Recaps

Han Cheng and Zhao Hai returned safely from escorting the carts, and the household discussed how Chen An’s popcorn had helped without making his cooking or cultivation an obligation. Ning Fengzhi set the expectation that future help would depend on Chen An’s availability, then announced that Qinghe would visit in three mornings.

• Han Cheng helped prepare and eat the vegetables he had brought back, while Zhao Hai joked with him about sharing the greens.
• Ning Rongrong asked Han Cheng about the muddy road and how the popcorn had helped; Han Cheng explained that the escorts had relied on planks, ropes, rest, and cooperation.
• Ning Fengzhi reviewed the delivery slip and said future cart trips should be prepared as usual, with Chen An deciding whether he could help.
• Ning Rongrong suggested that people give the kitchen advance notice when they needed meals, and Uncle Zhou agreed to keep food warm if he knew the timing.
• Ning Fengzhi told Chen An and Ning Rongrong that Qinghe would visit the sect in three mornings, and Chen An said they should confirm his arrival time.

After crispy sweet-and-sour pork earned Chen An a new recipe, he planned a trial of Twice-Cooked Pork and arranged for suitable pork belly to be delivered. The chapter ended with Chen An saving his time for cultivation while Rongrong prepared to continue her lessons.

• Chen An learned that the crispy sweet-and-sour pork had received a hundred genuine positive reviews and unlocked the Twice-Cooked Pork recipe.
• Chen An inspected the kitchen’s ingredients and decided he needed evenly layered skin-on pork belly for the new dish.
• Chen An asked Uncle Zhou to arrange a small piece of suitable pork belly for a trial meal the next day.
• Chen An told Fang Ming he would let him taste the new dish tomorrow and would serve it to Xue Qinghe only if it turned out well.
• Rongrong collected her Soul Beast book, asked about sitting beside Chen An when Xue Qinghe visited, and planned to practice with Grandpa Bone the next morning.
• Chen An went to cultivate and did not light the kitchen fire again that evening.

Chen An prepared and served Twice-Cooked Pork, carefully boiling and slicing the pork belly before rendering it with chili bean paste, fermented black beans, and green garlic. After the first batch pleased the diners, Ning Fengzhi sent word that Xue Qinghe would arrive before noon the next day, and Chen An decided to cook the meat fresh that morning.

• Uncle Zhou stopped the delivery worker and let Chen An inspect the evenly layered pork belly for the new dish.
• Chen An boiled the pork belly until just tender, saved the broth for soup, prepared the seasonings, and sliced the cooled meat evenly.
• Chen An rendered the pork in batches, seasoned it with chili bean paste and fermented black beans, then added the green garlic stalks and leaves.
• Fang Ming, Shao Heng, Rongrong, and the other diners ate the Twice-Cooked Pork, and Fang Ming helped wash the bowls afterward.
• Chen An judged the first attempt successful and went to cultivate after eating.
• Ning Fengzhi told Uncle Zhou that Xue Qinghe would arrive the next day, and Chen An chose to boil the meat fresh that morning.

Xue Qinghe visited Ning Fengzhi and shared Chen An’s Twice-Cooked Pork with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples. Impressed by their orderly routines and the meal’s apparent effect on Shao Heng, he arranged for his two guards to eat with them the next day.

• Xue Qinghe discussed academy business and repair costs with Ning Fengzhi before joining him for lunch.
• Rongrong advised Xue Qinghe to serve himself rice first because Chen An’s Twice-Cooked Pork was spicy.
• Xue Qinghe ate Chen An’s pork and noticed Shao Heng seemed more relaxed after his meal and training.
• Xue Qinghe asked Ning Fengzhi and Chen An to let his two road-weary guards try Chen An’s cooking the next day, and they agreed.
• Xue Qinghe stayed in the guest courtyard to review more letters, while one guard asked where they could train without disturbing the sect’s disciples.

Xue Qinghe watched his two guards eat Chen An’s freshly cooked Twice-Cooked Pork and observed how a proper meal eased their fatigue after training. After returning to the city, the guards found themselves thinking about the dish and wondering who would accompany Xue Qinghe on his next trip.

