บท 42: Gourmet Elixirs
Several months had passed by since that day and nothing big had happened. Chu Fan and the others were now 13 years old. They had all made great progress with their cultivation with the help of Chu Fan's elixir cooking. Da Bao and Tian Han were nearing the ninth level of Qi Formation. Yao Lingyan and Hun Lian had now reached the second stage of Foundation Establishment while Chu Fan entered the fifth level.
In those several months, the children began to, very noticeably, change. Everyone was having major changes except for Chu Fan who remained short, with his innocent voice. It pained him to see those around him grow while he remained short and fat. In his past life, his growth spurt would come later than the others.
"Ah, the enigma that is puberty. Why do you favor the others while you make me wait?" he thought to himself.
Nonetheless, he did not think much over the matter and distracted himself with his cultivation. At the moment, Chu Fan had just finished with his Body Refinement training, he was massaging his arms.
"Ah, this last hurdle is a tricky one."
He had come to the end of the first stage of Body Refinement, Tempered Flesh, and was preparing to enter the next stage: Organ Overhaul. In the Organ Overhaul stage Chu Fan's organs would be purged of toxins and be strengthened, this stage was crucial in allowing Chu Fan's body to filter and strengthen his internal qi. There were also many other perks included with this stage, such as: poison immunity, enhanced senses, and an everlasting libido just to name a few.
For now, no more of his body refinement training would give him any progress. He now had more time to focus on his knife skills. He had made huge progress with his knife skills; so much so that he no longer practiced chopping vegetables and began butchering magic beasts. He had made a deal with the hunter's guild; as long as they supplied the magic beast carcasses, he would disassemble them for free. Chu Fan was able to take apart most magic beasts effortlessly, his knife would slide through and across the bodies majestically like a clay sculptor creating a masterpiece.
He grabbed a scrap of fatty meat and tossed it in midair for Nian Gao to catch, the latter savoring every bit of the magic beast meat. Nian Gao ran over to Chu Fan and rubbed himself against Chu Fan who was wrapping up all the meat.
"Hm, you say that tastes good, just wait till later. I'll show you what great food tastes like."
*Bark* Nian Gao leapt into the air. He could not wait for his breakfast. By now, Nian Gao had grown much bigger; he was now 124 cm long and 63 cm tall when on all four of his legs.
Chu Fan placed all the meat into a spatial ring and handed it to the talking puppet.
"Take this to the Hunter's Guild. Be quick!"
The talking puppet received his parcel and saluted, "Yes Head Chef!" before promptly taking off.
Chu Fan had finally finished with his morning training and began making breakfast. Soon his friends all began to show up one by one. The first to arrive was Hun Lian, followed by Yao Lingyan, and then Chu Fan's two sworn brothers.
"Chu Fan, what's for breakfast today?" asked Tian Han
"Mm, smells good. I've worked up quite the appetite this morning." said Da Bao as he rubbed his stomach.
"Chu Fan, do you need any help?" asked Yao Lingyan.
"Let me have a bit a taste, pretty please tubby?" asked Hun Lian with her doe eyes.
Chu Fan shook his head and ignored his friends.
"Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! Just go and get seated. Leave it to me, I've never steered you wrong."
"Okay." they said as they left the counter and went to get seated at their usual table. They were all greeted by Nian Gao. One by one, he allowed himself to get petted by Chu Fan's friends. Nian Gao was a rather friendly creature, he was greeted by thousands of disciples everyday and received many treats from each one of them; therefore he loved to meet new people.
"Aiyoo! Nian Gao, you're getting so big. How come your growth can't rub off on your master in the kitchen there." said Da Bao as he scratched Nian Gao's back.
"You lucky fools and your puberty. It'll come naturally. You'll see." Chu Fan muttered to himself as he cooked. His eyes turned red as he held back the tears; he felt the bitter injustice of fate and genetics.
He wrapped up his cooking and plated his food. He walked out of the kitchen with his serving platter in his hand; drawing in the gaze of the other disciples that did not have the luxury of eating his hand-made food for breakfast. Their hearts filled with envy as they smelled the savory dishes that cleared their passageways.
Chu Fan walked over to his table, ignoring the gazes he got and served the food.
"Dig in!" Chu Fan said as he placed Nian Gao's plate on the ground as it drooled. Nian Gao ate as sloppily as he could, dropping bits of food on the ground; but still any bits that fell onto the floor were swiftly licked up by the combat beast as it swore not waste a bit of its scrumptious breakfast meal.
His four friends ate rather slowly, in the past month they had been a bit unrestrained when it cam to eating Chu Fan's cooking. They would usually finish the food in a flash and be left salivating and wanting more as they watched Nian Gao eat his food. They wanted to savor every bite as Chu Fan tended to change the dish after a while.
"Hahaha! What's wrong with you guys? You are all eating slower than usual today. Normally, you'd all be done with the food and off to cultivate already." Chu Fan crossed his arms and shook his head.
They all looked at Chu Fan with leering eyes.
