"Gathering ingredients knows no bounds, while cooking holds its secret recipes. Preparing dishes is like practicing swordsmanship—if one key remains unmastered, all else remains obscure, and the result becomes something unworthy of sight, smell, or taste..." Xie Xuan remarked, flipping the iron wok with practiced ease while wiping sweat from his brow with his free hand.
Su Muyu stood respectfully nearby, assisting by passing ingredients, while Bai Hehuai gazed at the adjacent stove, where a row of freshly stir-fried dishes emitted such an enticing aroma that she couldn't help but swallow repeatedly.
"The Confucian Sword Immortal is actually a culinary master!" Bai Hehuai exclaimed in admiration.
"Not a master, merely someone who has read many recipes, traveled widely, and tasted countless delicacies—hence, I've learned to cook a fair bit," Xie Xuan chuckled as he stir-fried, explaining, "The so-called 'Way of Cuisine' runs deep."
"I'd love to hear more!" Bai Hehuai replied.
"Let's eat while we talk." Xie Xuan plated the final dish of stir-fried pork with peppers. Su Muyu, catching a whiff of the pungent aroma, turned away and sneezed several times.
In the courtyard, Su Muyu set up a small wooden table. Xie Xuan retrieved a jug of wine from his book chest, uncorking it to release a fragrant burst of peach blossom aroma.
Su Muyu blinked in surprise. "Master Xie's book chest actually holds wine?"
Xie Xuan laughed. "If it only contained books, my journey across countless mountains and rivers would have been rather dull, wouldn't it?"
"What wine is this?" Su Muyu asked.
"A gift from a friend at Qingcheng Mountain. He claimed it was brewed by his junior sect leader. Though I've yet to witness the junior's supposedly legendary swordsmanship, this peach blossom wine is indeed exceptional." Xie Xuan inhaled the aroma and closed his eyes in appreciation.
"Time to eat, time to eat!" Bai Hehuai brought out the dishes, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the wine. "Master Xie even brought wine—how thoughtful!"
Xie Xuan smiled. "Can the lady handle her drink?"
Bai Hehuai's lips curled slightly. "Bottomless."
"Earlier, Master Xie mentioned the profundity of the 'Way of Cuisine.' I'd like to hear your wisdom on the matter," Su Muyu said respectfully, pouring wine for both of them.
After downing a cup of peach blossom wine, Xie Xuan seemed in high spirits and began expounding: "I once attended a grand banquet. It began with a dish called 'Embroidered High-Tier Eight-Fruit Display'—featuring fragrant citron, true tangerine, pomegranate, orange, goose pear, milk pear, quince, and flowering quince."
Su Muyu nodded along. "Several of those names are unfamiliar—likely rare fruits seldom seen by ordinary people. Their flavors must be extraordinary."
"You're mistaken," Xie Xuan waved his hand. "The Eight-Fruit Display was arranged for its dazzling, kaleidoscopic colors—not to be eaten. Guests merely admired it. Only after this spectacle came ten boxes of 'Gold-Threaded Aromatic Herbs': brain flower, licorice flower, cinnabar balls, costus root and clove, borneol, quisqualis, cardamom flower, official osmanthus, atractylodes and ginseng, and olive flower."
Bai Hehuai, well-versed in medicinal herbs, recognized these names. After taking a bite of meat, she asked, "These can be used in cooking too?""Certainly not. These ten boxes of gold-threaded incense are merely to freshen the air." Xie Xuan took another sip of peach blossom wine. "Then comes the twelve-course 'carved honey preserves' to whet the appetite, followed by the main feast—fifteen rounds of wine, each paired with two dishes, symbolizing perfect harmony. After these fifteen rounds, one would already be full, yet the banquet is far from over. There are still eight varieties of side dishes, ten platters of fruits to encourage more drinking, and ten chef’s specials to accompany the wine. This entire feast lasts a full four hours. It represents the pinnacle of culinary art I’ve ever witnessed."
"What pinnacle?" Bai Hehuai asked.
"Culinary art lies in color, aroma, taste, presentation, concept, and nourishment. This banquet not only embodies these six elements in every dish but also weaves them seamlessly throughout the entire event. As for the bowl of noodles Young Master Su just made, it fails utterly in the aspect of 'color'..." Xie Xuan glanced at Su Muyu.
Bai Hehuai giggled. "Master Xie, you’ve said so much just to set up that last line, haven’t you?"
"Hahahaha." Xie Xuan looked at Su Muyu, puzzled. "Young Master Su, why is your face so red? Who would have thought the famed Puppet of Dark River could blush over bad cooking?"
"Shh." Bai Hehuai even mimed sealing her lips. "Master Xie, you’re mistaken. In this courtyard, there’s only Young Master Su—no Puppet."
Su Muyu remained silent, the flush on his face gradually fading. Finally, he exhaled softly and nodded. "I stand corrected."
Xie Xuan paused, glanced at the dishes on the table, and suddenly understood. "Ah, I see now! Young Master Su can’t handle spicy food!"
"You can’t eat spicy food?" Bai Hehuai blinked in surprise.
Su Muyu rubbed his forehead and eventually nodded.
"Hahaha, in all my years, this is the first time I’ve seen someone use True Qi to suppress the burning sensation from spicy food. Young Master Su, next time, just say so." Xie Xuan poured a cup of wine. "Here, have a drink to relax."
Su Muyu drank the peach blossom wine. "Master Xie, would you be willing to teach me how to cook?"
"Books contain fair maidens and houses of gold—naturally, they should also hold the treasures of cuisine." Xie Xuan pulled a book from his case and handed it to Su Muyu. "I’ll lend you this cookbook. Study it for ten years, and you’ll be the culinary master of Beili!"
"My thanks! And if I only study it for ten days?" Su Muyu asked.
Xie Xuan frowned in thought. "Then you’ll at least manage a decent bowl of beef noodles."
After three rounds of drinks, the table was cleared of food, and Bai Hehuai had dozed off against the wooden table. Under the bright moon, Xie Xuan took his final sip of wine and smiled. "Who would have thought the last time we met was on the border, fighting side by side against the demonic sect? Now here we are, sharing wine in this little courtyard in Qiantang City."
Su Muyu gazed up at the moon. "Master Xie, do you also find all this... surreal?"
Xie Xuan set down his cup. "There’s something I’m not sure I should ask."
"I’m still with Dark River," Su Muyu answered before the question could be voiced. "But these days, Dark River has undergone significant changes."
Xie Xuan raised an eyebrow. "Oh? To see you here suggests they’re positive changes."
"Dark River has a new Head," Su Muyu said slowly.
Xie Xuan was taken aback. "Who? Don’t tell me it’s you?"
"It’s Chang He," Su Muyu replied.Xie Xuan rubbed his forehead. "So it's a bad change after all!"
Su Muyu smiled. "Master Xie doesn't seem to like Chang He much."
"I've read many books, traveled many roads, and naturally encountered many wicked people. That good brother of yours might not be the most evil person in the world, but he's absolutely the most annoying one!" Xie Xuan said through gritted teeth. "His shamelessness is unparalleled, a peerless masterpiece through the ages!"
"Can 'peerless masterpiece through the ages' be used like that?" Su Muyu asked with a laugh.
"It can be used that way when he's dead," Xie Xuan snorted coldly.
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