Chapter 319: Chapter 326: How about I give it a try? (Fourth Update)
Translator: 549690339
Chatting along the way, Sister Nong Yu, graceful as a snake, hurriedly led the group to a spacious area, where a large crowd had already surrounded three cooking stoves in the center.
The stoves were equipped with everything necessary for cooking. Three people were already prepared beside the stoves, and what surprised Yang Zhen was that one of them was a young girl, who looked like she was only in her teens.
The two brawny men on either side looked at the little girl in the middle with a sneering expression, their hands moving deftly as they handled various spiritual materials, preparing them just right.
Stretching his neck to look inside with a curious face, Yang Zhen was shocked to see Little Ling, who seemed to be quite anxious. Upon noticing Yang Zhen, Little Ling’s countenance brightened, and she began to look for something near him.
Seeing the state Little Ling was in, Yang Zhen lifted up a downcast Lu Benwei, who was standing by his side, and exchanged glances with Little Ling.
Lu Benwei shrunk his neck, gave an awkward smile, and said, “Yang, are we really up for this? I mean, we have no idea about spiritual meals or their ingredients. Is this going to end up being an embarrassment?”
Yang Zhen frowned at Lu Benwei and retorted, “Already chickening out before it’s even started. Is this how you repay Little Ling’s hard work on our behalf?”
Lu Benwei cast a glancing look at Little Ling, whose face was flushed, and gritted his teeth, “But, the thing is, I just don’t know how to prepare a Spiritual
Meal.”
Yang Zhen patted Lu Benwei’s shoulder and said, “Just do as I say, and I promise, you’ll end up as a proud utility cook.
“What?” Lu Benwei’s eyes lit up, he asked in surprise, “Yang, do you know how to prepare a Spiritual Meal?”
Yang Zhen scoffed and said, “Do you think it’s just knowing how to? In our village, I’m renowned as the ’god of food’!”
“God… god of food?” Lu Benwei looked at Yang Zhen in disbelief, wavering whether to trust him or not.
At this moment, there was a commotion in the crowd, and a group of people, all dressed in exquisite clothes and an arrogant demeanor and surprisingly, all of them were women, entered from the gate.
The crowd split aside to make way for them, bowing respectfully. When they entered, someone immediately brought stools for them to sit on.
Once seated, the woman leading the group spoke up, “The three of you are the best Rogue Practitioners in preparing spiritual meals around here. Today, if you pass the assessment, you will be qualified to enter the Spiritual Studies Palace’s kitchen. Remember, this is a great opportunity for you, and perhaps your only one. Grasp it well!”
Upon hearing her words, the crowd surrounding them gasped in surprise and showed envious expressions.
Lu Benwei looked up, and suddenly exclaimed, “It’s her. I didn’t expect her to
be here, too.”
Yang Zhen turned to look and saw Lu Benwei staring at the little girl in the middle preparing the spiritual materials, and asked, surprised, “Do you know her?”
Lu Benwei chuckled bitterly and said, “More than just know; I’d wager there’s not a single Rogue Practitioner nearby who doesn’t know her. Yang, if someone is to choose assistants, don’t go to her side, whatever you do.” “Why?” wondered Yang Zhen, “Doesn’t the little girl possess any strength?” Lu Benwei replied with a smirk, “It’s not about possessing strength, but rather having too much. The spiritual meals she prepares can fetch high prices. I d say she probably has no shortage of spirit stones among all the Rogue Practitioners in the Spiritual Studies Mountain Range. However…”
He paused and continued grimly, “She’s a loner and constantly tries to innovate. The more important the spiritual meals are, the more she wants to experiment. If it wasn’t for this habit, she would’ve become a Spiritual Meal Master of Spiritual Studies Palace by now.”
At this point, Yang Zhen found something to be amused about and looked at the little girl again. No wonder the two burly men were looking at the girl as if they couldn’t contain their excitement.
