You can cook with these tea leaves?

The next day, just as Shao Heng reached Fang Ming's door, it opened from inside.

Holding a bowl, Fang Ming headed out as soon as he saw him.

"Come on, come on. I've been waiting for you."

"Weren't you going to have me wake you?"

"I woke up early and couldn't get back to sleep."

That was true enough. Before falling asleep last night, he had still been thinking about what he would eat today, and he had woken at first light. He knew there was still some time before breakfast, but lying in bed, he kept feeling as though the sky outside had barely changed.

He might as well get up.

The two went straight to the Kitchen. Several disciples had already arrived in the courtyard, and when they entered, the others were too busy helping Uncle Zhou move things to even greet them.

The water vat was full, the firewood had been replenished, and even the baskets of vegetables by the door had been neatly arranged along the way.

Uncle Zhou could not stop smiling at the sight.

Now that Xiao An was back, running his Kitchen was even less trouble than usual.

Breakfast was the familiar Yangzhou Fried Rice again.

The spatula turned, gradually separating the egg-coated grains of rice in the wok. As soon as the fragrance of diced ham and shrimp emerged, even the conversations in the courtyard grew much quieter.

Once Chen An served the rice, no one stood on ceremony. They took their bowls and began eating.

Fang Ming shoveled in a large mouthful, chewed a few times, and finally felt satisfied.

Uncle Zhou had not shortchanged them these past few days. There had been no shortage of meat or vegetables, yet somehow, once the food entered their mouths, it lacked that little something.

Now, with this bowl of rice in his stomach, even the lingering drowsiness from getting up early was gone.

"Slow down. There's more in the wok."

Seeing how hurriedly he ate, Chen An offered a casual reminder, then served himself some rice and sat down to one side.

The familiar positive-review notifications sounded one after another, and the Soul Power within him increased slightly along with them.

He had been busy hunting soul rings these past few days. Although he had reached level twenty-two in one leap, he certainly did not disdain the benefits that accumulated little by little each day.

After breakfast, everyone still had to cultivate, so they did not linger indefinitely.

Before leaving, however, Fang Ming made a special trip over to ask what they would be eating at noon.

"Shrimp. I'm trying a different way of cooking it today."

"Then I'll come early."

Before he had even finished speaking, he was already out the door with his bowl.

Chen An did not even have time to tell him that coming early would not change when lunch was served.

Still, these fellows were quick to lend a hand. They could come if they wanted.

When Chen An returned to the Kitchen after practicing his Soul Power that morning, the fresh shrimp Uncle Zhou had bought were already being kept in a basin of water.

This time, he would be making Longjing Shrimp.

He had obtained the recipe some time ago but had not yet had a chance to make it. Today was a good opportunity to try.

There was no Longjing tea from his previous life here. Chen An had selected a tender green tea available within the sect. Once brewed, it was richly fragrant without tasting astringent, making it a suitable pairing for shrimp.

He peeled away the shells, removed the veins, rinsed the shrimp in clean water, and drained them.

Peeling this entire basin alone would really have taken some time. Fortunately, Uncle Zhou and Chen Chuan were already practiced hands. Sitting together, the three soon prepared a large bowlful.

Chen An picked one up and examined it. Evenly sized, with firm flesh. Good.

A little salt, egg white, and a touch of starch, gently mixed by hand in one direction.

The coating could not be thick. A thin layer over the shrimp's surface was enough. When they went into the oil later, this thin coating would seal in their moisture, keeping them tender when cooked.

With the shrimp prepared, Chen An took a teacup, added tea leaves, and poured in hot water.

The curled young leaves slowly unfurled. The tea took on a pale green hue, and a fresh fragrance drifted out with the steam, pleasant to smell.

Just then, Fang Ming and Shao Heng entered. Catching the tea's fragrance, Fang Ming casually picked up an empty bowl.

"Xiao An, pour me some. I'm thirsty."

"This cup is for cooking the shrimp. I'll brew you another."

Fang Ming looked at the teacup, then at the shrimp beside it, somewhat stunned.

You can cook with these tea leaves?

He had drunk tea and eaten shrimp, but this was truly his first time seeing the two put in the same wok.

Still, he only thought this to himself. Which of Chen An's previous dishes could he ever have imagined?

If he could not figure it out, he would stop thinking and simply wait to eat.

While the coating settled on the shrimp, Chen An poured off some of the tea, leaving the unfurled leaves and a little liquid.

Then he heated oil in the wok.

The oil did not need to be too hot. He tipped in the shrimp and gently separated them with chopsticks. Their translucent flesh soon turned white, the thin coating clinging to the surface without falling off or forming a thick layer.

Watching the heat, Chen An had already lowered the skimmer in his hand into the wok.

With a slight stir, he scooped out the curled shrimp and drained away the excess oil.

Leaving only a little oil in the wok, he returned the shrimp to it and poured in the tea leaves along with the small amount of tea. Steam immediately billowed up.

This time, however, the fragrance in the Kitchen was rather different from usual.

It lacked Dongpo Pork's rich, oily depth, as well as the enticing sweet-and-sour aroma of Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin. The shrimp's freshness mingled with the tea's fragrance, light and clean, growing more appealing with every breath.

Chen An worked the spatula, coating the shrimp evenly in the tea, then took the wok off the heat and plated the dish.

Tea leaves would easily turn bitter if left in the wok too long, and the shrimp could not be allowed to toughen either. Those final quick tosses brought the flavors of both together just right.

Snow-white shrimp were piled on the plate, dotted with unfurled young leaves. Only a thin trace of sauce remained at the bottom. The sight alone made one want to reach for chopsticks.

"Take it out. I'll cook the next batch."

