Yan Yuan Xian Jun, the leader of the Chi Long Sect, was gravely injured. Song Qing Shi used many valuable ingredients and even guided spiritual energy into his sea of consciousness using golden needles, erasing their traumatic memories while leaving only some emotional scars. These scars won't be triggered as long as they don't encounter related stimuli in the future.
How much would it cost when the top divine doctor of the Immortal Realm treats you and uses various miraculous pills and medicines?
The Chi Long Sect couldn't afford to pay in spirit stones and felt deeply ashamed. They proposed to pay on credit, making monthly payments.
Song Qing Shi liked them and had plenty of pocket money from his little angel, Wu Huan. So, in a spendthrift move, he generously reduced the treatment fee. The members of the Chi Long Sect were extremely grateful and even offered to copy some of their sect's treasured talisman and formation scriptures for him, as a token of their gratitude, upon learning of his love for collecting books.
Creating basic talismans and charms is not difficult, but it is tedious. Most cultivators choose to buy them directly.
The majority of the disciples in the Chi Long Sect were orphans that Yan Yuan Xian Jun had taken in. They were not particularly gifted but were dutiful in learning talisman-making from their master. Everyone had their roles and responsibilities and they never caused any trouble.
A girl Yan Yuan Xian Jun was looking after is named Nian Nian, who is extremely talented, intelligent, and naturally gifted as a formation master.
Impressed with her improved Fire Control Talisman, Song Qing Shi immediately placed an order for a thousand pieces and shared several unique ancient formations from Yao Wang Valley for her to study. Nian Nian seemed to be inspired by one of the illusionary runes, consumed with research to the point of forgetting meals.
Yan Yuan Xian Jun felt heartache watching her, and once he recovered a bit, he sternly lectured her.
Nian Nian playfully appealed to her master, and her sect siblings joined in on the teasing, creating a harmonious atmosphere among master and disciples.
Pretending to be annoyed, Yan Yuan Xian Jun said, "If you don't take better care of yourself, I'll marry you off."
Nian Nian feigned protest, "No, I want to stay here forever and take care of Master."
...
Hearing this, Song Qing Shi felt an inexplicable sense of envy.
There's no set order to learning; whoever achieves mastery can be a teacher.
He decided to secretly seek advice on mentorship from Yan Yuan Xian Jun. He wanted to know how to win the affection of his disciples, how to make them like him and wish to stay by his side forever.
Yan Yuan Xian Jun is no naive disciple. He is well aware of the fearsome reputation of Yao Wang Xian Zun that belies his appearance. When Song Qing Shi came to see him with a formidable demeanor, Yan Yuan almost wanted to kneel and beg for mercy, fearing he'd be taken away as a lab subject because he couldn't pay the bill. However, upon hearing what Song Qing Shi was actually asking, he felt completely dumbfounded, as if he were still stuck in a nightmare.
Song Qing Shi took out a pen and paper, his face serious. "Go ahead."
"I haven't done anything special, just taught them skills," Yan Yuan Xian Jun guessed that Song Qing Shi might want some unique methods to better control his disfigured beauty of a disciple. Reluctantly, he continued, "If there's anything special, perhaps it's that I cook delicious food for them? My disciples love my noodles. Whenever they return from a journey, they demand a large bowl, claiming that nothing outside tastes the same. Nian Nian likes hers soft, Huang He prefers it a bit hard, He Xiao Xiao always wants added chili, and Yue Er dislikes onions…"
This unimpressive-looking middle-aged cultivator spoke about his disciples with warmth in his eyes.
Song Qing Shi quickly extracted key insights:
First, convey feelings through culinary skills.
Second, win a disciple's stomach to win their heart.
Third, learn cooking.
He realized his neglect of culinary arts was a mistake. Starting from today, he must take it seriously.
A man of action, Song Qing Shi immediately dragged Yan Yuan Xian Jun into the kitchen. With a scientific approach, he began learning how to make noodles.
Being a master of alchemy, he could effortlessly measure the weight of each ingredient by hand, recording each quantity down to the gram. He also noted the kneading force and technique, including the number of rotations and turns the dough took, before finalizing the thickness and texture of the noodles. He considered everything from air humidity to cooking utensils' material and thickness, precisely timing each step. Ultimately, he successfully replicated the perfect bowl of noodles.
Yan Yuan Xian Jun had never seen such an eccentric cooking method and was completely dumbfounded.
After tasting his creation to ensure its success, Song Qing Shi happily carried the bowl of noodles to find Wu Huan.
...
Wu Huan was engrossed in reading. The books in Chi Long Sect's library had some unique methods and information on talisman creation that could help him improve his poison puppet.
Suddenly, Song Qing Shi burst in, offering a bowl of noodles like a prized treasure.
Wu Huan looked at the bowl containing nothing but scallions and soy sauce soup. He took a taste, finding the ingredients clean but the flavor average, a far cry from the noodles he made with rich chicken broth. However, the eager look on Song Qing Shi's face told him everything.
He pretended not to know, praising, "The kitchen at Chi Long Sect is remarkable. I've never tasted such delicious noodles."
Song Qing Shi felt elated, as if he'd just successfully refined a difficult pill. But he modestly said, "Oh, it's not that great."
Wu Huan saw through it but didn't expose him. He finished the entire bowl, even drinking all the soup, then said, "It's the thought that counts."
