Chapter 30: Take Me As Your Master
Huang Fengqi gazed at Elder Guo with eyes twinkling like stars in a clear night sky, her expression comically pleading. "Pwease?" she begged, leaning closer.
Elder Guo firmly placed his palm against her shoulder, creating distance between them. "Don’t come close to me, you reek of alcohol," he grumbled, settling back into his seated position with obvious discomfort.
A weighty sigh escaped his lips as he gazed into the distance. "Even if I wanted to, I can’t just give him to you," he explained, taking a measured sip from his wine cup. "He is my disciple, not something I picked up from the roadside." His eyes remained fixed on the training ground below, where his two disciples continued their sparring session, Xiang Yu repeatedly falling and rising with stubborn determination.
Huang Fengqi observed Elder Guo’s expression, recognizing the familiar contemplative look that had characterized her senior brother for centuries. She composed herself, settling down beside him with newfound restraint. "Does that mean that you’ll let me have him if he agrees?" she inquired carefully, hope threading through her voice.
Elder Guo’s attention never wavered from the scene below. He watched as Xiang Yu tumbled to the ground once more, only to push himself upright with unwavering resolve. Memories flooded back—finding the boy in that destroyed village, bringing him to the mountain, raising him as his own despite his lack of talent. He had been genuinely pleased when Xiang Yu finally began cultivating, though disappointment lingered at the knowledge that without spiritual roots, the boy would never advance beyond the most rudimentary levels.
But now, presented with this unexpected opportunity... wasn’t it a master’s sacred duty to pursue what was best for his disciple? To open doors rather than close them? To sacrifice personal attachment for genuine advancement?
After lengthy consideration, Elder Guo offered a slight nod. "Sure," he conceded, the single word carrying the weight of profound sentiment.
Huang Fengqi sprang to her feet with unbridled enthusiasm, her excitement barely contained. She had anticipated his eventual agreement, understanding the inner workings of his mind—yet his hesitation revealed more than he probably intended. Did he truly care for this disciple so deeply?
Her gaze shifted to Xiang Yu, who once again rose after being knocked down. Something in his perseverance resonated with memories of the past. She could see shadows of the old senior brother in this young disciple’s determination. Did her senior brother see himself in him? Was that why he had picked him up? Just as Uncle Master had done for him back then...
She pushed these reflections aside, focusing on her immediate objective. Rising from her seat, she grasped Elder Guo’s hand with infectious enthusiasm. "Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!" she urged, already prepared to depart.
Elder Guo remained unmoved, firmly anchoring her in place. "What’s the hurry? Let the disciples practice. We’ll go when it’s dinner time," he stated with calm finality.
"Dinner?" Disbelief colored Huang Fengqi’s voice. "You eat mortal food?" The concept seemed utterly foreign—cultivators at their advanced stage rarely bothered with such mundane sustenance.
A smug expression transformed Elder Guo’s weathered features. "Why wouldn’t I when my disciple is such a nice cook?" he proclaimed with unmistakable pride.
Huang Fengqi recognized that self-satisfied look immediately. There it is again , she thought. Senior brother always needs to show off—such a terrible habit . She shrugged dismissively, mentally scoffing at the notion. Hmph, it probably isn’t even that good .
Her skepticism evaporated the moment Xiang Yu’s culinary creation touched her lips. Before she even realized what was happening, her plate had been emptied of every morsel. Without a shred of her previous dignity, she thrust her empty plate forward, eyes wide with undisguised hunger, hoping for seconds...
...
Li Yao extended her hand to Xiang Yu, helping him rise from the ground after their intense sparring session. Xiang Yu dusted himself off, glancing toward the horizon where the sun painted the sky in shades of amber and gold. It was approaching dinnertime, and neither disciple particularly wanted another scolding from their master. Without exchanging words, they made their way to the kitchen, their steps synchronized.
The kitchen welcomed them with familiar warmth as they fell into their established routine. Li Yao handled the preparatory tasks—washing vegetables, stoking the fire, arranging plates—while Xiang Yu focused on the main dish. Tonight he was preparing his classic pork belly, a favorite that had earned appreciative silence from even their usually critical master.
As his hands moved with practiced efficiency, slicing and seasoning with precise motions, Xiang Yu noted how his culinary skills had improved alongside his cultivation. The thought crossed his mind that perhaps he could accumulate cooking experience points as well, earning them through mastering recipes just as he did techniques. He dismissed the notion with a small smile, returning his attention to the simmering meat that released mouthwatering aromas throughout the pavilion.
