Chapter 350

Words : 2374 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

Chapter 350Jiuli Village was bustling with excitement. Everyone was thrilled when they heard that Lu Qing was inviting the entire village for a meal, especially since he planned to cook spirit rice. Most of the villagers had visited the two acres of spirit fields behind Lu Qing's courtyard on the mountainside. They knew the spirit grain growing there was thriving, and the rice ears were heavy, the best they had ever seen. Naturally, everyone was curious about how rice of such quality would taste once it was cooked. The Lu family's courtyard was filled with tables and chairs, each one different from the other. These were brought over from various households in the village, gathered together for the occasion. In the countryside, hosting a banquet was always a communal effort. One household would host, and the entire village would help out. Lu Qing, with an apron tied around his waist, was busy in front of a makeshift stove in the courtyard. Since he was the one hosting, it was only natural for him to do the cooking himself. Preparing such a large meal meant the kitchen in his home was too small, so he had set up an outdoor stove instead. At that moment, Lu Qing was cutting meat. On a simple chopping board, the knife flashed as Lu Qing quickly sliced large chunks of beef, lamb, and pork into either blocks or thin slices. Swish, swish, swish... The knife blurred, and with a gentle press and twist of his palm, a slab of fresh red beef transformed into perfect slices. Each piece was so uniform that it seemed as if they had been precisely measured. The onlookers were mesmerized. Only now did they realize why Lu Qing had declined their offers to help earlier. With knife skills like that, even if they practiced for a lifetime, they would never match him. If they tried to help, they would only get in the way. Ma Gu was also watching Lu Qing cut vegetables. However, unlike the villagers who were merely enjoying the spectacle, Ma Gu was focusing on the profound essence within Lu Qing's knife technique. As a fellow master of the Dao of the Blade, someone who had also comprehended a domain, Ma Gu could see that Lu Qing's mastery of the blade had reached an extraordinary level. Even though Lu Qing was merely using a kitchen knife to cut vegetables, the underlying blade intent was enough to make Ma Gu’s heart soar with admiration. As everyone was watching Lu Qing, there was a commotion outside the courtyard. Before long, Xiao Tian arrived with several men, carrying various goods. "Lu Xiaolangjun, I’ve brought the chickens, ducks, and fish you requested," Xiao Tian said respectfully. "Good, just put them over there," Lu Qing nodded. "Is there anything else you need us to do?" Xiao Tian asked. "Not for now. By the way, Xiao Tian, why don’t you stay and have a simple meal with us?" "Well..." Xiao Tian hesitated. Ma Gu stepped over and lightly knocked on his head. "Stay if you're told to stay. Stop talking nonsense!" he scolded, glaring at him. This fool had no idea how much of a rare opportunity it was to eat such a meal. Ma Gu, fully aware of how precious spirit rice was, spoke with a hint of frustration. "I understand, Master Ma. I’ll accept Lu Xiaolangjun's offer," Xiao Tian immediately lowered his head, not daring to defy Ma Gu. Lu Qing smiled. "It's just a simple meal, no need to be so nervous." As Xiao Tian went to find a seat, the other villagers finally found tasks they could help with. They stepped forward to collect the chickens, ducks, and fish Xiao Tian had brought, readying them for slaughter. They couldn’t help Lu Qing with cutting vegetables, but when it came to killing chickens and ducks, they were more than capable. With everyone working together, it didn’t take long to prepare all the ingredients. Piles of freshly slaughtered chickens, ducks, and fish, along with the beef, lamb, and pork Lu Qing had sliced, were laid out. Even though the cooking hadn't started, some villagers were already salivating. Jiuli Village was a poor place, and large quantities of meat like this were rarely eaten except during the New Year or at weddings and banquets. Lu Qing knew that the villagers rarely had the chance to eat meat, so he had asked Xiao Tian to help buy a large amount of it for this occasion. Now that all the ingredients were ready, it was time to start cooking. Because of the large number of people, Lu Qing didn’t prepare elaborate dishes. Instead, he opted for big pot dishes. However, with his skills and the various seasonings