Ning Qian looked at the fish still flopping on the table, bracing herself to deal with the somewhat awkward ingredient, when she heard Fang Xuan's voice from behind her:
"Senior sister, let me do it."
She turned back in surprise, seeing Fang Xuan had already stepped forward and, with remarkable ease, picked up the bamboo pole and the fish.
His skilled movements made her feel a little dazed.
"Junior brother... you?"
"When I was little, I used to slack off during training in my clan, and I'd often be punished by being sent to the kitchen to help out. Dealing with mountain delicacies and wild game was common, so I guess you could say practice makes perfect."
Fang Xuan casually made up an excuse, a relaxed smile on his face, his hands never stopping their work.
He simply brought his fingers together like a knife, a wisp of spiritual energy gathering at his fingertips.
With a light slice below the fish's gills, followed by a downward pull, the scales peeled off like obedient autumn leaves, revealing the delicate fish meat beneath.
He then gutted the fish, removing its internal organs with fluid movements.
He even managed to extract the main fish bones completely, leaving behind two nearly intact fillets.
In just a few breaths, the silvery-white fish was transformed into a plate of perfectly cleaned fish fillets, neatly arranged on a coarse porcelain dish Ning Qian had found.
Ning Qian stared, somewhat taken aback.
Cultivators, especially those chosen by major sects to be disciples, were invariably from distinguished backgrounds.
At the very least, they belonged to local influential families, and more often, they were descendants of powerful clans or imperial nobility.
Such kitchen chores were handled by servants; few would personally undertake them, let alone with such skill...
She had initially assumed this junior brother Fang, being from an influential family, would certainly never lift a finger for such menial tasks...
Now, it seemed that wasn't the case.
"It's ready, Senior Sister," Fang Xuan said, pushing the dish toward her with a smile. "The rest is up to you. My skills are only good for preparing fresh ingredients; actually cooking them would probably ruin them."
He wasn't entirely being modest.
In his previous life, he had lived alone, so preparing ingredients was a basic skill, but his cooking... well, it was only "edible."
Now, with this rare opportunity, he didn't want his terrible culinary skills to ruin what might be their first meal to build rapport.
Ning Qian came back to herself, looking at the perfectly prepared fish fillets on the dish.
"Mhm," she softly replied, then rolled up her sleeves and turned to a simple shed in the corner of the yard, where a clay stove and an iron pot sat.
She deftly lit a fire and scrubbed the pot.
Then, from the last small cloth bag in the house, she carefully scooped out some glistening rice grains.
This was the last of the low-grade spirit rice.
Fang Xuan didn't sit idly by; he actively helped by adding firewood and tending the fire.
The flickering firelight illuminated Ning Qian's focused profile, softening her usual aloofness with a touch of worldly warmth.
Once the pot was hot, Ning Qian poured in a little oil, then took out a few dried red chilies, broke them apart, and tossed them in.
With a sizzle, the spicy aroma was instantly awakened by the hot oil, spreading throughout the small courtyard.
Fang Xuan's eyes lit up, and his throat involuntarily bobbed.
Chilies.
He had been transmigrated for several months now, and his diet consisted either of bland fasting pills or the authentic, classic spirit food served in the sect cafeteria. His mouth was practically watering for flavor.
He never expected Ning Qian to have chilies here.
He still couldn't help but ask, "Senior sister, could... could you add a bit more spice?"
Ning Qian, who was focused on stir-frying the ingredients, turned to glance at him, a flicker of surprise in her beautiful eyes: "Oh? Uh... okay."
She then pinched a few more chilies from a small jar and added them, making the spicy scent even stronger.
"Junior brother... you're not from the Southern Wilderness, are you?" she asked softly, continuing to stir-fry.
"Although this area is in the Southern Wilderness, the nearby mortal kingdoms prefer sweet flavors, and our sect's meals rarely have this much spice."
Fang Xuan's heart stirred, and he went along with the conversation: "That's right, back in my hometown... we prefer strong flavors, and can't live without spice. Senior sister, adding these chilies really reminds me of home."
"Senior sister, maybe we're even from the same hometown..." he added.
This was half-truth, half-fiction, but in his previous life, he really was from a region that loved spicy food.
Ning Qian's stir-frying paused. She suddenly lowered her gaze, her long eyelashes hiding the emotions in her eyes.
Her hometown... was long gone.
Her family had been destroyed, her relatives brutally murdered; she had fled here alone and been taken in by the Qingyun Sect.
The chili seeds had been given to her by an old woman from her hometown during her escape.
The old woman had said that the Southern Wilderness was damp, and eating spicy food was good. Ning Qian had kept them, planting a few occasionally, as a cherished memory.
Fang Xuan's eagerness for spicy food, strangely, made her feel a sense of kinship...
The spicy fragrance in the pot, mixed with the faint scent of spirit rice, grew richer.
