I Haven't Even Left, and You're Already Eyeing My Spot?

That afternoon, when Chen An began preparing the mandarin fish, the courtyard enjoyed a rare spell of quiet.

Uncle Zhou had gone out front, and Chen Chuan had gone to fetch firewood. Zhao Hai had wanted to stay and help, but when Chen An asked whether he was skipping his afternoon cultivation, he obediently left.

They could come early for meals, but they couldn't neglect what needed doing.

Otherwise, Uncle Ning would have selected a few diligent disciples to send over, only for Chen An to turn them all lazy. What kind of business would that be?

Only after closing the kitchen door did Chen An summon the Eternal Spirit Knife.

The gleaming silver blade became a slicing knife in his hand. He brought it down just behind the fish's head, first cutting away the head together with the pectoral fins, then slowly slicing toward the tail along either side of the backbone.

Both fillets had to remain, but he couldn't sever the tail.

Once he removed the backbone in the middle, the knife changed shape at his will. The long, narrow boning knife followed the fish's belly as he carefully removed the remaining rib bones.

Chen An felt over the flesh to check it, then nodded in satisfaction.

This knife really was handy.

In his previous life, changing knives had required freeing a hand to fetch another. Now, a mere thought put a different knife in his hand.

As for the most demanding part, the decorative scoring, he still had to do that himself.

Switching back to the slicing knife, he laid the fish flat, skin-side down. He first scored it straight down, then made angled cuts. Every cut had to go deep enough without slicing through the skin underneath.

If the cuts were too shallow, the flesh wouldn't bloom when fried. Too deep, and it would fall apart in the wok.

Chen An took his time. Beneath his knife, the fillets gradually acquired a dense diamond pattern. When he lifted one and gently spread it, the strips of flesh fell loosely apart while remaining connected underneath.

That was right.

After marinating the head and body with a little salt and yellow wine, Chen An put away the Eternal Spirit Knife and opened the door to call Chen Chuan in to light the stove.

An ordinary kitchen knife would suffice for the remaining ingredients.

He diced bamboo shoots and shiitake mushrooms, boiled the peas, and gently precooked the peeled shrimp to set aside. He peeled and seeded the tomatoes, chopped them, and slowly cooked them down, then mixed a bowl of sweet and sour sauce with just the right balance.

It was somewhat similar to the sauce for Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin, but today's star was fish, so the sauce had to suit it. It couldn't be so thick that it glued all the fried strips of flesh into a clump.

Once the oil was hot, Chen An wiped the excess moisture from the marinated fish and coated it in dry starch, carefully patting it evenly into the scored crevices before gently shaking off the loose powder.

The flesh curled outward and the tail lifted. Holding one end with long chopsticks, he slowly lowered it into the oil.

"Ssshhh!"

The hot oil immediately surged.

The flesh that had originally lain together gradually blossomed in the oil, its strips standing upright. The fine white coating took on a pale gold, and even the raised tail gradually set in place.

Chen Chuan stared, transfixed.

It was still the same fish that had been in the basin, yet once it went in, its appearance changed completely.

Once the body was fried through, Chen An lifted it out to drain, then fried the head and set it aside.

He had prepared eight fish today and had to cook them in batches. The rice had already been steamed out front, and the Dongpo Pork was still warming on the stove, so there was no need to wait until everyone arrived before making each dish from scratch.

Once that busy spell passed, voices soon sounded outside the courtyard.

The ten disciples arrived as usual. Seeing several extra long platters laid out today, they didn't crowd around asking questions. Instead, they fetched bowls and arranged stools themselves, moving briskly.

But when Chen An looked up, he noticed Shao Heng standing by the door with a constant smile on his face.

"Something good happen?"

"Yes. I broke through this afternoon. Level twenty."

At Shao Heng's words, even Fang Ming, who was moving stools nearby, turned his head.

"You really reached it?"

"Would I lie about that?"

"Not bad!"

Fang Ming put down his stool and clapped him on the shoulder. Zhao Hai and the others gathered around too.

One more soul ring, and he would be a Soul Grandmaster.

Shao Heng smiled as he exchanged a few words with them, clearly delighted himself. He had been at level nineteen for some time and lately had always felt just a little short. This afternoon, he had settled down to cultivate and finally taken that step.

Listening, Chen An smiled and offered his congratulations too.