he had developed over the years, he was confident that even the simplest dishes would be delicious. Soon, a large iron pot was set up. Once the fire was burning hot enough, Lu Qing scooped a large block of solid lard into the pot. With a sizzle, the lard melted, releasing a rich aroma. Once the oil was hot enough and had fully coated the pot, Lu Qing tossed in a sugar block, caramelizing it to create a deep color. Next, he poured in a large plate of pork belly, which had already been blanched in boiling water. The crackling sound of frying filled the air, and the rich fragrance of meat quickly spread throughout the courtyard. The villagers nearby couldn’t help but sniff the air. Especially the little children, who were practically drooling at the smell. The aroma was just too enticing. Smelling such a strong meat scent, everyone’s anticipation for the feast grew even stronger. Once the pork belly had been caramelized to the right color, Lu Qing added water and various spices, then left it to simmer. While the meat was simmering, he set up another pot to prepare more dishes. As Lu Qing juggled several pots at once, over at the Wei family’s separate courtyard, a wave of excitement swept through the household. "Ah Hai, what did you say? You found Zihao?" Wei Xinghe asked, his face full of joy as he looked at Wei Dazongguan. Even Wei Furen trembled slightly with excitement. "Uncle Hai, is it true? Have you found my brother?" Wei Zian was equally elated. Two months ago, news had come from Jizhou. It was said that Qingyun Sword Sect had offended some powerful enemy, and in one night, the entire sect had been uprooted. Not only were most of the disciples killed, but the sect’s mountain gate had also been burned to the ground. Only a handful of disciples who were outside the sect at the time had escaped the disaster. When the Wei family received the news, they were understandably anxious. Their eldest son, Wei Zihao, was a disciple of Qingyun Sword Sect. Wei Xinghe had immediately ordered a search for Wei Zihao, vowing to find him, dead or alive. But after two months, they had found no trace of him. Just as they were beginning to fear that Wei Zihao had perished in the disaster, Wei Dazongguan brought word that he had been found. "Yes, Master, Madam. Two days ago, one of our spies spotted the young master in the prefecture," Wei Dazongguan said respectfully. "As soon as I received the report, I rushed to inform you." "Zihao is in the prefecture? Then why hasn’t he returned home?" Wei Xinghe asked, puzzled. "According to the spy’s report, the young master was with a few fellow disciples from Qingyun Sword Sect. Their expressions were anxious, as if they were hiding from something. The spies didn’t know what was going on and didn’t dare to approach him, so they watched from the shadows to ensure his safety." "Zihao is hiding from someone?" Wei Xinghe muttered, then quickly understood. "Of course, Qingyun Sword Sect was destroyed in one night, and no one knows who was behind it. Zihao must know something, or perhaps he fears bringing trouble to the family. That’s why he hasn’t returned or contacted us and is hiding in the prefecture instead." For someone to be able to destroy a sect as powerful as Qingyun Sword Sect overnight... The culprit had to be a force or a cultivator of unimaginable strength. Either way, they were not someone the Wei family could afford to provoke. Wei Xinghe guessed that Wei Zihao was staying away to avoid implicating the family. However, how could Wei Xinghe possibly stand by and do nothing while his son was in danger? He immediately declared that he would go to the prefecture to bring Wei Zihao back. "Father, wait!" But just then, Wei Zian spoke up to stop him. "This is a serious matter. We should consult with Lu Qing before making any decisions." Though he was equally concerned for his brother’s safety, after hearing Uncle Hai’s report, Wei Zian instinctively sensed a hint of danger. His intuition had become sharper ever since the world energy within him had fully merged into his body. Not only had his aptitude greatly increased, but his instincts had also become much keener. Sensing the ominous air surrounding the situation, Wei Zian dared not act recklessly. "Consult with Lu Qing?" Wei Xinghe hesitated. "But today, Lu Xiaolangjun is hosting a banquet for the villagers of Jiuli Village. He’s probably busy right now. Wouldn’t it be inappropriate to disturb him?" Wei Xinghe had great respect for Lu Qing. Whenever he saw Lu Qing, he was always somewhat reserved, unlike Wei Zian, who