The pork belly transformed under his careful ministrations—skin crisping to golden perfection while the meat beneath remained tender and succulent. He arranged the finished dish with an artistry that would have impressed professional chefs from his previous world, presenting it just as footsteps announced the arrival of their master.
This evening, however, Elder Guo didn’t arrive alone. A female cultivator accompanied him, her elegant robes bearing the distinctive embroidery of higher sect positions, her posture carrying the unmistakable dignity of cultivation authority. Xiang Yu couldn’t suppress a smile—had their perpetually solitary master finally found companionship?
Li Yao clearly shared similar thoughts, her eyes lighting up with mischievous understanding as she cast their master a knowing look.
"You brats! Are you having inappropriate thoughts?" Elder Guo demanded, his bushy eyebrows drawing together in a thunderous frown.
"How could we dare, Master?" Xiang Yu replied with exaggerated innocence, his expression carefully schooled. "We were just wondering if the Master had finally brought home a wife." The bold statement caused the female elder to blush slightly, color touching her dignified features.
Li Yao, emboldened by Xiang Yu’s example, leaned forward eagerly. "Master has always seemed so pure and dedicated to cultivation. I never imagined you actually..." Her words trailed off as Elder Guo fixed her with a glare so intense it practically lowered the temperature in the room.
"Actually what?" he pressed, his smile promising punishment rather than amusement.
Li Yao’s courage evaporated instantly. "My apologies, I have misspoken," she declared, executing a formal bow with remarkable haste.
Elder Guo’s mouth twitched with suppressed irritation. These disrespectful disciples—if he genuinely brought home a partner, wouldn’t they embarrass him endlessly? He felt a sharp nudge from Huang Fengqi’s elbow, prompting him to clear his throat.
"Ahem! This is my junior sister, Huang Fengqi," he announced with forced composure. "She is the elder of Phoenix Ascension Pavilion."
Huang Fengqi offered a friendly wave, her eyes appraising the two young disciples with evident curiosity.
Xiang Yu gently pushed Li Yao’s head downward as they both performed a respectful bow. "We greet the honorable Aunt Master," they intoned with unexpected formality.
Huang Fengqi’s face brightened at their greeting. "Such nice children," she thought. "No need for such formality," she said aloud, her voice warm with genuine approval. "Just Aunt Master will do."
From the sidelines, Elder Guo observed this exchange with unconcealed shock. Where had this discipline suddenly materialized from? His disciples had never shown him such respect, constantly teasing and testing his patience. Who was the true master here?
The two elders settled at the dining table while Xiang Yu served an additional plate for their guest. Huang Fengqi regarded the dish with carefully measured expectations. "Is this what that old fool was bragging about?" she wondered skeptically. "I suppose it does smell somewhat appealing."
Taking her first bite with casual indifference, Huang Fengqi’s expression transformed instantly. Flavors exploded across her palate—complex, harmonious, expertly balanced. Each ingredient announced itself distinctly while contributing to a symphony of taste that defied her considerable experience. Was this the legendary god of cooking she’d heard whispered about in ancient texts?
She moved to take another bite, only for her spoon to scrape against empty porcelain. Looking down in confusion, she discovered her plate completely clean, with no memory of having consumed its contents so rapidly. Elder Guo caught her bewildered expression and offered a smug smile as he continued enjoying his own portion.
"What did I say? Believe me now?" he asked, his tone dripping with self-satisfaction. As he continued eating, something nagged at his awareness—was today’s meal even more exceptional than usual, or was his imagination embellishing the experience? He pondered this as he savored each mouthful.
Noticing Huang Fengqi’s hesitation to request more, Xiang Yu rose smoothly from his seat, serving her another generous portion without comment.
"Thanks," she murmured, slightly embarrassed by her evident enthusiasm. This time, she ate with deliberate slowness, savoring each bite with the appreciation it deserved, allowing the flavors to develop fully before taking another mouthful.
When the meal concluded and dishes were being cleared, Huang Fengqi suddenly remembered her true purpose. She turned toward Xiang Yu, her expression shifting to something more serious.
"Xiang Yu," she began, her voice carrying unexpected weight, "would you like to take me as your master?"
The question landed in the room like a stone dropped into still water. Behind them, Li Yao, who had been helping wash dishes, lost her grip on a glass plate. It shattered against the floor, the crystalline sound punctuating the moment of perfect silence that followed Huang Fengqi’s unexpected proposal.