Yangqi Stone, Yin Yang Seed, Bajitian...

Bai Yuan added the medicinal herbs to the stewing broth one by one, their fragrance filling the entire kitchen.

"You call this cooking?"

Liu Qingshan stared at Bai Yuan, a strange look on his face.

Bai Yuan had abruptly asked him to buy a pile of herbs, and this was the forty-seventh one he had added to the pot.

Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought he was brewing medicine.

The rest of the kitchen staff also watched Bai Yuan with curiosity.

An old, experienced chef gradually began to see the method in the madness. He suddenly recalled a rumor he’d heard while apprenticing in Huanglong Prefecture.

"Could he be a Divine Chef?"

He couldn’t help but find the idea absurd.

A Divine Chef was unheard of even in Huanglong Prefecture, let alone in a small place like Qinghe County.

The broth simmered for a full six hours until the medicinal properties had completely infused into the liquid. Only then did Bai Yuan lift the large pot. The milky-white soup was crystal clear, its rich, meaty aroma wafting freely.

He ladled out a bowl, blew on it to cool, and took a sip.

A fiery heat immediately blossomed in his mouth, coursing down his throat and into his stomach, instantly bringing a light sheen of sweat to his skin.

Bai Yuan felt utterly refreshed. A single small bowl of this soup was no less potent than an hour-long medicinal bath!

When Liu Qingshan saw Bai Yuan drink it, his curiosity got the better of him.

He too ladled out a bowl and, mimicking Bai Yuan, began to sip it carefully.

After just one mouthful, his eyes went wide with shock.

He had been an Outer Disciple at the Martial Arts Hall and had lived in Qinghe County for many years. With his worldly experience, he immediately recognized how extraordinary the broth was. Even the Body Refining Medicine from the apothecaries couldn’t compare to its effects.

’This isn’t a chef, this is a miracle doctor!’

His eyes lit up. The business at Five Flavors Pavilion could be taken to a whole new level.

In this world, Martial Artists held high status, but they couldn’t do without medicinal herbs, which meant doctors were highly respected as well.

And in Qinghe County, the herb business was monopolized by the Liu Family.

But if the dishes at Five Flavors Pavilion could have the same effect as a medicinal soup... the possibilities were staggering!

Bai Yuan finished his bowl of broth. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The minor, hidden injuries from his Blood Tiger Saber practice were gradually healing. As long as he continued this daily dietary therapy, his body would only grow stronger the more he trained.

"Junior Brother Bai, with a skill like this, how could we possibly fail to make it big?"

Liu Qingshan immediately shared his idea with Bai Yuan.

He wanted to use this dietary therapy as their main attraction, turning Five Flavors Pavilion into the number one restaurant in Qinghe County.

Bai Yuan shook his head. "Let’s not be hasty."

If they openly advertised their dietary therapy, it would be like stealing a piece of meat right off the Liu Family’s plate. The Liu Family would never stand by and do nothing.

The name of the Huwei Arts Hall wouldn’t carry much weight against the Liu Family.

Master Liu, the patriarch, was a genuine Strong Internal Martial Master. He was not someone to be provoked lightly.

Besides, even if he wanted to teach them, the chefs at Five Flavors Pavilion wouldn’t be able to learn this dietary therapy. He couldn’t just chain himself to the kitchen and become a full-time cook.

Liu Qingshan was a smart man and quickly grasped the complexities of the situation.

He couldn’t help but shudder. The Liu Family was not an enemy they could afford to make.

"You’re right, Junior Brother Bai. You’ve thought this through much better than I have."

Liu Qingshan laughed awkwardly. He had been completely blinded by ambition moments ago. Now that his head was clear, he wouldn’t be so reckless.

"Senior Brother Liu, please look after the restaurant for me. I’m heading to the Martial Arts Hall."

"Of course."

Liu Qingshan chuckled.

He knew it would be difficult for him to advance any further on the path of the Martial Dao, but Bai Yuan was different. Bai Yuan had the potential to become a major figure in Qinghe County someday; he couldn’t let the restaurant get in the way of his training.

