Chef God of the Wuxia and Fantasy World

"That's strange. Someone actually went to Shaolin Temple to sell pickled cabbage. Aren't they afraid of being kicked out by the monks?"

"Shh, be careful or I'll throw you out first."

"What nonsense are you talking about? Shaolin Temple is a pure Buddhist place. How could Shaolin monks do such a thing?"

"Hehe, whatever you say goes!"

Amid the murmurs, several girls walked over; judging from their clothes, they were likely maids from a wealthy household.

"Young man, are you a singer or a pickled cabbage seller?" one of the maids asked.

Ling Chi gave a professional smile and said, "Of course I'm selling pickled cabbage. Look, isn't my pickled cabbage beautiful? Doesn't it smell delicious?"

The maids were momentarily dazzled by Ling Chi's smile and couldn't help but feel a sense of goodwill towards him. One of the tall and thin maids smiled and said, "Young man, you're so handsome, why are you selling pickled cabbage? How about I introduce you to a more promising business?"

Ling Chi laughed and said, "Sister is joking. There's nothing wrong with selling pickled cabbage. Besides, my pickled cabbage is different from ordinary pickled cabbage."

"Oh? What's different?" the maids asked curiously.

“My pickled cabbage is not only sour and spicy, which is very appetizing, but just eating a small dish of it can cure colds and chills.” Ling Chi looked at one of the maids and smiled, “Sister, I think you have a cold. Would you like to try a dish? If it doesn’t work, you don’t have to pay a penny.”

"Really?" The maid, who had been suffering from a cold and had a stuffy nose since waking up that morning, spoke with a heavy nasal voice and seemed quite uncomfortable. Ling Chi's words surprised and delighted her: "Can it really be cured?"

"Of course," Ling Chi said, "It will be effective after you eat it." He paused, then added, "However, my pickled cabbage is quite expensive. I wonder if you can afford it, sister?"

"You're quite an interesting young man," another maid chuckled. "How expensive can a dish of pickled cabbage be? Two coins? Or three?"

Ling Chi smiled and shook his head, then held up one finger.

"Ten coins?" The maid was taken aback and said, "Indeed, it's quite expensive."

"Sister is joking." Ling Chi shook her head with a smile: "Ten coins can't buy it."

The maid frowned: "You didn't mean it was one hundred coins, did you?"

Ling Chi shook his head again: "Actually, it's one tael of silver."

"Ah!?" Not only the maids, but also the onlookers around them exclaimed in surprise, and then a commotion broke out.

"A mere tael of silver for such a small dish of pickled cabbage? Are you out of your mind?!"

"I never imagined there could be such a shameless person in the world."

"One tael of silver? Haha, if anyone buys it, I'll cut off my head and give it to you to use as a chamber pot."

"You can't say that. Maybe this pickled cabbage can really cure colds and fevers! Colds are fine, but colds and fevers can be a life-threatening illness. If a tael of silver can save a life, it's not expensive."

"Haha, you actually believed that! Brother Chen is indeed an honest man."

"..."

Hearing the surrounding chatter, the maids frowned. The tall, thin maid said, "Young man, you heard it too. You're so young and handsome, why do you have to be a swindler?"

"A liar?" Ling Chi smiled faintly and said, "Whether I'm a liar or not, you'll know after you eat the pickled cabbage. Besides, I said from the beginning that pickled cabbage won't cure colds or fevers, so it's free. What do you have to worry about, sister?"

"That...that's true." The tall, thin maid looked at the maid who had caught a cold and said, "Sister, would you like to try it?"

"No, thank you." The maid, who had a cold, shook her head repeatedly: "I only have 100 coins a month, how can I afford to eat like this?"

1000 copper coins make up one string of cash, which is equivalent to one tael of silver. This maid would have to go without food or drink for ten months to afford even a small dish of pickled cabbage. If it doesn't work, fine, but what if it actually works? She simply can't afford it.

Seeing the maid's dilemma, Ling Chi sighed and said, "Never mind, this is my first time opening a business, and my sister just caught a cold, so let her try a serving for free! Consider it a grand opening promotion."

