later.

The fire burned fiercely in the stove, and before long, white steam rose around the rim.

Chen An lifted the lid to check, motioned for Chen Chuan to lower the heat, then brought over a stool and sat beside the stove.

The meat was cooking. Now came the wait.

Constantly turning it or adding a few more pieces of firewood to make it cook faster would most likely end in regret.

Only a slow braise over low heat could make those layers of fat and lean tender all the way through.

When Uncle Zhou came over, Chen An was reading the description in the recipe.

[Dongpo Pork: consuming it can slightly replenish qi and blood.]

Another dish suited to nourishing the body day by day.

He could increase his Soul Power through positive reviews while the food gradually strengthened his body. Neither interfered with the other, which suited him perfectly.

"Xiao An, I found the bowls you need for tonight."

"Good. Put them over there for now. We'll fill them with meat later."

Uncle Zhou set the earthenware bowls beside the worktop. Instead of leaving immediately, he lifted the lid of the nearby rice jar and looked inside.

There was still plenty of rice.

After a moment's thought, he went to fetch some more from the front anyway.

Yesterday, these lads had mixed several extra bowls of rice with the sweet-and-sour sauce alone. Once today's meat was ready, they would probably need just as much.

Chen An saw what he was doing and did not stop him.

After so many meals, Uncle Zhou was getting an increasingly good grasp of their appetites.

Two hours passed, and the aroma from the pot had become completely different from when it first started cooking.

The wine's fragrance had mellowed, mingling with the aromas of meat and soy sauce as it slowly slipped through the narrow gap beneath the lid.

Sitting before the stove, Chen Chuan shifted the fire tongs in his hand, but ultimately added no more wood.

It was not that the fire was too low. He was getting restless.

He had never found this job particularly difficult before. Today, though, he was sitting right beside the pot, yet could only smell the food, not eat it.

"Why don't I take over while you get some air?"

Chen An found his behavior rather amusing.

"No need. I can still manage this much."

Chen Chuan hurriedly shook his head.

Keeping watch was torturous, but when it came to actually leaving, he was unwilling.

At least sitting here, he would definitely be the first to see when the lid came off.

Chen An did not press him. He lifted the lid and gently tested the meat with a pair of long chopsticks.

The tips slid smoothly into the meat now. The skin had taken on a rich red color, and the fat was gradually turning translucent, but each piece still held its original shape when lifted.

Just about ready.

After skimming off the oil floating on top, Chen An supported the meat with a spoon and transferred it piece by piece into the earthenware bowls, skin side up, then ladled some of the braising liquid over each.

Chen Chuan had already stood up. Only after watching all the meat go into the bowls did he realize that Chen An had no intention of serving dinner yet.

The Dragon-Transforming Pot became a deep pot. Water was added and put over the fire, while the bowls of meat went into a steamer.

It still needed steaming.

Chen Chuan looked at the tightly covered steamer, then silently sat back down.

I should never have stood up.

Once steam was rising steadily, Chen An sat cross-legged nearby, keeping an eye on the pot's form while slowly regulating his breathing.

He had only reached rank thirteen yesterday. Today, as he continued familiarizing himself with circulating his Soul Power, using it grew increasingly natural.

His corner remained quiet, but activity gradually stirred outside the courtyard.

The ten disciples arrived one after another. Some carried rice, others set out bowls. Once finished, they sat down, but their eyes never left the cooking room.

Zhao Hai, usually the most talkative, spared his words today.

The aroma drifting from the cooking room was completely different from yesterday's Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin.

The rich scent of meat carried a hint of wine, growing more enticing with every breath. Standing in the courtyard, they could barely stop swallowing.

By the time Chen Xin and Gu Rong arrived with Rongrong, everyone in the courtyard was seated in neat rows.

"Quiet today, aren't they?"

Gu Rong made the casual remark, and just as his words fell, the steamer lid was lifted.

A cloud of heat billowed out, followed by a rich fragrance.

Almost everyone who had been sitting stood up at the same time.

Even Gu Rong could not help looking toward the cooking room.

In the small earthenware bowls, the pieces of Dongpo Pork gleamed a glossy red. The uppermost layer of skin bulged slightly, and as the bowls were lifted, it trembled gently along with the layers of fat and lean beneath.

It looked soft, yet still held its shape.