Well, now. Rongrong awakened this morning, and he broke through this afternoon. That made two happy occasions for today's meal.

Before long, Ning Fengzhi arrived with his daughter and the two elders.

When he heard about Shao Heng, he didn't sit down immediately. Instead, he asked a few questions and personally examined him before nodding.

"You have indeed reached level twenty."

With those words from the sect master, Shao Heng could no longer hide his smile.

"Good. Let's eat first. I'll arrange your soul ring hunt afterward."

"Thank you, Sect Master."

Shao Heng hurriedly bowed before stepping aside.

Ning Fengzhi looked at him, then at the other disciples in the courtyard, feeling quite pleased.

He had already been having people monitor their usual cultivation. Shao Heng had been close to a breakthrough to begin with. Taking that step early now was partly due to his own diligence, but his body had been recovering quickly lately, and his condition during cultivation truly was better than before.

It seemed Xiao An's cooking was worth continuing to devote attention to.

For now, though, they would eat first.

The sizzling oil in the kitchen had fallen silent.

Chen An fried the fish a second time in batches until crisp, drained off the hot oil, and arranged the heads and bodies on the long platters. With their heads raised, tails lifted, and golden flesh fluffed out, they really did somewhat resemble squirrels at first glance.

In another wok, he fried scallion sections until fragrant and removed them, then stir-fried minced garlic, diced bamboo shoots, and diced shiitake mushrooms until fragrant before pouring in the prepared sauce.

Once the sauce boiled, he lightly thickened it with starch slurry, added the cooked peas and shrimp, and finished with a little hot oil. A push of the spatula sent the glossy red sauce sliding along the bottom of the wok.

Without delay, Chen An scooped up the hot sauce and poured it straight over the freshly fried fish.

A fine chorus of sizzling immediately rose from the platter.

The glossy red sauce flowed down the golden flesh, with shrimp, diced bamboo shoots, and emerald peas settling between the strips. As steam rose, the sweet and sour fragrance came wafting out.

The voices of those who had still been talking abruptly grew quieter.

Ning Rongrong in particular had looked rather listless upon arriving after spending half the day studying with her father, but now she sat straight up.

Chen An placed a platter of fish before her and handed her chopsticks.

"Try it. This is to celebrate for you today."

"Brother Chen An, what's this dish called?"

"Squirrel Mandarin Fish. Crisp outside, tender inside. Eat it while it's hot."

As he spoke, Chen An picked off a piece for her, inspected it carefully, then placed it in her bowl.

The outermost crust was crisp, cracking under a gentle squeeze of the chopsticks, while inside was delicate, snowy-white fish. Hot sauce coated the outside. The first taste was sweet and sour, followed by the fish's fresh savor.

Ning Rongrong finished it in one bite and immediately reached out with her chopsticks again.

This time, however, she first placed a piece in her father's bowl.

"Daddy, you have some too."

Ning Fengzhi agreed with a smile and tasted it, swallowing back the question about the dish's name that he had been about to ask.

The fish hadn't been overfried. Crisp outside and tender within, paired with this sauce, it was truly delicious.

Gu Rong was already eating beside them. Seeing Chen Xin unobtrusively push the platter toward the two children, he didn't reach out to stop him, merely drawing another platter of meat a little closer to himself.

Let the children have more fish. Surely it was his turn with the meat?

Chen An found the sight rather amusing. Picking up his bowl, he began eating too.

[Squirrel Mandarin Fish: after consumption, slightly alleviates mental fatigue.]

This was the new dish's effect.

After working all afternoon, constantly watching his knife work and the heat, he was somewhat tired himself. A few bites of fish gradually eased the heavy feeling in his head.

Ning Rongrong beside him felt the same thing.

"Daddy, I'm not sleepy anymore. I can study more tonight."

Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi first looked at his daughter, then at Chen An. Only after hearing his explanation did he understand what was happening.

Today's dish actually had such a benefit too.

"If you want to study, you can read a little more after dinner. But you still have to sleep when it's time."

"Got it!"

After agreeing, Ning Rongrong lowered her head and picked up another piece of fish.

She still remembered everything her father had taught her today.

Chen An didn't join in further. Listening to the father and daughter talk beside him, he slowly ate his meal, his mood improving as well.

Rongrong had awakened, Shao Heng had broken through, and he himself had reached level fourteen.

This was pretty good.