• Chen An cooked extra Twice-Cooked Pork for Xue Qinghe’s two guards, who ate after their morning training.
• Xue Qinghe observed the guards relax and recover after the hot meal, and discussed the value of proper meals with Ning Fengzhi.
• Xue Qinghe thanked Ning Fengzhi and Chen An, then left the mountain with the guards after they checked the carriage and helped one another with their gear.
• Chen An returned to cultivating, while Fang Ming helped wash dishes and Rongrong asked whether Chen An would cook the dish again.
• At dinner in the city, one guard searched for garlic shoots and asked who would accompany Xue Qinghe next time, while his companion warned him not to try switching places.

Chen An quietly broke through to level thirty-four after three months of cooking and cultivation. He left the kitchen duties to Uncle Zhou for dinner, while Ning Fengzhi invited Chen An and Rongrong to watch the sect’s upcoming Martial Soul Awakening ceremony.

• Chen An finished cultivating and crossed the threshold to level thirty-four.
• Chen Xin examined Chen An’s Soul Power and confirmed his breakthrough was stable.
• Rongrong and the others congratulated Chen An, and Uncle Zhou insisted on cooking dinner while Chen An rested.
• Chen An shared dinner with Ning Fengzhi, Gu Rong, Chen Xin, Rongrong, and Uncle Zhou.
• Ning Fengzhi invited Chen An and Rongrong to watch the children’s Martial Soul Awakening ceremony in a few days.

During the sect’s awakening ceremony, Chen An helped reassure families worried about children with food martial souls by revealing his own three-ring Dragon-Transforming Pot. After the families shared a meal, Chen An planned a special dinner for them three days later and began arranging for saltwater duck.

• Chen An finished helping with kitchen preparations before joining Rongrong to watch the children’s awakening ceremony.
• Rongrong helped Xu He recover his name tag and directed him to the correct spot; Xu He awakened a steamed-bun martial soul and had innate soul power rank three.
• Ning Fengzhi reassured Xu He’s worried mother, then asked Chen An to show his martial soul to the families.
• Chen An revealed his Dragon-Transforming Pot and three soul rings, and Ning Fengzhi explained that Chen An’s cooking could help disciples recover soul power.
• Xu He and his mother ate with the other families, while Rongrong pushed his record sheet safely onto the table.
• Chen An arranged a saltwater-duck dinner for the families three days later, and Rongrong checked how many guests would attend.

Chen An prepared Salted Duck for the feast, carefully salting, brining, gently cooking, and cooling four ducks before dividing them among the tables. The meal began as Uncle Zhou carried the platters inside and Fang Ming hurried to set out chopsticks.

• Chen An told Uncle Zhou he would make Salted Duck for the gathering and asked Han Cheng to bring back four suitable ducks.
• Chen An toasted coarse salt with Sichuan peppercorns and rubbed it over the cleaned ducks, then left them covered overnight.
• Chen An soaked the salted ducks in clear brine, then hung them to drain before gently cooking them in hot broth.
• Chen An let the cooked ducks cool, chopped them, and divided them among four platters.
• Uncle Zhou carried two platters inside as Fang Ming set out chopsticks for the feast.

Chen An’s Salted Duck brought the families of the newly awakened children together for a lively meal, and Xu He asked to return the next day. After Rongrong saved Chen An two pieces of duck, they discussed making sweet lotus root for a future meal.

• Uncle Zhou served Chen An’s Salted Duck, and the families gathered in the front courtyard eagerly tried it.
• Rongrong gave Xu He a drumstick, and the diners praised the duck as Xu He enjoyed his meal.
• Ning Fengzhi served Rongrong a piece of duck, while the children and adults joked and shared the remaining food.
• Xu He asked Rongrong whether he could come back for a meal the next day, then hurried to ask his mother.
• Rongrong gave Chen An two pieces of duck she had saved, and they discussed cooking the fresh lotus roots Uncle Zhou brought for tomorrow.