C3 As a Chef

Yang Qianxue stepped out of the courtyard and made her way to the ancestral hall.

There, a young man and two girls were kneeling, their foreheads touching the ground in a disciplined kowtow, praying for blessings as they followed the resounding chants of the Yang family's priest.

Flanking the hall stood the most influential members of the Yang family, led by Yang Dingshan. Among them were both the elderly and the youth—the oldest being over seventy, the youngest just twenty.

The disparity in their ages was a reflection of their varying levels of cultivation. The patriarch, Yang Dingshan, was the most formidable, having reached the Profound Gate. His cultivation was in the late phase of the Second Stage, just one breakthrough away from entering the Third Stage and earning the title of Minor Grandmaster.

The twenty-year-old was Yang Xiao, a standout among the younger generation of the Yang family and the son of Yang Dingshan. At eighteen, Yang Xiao's talent was recognized as mid-rank, yet he was overlooked by the Imperial Court. Upon his return, he was appointed as a deacon in the Immortal Cultivation Hall of Azure Province. He had since advanced to the Hall of Interrogation, corresponding to the early phase of the Second Stage in his cultivation journey.

Barring any unforeseen events, he was poised to take up his father's mantle as the premier cultivator of the Yang family within the next decade or so.

As the incense stick finished burning, the ceremony concluded.

With the priest's direction, the three children rose to their feet and offered a respectful bow to Yang Dingshan and the assembly.

"Blessing!"

The priest's call rang out as he passed a white porcelain bottle, brimming with immortal dew, to Yang Dingshan. A supple willow twig was inserted into the bottle, its tip gently drooping. With practiced ease, Yang Dingshan took the twig, moistened it with the dew, and anointed each of the three youngsters before him with a touch from right to left.

In chorus, they expressed their gratitude, "Thank you, Profound Gate!"

The term 'Profound Gate' was an homage to the realm attained by Yang Dingshan.

This was the act of "bestowing blessings."

From emperors to commoner chiefs, it was a favored practice to represent the deities and grant divine favor to those of lesser status.

With the ceremony complete, the blessing ritual came to an end. Next, it was up to Yang Dingshan to personally escort the three test participants to the Immortal Cultivation Sacrificial Altar, hundreds of miles from Qing Province—a journey that would take roughly a month.

"Xiao, come here." As he reached the doorway, Yang Dingshan suddenly remembered something and gestured for Yang Xiao, who was trailing behind him, to approach.

"Father." Yang Xiao bowed respectfully. Clad in white, his presence was commanding, his features bearing a resemblance to Yang Dingshan's.

"There's no need for you to join this expedition. Just look after the house. Remember..." Yang Dingshan leaned in, whispering a message into Yang Xiao's ear.

With a stern look, Yang Xiao nodded and said, "Father, you can count on me."

"Depart!"

At the priest's call, the Yang family procession embarked on their journey.

As Yang Qianxue watched the group depart and started to walk back, Yang Xiao intercepted her.

He bowed and inquired, "Aunt Qianxue, is he doing well?"

She nodded, "He's as he's always been."

Yang Xiao smiled in relief. "That's reassuring. Father instructed me to stay behind. I believe you understand his concerns, so..."

"Aunt Qianxue, do you think I'm worried you'll let Xuan leave?" Yang Xiao asked, sensing her thoughts.

"Aunt, that's not what I'm suggesting..." he quickly clarified.

She shook her head reassuringly. "Don't worry. I assure you, he won't step foot outside the Yang family." With those words, she turned and walked away.

Yang Xiao watched her leave, lost in contemplation.

He pondered the significance of her words.

His aunt had clearly spoken with Yang Xuan, but why was she so confident he wouldn't leave?

A young man confined for sixteen years, presented with such a golden opportunity—shouldn't he be eager to explore outside or take steps towards freedom?

Or was it that, like a spirit beast raised in captivity, no matter how untamed his nature, after so many years, he had succumbed to despair?

Or could it be just one of his schemes?

Yang Xiao was eager to directly ask Yang Qianxue about it, yet he hesitated, fearing it might come off as too impulsive and not befitting the composure expected of the Yang family's future heir.

He glanced toward the small courtyard and ultimately resolved to check on things himself.

...

In the courtyard, a young man sat cross-legged on a bed, his expression serene. Yet, his forehead, the tip of his nose, his cheeks, and around his neck were drenched in a fine sheen of sweat. The beads of sweat merged and streamed down, quickly soaking through his clothes.

The young man's body shivered slightly. The tremors were subtle, but they betrayed the intense pain he was enduring.

About ten years ago, his body began to act strangely at intervals. His strength would surge unexpectedly, allowing him to crush coins flat. He could leap from the ground to the rooftop, only snapping out of it when the cool breeze hit him.

These bouts of loss of control were brief, but their impact was profound. Each time, a scorching heat would flare up from his core, radiating outward for around an hour before subsiding back within him.

Now was one such moment of turmoil. Sitting on the bed, he practiced the cultivation techniques he had read about, trying to harness his willpower and other skills to quell the energy, to little avail. He had yet to discover the path to true cultivation and remained a mere mortal. His prior desire to learn from Yang Qianxue was driven by a longing to master control over his body at all times.

Two hours flew by, and sweat poured off him like rain. He rose, visibly exhausted. The frequency of these uncontrollable episodes was increasing, and he feared what the future might hold.

For the first time, he felt a deep unease about his body.

However, the feeling was fleeting. He quickly regained his composure, changed into fresh clothes, boiled water for a much-needed bath, and then harvested the vegetables from his garden to prepare a hearty meal.

The aroma of cooking rice wafted through the air, catching the attention of Yang Xiao as he happened to arrive. He paused outside the courtyard gate, inhaling deeply. Drawn irresistibly to the scent, he leaned in to take another whiff through the door's narrow gap. The fragrance was truly enticing.

He had no intention of entering. A quick glance through the doorway revealed Yang Xuan, skillfully arranging dish after dish on the stone table within the courtyard. It was these delectable creations that were sending forth such an inviting aroma.

Yang Xuan's talent in the kitchen was undeniable. It seemed that in this lifetime, his destiny might be that of a chef.

Unfortunately, Yang Xuan had missed the opportunity to take part in this year's talent assessment. He would have to wait until his birthday in four years to see if another chance would arise.

But one couldn't help but wonder, would that chance come for him in four years?