Chapter 351

Words : 2592 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

Chapter 351"Did Young Master Lu really make so much braised pork?" Lady Wei looked at the bowl of shiny, red-braised meat, her eyes lighting up in surprise. "Lady, you call this braised pork?" Wei Xinghe asked, puzzled. "Why does it look different from what we make at the manor?" "Young Master Lu's cooking has always been different from others'. Our chefs at the manor can never achieve this kind of glossy, reddish look." Lady Wei sighed regretfully. Two or three years ago, after being rescued by Lu Qing from the mountains and coming to Jiuli Village, the first meal she had included braised pork. The taste had left a lasting impression on her ever since. She had even asked Lu Qing for the recipe later, but for some reason, the manor's chefs could never replicate the same vibrant color, and even the taste fell short. "It must be because of the seasoning," Doctor Chen said with a chuckle. "Ah Qing always likes to experiment with unique spices, which is probably why the flavor is different." "Yes, the recipe Young Master Lu gave us mentioned something called soy sauce. Our manor's chefs could never quite figure it out." "I recall Ah Qing making quite a bit of it before. Lady, you can ask him for some next time." As the group chatted casually, more dishes continued to be brought out. Steamed fish, white-cut chicken, stir-fried beef, lamb soup... One dish after another was placed on the table, offering a wide variety of flavors. Not only were the dishes meticulously plated, but they were also generously portioned. Once all the dishes were served, two villagers brought in a large steaming basket. Steam billowed from the basket, carrying an enticing fragrance. The aroma filled the air, making everyone who smelled it feel their minds clear and their spirits lift. "This scent..." Wei Xinghe and Wei Shanhai looked at the steaming basket in amazement. As innate cultivators, the moment they caught a whiff of the fragrance, they felt their bodies lighten, and the flow of True Qi within them quickened slightly. What could possibly be in that basket to cause such an effect just from its scent alone, even improving the cultivation of powerful individuals like them? Before they could ask, the villagers who brought the basket revealed the answer. Lifting the lid, they revealed perfectly steamed, translucent white rice, each grain distinct and shining. What was even more remarkable was that the rice, pure and crystalline, shimmered with faint golden threads, making it look incredibly beautiful. "This is the Spirit Rice Ah Qing planted a while ago. Yesterday, he harvested the Spirit Grain and wanted everyone to try this Spirit Rice," Doctor Chen said with a cheerful laugh. He had already seen the Spirit Rice the day before when Lu Qing hulled the Spirit Grain, so he wasn’t surprised now. "So this is the Spirit Rice that Young Master Lu has been busy planting?" Wei Xinghe’s eyes widened as he stared at the rice in the steaming basket. He had been staying at the courtyard for the past few months, so he knew about Lu Qing’s efforts to cultivate the Spirit Grain. However, he hadn’t expected that after hulling, the Spirit Rice would look so extraordinary. "Doctor Chen, have you tasted this Spirit Rice yet?" Wei Shanhai asked. "Not yet. Joy shared alone is less fulfilling than joy shared with others. I figured it would be more enjoyable to taste it with everyone." "In that case, I absolutely must try this Spirit Rice and see how it tastes." Hearing this, Wei Shanhai and the others grew even more eager to sample the Spirit Rice. In the courtyard, after all the dishes were served, Lu Qing raised a cup of wine and spoke in a clear voice: "Dear friends and villagers, ever since my parents passed away, Xiao Yan and I have been greatly cared for by everyone, which helped us get through those most difficult times. Ah Qing and Xiao Yan have long wanted to host a proper feast to thank everyone, but we never found the right occasion. Yesterday, after several months of cultivating Spirit Grain, I finally had a small harvest. So, I’m taking this opportunity to invite everyone for a simple meal. Please don’t hold back—eat and drink as much as you want. Today, the wine and food are on the house!” Everyone watched as Lu Qing stood there, tall and graceful, holding his wine cup. His bearing was refined, and his demeanor was exceptional. Their hearts were filled with emotion. Especially the older villagers like Old Master Zhang, who felt their eyes grow warm. The boy who had once been frail and struggling to survive had finally become someone to be proud of. "Alright, no need to stand on ceremony. Let’s start eating." Lu Qing drained his cup of wine in one go. Seeing this, the others no longer hesitated and prepared to dig in. Even though they were eager to eat, the younger people at each table waited for the elders to take the first bite before they started serving themselves. Unsurprisingly, the