Only when most of the fish on the table had been eaten did Ning Fengzhi call Shao Heng over again.

The sect would arrange for senior instructors experienced in soul hunting to accompany him. He was to prepare tonight and depart tomorrow. How long it took to return would depend on whether they could find a suitable soul beast without trouble. He mustn't rush and simply choose any one to absorb.

Shao Heng listened attentively and agreed to each point.

A soul ring affected his future cultivation. Naturally, he understood the importance of that.

But when Ning Fengzhi finished speaking and he returned to the table, Fang Ming had already cleared away his bowl for him.

Not only had he cleared the bowl, he had even shifted the stool inward.

"You're leaving tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Then it'll take at least a few days, right?"

"I don't know yet."

Fang Ming nodded, but his smile grew even warmer than before.

"Got much to pack? I'll help you after dinner."

Shao Heng glanced at him.

Offering favors out of the blue, huh?

In all the time they'd known each other, he'd never seen this fellow so considerate.

Sure enough, before he could speak, Fang Ming continued.

"While you're away these next few days, how about I let my senior brother take your seat here?"

Shao Heng froze, then laughed in exasperation.

"I haven't even left yet, and you're already eyeing my spot?"

"He wouldn't eat any extra. Just your share."

"And when I come back?"

"I'd give it back, of course."

Hearing their conversation, the others nearby caught on too.

So that was an option.

Before, nobody had been willing to give up their own meals, but things were different now. Shao Heng was going soul hunting. Surely those meals he would miss shouldn't simply go to waste?

Zhao Hai had barely opened his mouth when Fang Ming beat him to it.

"Let's get this straight. I asked first."

"Who's competing with you?"

Zhao Hai closed his mouth ruefully.

Too slow.

Shao Heng didn't agree immediately, however. Instead, he turned to Chen An.

"Xiao An, what do you think about this...?"

Chen An had been listening from the side for quite a while. At the question, he couldn't help laughing.

"Sure. Just let me know before he comes. Don't have both of you showing up with bowls when you get back."

If someone went away temporarily and another person filled in, he wouldn't have to cook any extra and could still receive positive reviews as usual. Why not?

Still, these fellows really were getting better and better at figuring things out.

Only after hearing his agreement did Shao Heng nod. Then he earnestly reminded Fang Ming.

"Just these few days. You have to give it back when I return."

"Don't worry. Definitely."

Fang Ming agreed extremely quickly, then turned to help clear the table. Even his retreating figure seemed considerably lighter.

After waiting all these days, he had finally secured a meal for his senior brother.

Ning Fengzhi saw all of this but didn't interfere. Before leaving, he merely gave Chen An a few more reminders.

He should keep cooking and cultivating just as he was now. If he needed anything, he could go straight to Uncle Zhou or come to him, rather than keeping it to himself.

Chen An agreed with a smile and saw them out through the courtyard gate.

When he turned back, however, Shao Heng still hadn't left. He was waiting beside the cleared table.

"Something else?"

"Nothing much. I just wanted to ask, can I still have this fish when I get back?"

Chen An chuckled.

So everything else was settled, but this one matter still had him worried.

"Yes. Let me know before you return, and I'll make it for you."

"Good. That's good."

This time, Shao Heng finally left with his mind at ease.

One dinner had earned sixteen positive reviews, improvements to both his constitution and soul power, and sixteen points of progress for Squirrel Mandarin Fish.

Chen An glanced at the system, then turned his attention away.

Both happy occasions today had been celebrated lively enough. Next, though, it was time for his own cultivation.

He was still six levels short of twenty from level fourteen.

The Dragon-Transforming Pot's first soul skill was already so useful. What would he be able to make once he had a second soul ring? That question had been on his mind all along.

After washing up, Chen An returned to his room and sat down, soon calming his mind.

But while things had quieted down on his side, they hadn't on Fang Ming's.

As soon as he returned to his lodgings, Fang Ming went to knock on his senior brother's door. Once inside, he first explained what had happened.

At the end, he made a point of adding one more thing.

"Come with me at noon tomorrow. Don't forget."

"Noon tomorrow?"

His senior brother had been about to sit down, but at those words, he stood back up.

"Didn't you say he was leaving tomorrow?"

Fang Ming looked at him, suddenly feeling a bad premonition.

Sure enough, the next question came.

"Then what about breakfast?"