Chef God of the Wuxia and Fantasy World

Not long after, while Shi Qingxuan was enjoying the scenery at the pavilion in the middle of the lake, two maids brought in several dishes, filling the entire stone table. These included hot dishes, cold dishes, pastries, and fruit platters, a wide variety of dishes, all with excellent color, aroma, taste, and presentation. Moreover, each dish emitted a blue light, leaving Shi Qingxuan in awe.

"Qingxuan, do you know how to drink?" Ling Chi walked over, carrying a wine gourd in his left hand and a wine gourd in his right.

Shi Qingxuan gently shook her head: "I don't drink alcohol."

"Oh." Ling Chi hung the gourd in his left hand on his waist, opened the stopper of the gourd in his right hand, and poured her a glass of brightly colored juice. Like the food, the juice also emitted a blue light.

Shi Qingxuan was stunned for a moment: "What is this?"

"Hundred Fruit Fragrance." Ling Chi chuckled. "It is made from a hundred kinds of fruit, freshly squeezed and filtered multiple times. Just this one cup costs a hundred taels of silver, and this whole table costs more than ten thousand taels of silver. Consider this a small token of my sincerity."

"..." Shi Qingxuan gasped slightly: So expensive!?

Seeing her expression, Ling Chi knew what she was thinking and chuckled: "Qingxuan, since everyone knows that the food on Peach Blossom Island is unparalleled in the world, you should also know that the price is unparalleled in the world. Only the wealthy can enter Peach Blossom Island."

Shi Qingxuan sighed softly, "I really didn't expect this, and I don't have that much money."

"I said this meal is on me, so please feel free to enjoy it, Qingxuan." Ling Chi placed the wine gourd on Shi Qingxuan's left, took off the wine gourd from his waist, poured himself a glass of strong liquor, raised the glass, and said, "It is fate that we met, Qingxuan, I toast you."

"..." Shi Qingxuan raised her glass: "Thank you, Island Master Ling."

After clinking glasses, Shi Qingxuan lifted the white veil covering her face and took a sip of the Hundred Fruit Fragrance. The sweetness, tartness, and fragrance of a hundred kinds of fruits made Shi Qingxuan squint her eyes: "Delicious."

"I'm glad everyone likes Qingxuan." Ling Chi smiled slightly, thinking to himself: Hasn't the high-grade blue been conquered yet? It seems Shi Qingxuan is at least a first-rate expert.

Fortunately, this table of dishes includes two top-tier blue recipes. Unless Shi Qingxuan is a grandmaster-level expert, she will definitely keep one of the recipes today.

"Qingxuan, please enjoy." Ling Chi pointed to the food on the table: "These were all made by my own hands. Please, Qingxuan, give your opinions."

Shi Qingxuan nodded and put each dish into her mouth. Finally, when she tasted the first top-tier blue dish, she hummed in agreement.

"Ding! You have conquered the stomach of Shi Qingxuan, a top-tier blue-level diner. However, the diner's level is too low to count towards the conquest count. The top-tier blue-level recipe, 'Jade Beauty Playing the Flute,' has been dropped."

"Jade Beauty Playing the Flute: Top-tier blue recipe, Appearance +3, Flute Skill +3, Valid for three uses."

……

Delicious food!

Seeing the name and effects of this dish, Ling Chi was very satisfied. Not only could it enhance one's flute skills, it could also improve one's appearance; it was truly a rare and excellent dish. Moreover, what a wonderful name it was—so poetic, so… well, you know.

This meal alone is worth the price.

While Ling Chi was sighing with emotion, Shi Qingxuan was enjoying the taste of happiness in her illusion.

In her dream world, her mother, Bi Xiuxin, was not dead, and her father did not suffer from schizophrenia. The three of them lived happily in the secluded forest cottage. Every day, she would play a tune for her parents, who would be nestled together, and they would smile as they listened. That was her greatest satisfaction.

How wonderful it would be if it could last a lifetime.

Two lines of clear tears slid down Shi Qingxuan's cheeks. She had already woken up from the illusion, but she was reluctant to open her eyes.