first dish everyone went for was the braised pork. It was impossible to resist—the red, glossy, and succulent appearance of the pork was simply too enticing. Few could resist the temptation of such a delicious-looking dish. A villager picked up a piece of braised pork that was a perfect balance of lean and fat. The moment it entered his mouth, his eyes widened. The lean meat wasn’t dry, and the fat melted in his mouth. It was tender, sweet, and fragrant, with the rich taste of the pork spreading across his palate—simply indescribable. It was easily the best pork he had ever eaten in his life. "How did Ah Qing make this meat? How can it taste so good?" "Who knew pork could be this delicious? It’s even better than beef or lamb!" Other villagers who had tasted the braised pork also widened their eyes in amazement, marveling at the flavor of the dish. "This braised pork is truly different from what we have at the manor," Wei Xinghe exclaimed. "Young Master Lu’s cooking skills have improved even more," Wei Shanhai said after tasting a piece of pork. Since he often visited the Half-Mountain Courtyard as a guest, he had eaten this braised pork a few times before, but this time it seemed even better than before. As for Hu Laosan and his daughter Hu Zezhi, they were simply speechless. This was their first time tasting such a uniquely flavored dish. "When we went to Central State this time, Ah Qing seemed to have collected some special seasonings. It’s probably related to that," Doctor Chen explained. Although they had hurried during their trip to Central State, Lu Qing had still taken the time to explore the surroundings of the places they stayed, always looking for something interesting to collect. As a result, he had obtained several rare spices. After trying the braised pork, Wei Shanhai and the others sampled the other dishes on the table. All of them tasted just as exceptional. Each dish had its own unique flavor, and they were all genuinely delicious. Once they had tasted all the dishes, their eyes turned to the still-steaming basket of Spirit Rice. They knew that while the dishes were delicious, the Spirit Rice was the real highlight of the meal today. "Doctor Chen, is there any special way to eat this Spirit Rice?" Wei Shanhai asked. "There shouldn’t be," Doctor Chen shook his head. "Ah Qing didn’t mention any specific method. It should be eaten just like regular rice." "Grandpa Wei, let me serve you some rice." At this moment, Xiao Yan stepped forward obediently and began serving rice for everyone. In no time, bowls of translucent Spirit Rice were placed in front of everyone. Steam rose from the rice, and the subtle fragrance that wafted into their noses made them even hungrier than all the dishes on the table. "Doctor Chen, if you’ll excuse me," Wei Shanhai was the first to pick up his bowl, taking a bite of the rice with his chopsticks. Seeing this, the others followed suit, picking up their bowls and starting to eat. The moment the rice entered their mouths, they immediately noticed the difference. The grains were soft yet chewy, with a natural sweetness that was incomparable. Each bite released a pure, clean energy that flowed through their senses, making the experience a true delight. Each bite was so enjoyable that they couldn't stop, eating one mouthful after another until their bowls were empty. "The taste of this Spirit Rice is truly extraordinary. This is the best rice I’ve had in my entire life," Wei Shanhai said, his eyes filled with astonishment after finishing a bowl. More importantly, he felt a warm, gentle energy flowing through his body from the Spirit Rice, not inferior to some of the rare medicinal herbs he had encountered. "And I feel like my body is much lighter after eating this rice," Lady Wei added, equally surprised. "Ah Qing mentioned that this Spirit Rice contains Spirit Resonance, which nourishes the body and enhances one’s vitality. It’s a very mild yet effective spiritual supplement, so your feeling is not an illusion," Doctor Chen explained. "For such a valuable item, it’s truly generous of Young Master Lu to serve it at a feast," Hu Laosan said, deeply impressed. As a cultivator in the Bone Refinement Realm, Hu Laosan's physical strength and blood energy were already quite formidable. However, after just one bowl of Spirit Rice, he could clearly feel a slight enhancement in his blood energy, something that hadn’t improved for a long time. If a single bowl could have such an effect, he imagined that if he could eat this rice regularly, it wouldn’t be long before he could break through his current limitations and perhaps even reach the Internal Organs Realm. In that instant, Hu Laosan realized just how precious the Spirit Rice was that Lu Qing had offered to his guests. Even for someone his age, who had long reached a plateau in cultivation, the rice could still strengthen his energy and blood. If young, talented cultivators with high potential were to eat this Spirit Rice regularly, their cultivation