Chen An gently parted a piece with his chopsticks, and it split along the grain. The inside had long since braised to complete tenderness, and fragrant steam immediately rose from within.

Never mind anyone else-even he wanted to take a bite first.

"Get your rice. Let's eat."

At those words, the courtyard immediately bustled.

Uncle Zhou and Chen Chuan helped carry the bowls. Chen An set out portions for his two grandpas and Rongrong first, then took his own bowl and sat at the table.

There was plenty of meat, already divided into portions, so there was no need to worry about someone scooping up another person's share in a single spoonful.

Even so, these fellows never slowed down once they started eating.

Zhao Hai broke off a piece and put it in his mouth. With just a gentle press of his lips, the soft, yielding skin fell apart, followed by the fragrant richness of the fat, and finally the lean meat beneath, saturated with braising liquid.

It was not dry in the slightest.

Looking at it earlier, he had wondered whether such a large piece of pork belly might be greasy. Once it actually entered his mouth, that thought vanished completely.

He swallowed and hurriedly shoveled in a mouthful of plain rice.

That hit the spot.

Now this was a meal. What had I even been eating before?

Across from him, Shao Heng never even lifted his head. His chopsticks picked up meat while his spoon mixed rice, neither hand idle.

Beside them, Gu Rong took a bite and could not help nodding.

"This meat is cooked well."

He looked at Chen Xin after speaking, only to find the old fellow already reaching for a second piece.

Fine. No need to ask you, then.

Chen An ate slowly. After the meat reached his stomach, warmth gradually spread into his limbs. It felt somewhat different from the fried rice's fatigue-relieving effect, as though a lingering warmth had settled within his body.

There was no obvious change yet, but eating it felt very comfortable.

Chen Xin noticed the difference too. After hearing Chen An explain its effect, he nodded.

"Eating this regularly will help these children temper their bodies."

He and Gu Rong naturally had no need for this slight nourishment, but Xiao An and these young disciples were still developing their abilities. Building up a little more day by day was never a bad thing.

At that, the chopsticks around the table immediately moved even faster.

The corner of Chen An's mouth twitched.

Before you said that, they at least remembered to get more rice. Now all they can see is meat.

By the end of dinner, most of the earthenware bowls on the table were empty, and only a thin layer remained of the extra rice Uncle Zhou had steamed.

Zhao Hai set down his bowl and let out a long breath, then rose of his own accord and headed straight for the cooking room.

"Xiao An, you rest. I'll wash the pot."

Chen An did not find his enthusiasm strange, but before he could reply, Fang Ming had already stood up as well.

"Hold on. Which pot are you washing?"

"The one the meat was braised in."

"Bring it out. I'll wash it with you."

Zhao Hai glanced back at him.

"Does one pot need two people?"

"Yes."

Fang Ming answered decisively, already reaching the doorway.

Only then did Chen An remember that after he had spooned sauce over every bowl of meat, there seemed to be a little left in the clay pot.

Well, well.

I thought they were scrambling to work because they'd enjoyed the meal. So that was what they were after.

Seeing that he could no longer hide it, Zhao Hai had no choice but to bring out the clay pot. He had barely set it on the table when a bowl appeared beside it.

The bowl was already filled with plain rice.

He looked up to find Lu Yuan waiting with a spoon.

"When did you get that ready?"

"Just now."

Lu Yuan's answer was simple, but his meaning could not have been clearer. He had already prepared his rice. Surely Zhao Hai could not have the nerve to take the whole pot away.

As they spoke, Xu Cheng and Shao Heng gathered around too. Several others who had been about to put away the stools immediately stopped what they were doing at the sight.

People surrounded a single clay pot.

Uncle Zhou came out of the cooking room and laughed in exasperation at the scene.

"All right, bring your bowls. We'll divide it here. None of you are taking it back with you."

Chen An wanted to say that this little bit of sauce hardly warranted all this, but after looking at their eyes, he swallowed his words.

As for Gu Rong, after watching the commotion, he set down his chopsticks with a smile.

"Xiao An, I doubt you'll need to wash this pot yourself anymore."

Wasn't that the truth.

At this rate, if I ever want to wash it myself, I'll probably have to ask their permission first.

Once everyone had divided up the last of the braising liquid, the Kitchen was quickly cleaned until it was spotless. Fifteen positive reviews came in one after another, bringing improvements to his constitution as well as small amounts of Soul Power merging into his body.