"Free?" The maid with the cold was surprised. "Really, it's free?"

"Really, no," Ling Chi said with a smile. "I can't bear to see my sister suffer from a cold. But after she recovers, please spread the word for me, okay?"

"If it really works, I'll definitely help spread the word," the maid with the cold said with a smile.

"Then please have a taste, sister!" Ling Chi handed over a small dish of pickled cabbage.

The maid with the cold took it, and since there were no chopsticks, she had to eat it with her hands.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the maid put a few strands of pickled cabbage into her mouth.

"Well--"

"Ding! Conquered the rankless diners..."

There's nothing to agonize over; just treat it as an advertisement.

With just one bite, the maid started sweating, the chill and virus that had caused her cold quickly dissipated, and her breathing returned to normal in no time. In just over ten seconds, she felt much better.

"Huh?" The maid woke up from the illusion, feeling her breathing become smooth and her head no longer dizzy. She was full of energy and was both surprised and delighted: "I'm all better?" She took a few deep breaths and said, "I'm really all better!"

Ling Chi smiled and said, "Congratulations, sister."

"Wow!" The crowd erupted in a commotion.

"What kind of pickled cabbage is this? How can it have such miraculous effects?"

“Look, that maid ate the rest, and it seemed to taste very sweet.”

"This...it's just pickled cabbage, is it really that delicious?"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! This maid must be in cahoots with this swindler."

"Nonsense! She's clearly Miss Wang's maid; how could she possibly be in cahoots with this out-of-town peddler?"

"Oh right, I think someone just said they were going to cut off someone's head and use it as a chamber pot."

"Ahem, farewell!"

……

The commotion coming from in front of the temple attracted the attention of Shaolin Temple. Soon, several young monks ran out to check the situation. When they learned the cause and effect from the worshippers, they were all surprised. They looked at Ling Chi and the four swordsmen carrying long swords behind him, and their hearts tightened. They immediately went back to report to the abbot.

"Abbot, something bad has happened! Some martial arts figures have come to cause trouble."

Upon hearing the news, Abbot Xuanci, who was practicing his martial arts, changed his expression and said in a deep voice, "Don't panic, tell me in detail!"

"Yes." The little monk caught his breath and recounted what had happened in front of the temple.

Xuan Ci was slightly taken aback after hearing this: "Pickled cabbage cured a cold?"

“Yes, Abbot,” the young monk said. “It is said that in addition to treating colds, it can also cure chills and fever. Originally, the worshippers did not believe it, but after that female benefactor took it, her cold was cured immediately.”

"..." Xuan Ci pondered for a moment, put on his kasaya, and said, "Let this old monk go and take a look."

……

Soon after, a group of Shaolin monks, led by Xuanci, arrived at the temple gate and saw a rich young master who had been coughing repeatedly eat a small dish of pickled cabbage. Then, the young master's coughing stopped, and his face, which had been flushed from fever, turned rosy and healthy. In an instant, he transformed from a sickly young man into a strong young man.

"I'm all better? I'm really all better!" The rich young master laughed heartily, "Wonderful! Wonderful! This tael of silver is really not expensive! It's really not expensive!"

The audience gasped in amazement.

The maid's cold had healed, which could perhaps be attributed to a deception, but this young master of the Li family genuinely suffered from a fever and chills. Since medicine and martial arts are intertwined, and Shaolin Temple has many monks capable of treating various ailments, this young master Li had come here for treatment. Upon arriving at the door, he heard that a dish of pickled cabbage could instantly cure a cold and chills. Although it cost one tael of silver, the young master Li had no shortage of money and immediately bought a portion.

And then a miracle happened.

"My name is Li Luo, from Luoyang. May I ask your honorable name, sir?" Li Luo bowed to Ling Chi, seemingly showing him great respect.

Ling Chi smiled and said, "So it's Young Master Li. It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Ling Chi, Ling as in lofty aspirations and Chi as in a pool of wine and meat."

Wine pool and meat forest?

Li Luo was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Brother Ling is truly a genius!"

