Jiang Ke’er knew that the food she made was delicious—possibly the best tasting food in this world.
But just how incredible it was, she hadn’t fully grasped before.
Now, she was beginning to understand.
Yuan Zheng had long since burst out of his clothes, clutching a rice bucket filled to the brim and burying his face into it, greedily shoveling food into his mouth.
“Look at how starving this kid is.” Jiang Ke’er watched with a mixture of pity and urgency, quickly steaming another large pot of rice while the iron wok beside her never stopped cooking, continuously supplying side dishes.
And Yuan Zheng was like a bottomless glutton, endlessly eating, shoving food into his mouth at a frantic pace.
Judging by this scene, he probably hadn’t eaten properly for months.
“Don’t stuff yourself too much, big brother! Stay here, and I’ll cook for you whenever you want. No need to overdo it…” Jiang Ke’er said helplessly.
“No, Master told me to kill you,” Yuan Zheng pulled his head out of the rice bucket and looked seriously at Jiang Ke’er.
“After I finish this meal, I’ll send you on your way. If I don’t eat now, I won’t get another chance.”
“You dare say that to me? Aren’t you afraid I’ll poison you?” Jiang Ke’er pouted.
“Not afraid. I’ve cultivated the Seven Luminaries True Insight,” Yuan Zheng’s eyes glowed faintly.
“Ordinary poisons can’t hide from these eyes… and as for the uncommon ones, you wouldn’t be able to get your hands on them anyway.”
Seven Luminaries True Insight?
There’s such a bizarre thing? She wondered if Qiao Xiaoxian had cultivated it—maybe that’s how she saw through her poisoned soup.
“Remember to pay for the meal once you finish.” Jiang Ke’er said, “You’ve already eaten seven buckets of rice, a pot of braised pork, and a pot of…”
She clearly listed everything Yuan Zheng had just eaten: “I’ll give you a discount—ten thousand Yibi for now. If you don’t have Yibi, Magic Crystal Stones will do.”
“Fair enough. Such delicacies are worth this price,” Yuan Zheng mumbled while eating.
“I’ll use this money to prepare your funeral, ensuring not a cent is wasted.”
“Can’t you just not kill me?” Jiang Ke’er sighed softly.
“Honestly, it makes me happy inside that someone would be so crazy about the food I make… Why don’t you stop working for the Tribulation Immortal Hall and become my bodyguard? I’ll cook delicious meals for you every day.”
“That’s not possible. Master has done much for me,” Yuan Zheng shook his head solemnly.
“Besides, even if I don’t kill you, you won’t last long… I’m just the weakest disciple among the Ninefold Seal Formation of the Hall of Tribulation Immortals. As for you, being the Queen of the Earth and a Fox Demon, Master and my Martial Uncles will definitely send endless assassins after you. They’re not as dumb as I am.”
You admit you’re dumb, huh…
“Anything else?” Yuan Zheng looked at the empty rice bucket.
“Yes,” Jiang Ke’er lifted the lid and brought out another steaming pot.
The Yan Family’s cellar was almost emptied out, and she had already sent the servants to buy more ingredients—they should be back soon.
“Go tell Ming Ling and the others that today’s class is canceled. I have guests to entertain,” Jiang Ke’er instructed the maid beside her.
“Yes.” The maid responded and left.
The sun set, and the whole afternoon passed like that.
But the kitchen fire was still burning.
At dawn, the fire still blazed in the kitchen, accompanied by the sound of Yuan Zheng greedily devouring food, snorting and gulping like a pig feeding.
By noon, Ming Ling arrived but was told the class was canceled for the day. She was to wait for notice at the village; if none came, the next day’s class would also be canceled.
That night, no notification arrived.
But the next evening, the message came.
“Miss Qingyi says that classes for tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that are all canceled. The day after that will depend on further notice.”
The Remnant Clan of Mingzhou was dumbfounded.
What kind of honored guest could eat so much?
In the end, they still underestimated Yuan Zheng.
Smoke rose from the Yan Family’s kitchen for seven days and seven nights.
On the seventh night, Jiang Ke’er was so exhausted she could barely keep her eyes open, while Yuan Zheng continued eating with undiminished enthusiasm, fully energized.
“Is your stomach a Qiankun Bag or what?” Jiang Ke’er, her eyes bloodshot, stared at him in pain.
Yuan Zheng patted his belly. “I eat and refine at the same time, so I never feel stuffed. Your food isn’t like mundane things—it all perfectly converts into Spiritual Power and cultivation without leaving any impurity. It’s practically a miracle.”
“But didn’t you say you don’t eat shit?” Jiang Ke’er gave him a side-eye.
Yuan Zheng had long since lost any shame. Being teased by Jiang Ke’er barely registered. Instead, he said proudly, “Shit smells delicious. I want to eat this kind of shit every day.”
“…”
Seven days and seven nights without sleep, Jiang Ke’er was nearly fainting.
She didn’t care about the mess anymore and leaned against the wall, blackened by the smoke from the kitchen fire. “Are you still going to eat? Also… have you reconsidered being my bodyguard?”
“No, my time is up,” Yuan Zheng smiled faintly and slowly walked out of the kitchen, gazing up at the sky with a wistful expression.
“Are you about to breakthrough again?” Jiang Ke’er was surprised, stroking her chin thoughtfully. “Maybe I should eat you too?”
“I’m not breaking through.” Yuan Zheng looked westward, then suddenly knelt down and kowtowed three times.
“Forgive me, Master. My will was weak, and I am unworthy of your legacy.”
His aura rapidly swelled, growing stronger.
But this was not a breakthrough.
Yuan Zheng relaxed his brows, changed direction, and solemnly knelt before Jiang Ke’er, bowing deeply.
“To hear the Dao in the morning and die at dusk is enough. Master granted me cultivation, but you gave me truth, you gave me the Dao… I’ve lost. I can’t bring myself to harm you.”
Yuan Zheng’s body began to slowly dissolve, and his spiritual sense radiated a wondrous fluctuation Jiang Ke’er had never seen before.
It was immense satisfaction and profound obsession.
“… What’s going on with you?” Jiang Ke’er was stunned.
“I’m dying,” Yuan Zheng said calmly. “Eating for seven days straight, that ultimate bliss and joy have overwhelmed both my soul and body…”
Jiang Ke’er paused. “Holy hell, that feels amazing?!”
“…”
Yuan Zheng thought about it and nodded with a smile.
Seeing her plan to recruit a disciple had completely failed, Jiang Ke’er was silent for a moment, then sighed and cupped her hands toward Yuan Zheng.
“Fine. We have no grievances, never even fought, and honestly, you’re kind of likeable in your own dumb way… I wish you good luck in your next life.”
“Thank you for your kind words.”
Yuan Zheng’s soul gradually dissipated, but before it vanished completely, Jiang Ke’er did not notice—a strange glimmer drifted from her body and attached itself to his fragmented soul.
Jiang Ke’er, feeling somewhat listless, told the servant, “Tell Ming Ling and the others they can come to class tomorrow.”
As for Yuan Zheng’s soul, it didn’t completely dissipate.
In a daze, it felt itself drifting into a tiny, tiny little round egg, then falling into sleep.
This tiny egg clung to the root of a verdant oilseed plant, almost impossible to detect even with a cultivator’s naked eye.
“Ah, Chef Qingyi went to sleep. Tonight, we’ll just make some cold dressed oilseed to get by.”
Jie Shui bent down, pulling the oilseed along with the tiny round egg from the soil and stuffing it into the vegetable basket.