Bai Yuan filled a porcelain container with some of the broth and headed for the Martial Arts Hall.

...

"If you can’t handle the pain of training, then get the hell out!"

Zhang Yang roared at the apprentices in the Martial Arts Arena.

The apprentices at Huwei Arts Hall had turned over time and again; it was rare to see a familiar face anymore.

Zhang Yang caught sight of Bai Yuan hurrying past.

"Bai Yuan!"

Bai Yuan stopped at the sound of Zhang Yang’s voice.

Now that he was an Inner Courtyard Disciple, his status was equal to Zhang Yang’s. If Bai Yuan still called him ’Master’, Zhang Yang himself would feel unworthy of the title.

His master now was Old Xue.

"Senior Brother Zhang, did you need something?"

Zhang Yang gave a few instructions to a man beside him, then walked over to Bai Yuan.

"I heard you opened a restaurant. That’s just a side pursuit. Focusing on your training is what’s truly important. Don’t get your priorities mixed up."

Even though he was no longer Bai Yuan’s master, he couldn’t help but lecture him earnestly.

Bai Yuan had rarely been to the Martial Arts Hall recently, spending most of his time at the restaurant instead. It was hard for Zhang Yang not to worry.

"I understand, Senior Brother. I’m just on my way to pay my respects to Master now."

"Good. As long as you know. Go on, then."

Zhang Yang waved his hand dismissively and said no more.

Bai Yuan soon arrived at a small courtyard in the deepest part of the Huwei Arts Hall. This was where Old Xue lived.

As he entered, he saw Old Xue reclining comfortably under a small tree in the courtyard, resting with his eyes closed.

"Disciple Bai Yuan pays his respects to Master."

Old Xue slowly opened his eyes.

All Inner Courtyard Disciples were his disciples in name and were supposed to come to the courtyard to pay their respects every morning between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. However, he disliked ceremony and tedious rituals, so he only required them to report once every seven days.

Still, it was rare for a disciple like Bai Yuan to go unseen for half a month.

Old Xue grunted softly, then spoke out of the blue.

"That old martial artist from the Zhu Family came around yesterday. I sent him packing. You’d best be careful lately."

Bai Yuan’s heart sank.

He hadn’t expected the Zhu Family’s suspicions to persist, let alone that they would escalate to involving their one and only Muscle Strengthening Martial Artist.

"I understand."

Before he could finish, Old Xue’s eyes snapped open.

"You really didn’t kill Zhu Huan?"

"I did not."

Bai Yuan’s expression remained unchanged, betraying no weakness in his composure.

The corners of Old Xue’s mouth quirked up slightly, and he settled back, closing his eyes again contentedly.

He was very pleased with Bai Yuan’s performance.

He didn’t actually care if his disciple had killed Zhu Huan or not. What kind of Martial Artist didn’t have blood on their hands? If he was killed, he was killed.

The important thing was to not get caught.

In his youth, he’d killed plenty of people himself, including members of powerful families, but he’d never left a single clue that could lead back to him.

"Go practice. Don’t bother me unless it’s important."

Old Xue waved his hand dismissively.

Bai Yuan bowed respectfully like a disciple and slowly exited the courtyard. The entire reason he’d come to the Martial Arts Hall was, of course, to pay his respects to Old Xue.

He had heard a rumor that in two months, representatives from the Divine Mansion Sect would arrive in Qinghe County.

The Divine Mansion Sect was a paramount power in Huanglong Prefecture, and it undoubtedly possessed many superior Cultivation Techniques.

But joining the Divine Mansion Sect was no easy task. In the past, the recruitment slots had been monopolized by the three great powers. While this was partly because their disciples were truly outstanding, the more critical factor was that only a Strong Internal Martial Master had the right to make a recommendation.

In all of Qinghe County, aside from the patriarchs of the three great powers, only Old Xue met that requirement.

Although Old Xue’s Qi and Blood had waned with age, causing him to drop from the ranks of Strong Internal Martial Masters, he had once been a genuine expert at that level.

This was the very reason the Huwei Arts Hall enjoyed such a special status.