"I've cooked before; I have experience," Song Qing Shi hurriedly explained to prevent Wu Huan from figuring out his true intentions. Though he had previously used pills to raise children and poisoned people with glutinous rice balls, he had technically cooked before. However, feeling slightly guilty, he changed the subject, promising, "If you like it, I can cook for you every day. No, not every day. Sometimes I'm busy with experiments. Anyway, I'll cook for you whenever I have time."
Wu Huan felt a bit puzzled once more. He found it hard to believe that a man so absorbed in his research that he'd often forget to eat would want to cook.
"Yan Yuan Xian Jun mentioned that a good master would cook for their disciples. But eating noodles every day might get boring, don't you think?" Song Qing Shi reflected on the various dishes Xiao Tian Shi used to prepare, saying cheerfully, "Would you prefer dumplings, wontons, or pancakes? How about pastries or desserts? I can learn to make them all... don't worry, I'm a quick learner."
It seemed the Master had misunderstood something amusing?
Seeing Song Qing Shi's eager expression, Wu Huan felt a faint stirring within, signaling an emotional infatuation that was verging on uncontrollable. After the parasite absorbed the excess emotion, he set down his bowl and said solemnly, "Master, you don't have to do these things for me."
He enjoyed this all too much. Doing it occasionally was tolerable, but regularly would risk exposing his true feelings.
Those feelings were full of unspeakable desires, like embers that could ignite a devastating fire, throwing everything into chaos.
This was not what he intended to happen.
Therefore, he must not be tempted into losing control...
Song Qing Shi thought about it and understood Wu Huan's reluctance. Considering Wu Huan's culinary skills outshone his own by a mile, his initial enthusiasm began to wane, leaving him somewhat deflated. He wanted to give everything good to Wu Huan, but Wu Huan was so capable and intelligent, he seemed able to achieve anything...
Song Qing Shi wasn't sure what more he could offer, nor how he could make Wu Huan happier.
What if Wu Huan recovered and found Yao Wang Valley boring and decided to leave?
Would he return to his lonely days of cloud-watching?
Song Qing Shi pondered for a moment, then brightened up. Failure was common to him. More importantly, Wu Huan was still by his side. There was no reason to be upset over things that had not yet happened; he could still try harder.
He took Wu Huan's hand and placed a long-clenched Phoenix Blood gemstone in his palm, saying happily, "I obtained this spoils of war from the Mo Yuan ruins from An Long. I'm giving it to you."
The fiery red gem flowed with specks of golden starlight. The trail left behind by the starlight resembled a splendid phoenix sealed within, emitting a warm aura.
Wu Huan had been entirely engrossed in his swordsmanship at that time and hadn't noticed the private transaction between the two concerning the gem.
The Phoenix Blood gem was vibrant yet not garish, flawless and entirely in line with his aesthetic taste, the sort he would treasure forever.
He absolutely loved it...
He found himself wishing he could place this gem on the person before him, as if marking a pristine territory with his own colors.
Imagining that pleasing sight brought a secretive joy to his heart, curling his lips into a smile.
Seeing Wu Huan's delight, Song Qing Shi felt incredibly pleased.
Though his attempt at cooking might have gone awry, the gift-giving was a success.
He planned to continue studying how Yan Yuan Xian Jun mentored his disciples. Whether it was offering hands-on guidance on making talismans or urging them to practice martial arts daily, he would try it all. He wasn't afraid of failure; by taking action and thinking critically, he would eventually find what made Wu Huan happy, ensuring that he would willingly stay and enjoy life in Yao Wang Valley.
The two spent every day studying together, conducting research, concocting elixirs, playing, and going on adventures...
What sort of celestial bliss was this life!
...
Song Qing Shi once again pestered the poor Yan Yuan Xian Jun, determined to extract all the wisdom stored in his brain. Wu Huan reluctantly accompanied him, heading to the talisman-making workshop to speak with disciples of the Chi Yun Sect. He wanted to inquire about various techniques in talisman-making and also to borrow materials and tools for experimentation.
The disciples shared their knowledge generously.
Wu Huan found an unoccupied workstation and began experimenting with talisman creation...
Suddenly, he heard the Chi Yun Sect disciples whispering among themselves:
"Ever since the Can Tong Sect was wiped out and Gui Yuan Xian Zun fell, there hasn't been a large-scale purchase of Joy Talismans for years. Don't make too many; we won't be able to sell them."
"The death of Gui Yuan Xian Zun was tragic indeed. Brother Zhao was so frightened when he delivered the goods, he couldn't eat for three days..."
"Fortunately, that person didn't come, or Brother Zhao might have wet his pants."
"Haha, what a shame, these talismans are quite profitable. Maybe you could try marketing them yourself?"
"Get lost! Selling these things in the red-light district? You want Master to break my legs?"
"Hahaha, you've been caught..."
"..."
The Can Tong Sect wiped out? Gui Yuan Xian Zun has fallen?
Wu Huan paused, setting down his brush for the talisman, lost in thought.
Gui Yuan Xian Zun was a name he didn't want to hear, one that evoked the deepest hatred and memories he wished to erase. Over the years, preoccupied with treating Song Qing Shi, he'd had neither the time nor the resources to seek vengeance. Thus, he had deliberately avoided any news concerning the Can Tong Sect or that name, so as not to disturb his emotional balance.
In his memory, Gui Yuan Xian Zun was cautious and adept at keeping all parties happy. He never offended the powerful and was a clever man.
How did he die so miserably? And who is that person?
Wu Huan turned around, flashing a gentle smile. "This seems like an intriguing matter. Would you mind sharing the details with me?"