Master, I Want to Learn This

"You little thing really are eager to learn."

Lu Changzhi smiled at Luo Ling'er.

"Of course!"

Luo Ling'er said with envy written all over her face:

"I watched eldest senior brother cultivate, and he was amazing. I want to be like that too."

As she spoke, Luo Ling'er made a series of practiced-looking gestures.

Lu Changzhi laughed and said:

"You'll be able to do that too, someday."

"But there's no hurry yet."

After a pause, Lu Changzhi continued:

"Since you're here, there are a few things I need to tell you."

"What is it?" Luo Ling'er asked curiously.

"As things stand, you can't be my true disciple yet. For now, you can only be a nominal disciple."

"Aren't they the same?" Luo Ling'er looked utterly confused.

"There's no real difference," Lu Changzhi replied.

After all, even if she were a true disciple, he had nothing much to pass on.

As for making her a nominal disciple, that was because of issues with Luo Ling'er's aptitude and the like.

Those were also the sect's rules.

There was a vast difference between the resources a true disciple and a nominal disciple could access.

"There's one more thing."

Lu Changzhi continued:

"There's no hurry to cultivate yet. You'll need to wait a while first."

"Why?" Luo Ling'er was puzzled.

"My dad said I'm old enough to cultivate."

"Because you have other things to do." Lu Changzhi came up with a reason.

In fact, this was also what the system had recommended.

Luo Ling'er's physique had yet to awaken, so it wasn't suitable for her to start cultivating too early.

Otherwise, after it awakened, her foundation would likely be affected.

There was also the matter of the so-called earth-attribute spirit beast core.

It wasn't as simple as he had imagined.

Even the sect had no earth-attribute spirit beast cores available at the moment.

The system had mentioned that they were sold in the shop.

But with his current experience points, there was no rushing it.

"Then what do I have to do?" Luo Ling'er blinked and rubbed her hands together, her face full of anticipation.

"Come with me."

Lu Changzhi got up and walked outside.

The two of them, one following the other, arrived at an open space.

All manner of utensils had already been laid out here.

Pots, bowls, ladles and basins, firewood, rice, oil and salt.

There were also numerous ingredients preserved with a formation.

"Huh?" Luo Ling'er looked puzzled and asked:

"Master, what are we doing?"

Lu Changzhi clasped his hands behind his back and glanced at Luo Ling'er.

Then he cleared his throat and said with utmost seriousness:

"Every disciple who joins the Five Symbols Sect must master the art of cooking."

"Eating is a matter of great importance to us cultivators. We must pay it due attention."

"Besides, in the future, once you've grown stronger, there will be times when you go out to temper yourself."

"You don't want to go hungry out there, do you?"

Luo Ling'er listened in a daze and nodded along.

"Then, did eldest senior brother do it too?"

"Of course."

Lu Changzhi nodded and said:

"But your eldest senior brother's cooking is terrible."

"Since you can't cultivate yet, this is the perfect time to learn the way of cooking. In the future, you might surpass your eldest senior brother in this respect and become the one in charge of cooking on Hidden Origin Peak."

"When that time comes, if anyone makes you unhappy, you can simply refuse to cook for them. They'll surely treat you with the utmost respect."

Lu Changzhi painted her a grand picture without a blush or a flutter of his heart.

Luo Ling'er ate it all up with relish, and her eyes lit up.

"Yay! Master, I want to learn this!"

"Ahem." Lu Changzhi cleared his throat.

"The art of cooking is something you must comprehend for yourself. Your master has led you through the kitchen door; the rest of the cultivation is up to you."

Don't ask. If you did, it was because he couldn't cook either.

Before leaving, Lu Changzhi cast a fire-avoidance formation on Luo Ling'er and let her run wild.

He went back and lay down.

He brewed some tea and closed his eyes.

He savored the beauty of cultivation.

Cultivation really was a wonderful thing.

He didn't know how much time had passed.

A presence approached rapidly.

At the same time, Gu Chen's voice rang out.

"Master?"

"Hmm?"

Lu Changzhi slowly opened his eyes and looked at Gu Chen.

He saw that Gu Chen looked somewhat indignant.

That was rather rare.

Lu Changzhi asked:

"Gu Chen, did something happen?"

Gu Chen took a deep breath, pointed outside and asked:

"Was it your idea to have Ling'er cook, Master?"

Lu Changzhi looked in the direction Gu Chen was pointing.

A column of smoke was rising.

Lu Changzhi nodded. "It was my idea."

"What do you think of it?"

Gu Chen hesitated, but still said:

"Master, since you've taken him as your disciple, and she's come to Hidden Origin Peak, you should let her cultivate."

"Ling'er is already old enough to cultivate, and now is the perfect time for her to lay her foundation."

"Besides, the sect has people specifically in charge of cooking. Their food might not taste very good, but it's still better than Ling'er's. I went to take a look earlier, and she's never cooked before. Making her learn from scratch is far too much of a waste of time."

"Besides, Ling'er's head isn't even as big as a pot. She shouldn't be the one doing the cooking."

Gu Chen rattled off a long string of words in one breath.

Clearly, he had strong objections to the matter.

Lu Changzhi nodded gently and said:

"You have a point."

Lu Changzhi wasn't surprised that Gu Chen felt this way.

His eldest disciple was the sort of person who was determined to excel all his life.

Every time Xiao Ming beat him up, he would spend the following days wishing he could cultivate without even sleeping.

If Xiao Ming weren't a sacred beast who grew quickly, Gu Chen might actually have surpassed him.

And the main way to excel was, naturally, cultivation.

To Gu Chen, things other than cultivation were naturally less important.

"Then are you still planning to have Ling'er keep learning to cook, Master?"

Seeing that Lu Changzhi had nothing more to say, Gu Chen asked.

Lu Changzhi smiled faintly and gestured.

"Here she comes."

No sooner had he spoken than Luo Ling'er's slightly excited voice rang out:

"La la la, Master, Master, the chicken soup is here~"

Luo Ling'er appeared, carrying a soup pot.

Traces of excitement and pride could be seen on her soot-blackened little face.

"Eldest senior brother, you're here too?"

Luo Ling'er hurried over, set the soup pot on the table and said eagerly:

"Quick, have a taste! How did I do?"

Her voice was full of anticipation.

Gu Chen glanced into the pot.

Then his brows twisted into a knot, and he looked at Luo Ling'er.

"Ling'er, are you sure this is ch-"

He stopped, glanced at Xiao Ming, and then said:

"Why does this soup look like this?"

The soup in the pot was gray with a hint of green, and the pieces of chicken half-visible as they floated within cast a few more shadows over it.

At the sight of it, Lu Changzhi fell silent.

But considering this was Luo Ling'er's first time making soup, he had to offer her some encouragement.

So Lu Changzhi said:

"Gu Chen, why don't you taste the soup first? Don't let Ling'er's kind intentions go to waste."

Gu Chen's mouth twitched when he heard that.

He had a nagging feeling that the soup was at least a little poisonous.

And he was actually being told to taste it first...

Master, oh Master, couldn't you show your eldest disciple a little pity!