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50.31% Learning To Live As A Cultivator / Chapter 162: Chapter One Hundred And Sixty Two - We wander around together

Chapter 162: Chapter One Hundred And Sixty Two - We wander around together

The two young men walked side by side through the overgrowth, listening to the chirp of the cicadas and the hooting of nocturnal birds. They found the narrow path a minute later, lit up on either side by mushrooms that glowed with a soft, blue light. A small hummingbird like creature flew swiftly past, the tips of it's feathers providing a sparkling, white light. Jin Li had not let go of Leon's wrist, but Leon did not mind this.

The pathway lead to an area with stalls centring a lectern and upon that wooden furnishings was an open scroll, glowing a gentle yellow colour and upon that was a feather quill glowing white. This area was a place for Scholars. Leon was curious about what the Scholars did, for he'd never met one, but as the name implied, their works seemed to centre around paper and ink.

"W-What are those?" He pointed curiously towards strips of paper with calligraphy upon them.

Jin Li glanced over. "Talismans for exorcists," came the reply.

"Exorcists?" The word was familiar, but in his old world, he recalled it being linked to undead and horror movies, thus furrowed his brow. "You m-mean p-people who b-banish g-ghosts?"

"Is there another kind?" Jin Li replied, testily. Leon didn't answer, just attempted to wrap his head around the idea. If the Scholars were creating those, then did that not suggest that exorcism was a valid occupation in this world? And that was so, did that mean that ghosts were real here? He wasn't sure how he felt about that.

Other things on trade were inscription scrolls, which were not like magic scrolls; they could not cast spells. However an inscription could be attached to a piece of armour or a weapon and enhance the qualities of such. These were temporary, however, much like magic scrolls, though the average inscription would last two or three times rather than once like a magic scroll. There were also scrolls for common cultivation techniques and skills, many of which could be found in the library. Copies of books were also available and Leon spied one upon herbs. Flicking through it, it was clear that it held some information that wasn't in the almanac he had found in the library. So he traded for it, exchanging three bottles of Clear Spiritual Pills in the end.

The two youths wandered down upon another path and this time did not lose their way for the trees were fewer here and the foliage thinner. Leon glanced upward and could see billions of scattered stars above him, cast across the blue-black sky. It was a bit surreal, as the sky appeared as if it was painted above him on a large circular canvas due to the shadowed walls of the dormant volcano bordering it.

This time, they found themselves in a place dedicated to the mage school. It was extremely colourful compared to the quiet, refined area of the Scholars or the slightly more bustling place of the Alchemists. One stall was selling disks that had been enchanted to shoot fireworks once a key word was said. Another was selling crystal and jade charms. One mage had nothing at his stall but a sign offering to recharge mage crystals.

Leon understood mage-crystals as power sources for certain spell arrays, large ones that needed constant supplies of magic. The temporal formation surrounding the herb fields, making a small space several times larger, was one such array. Mages not only created them from pure magic, but could also resupply them with their magic. It should be mentioned, that magic was simply spiritual energy in a more condensed form. Thus to be a mage, a Cultivator needed to be blessed with copious amounts of spiritual energy even at low stages of cultivation.

Regardless, Leon's lone mage-crystal was in his mage globe at home and those lasted a great deal of time, so he lost interest in this stall immediately. He did briefly look at the jade and crystal charms, but Jin Li pulled him away, claiming that the carvings were amateurish and lame. Better to not waste his pills upon them.

As the moon arrived over the lip of the mountain wall, the youths arrived at an area that appeared to have Alchemists in it. Leon assumed that these were from the upper school, but while a few had pills and potted herbs, there was much more variety of other things. Jin Li was quickly drawn to one stall that had two cauldrons upon portable stoves, but were not producing pills to the gathering crowd, but soups.

"A c-cooking stall?" Leon questioned, causing the buxom woman behind the cauldrons to laugh softly.

"Nope, this is Medicinal Cuisine," she smiled as she stirred the pots. "Choice pieces of meat from spiritual beasts and spirit herbs are cooked in a cauldron. It's a bit like making a pill or a potion in the fact that each ingredient needs to be cooked just so or treated in a specific way and when it is all brought together, it produces something like this." She ladled some of the soup into a bowl and pushed it over. Leon carefully picked up the bowl and breathed in the heavenly scents.

"It h-has sp-spiritual energy inside it?" Leon exclaimed and the woman nodded.

"Medicinal Cuisine can aid in Cultivation, healing, strengthening bodies and meridians," she listed off of the top of her head. "It's just not that popular as it's only good when eaten fresh and not as quick as popping a pill! But there's far less impurities within a bowl of my stew than in one of those pills! Well certain grains, fruits and herbs can be brewed into medicinal wine, which lasts longer, but also takes a long time to make." Leon sipped and the flavours burst upon his tongue. His stomach warmed, the heat then spread through his meridians and he suddenly felt refreshed. He passed the bowl to Jin Li, who savoured the stew with a smile.

The woman couldn't help but think to herself; If only I was ten years younger...

"It's d-delicious," Leon told her and quickly withdrew a pot of Gentle Snowflower balm and handed it to her; he'd noticed a couple of burn marks upon her hand, perhaps received during cooking. Her heart melted as she accepted the pot. These two students were so lovely and handsome as well! "If I h-had t-time, I'd like t-to learn it," Leon thought aloud, knowing how much Jin Li liked delicious food.

However the man actually frowned; "The time you have available (for me) is already limited, especially recently. Don't think foolish thoughts."

"There is a simpler thing to try," the woman said, "the effects are lesser, but still beneficial in the long run. How would do you feel about the idea of Medicinal Teas?"