"Amitabha." Li Luo was about to have a proper conversation with Ling Chi when he was interrupted by a Buddhist chant. He turned his head in annoyance, but his annoyance immediately disappeared. He said respectfully, "So it is Master Xuanci."

Xuan Ci smiled slightly: "Amitabha, Benefactor Li, it's been a long time. How is your mother?"

"Thank you for your concern, Master Lao. My mother is doing well."

"Amitabha Buddha, well said, well said."

Xuan Ci turned to look at Ling Chi, slightly surprised: This is... Bai Wuchang?

"Amitabha Buddha." Xuan Ci asked with a kind and gentle expression, "May I ask where you come from, benefactor?"

Ling Chi sized up Xuan Ci, his expression showing no respect whatsoever.

This Xuanci is no high-ranking monk. He first believed Murong Bo's one-sided story, causing Xiao Yuanshan's family to be destroyed. Then he broke his vow of celibacy with Ye Erniang, yet he shamelessly continued to serve as the abbot of Shaolin. That's not all; he clearly knew that Ye Erniang had become one of the Four Evils, but instead of stopping her, he allowed her to commit evil deeds, which is simply outrageous.

Ling Chi said calmly, "From where I came from."

Xuan Ci was stunned, but he also sensed Ling Chi's deep-seated disgust for him. This puzzled him greatly: "Amitabha, I didn't expect you to be a person with wisdom as well."

Ling Chi said calmly, "Abbot Xuanci, I'm not here to cause trouble, and I don't want to gossip about your affairs. Let's keep to ourselves, so please don't meddle in my business."

These words sparked a flurry of discussion among the crowd, and the four swordsmen, sensing the discord between Ling Chi and Xuan Ci, gripped their swords tightly, ready for battle.

Seeing the four swordsmen's reaction, the monks behind Xuanci also adopted a wary posture.

Upon seeing this, many pilgrims immediately moved away from the area and watched from a distance.

"Amitabha," Xuanci chanted the Buddhist prayer, then said, "It seems you have some prejudice against this old monk?"

“Prejudice?” Ling Chi sneered slightly. “I don’t look at people with a tilted head. You think I’m prejudiced against you, but actually you’re the one on the wrong side. Isn’t that right, leader? And Ye Er…”

"Shut up!" Xuan Ci's expression changed drastically.

Chapter Forty-Four: Invincible Under Heaven

Four swordsmen drew their longswords, pointing them directly at Xuan Ci. The Shaolin monks also assumed various starting stances for their signature techniques, instantly creating a tense atmosphere. The onlookers on the periphery gasped in surprise and pointed and whispered among themselves.

"What? Are you getting angry?" Ling Chi looked at Xuan Ci, whose face was ashen, and sneered, "Didn't you say I was prejudiced against you? Why can't I say it now?"

Xuan Ci's heart was in turmoil, and he couldn't figure out how Ling Chi knew his secret. There might be some clues about Ye Erniang's matter, which led to others finding out, but how did this eighteen or nineteen-year-old boy know about the incident thirty years ago?

"May I ask which family you are descended from?" Xuan Ci suppressed the trembling in his heart and asked in a low voice.

"you guess."

I bet you're a big watermelon!

Xuan Ci's face turned ashen: "What exactly is your purpose, benefactor?"

"It's nothing," Ling Chi said. "I heard that Shaolin Temple is very popular and has a lot of money, so I came here to do some business."

“You flatter me, benefactor.” Xuan Ci’s forehead veins bulged as he said, “Shaolin Temple is a pure Buddhist place. How could there be so many filthy things there? You must have been instigated by someone to misunderstand my Shaolin.”

“Whether it’s a misunderstanding or not, I know in my heart.” Ling Chi sneered, “I’m going to force you to do a catering business with Shaolin. You have to do it whether you want to or not! Otherwise…” He transmitted his voice, “I will expose all the crimes you committed back then, not only ruining your reputation but also destroying Shaolin Temple’s reputation that has lasted for hundreds of years.”

With a whoosh, Xuan Ci's true energy surged, creating a gust of wind.