Suddenly, a palace disciple from the group began speaking, “If there are no objections, are there any among you who would like to try being a Spiritual Meal assistant?”
About ten people stepped forward from the surrounding crowd. They split into two groups, each with four to five people, choosing either of the two burly men. Lu Benwei chose the burly man on the left and was frantically waving at Yang Zhen to join him.
Seeing this scene, the female disciples from the Spiritual Studies Palace frowned and asked sternly addressing the lone girl in the middle, “Isn’t anyone willing to assist her?”
The crowd exchanged glances and immediately lowered their heads, afraid of being singled out.
The female disciple from the Spiritual Studies Palace sniffed disdainfully, about to speak, as the maiden lifted her head and let out a soft giggle, her voice chiming, “I don’t need it!”
“Don’t need it?” The female disciple was taken aback and said, “This is no child’s play. The rules in the Spiritual Studies Palace’s kitchen are plentiful. If you don’t complete the spiritual dishes in the given time, you won’t pass the test. Not to mention… do you actually plan on making some novel spiritual dishes?”
The maiden bit her lip, nodded, and said, “I’d like to try!
“You…” The female disciple fell silent then sighed, saying, “All right, are you sure you don’t need an assistant?
As the maiden was about to reply, a strange voice rang out among the crowd, “Well… how about I give it a try?”
Yang Zhen walked out from the crowd, swaggered over to the maiden, and greeted her with a big, toothy grin.
“You?” The maiden looked at Yang Zhen skeptically, asking, “You only get one chance. If I can’t pass the examination, you will also not be able to enter the kitchen. Think carefully.”
Yang Zhen shrugged and said, “I am not bothered, I’m just here to give it a try anyway!”
The maiden looked at Yang Zhen for a moment, then refocused her attention on the chopping board: “All right then!
Whoosh– !
Yang Zhen’s action immediately sparked a round of exclamation among the crowd, everyone looking at him with interest.
“Where did this kid come from, daring to assist Hu Tao.”
“Why is Hu Tao going this route again? She should just make a regular spiritual dish. This has happened so many times, and none were successful.
“What do you know? Hu Tao is trying to break through her own limits. If she succeeds, her mastery of spiritual dishes will take a huge leap forward. She might even become the youngest Spiritual Meal Master on Northern Island.” “This kid is smiling now, let’s see what his face will look like when he’s fumbling around.”
The crowd gossiped while Hu Tao remained unperturbed. She looked at Yang Zhen and asked, “Are you ready?”
Yang Zhen shook his head, wearing a strange expression and asked, “You’re not going to tell me what to do?”
Hu Tao turned to Yang Zhen with a radiant smile and said, “Just do as you like.’ Yang Zhen’s eyes widened in astonishment: “Do whatever I want?” “Yeah, how else would we achieve a breakthrough?” Hu Tao tilted her head to look at Yang Zhen, seemingly not understanding why he looked so shocked. Yang Zhen grabbed the kitchen knife from Hu Tao’s hand, stared at her, and said, “Listen, kid, I’m here to join the Spiritual Studies Palace’s kitchen, so cut out the nonsense and don’t hinder me from getting things done.”
Hu Tao blinked, then rolled up her sleeves, hands on hips, defiantly stood her ground: “Boy, I too am here to join the Spiritual Studies Palace’s kitchen. If you don’t want to be my assistant, you can wait on the sidelines.
“Ah-ha?” Yang Zhen’s eyes bulged as he towered over Hu Tao: “Without a recipe, what sort of spiritual dish are you making? Trying to poison someone?” “Poison someone?” Hu Tao hopped onto a stool, lowered her head to glare at Yang Zhen: “Who’s the Spiritual Meal Master here, you or I?”
“Eh?”
Yang Zhen paused, surprised, and then asked, “Can you do it like this? You’re right, I, the Sao Saint, am indeed the Spiritual Meal Master. Today, I shall show you, what a true God of Food looks like!
Insert BGM here!