Chapter 163: Chapter One Hundred And Sixty Three - We experience a tea ceremony

Medicinal Cuisine could be separated into three areas of expertise. The first, the one that was generally learned by those few who expressed interest, was Medicinal Cooking; taking choice pieces of flesh, such as the heart, the brain and other cuts of meats from a Spirit Beast and combining it with various herb leaves and roots to produce a bowl full of delicious goodness. Bursting with flavour and tenderness, it was not only nutritious, but had long term benefits for Cultivators. Ordinary people could also enjoy the most basic of recipes, however were not able to eat the Cuisine enjoyed by higher stage Cultivators lest their dormant or blocked meridians burst, killing them.

Medicinal Brewing produced Medicinal Wines and Liqueurs. They were made from fermenting certain spirit fruits or grains and herbs. The vendor of the stall, that Leon traded two bottle of Blood Pills as well as three bottles of Fire Water Tonic for one sealed jug, explained the best grains were found in warmer areas, so his wines were all made with fruits, which were easier to find in these parts. Brewing was not as popular to learn as, just like potion making, the brew could spoil within the vat, wasting several weeks worth of wait, however this meant his wines were far more valuable than his fellow student's soups.

And then there was the much lesser known Medicinal Tea making. This was a little looked down upon, even by other Medicinal Cuisine fanatics, for while it only used herbs in its creation, the effects were much less noticeable than soups and significantly so compared to wines. However, the two girls, who enthusiastically invited them over to experience it, loved this small trade and even went so far as to merge the traditional tea ceremony that one had been taught within her noble household.

She had Leon and Jin Li sit opposite each other on a raised platform, with a small low table between them and from the side, she ground very specific volumes of herbs together in a pestle and mortar before them. She seemed quite versed, as she effortlessly produced a tea that was ground evenly, but not so fine as to be called a powder. Adding a measure of this to an ornate teapot, she poured hot water upon it and swirled the teapot clockwise once before placing the pot between them. She then passed Leon a porcelain cup, placing it before him, before turning to Jin Li to do the same.

The girl was very professional, Leon felt, putting them both at ease and not starring with twinkling eyes at his boyfriend, like so many other girls liked to do. Honestly, he'd never noticed before just how much attention Jin Li drew to him until their relationship had stepped onto this level and now, he couldn't help but notice! But he didn't want to be a clingy boyfriend, so he'd swallowed down his resentment as they wandered around the Festival, pretending as if it didn't matter.

Jin Li had not noticed the stares directed at him, though he had felt eyes glancing their way. Clearly, his small alchemist garnered too much attention now that his stunning eyes could be witnessed by all, completing his already adorable face. Hence Jin Li had retained a firm grasp upon his wrist as they walked around, declaring ownership.

As the tea and their own thoughts brewed, a disturbance began nearby. Jin Li and Leon both turned to look over and noticed that it was at the stall of the woman who had introduced them to Medicinal Cuisine. She had said it was unpopular and from what was occurring, it was clear she was not lying.

Leon had some minor experience with the inner school and it hadn't been a bad experience, so he had previously assumed that it was much like the outer school, but with more resources aimed at moulding the highly talented. His older brother had hinted earlier that it was not that great a place to be, as if they would be bullied there, but Leon had paid it no mind, after all, what bullying had he not experienced in the outer school?

"I said I wanted a bowl of Celestial Pearl Grains," the young man making the demands was dressed in high quality, embroidered silk. These robes, much like Leon's, were tailored to his ankles and the sash and belt upon his waist, elongated his frame. His hair was styled into a top-knot, with a jade crown and hair pin. He also wore an ornate gold lock about his neck. It was as if he was an advertisement for great wealth and riches.

The woman looked at him with a sour expression, clearly aware that he was up to no good, but what could she do when this arrogant young Master was surrounded by his lackeys as he mocked her stall and secondary profession. "I don't have Celestial Pearl Grains," she replied, coldly. "I'm sure you are aware that this is not a restaurant and I have only produced Meridian Enlightening Soup and Spring Heart Stew. If you don't wish to trade for a bowl, then I humbly request you to leave."

"And you call this Medicinal Cuisine!" The fop sneered. "Can't even supply Celestial Pearl Grains for the good of the Festival. What a joke!" He rudely kicked over the sign she had placed before her stall, causing his friends to chuckle.

This man was clearly pleased with himself for making the woman feel uncomfortable. The man with the wines was quietly packing away his brews; it seemed that he had experienced trouble with this young master before. Others, in this area, had mixed reactions, some clearly angered, but restraining themselves helplessly, more enjoying the whole play, nodding and smirking. A few simply looked away as if they hadn't seen anything.

Jin Li simply sipped the tea that had been nervously poured in the meantime. "J-Jin Li," Leon found himself asking. "What are Celestial P-Pearl G-G-Grains?"

The martial artist carefully placed down his cup and replied; "It's a type of rice."

"Eh?"

"It's a grain that contains Spiritual Energy, but normal people can eat it without ill effects," he continued, "It's not easy to grow so it's naturally expensive to buy. Even within the richest of sects and families, only the heads of the family might be fortunate enough to consume it. A student expecting to eat it in a school, only a fool could imagine it." Jin Li's voice was not quiet as he said these words. Indeed, many took note. The youth did not shout nor raise his voice, but it travelled very clearly around the area. The fop also heard his ridicule.

"You dare..." the young Master said between gritted teeth, but Jin Li was not listening to him, his attention upon the youth sitting quietly opposite him.

"B-but if it's a t-type of rice," Leon said, after considering this for a moment, "Why d-does it h-have such a silly n-n-name?"


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