"It's all your fault, you never keep an actual menu. My favorite dish was the Fried Razor Mantis Shrimp you made with the Earth Scorching Pepper and Sky Mineral Rock Salt, but you only made that once. Who knows when we'll have this dish again?"
"I liked the stew made with the Stone Backed Mussels, Storm Riding Shrimp, and Soul Devouring Cod. But the portions you gave were too small."
They all began listing their favorite dishes that Chu Fan had made while giving him their personal criticisms, he stood and listened to it all with a smile on his face.
"Well, If you wanted to eat those things, you should have just asked."
Chu Fan pulled out a menu from his storage ring. He placed it on the table for his four friends to look through.
"Gourmet Elixirs! Menu is subject to change weekly based on supply." was written in bold print.
Each of their eyes lit up as they saw their favorite dishes, they began salivating. Other disciples began to crowd around their table as they saw the menu.
"Chu Fan, does this mean that we can try your Gourmet Elixirs also?" asked a curious disciple.
"Of course, you will be able to start trying it today. I have finally finished my preparations. Although this will cost you a substantial amount of sect points. You can count on me though, I guarantee your total satisfaction."
A big uproar started as many disciples trampled one another to start ordering their "Gourmet Elixir" of choice.
"Ah, who stepped on me!"
"Stop pushing! Line up!"
"Who!? Who grabbed me there!?"
Chu Fan was a bit scared by all the attention he now had. This crazy mob of disciples wanted his cooking, but they went about it in a crazed fashion.
"WHAT'S ALL THIS!? ARE YOU ALL ANIMALS!" shouted a figure standing at the door. He stunned all the disciples quiet as they shifted their focus in his direction. As his voice settled, a little bird came fluttering about, it flew past Nian Gao's face to attract his attention.
*Bark* Nian Gao chased the bird as it flew towards the cafeteria's entrance and perched itself on the man who had just shouted. The little bird was Xiao Bai and the person who had just shouted at the crowd of students was none other than the direct disciple of Scorcher Peak, Ye Qing.
Nian Gao ran over and greeted Ye Qing by rubbing his head against the latter's leg. Nian Gao got a simple pet from Ye Qing as he kept his piercing stare on the group of disciples.
"Have you all lost your dignity? Acting like a crazed bunch of lunatics over food? Have the common decency to queue up first."
With their heads held low, they all turned to Chu Fan and bowed.
"Apologies fellow disciple Chu Fan. Please forgive us."
Chu Fan waved his hand and said, "No need. I figured you would all be over-excited when you heard about this. Please line up and the puppets shall register your name down on a list."
"What about if the supplies run out?"
Chu Fan thought for a bit.
"Good thought. How about this? If supplies run out, you will remain on the list until the supplies are re-stocked. If you want the food as soon as possible, you can put a request on the Sect Quests for the ingredients. I'll even reimburse you the quest fee and give you a discount if you can bring me the ingredients to cook with."
He pulled out a pen and paper and began listing the ingredients. After he was done, Chu Fan posted the list of ingredients next to where the registering puppet stood. Soon, a very long queue had already formed and disciples were already signing up.
Chu Fan walked up to his senior brother Ye Qing and bowed.
"Greetings senior brother Ye Qing. What brings you here today?"
Ye Qing began scratching his head and giggling.
"Well... I'm kind of embarrassed to say this."
Chu Fan was a bit puzzled. He knew that Ye Qing was there to ask a favor of which Chu Fan owed him. His friends were all baffled as well; the hot-headed man who silenced a massive crowd, knew what it was like to be embarrassed also.
"Do you need the help from this little cupid?"
Ye Qing hesitated and nodded.
"It's quite complicated, I made a bet with a certain person. And this bet concerns your 'Gourmet Elixirs'."
Chu Fan was intrigued and asked, "Oh? And what does this bet entail?"
Ye Qing bowed to Chu Fan. Yao Lingyan and the others quickly gobbled down their food and came to stand next to Chu Fan; they could not miss the chance to hear this.
"I am sorry for thrusting this on you. I made a bet with the girl I like that your 'Gourmet Cooking' was better than most alchemists' pills and elixirs. You are to compete using the same ingredients; and if you win..."
Chu Fan snapped his fingers.
"The other party must accompany you to the upcoming Festival of Unrequited Love."
Ye Qing nodded silently.
"So, who is this lucky girl you made a bet with?"
A girl walked up from behind Ye Qing. Her figure was bewitching to many men and pubescent boys; she was not afraid to show off her heavenly-gifted assets. She wore loose-fitting clothes and purple-tinged rouge which made her feel somewhat enticing to thrill-seekers. Her yellow monolid eyes could draw a man in and make them lost, forgetful of time itself. She walked over to stand next to Ye Qing and clasped her hands at Chu Fan.
"Greetings to junior disciple Chu Fan. I have heard many things about you. My name is Wang Zhinu."
Chu Fan mumbled to himself, "Wang? Why does that sound so familiar?"
Hun Lian heard Chu Fan talking to himself and hit him behind the head.
"Dummy, she's obviously Grandpa Wang's granddaughter."
Chu Fan began rubbing forehead.
"Aw, man."
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