had a much closer relationship with him. "Lu Qing wouldn’t mind," Wei Zian said. "Father, Qingyun Sword Sect was the most powerful sect in Jizhou, yet it was destroyed in a single night. Whoever is behind this must be incredibly dangerous, far beyond what we can imagine. If you go to the prefecture recklessly and get noticed by the culprit, what will happen then? This is a matter that requires careful thought. We should first consult Lu Qing and Elder Chen for their advice. At the very least, we should consult our ancestral patriarch before making any moves." Wei Zian carefully analyzed the situation and tried to persuade his father. In Wei Zian’s mind, the knowledge and strength of Lu Qing and the old doctor were vast and unfathomable. It would be wise to seek their counsel before making any decisions. However, seeing Wei Zian speak so calmly and thoughtfully left Wei Xinghe and his wife, as well as Wei Dazongguan, momentarily stunned. It was as if they couldn’t quite believe that these words had come from the once naive and pampered young master. "Master, Zian is right. We should discuss this matter with Lu Xiaolangjun and the others," Wei Furen said at this moment. "Alright, we’ll listen to Zian. I was too hasty earlier," Wei Xinghe admitted, realizing that he had indeed been too emotional. He looked at his son with pride. "Zian, you’ve truly grown. You’re now more level-headed than your father." Wei Zian blushed. "Thank you, Father, but I know you’re only worried about Brother’s safety." Seeing Wei Zian’s modesty, Wei Xinghe’s heart filled with even more satisfaction. He was grateful for the decision he had made to let his youngest son travel with Lu Qing and his companions. Since returning from his journey to Zhongzhou, Wei Zian had undergone a complete transformation. Not only had his cultivation improved significantly—he was now in the early stages of the Internal Organs Realm and not far from reaching the Minor Accomplishment Stage—but his mentality had also matured greatly, allowing him to take charge of important matters. The advice he had just given, Wei Xinghe thought, was something the Wei Zian of six months ago would never have been able to articulate. "Zian, you’re right. We should consult with Lu Xiaolangjun first. However, since he’s hosting a banquet today, we shouldn’t spoil his mood. We’ll speak with him after the feast." "But Father, what about Brother..." Wei Zian hesitated. "It’s already been over two months; there’s no need to rush now. If your brother is hiding in the prefecture, he must have a good reason for it. You were right earlier. If we go to him too hastily, it might do more harm than good. Come, Lu Xiaolangjun has invited us to the banquet today. We should go." When Wei Xinghe and his family arrived at the Lu family courtyard, Lu Qing had just finished cooking. "Lu Xiaolangjun." "Patriarch Wei, you’re here. Please sit. We’ll begin shortly. Xiao Yan, take Patriarch Wei and his family to Master Chen’s table," Lu Qing called out. Soon after, Xiao Yan came running out of the house. "Auntie, let’s go inside. Grandpa Chen and Grandpa Wei are both in there." "Grandpa is here too?" Wei Xinghe was surprised. Ever since Wei Shanhai had received the cultivation inheritance from Lu Qing, he had rarely been at home, often disappearing without a trace, either in the Half-Mountain Courtyard or off somewhere cultivating. Even Wei Xinghe hardly ever saw him. But today, it seemed he had made time to attend the banquet. That was fortunate, as with their ancestral patriarch present, Wei Xinghe felt more at ease about Wei Zihao's situation. At least, after the banquet, he wouldn’t have to worry about not being able to find him. Once Wei Xinghe and his family were seated inside, Lu Qing began serving the food. The first dish was the pork belly, which had been simmering in the pot for a long time. As soon as the lid was lifted, an incredibly rich aroma filled the air, quickly spreading throughout the courtyard. "So fragrant!" In an instant, everyone in the courtyard couldn’t help but inhale deeply. All eyes turned to Lu Qing. They watched as Lu Qing scooped large bowls of the glistening red pork and had the villagers deliver them to the tables. When the meat was placed on the tables, it wobbled slightly, its texture tender and succulent, the fat gleaming appetizingly. Even Wei Xinghe, who had eaten his share of fine cuisine and was no stranger to luxurious meats, found himself unexpectedly craving the dish. Table of content

Chapter 350

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