At those words, Fang Ming hurried forward to take the plate.

A moment ago, he had thought putting tea leaves and shrimp together was rather strange. Now, smelling the aroma, he had no room for any other thoughts.

Whatever Xiao An made, eating it was the right thing to do.

Once all the food was served, Shao Heng was the first to pick up a shrimp and put it in his mouth.

The shrimp was fresh and tender, springing apart with a gentle chew. The tea fragrance coating it spread out, leaving a faint, clean sweetness at the back of his tongue even at the end.

Without thinking, he picked up another, this time eating it with a tender tea leaf.

The leaf had absorbed the shrimp's savory freshness. Tender as it was, it actually tasted good too.

"Don't pick those leaves out. Try them."

Seeing Fang Ming about to push aside the tea leaves in his bowl, Shao Heng offered a casual reminder.

Fang Ming was somewhat doubtful, but the shrimp tasted so good that he decided to try a bite as well. After that, he stopped picking them out.

Why bother? Once something was on its way to his mouth, what reason was there to pick it out again?

Before long, the plate of shrimp was empty.

Chen An was pleased with his own meal too. Although this tea was not the Longjing of his previous life, the finished dish tasted good. The fresh shrimp were excellent to begin with; with the heat handled properly, their freshness and tenderness were the whole point.

Moreover, this dish also helped relieve mental fatigue.

After a morning of cultivation, everyone was tired to some degree. Now that they had eaten their fill, the slight fogginess in their heads gradually dissipated as well. Sitting in the courtyard, enjoying the breeze, none of them particularly wanted to get up.

However, the matter Fang Ming had been thinking about for so long was still unsettled.

"Xiao An, are you making that new soup this afternoon?"

At those words, the others beside him looked over too.

After returning yesterday, Shao Heng had talked plenty about how that soup tasted, yet not one of them had tried it.

Chen An thought for a moment, then said.

"Once I finish cultivating, I'll see whether I have enough Soul Power left. If I do, I'll make a small pot. Come over after you finish training."

"Sure. We'll prepare the firewood and water."

"And help wash the vegetables."

They agreed readily, even starting to discuss the afternoon's chores.

Chen An found it rather amusing. He had not even promised to make the soup yet.

Still, since he had already made things clear, he left them to it. After eating and tidying up a little, he went back to cultivate.

Now that he had his second soul ring, his Soul Power circulated much more smoothly than before, but improving further still required honest, steady practice.

He could hardly keep thinking about the dishes to come while also complaining that cultivation was troublesome.

Two hours later, Chen An finished cultivating and rested a while before leisurely returning to the Kitchen.

Fang Ming and the others had already finished training and returned. The sweat on their foreheads had yet to dry, and they were helping Uncle Zhou move vegetables.

When they saw him enter, none of them urged him on, but they clearly began working much faster.

Chen An glanced beside the stove. Clean water, scallions, and ginger were all ready. Even the small soup bowls had been washed spotless.

Well, what could I say to that?

The Dragon-Transforming Pot appeared in his palm, and his second soul ring lit up. The familiar aroma of meat soon appeared along with the ingredients.

A small pot of soup did not require many ingredients. Chen An took an ordinary kitchen knife, cleaned and cut up the ingredients he had taken out, then had the Dragon-Transforming Pot turn into a small cooking pot. He stir-fried the ingredients until fragrant, added water, and let them simmer slowly.

Fang Ming stayed nearby. When Uncle Zhou told him to add firewood, he added firewood; when told to tidy the vegetable baskets, he tidied them. His eyes, however, kept drifting toward the pot.

Once the soup was ready, Chen An gave each of those who had come over after training today a scant half bowl and kept a portion for himself.

There was not much soup, but they savored it all the more.

Fang Ming ate the meat first, then drank the soup, finally sipping even the rim of his bowl clean. The aching fatigue from his earlier training gradually eased, and warmth suffused his body. Leaning against the chair back, he let out a long, comfortable breath.

He had finally gotten to drink it.

No matter how highly Shao Heng had praised it yesterday, nothing was as substantial as having this mouthful settle into his own stomach.

After finishing his portion, Chen An recovered some Soul Power. Seeing everyone lounging about put him in a good mood as well.

Cooking, cultivating, and trying his Soul Skills whenever he had time-his days were not hard to arrange.

Later, Ning Rongrong came looking for him. When Uncle Zhou told her about the new shrimp dish at noon, she immediately regretted it. Had she known, she would have come for lunch.

"Make that again tomorrow. I want some too."

"Sure. I'll save you some tomorrow."

Chen An agreed, washed his hands, and left the courtyard with her.

Halfway there, he suddenly remembered his earlier promise.

"Oh, right. Let's ask Uncle Ning tomorrow when we can go out and have fun. Grandpa Sword is here these few days too."

Ning Rongrong had still been talking about the shrimp. At his words, she immediately looked up.

"I thought you'd forgotten."

"I haven't. Wasn't I busy hunting soul rings before?"

"Then we'll go right after breakfast tomorrow. Don't go burrowing into the Kitchen again."

"Got it."

Only after getting his agreement did Ning Rongrong brighten, her steps becoming much lighter than before.

Chen An escorted her back, practiced his Soul Power for a while as usual, then settled comfortably into bed.

He had cooked today's meals and made the soup. Uncle Zhou would help prepare tomorrow's shrimp too, so for the moment, there was nothing much to keep on his mind.

After returning, however, Ning Rongrong was still thinking about going out. She even picked out tomorrow's clothes in advance.

She had just laid them beside the bed when, after a moment's thought, she took out another outfit.

Brother Chen An always got oil on his clothes. Tomorrow morning, I need to remind him to change into something clean too.