Li Yuan thought for a moment and felt that he should indeed find something in the Human World to do.

What Yan Yu said made sense. Staying in the Ghost Realm all the time, he was becoming somewhat detached from the Human World, and with his behind-the-scenes activities, his mindset was becoming darker. It was indeed time to get involved in the Red Dust and immerse himself in the world’s hustle and bustle.

"Alright then." Li Yuan nodded.

Mrs. Tang didn’t expect her adoptive father to agree, and her eyes widened in astonishment.

She immediately said, "Then... I’ll give the order: anyone who dares to touch Lady Yan Rurou shall be killed without mercy."

Li Yuan said helplessly, "I’m not going to compete for the courtesan; you don’t need to be so murderous. You’re still just a young girl."

Tang Nian raised her head with a proud snort, declaring, "I am Mrs. Tang."

Li Yuan ignored this, saying, "Business at Meichun Building should be good, right?"

"Yes."

"And the standards for food should be high too, right?"

"Probably."

"I’ll work as a chef there for a while."

Tang Nian: ???!!!

She was not only astonished but shocked into silence, her words twisted.

"Chef?"

Li Yuan nodded, his eyes gleaming with light, and said, "Yes, let the sword experience the smoke and fire of the Human World."

...

Several days later.

Yingde Town, Meichun Building...

Lanterns were strung high along the street, their brilliant light illuminating the faces of passersby, who were smiling and laughing gleefully.

"Today, Lady Yan Rurou has a new song again. Hurry and grab a front-row seat."

"Did you bring enough money?"

"Of course, hahaha..."

"I wonder which lucky home will get such a beautiful woman like Yan Rurou.

As long as I can share a tender moment with her, I’d be willing to live a few years less."

The sky had just darkened, but Meichun Building was already full of people, with many unable to get inside crowding at the door and even outside...

Of course, this was just a glimpse of Yingde Town’s prosperity.

In places not touched by light, there were many more poor people.

Those who came here all had family or other influential backgrounds.

Soon, amid the melodies of singing and dancing, the courtesan appeared, her face veiled in red silk, hugging a pipa. After much anticipation, she started playing...

And the young masters began ordering food.

When the song ended, cheers resounded in the building.

While many praised the courtesan, some unusual voices arose.

"How is this meat cut so thinly, so paper-thin?"

"Yes, I noticed that too..." The speaker used chopsticks to lift a piece of meat, seeing it was as thin as a cicada’s wing, nearly transparent, yet intact and unbroken.

"And this meat is in thin strips; I thought they were noodles, but they’re actually meat strips... uniform in thickness and length, and not broken even during steaming or boiling." Another person, holding a bowl, started praising.

"And this rabbit decoration on the dish, so lifelike, it’s simply amazing."

Gradually, more and more people began to notice the knife skills behind tonight’s dishes were truly astounding, with some even asking to meet the chef, only to be refused.

When a rejected young master yelled out, "Do you know who I am?" the steward of Meichun Building simply said, "Go find the Tang Sect," causing the young master to immediately lose spirit.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, a young man was holding a short knife with a black back and white edge, peeling potatoes.

The potato slices were thin as a cicada’s wing, continuously spiraling down. After being fried in oil, they turned into the "premium whirlwind potatoes" from Li Yuan’s pre-crossing world.

He worked diligently, using the Fifth Grade Blade Skill for every cut.

He was practicing his control.

After frying the potatoes, he started slicing fish, followed by marinating, frying, and making the pre-crossing delicacy "Peony Fish Fillet."

His hands moved faster and faster.

Because it seemed Meichun Building’s business was particularly good, many people quickly came to order more food.

Finally, the madam of Meichun Building approached him. Although she didn’t know who this young man was, she subtly sensed he was not someone she could mess with. So she respectfully said, "Sir, if you’re too busy, you can just focus on slicing the food, and I’ll have the original chefs help with the cooking, alright?"

To the madam’s surprise, the young man nodded gently and said, "Sure."

Then, two female chefs and one slightly attractive female chef came in.

Li Yuan was responsible for slicing the food, while the three chefs began cooking.

One dish after another was brought from the kitchen to the front.

And soon, midnight passed...

At the stroke of midnight, the customers of Meichun Building had left.

Li Yuan took a deep breath, put away the White Snake Blade, and grabbed a bowl of rice with some dishes before heading inside the building to find a spot to eat.

As he ate, he pondered over his sword skill, muttering words like "gather" and "condense."

Suddenly, he stopped muttering because a maid approached him, smiling, "Sir, Lady Yan Rurou would like to see you..."

Li Yuan replied, "I’m just a chef; better not see her."

With that, he quickly finished the rice bowl to avoid trouble and hurried away.

The maid helplessly returned to the building’s rooftop.

Behind the railing, a beautiful woman slowly emerged, watching the young man who was leaving Meichun Building, and softly said, "He is indeed a big figure; never mind, we won’t provoke him..."

Leaving Meichun Building, Li Yuan wandered around the small town, seeing the porridge stall arranged by the Cloud Commerce Association and the poor lined up before it, something Lady Xue would indeed do.

After wandering for a while and finding a deserted place, he pulled at his fingers and returned to the cottage, which was the Tang Sect Forbidden Land.

One has to admit, practicing in a different way, he truly gained new insights.

Li Yuan suddenly felt inspired, focused his mind, and with a flash of lightning in his sleeve, pierced into the Fourth Grade. He held the Cyan Snake Blade in his hand, gave it a gentle shake, and a seemingly tangible yet floating and still sword Qi appeared in the air.

He put down the Cyan Snake Blade, and that sword Qi still hung in the air.

He pushed it with his hand, and the sword Qi roared out, slicing a hundred-meter-long trajectory, where everything along the path shattered and collapsed.

This imaginative technique left Li Yuan stunned for a moment. He realized he might have opened a whole new direction for sword skills.

Plus... this should be a Fourth Grade Blade Skill since, without the power of the "Domain" as support, the sword Qi couldn’t solidify and stay in the air.

After a long while, he chuckled and said, "Good job, deserves a reward."

He then returned to the mountain cottage.

Today happened to be Tang Pang’s turn to stand guard outside.

Li Yuan boldly grabbed a wine cup and drank heartily with her.

Before long, they both got tipsy.

"Xiaopang, why is it always you on guard duty?"

"I’m not called Xiaopang.

And besides, who are you really?

Why is Master so polite to you?"

"Would your master tell you?"

"No, she wouldn’t..."

"She might be secretly listening."

"I won’t ask anymore, Master, I didn’t ask!" Tang Pang quickly clasped her hands together and prayed to the sky.

Li Yuan laughed heartily, leaning drunkenly against the wall of the old house.

Outside the window, the moonlight was like water, illuminating the vibrant sea of flowers in the deep mountains.