"A what?" Everyone else on the table was confused by his words.
Even Ye Tian Yun was confused.
He had never heard of something called Burger.
"Bring it." He said.
The name was funny and somewhat even aversive. But he wanted to see the 'dish'.
Gao Xuan smiled and stood up.
"Why don't you guys follow me?"
The other three nodded and followed behind.
"So… what is this… burger?" Zheng Xiang asked as they headed towards the kitchen.
Gao Xuan smiled and said, "Well, I will explain it to you in simple words."
"Minced and reformed beef or potato patties in a vaguely disc-shaped slab, cooked and placed inside a bread roll, possibly along with various vegetables and sauces. Usually, the meat is sourced from cheap offcuts and has a higher than average fat content. That being said, there is something distinctly refreshing about biting into a great greasy burger once every so often."
"Beef… potato patties… bread… vegetables… I have never heard of these things together in a dish." Zheng Xiang asked, "Why don't you explain to me as if I am a five-year-old?"
"Five-year-olds don't ask questions. They eat, and if they like it, they just want more of it." Gao Xuan said.
The contents of burgers were pretty common things and were even part of normal dishes, and this was why they were confused by Gao Xuan's words. They had thought Gao Xuan was going to let them taste a new kind of spirit beast meat.
Ye Tian Yun smiled, "Let's eat it then. For some reason, I am very curious about this… burger."
Gao Xuan smiled and brought everyone to the far end of the kitchen.
Putting a slab of a book, he then brought out something fluffy disc-like roll.
"Can I touch it?" Zheng Xiang couldn't help but ask. The bread was… too fluffy.
Gao Xuan frowned, "No touching. Wait for me to cook it first."
"Oh man… alright, alright, I can wait."
"Good," Gao Xuan nodded, "Now witness the holy magic."
…
After about ten minutes, Gao Xuan picked a plate and put four 'Burgers' in front of them.
"Taste it." He smiled.
Just yet, Zheng Xiang was about to pick up one; Gao Xuan suddenly interrupted, "Oh, wait, first let me tell you how to hold it - or else you will end up ruining your robes."
He then picked up a burger and arranged his fingers around it, and he took a bite.
After a few chews, he said, "As you can see, the thumbs and the pinkies are on the bottom. The middle three fingers on each hand are on the top. Because of this, the burger is divided visually into equal parts. If the burger is held uniformly, then its contents shouldn't spill out of the burger's backside."
"Oh…" The three disciples in front of him nodded.
"Alright, dig in!" Gao Xuan said with a proud smile on his face.
The three of them nodded, and held the burger as instructed by Gao Xuan; they took the first bite of this heavenly dish.
Ye Tian Yun slowly chewed the bites and enjoyed the never-experienced before taste.
There was a combination of tastes and textures – sweet, sour, salt – with a bit of crunch. The patty was quite juicy, the bun soft but sturdy.
Overall, the taste and the sensation of it were pretty amazing.
"Did you invent this?" Ye Tian Yun couldn't help but ask.
He had never tasted such a thing. And he was sure that no one under the heavens had.
After all, if this dish was known, Ye Tian Yun was sure it would have exploded already.
Gao Xuan smiled, "I didn't actually invent it. But don't think much about it. I want to know your opinion about this dish. How is it?"
Ye Tian Yun smiled, "It's amazing. I am sure the five-year-old won't be the only ones asking for more. People of all ages would want to taste this."
Gao Xuan smiled, "Well, that's what I wanted to hear."
"When are you planning to launch it officially?" Zheng Xiang asked.
Even the ever silent Bai Qing'er was curious.
All four of them were well aware of the sheer potential of this dish.
Gao Xuan smiled, "Soon."
Ye Tian Yun thought for a moment and said, "I hope we don't turn into enemies, or I will miss these burgers."
The three smiled at his words.
The burger was indeed quite delicious.
It was worth making friends.
Thinking about it, Ye Tian Yun suddenly noticed something that made him pause in his tracks.
There were… no prompts on the heads of Gao Xuan and Bai Qing'er!
'Wait, how's that possible?'
He was confused.
'How could these two not have any prompts?'
Ye Tian Yun took another bite of burger and glanced at Zheng Xiang.
The prompt was still there on his head.
'What is going on?'
He wanted to know an answer.
However, before he could consult about this to Wang Yao, Gao Xuan nudged his shoulders, "What happened? Don't tell me the taste is too good?"
Ye Tian Yun nodded, "Yeah, it's pretty amazing."
Gao Xuan smiled, "Well, now that you know about this, don't reveal it to others just yet. I consider the four of you good friends, so try not to speak much about it to other disciples, though I am pretty sure no one will believe your words."
Zheng Xiang laughed, "Haha! Don't worry about that, but don't you wish to advertise it? I hope you aren't underestimating the power of word of mouth?"
Bai Qing'er also spoke, "Yes, Brother Gao, this thing can really take your burger to the top!"
Gao Xuan smiled, "I know, but it's not the right time yet. Whenever a man makes haste, fate too hastens him."
Ye Tian Yun nodded.
This simple dish could lead to many things, and he was sure that Gao Clan, even if it was one of the top clans of the Xin Kingdom, it was not ready to face the hard consequences of facing other people's greed.
Gao Xuan suddenly said before taking another bite, "Anyway, while we finish this burger, I will let you guys in with another secret. In fact, it's more of a warning."
"Oh? What is it?" Ye Tian Yun asked.
"Well, you guys should leave the sect." Gao Xuan smiled, "You guys should take a long mission from the North-Western region and go there within the next few weeks."
"Hm?" The other three were confused, "Why would that be?"
Gao Xuan simply smiled, "Well, great trouble is about to fall on the Gracious Sword Sect. No, not only the Gracious Sword Sect but all the sects of the Xin Kingdom. This matter is only known to very few, and you are now among them. And trust me, the whole sect is about to bathe in blood."
"Hm?" Ye Tian Yun frowned, "When?"
He knew what Gao Xuan was talking about.
King Xin and his ambition to tighten his grasp over the whole kingdom.
Along with his close ally and good friend, Prime Minister Fang Chen, King Xin had planned to suppress the unbridled sects and clans which thought they could go against or didn't put the Xin Royal Clan in their eyes.
Ye Tian Yun knew that there was going to be a huge bloodbath incoming for the whole Xin Kingdom… it's just this was supposed to happen after the Grand Spirit Hunt, not now.