[Dongpo Pork positive review progress: 15/100.]

Chen An glanced at it, feeling quite pleased.

The disciples took their leave one after another, and Uncle Zhou and Chen Chuan returned to the front, leaving only Chen An, Rongrong, and the two grandpas in the courtyard.

Before long, Ning Fengzhi came to collect his daughter. Seeing that the courtyard had already been tidied, he exchanged a few words with the two elders, then asked about Chen An's cultivation that day.

Learning that Chen An could use his newly gained Soul Power more smoothly than yesterday, Ning Fengzhi nodded.

"Good. Keep practicing like this."

Listening beside them, Ning Rongrong grew interested too.

"Daddy, once I awaken mine, I'll cultivate hard too. Then I'll have nine Soul Rings like Grandpa Sword and the others."

The smile on Ning Fengzhi's face paused slightly before he reached out and took her hand.

"Let's awaken your Martial Soul first. We can take everything after that slowly."

The little girl thought nothing more of it and followed her father out through the courtyard gate.

Chen An, however, noticed that when Rongrong had said she wanted nine Soul Rings, neither grandpa had smiled and praised her as they usually did.

Only once father and daughter had gone far away did he finally ask.

"Grandpa Sword, can't Rongrong have nine Soul Rings someday?"

Chen Xin looked down at him. After a brief moment of consideration, he spoke.

"That depends on the Martial Soul she awakens. If it's the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, like Fengzhi's, then it can only hold seven Soul Rings."

"Only seven?"

"Yes. No matter how diligently she cultivates, once she reaches rank seventy-nine, she won't be able to advance any further."

Hearing this, Chen An instinctively looked toward the courtyard gate.

Ning Fengzhi had already gone far with Rongrong. Just now, he had been saying his daughter could take her cultivation slowly, yet it turned out that this path had an end set long in advance.

Chen An had heard much about the fame of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda since childhood, but he had never imagined that such a Martial Soul had a flaw like this.

Gu Rong, standing nearby, also put away his smile.

"Fengzhi has spent no small amount of effort on this over the years."

This was not a problem that could be solved by eating a few more meals and building a sturdier body.

Chen An thought for a moment, then asked another question.

"Then would it be possible to add a few more levels to the pagoda?"

This time, Chen Xin and Gu Rong both looked at him.

Only after a moment did Chen Xin slowly nod.

"There is a legend of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in the sect. If it could truly evolve to that point, this restriction would naturally cease to exist. But saying it is easy. Actually doing it is another matter entirely."

Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

Something stirred in Chen An's mind. He did have some recollection of that name.

In the story he had read in his previous life, Rongrong's later Martial Soul seemed to have been just that.

It had something to do with an Immortal Herb.

As for exactly what that herb was called or what it looked like, he could not recall at the moment.

I only read it as a story back then. Who knew I would actually have to live here one day?

Chen An felt rather helpless, but at least there was one thing: this seven-level limit probably was not entirely without a solution.

Naturally, he could not go blurting this out now. He could not even explain clearly what the thing was. Was he supposed to send Uncle Ning searching the entire continent on the strength of "there's this herb"?

Wouldn't that just be running him ragged?

Seeing him pondering with his head lowered, Chen Xin reached out and patted his shoulder.

"All right, there's no need to rush to take all these matters onto your own shoulders. Learn to use your own Martial Soul properly first."

"I know."

Chen An nodded, then raised his face again.

"Grandpa Sword, does the sect have any books on Martial Soul Mutation? I'd like to read them."

He could start by learning more about his saber and pot, as well as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Just sitting around thinking would not yield any answers from those scattered scraps of memory in his head.

Chen Xin did not refuse.

"Come here tomorrow. I'll find some for you."

"All right, then I'll stir-fry an extra wokful for breakfast."

The old man glanced at him and finally smiled again.

"So if I didn't find you any books, you wouldn't make extra?"

"How could that be?"

Chen An answered extremely quickly.

I can't speak for anyone else, but when would I ever leave Grandpa Sword without his bowl of food?

That evening, Chen An cultivated for two hours as usual, then washed up before lying down in bed.

He needed to train his Soul Power and read books, but he had to take things one at a time.

As for tomorrow's breakfast, he could start a little earlier.

He would stir-fry an extra portion in the wok, then go get the books after eating. Neither would get in the way of the other.