progress would likely skyrocket! "Senior Wei, Clan Head Wei, everyone, I apologize for being late." At that moment, Lu Qing entered the room after finishing his greetings outside with the other villagers. "Young Master Lu, no need for apologies. Being able to enjoy such delicious dishes and Spirit Rice is a blessing for us all," Wei Shanhai said with a smile. "By the way, Young Master Lu, did you harvest a lot of Spirit Rice this time?" Lu Qing paused for a moment, then smiled, "Senior Wei, are you interested in the Spirit Rice? It’s just something I cultivated casually. But if you want some, I can spare a few hundred pounds for you." Thanks to Lu Qing’s meticulous care, the Spirit Grain he had planted had grown exceptionally well. The rice stalks were full, and he had reaped a bountiful harvest. From his two acres of Spirit fields, he had collected over three thousand pounds of Spirit Grain. Even after removing the husks, he still had more than two thousand pounds of Spirit Rice. Giving a few hundred pounds to Wei Shanhai wouldn’t make much of a dent in his supply. After all, neither he, his master, nor Xiao Yan could eat that much by themselves. Besides, in a few more months, he would be able to harvest another batch of Spirit Grain. "However, Senior Wei, although Spirit Rice is good, for innate cultivators like yourself, it will only help you increase your cultivation slightly. If you wish to break through to a higher realm, you’ll still need to rely on diligent practice and refinement of your own skills." Lu Qing cautioned. "Young Master Lu, you misunderstand. I’m not asking for myself," Wei Shanhai chuckled. "I’m requesting it for Zi'an and Zihao. Especially Zihao—he doesn’t have the same opportunities as Zi'an, so his cultivation progress has fallen behind. With this Spirit Rice, perhaps he can catch up." "You’ve found Zihao?" Lu Qing asked in surprise. He had heard about the destruction of Qingyun Sword Pavilion in Jizhou a few months ago. And he knew that Wei Zihao, as a disciple of the sect, had also disappeared in that calamity. Lu Qing had assumed that Wei Zihao was likely dead. After all, with so many experts from Qingyun Sword Pavilion killed, how could a mere cultivator at the Postnatal Realm like Zihao possibly survive? But from what Wei Shanhai was saying, it seemed Zihao was still alive? "Young Master Lu, I was just about to tell you about this," Wei Xinghe said. "Two days ago, one of our Wei family’s scouts spotted Zihao in the provincial capital. It seems he, along with a few other disciples of Qingyun Sword Pavilion, are hiding from something." "Zihao is in the provincial capital? Then why hasn’t he contacted you? I thought your family had holdings in the provincial capital," Lu Qing asked, his curiosity piqued. "That’s exactly what’s puzzling us. Our scout reported that when they saw Zihao, he appeared to be in a hurry, as if he were trying to avoid something. We suspect he’s intentionally avoiding contact with the family for some reason," Wei Xinghe explained. "Avoiding something..." Lu Qing muttered to himself before continuing, "Clan Head Wei, do you think Zihao is in danger and is deliberately not contacting you to avoid implicating the Wei family?" "Based on the information our scouts have provided, that seems very likely," Wei Shanhai sighed. "We think that whoever is threatening Zihao must be extremely dangerous—far beyond what our Wei family can handle. Could it be the mysterious force that wiped out Qingyun Sword Pavilion?" Lu Qing analyzed the situation. Wei Shanhai sighed deeply, "That’s our fear. But knowing that Zihao may be in danger, my wife and I are both terribly anxious and unable to sit still." Lady Wei’s face showed a look of sorrow. "Clan Head Wei, you’re planning to..." Lu Qing understood how a father would be desperate to protect his son, especially in such a dire situation. "I’m thinking of going to the provincial capital myself to see if I can bring Zihao back," Wei Xinghe said, voicing his plan. "That may not be wise. If Zihao hasn’t contacted you, it’s likely for a reason. Suddenly meeting him might catch him off guard and disrupt whatever plans he has," Lu Qing cautioned. "I’m aware of that, but if I don’t go and something happens to Zihao, I’ll never be able to forgive myself. However, I also understand the dangers of this journey. That’s why I wanted to consult you, Young Master Lu, since I know you’re skilled in the art of divination. I was hoping you could advise me—do I have any chance of success if I go?" Lu Qing: "..." He wasn’t actually skilled in divination; that had just been a convenient excuse to cover for his supernatural abilities. However, seeing the determination on Wei Xinghe’s face, Lu Qing knew that no amount of persuasion would stop him. Any father who cared for his child wouldn’t stand idly by while their son was in danger. After thinking for a moment, Lu Qing reached into his robes and pulled out a sword-shaped jade talisman. Table of content

Chapter 351

Comments (0)