Ning Qian slid the fish fillets into the pot, stir-fried them quickly, and then added a pinch of salt and an unknown herb.
Watching from the side, Fang Xuan's appetite surged, and he inwardly gave it a frantic thumbs-up.
'Perfect, perfect. She can handle both official duties and kitchen chores, and she'll even save the world in the future... This senior sister truly has it all.'
'The important thing is the spice, the spicy flavor! He was finally going to indulge!'
System: 【Detected host's strong anticipation for the master's cooking skills, which aligns with a slave's grateful attitude towards a master's favor. Training value +0.1!】
'...Grateful my foot! He was just craving chilies!'
...
Before long, the meal was ready.
Besides the main dish of spicy stir-fried fish fillets, Ning Qian also made a clear soup from the remaining wild vegetables in the yard, sliced some pickled dried bamboo shoots, and served pickled vegetables, along with spirit rice. It surprisingly amounted to a four-dish, one-soup spread.
The two of them sat down at the stone table.
Sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, dappling the coarse porcelain bowls and dishes, creating an unexpected warmth.
Fang Xuan eagerly picked up a piece of fish fillet with his chopsticks and put it into his mouth. The fish meat was tender, carrying the unique sweetness of spiritual ingredients.
More importantly, the familiar spicy flavor instantly spread through his mouth.
"Delicious."
He praised her with genuine sincerity, then took another large bite of spirit rice.
The spirit rice melted in his mouth, its spiritual energy subtly intertwining with the spicy fish, creating an unexpectedly delicious combination.
Ning Qian watched him eat, a hint of satisfaction on his face, and her own lips curved into an unconscious, faint smile.
'He's truly like a child.'
She ate slowly and gracefully herself, but it was clear she hadn't enjoyed such a flavorful meal in a long time either.
At the table, Ning Qian once again thanked Fang Xuan solemnly: "Junior brother, I, Ning Qian, will forever remember your kindness in saving my life and giving me medicine yesterday. In the future... if you ever need my help, please don't hesitate to ask."
As the words left her mouth, she felt a pang of helplessness.
In her current predicament, what could she possibly do to help him?
Fang Xuan swallowed his food and waved a hand: "Senior sister, you're overstating things. It's only natural for fellow disciples to help each other.
Besides, haven't I also gotten a good meal from you, Senior Sister!"
Ning Qian saw that his expression seemed sincere, and her heart warmed slightly, the sense of distance between them lessening considerably.
Fang Xuan ate while pondering.
Their relationship had broken the ice, was developing steadily, and the atmosphere was good, but he hadn't forgotten his core mission.
Having him directly say to Ning Qian's aloof yet occasionally shy face, "Senior sister, please train me..."
Just imagining the scene, he felt his own skin wasn't thick enough.
He needed to hint around and exert subtle influence.
He seemingly casually brought up the topic: "Senior sister, I see it's peaceful here, just the two of us. It's much more comfortable than those noisy places outside.
If it could always be like this, with someone for company, cultivating and discussing the dao together, and making meals in our free time, wouldn't that be nice?"
Ning Qian was taking small sips of soup. Hearing him, her fair earlobes tinged faintly red, and her gaze drifted elsewhere as she spoke softly:
"Cultivators should prioritize the Great Dao; being tranquil... is good."
She clearly didn't think of "dao companions" or "companionship," assuming Fang Xuan was merely lamenting the environment.
Fang Xuan pressed on, putting down his chopsticks: "The Great Dao is long. If one can find a kindred spirit, surely it would lessen the loneliness."
"A kindred spirit..."
Ning Qian repeated the words, her eyes distant, as if recalling something, before they quickly dimmed.
"Such things are rare to find, and human hearts... are fickle."
Fang Xuan's heart skipped a beat; he seemed to have hinted too much.
He quickly changed the subject: "Senior sister is right, I was presumptuous. But this fish is really delicious, Senior sister, your cooking is truly excellent."
Ning Qian glanced at him, seeing his face full of sincere praise for the meal, and softly hummed in acknowledgment.
She then lowered her head and continued eating, though her small face seemed even redder than before.
Fang Xuan, meanwhile, had been observing Ning Qian's aloof, pristine face, noting a hint of shyness.
He was once again moved by her beauty.
'She's so beautiful, and her figure is incredible.'
'Anyone else might be able to resist, but he couldn't.'
'What's wrong with being a little smitten?'
The System also suddenly displayed a prompt.
【Training progress +0.1%!】
【Current total training progress: 0.11%】
【Encouragement: Host, please continue and keep up the good work! Strive to become Master Ning Qian's loyal subordinate as soon as possible.】
Fang Xuan: "..."
'That works too...'
'Hmm, it looks like he'll have to find a way to get another meal from her tomorrow.'
Rate on N.U.