"Qingxuan, beautiful dreams are not reality. When you live in this world, you still have to face reality." Ling Chi's voice rang in her ears, and Shi Qingxuan finally opened her eyes.

Seeing Ling Chi's gentle smile, Shi Qingxuan suddenly felt very close to him, giving her a warm feeling of family.

"Island Master Ling, please forgive my embarrassment." Shi Qingxuan gently wiped away her tears, a blush rising on her delicate face beneath her veil.

"It's alright." Ling Chi smiled and said, "I forgot to tell you, everyone on Peach Blossom Island, all the delicacies are medicinal cuisine. Each dish has miraculous effects. If you taste the dish that suits your taste the best, you can even have a blissful illusion. You must have been immersed in happiness just now, right, Qingxuan!"

"What amazing food!" Shi Qingxuan exclaimed. "No wonder..."

Thinking of the blissful feeling she had just experienced, Shi Qingxuan's eyes filled with longing: "Island Master Ling, may I taste that bliss again?"

"Qingxuan, don't you still have a few dishes to try?" Ling Chi smiled and said, "Keep trying, maybe one of them will bring you happiness again!"

Shi Qingxuan nodded and eagerly sampled the other delicacies one by one.

As she put the second top-tier blue dish into her mouth, she finally entered the illusion once more.

This time, she was dressed in a bright red wedding gown and married a man whose face she couldn't see. Her wedding was very simple, with only her parents at the banquet. After bowing to heaven and earth, to her parents, and to each other, she and her groom entered the bridal chamber amidst her parents' smiles and blessings. Just as she was about to experience the most wonderful feeling of being a woman, she woke up from her dream.

"..." Shi Qingxuan opened her eyes, a hint of annoyance flashing in them.

Just a little bit.

"Why does Qingxuan look like that?" Ling Chi asked, puzzled. What did she see?

"It's nothing." Shi Qingxuan blushed, not wanting to tell him the truth: "It's just that the time for happiness was too short, and Qingxuan didn't have time to savor it before it ended."

"I see." Ling Chi nodded. "There's nothing we can do about it. After all, it's just a dream. If you want happiness, you still have to work hard to achieve it. For example, I'm very happy now."

Shi Qingxuan smiled slightly: "Island Lord Ling created Peach Blossom Island, such a paradise, and is also the richest man in the world. He is naturally happy."

“No.” Ling Chi shook his head: “I say I’m happy now because I’m having a meal and chatting with Qingxuan and everyone else. This is an opportunity that others can only dream of.”

Shi Qingxuan smiled and said, "Island Master Ling flatters me. I am unworthy of such praise."

"Of course, of course." Ling Chi pulled a bamboo flute from his back and said, "Please enjoy your meal, Qingxuan. How about I play a tune for you?"

Seeing that Ling Chi actually took out a bamboo flute and was going to play a tune for her, Shi Qingxuan was slightly surprised, but still nodded: "Qingxuan is all ears."

"Then I will play a piece called 'The Original Scenery of My Hometown' for everyone, Qingxuan." Ling Chi smiled slightly, put the xiao (vertical bamboo flute) to his lips, and the next moment, the melodious sound of the xiao rang out.

Shi Qingxuan, who hadn't had any expectations, was suddenly stunned: This piece of music...

As the melody grew more melodious, Shi Qingxuan's thoughts drifted back to her distant hometown.

It was the end of winter; the fields were still covered in snow, and the treetops in the mountains of my hometown were still adorned with icicles. Although the river was still frozen, the sound of rushing water could already be heard beneath the ice. Despite this still being a winter scene, spring was undeniably approaching.

The sun rose, its rays illuminating everything on earth. The river began to thaw, and round holes appeared on its surface. The ice no longer clung together, and ice floes drifted on the water. The icicles on the treetops began to disappear, revealing the trees in their true form. The mountains, frozen for the entire winter, finally showed signs of life.

Spring arrives as promised, all things revive, everything on earth begins to come back to life, birds sing, flowers sway gracefully in the spring breeze, and little fish happily blow bubbles in the water...

Shi Qingxuan closed her eyes, feeling a mix of nostalgia and sorrow in her heart.

mother……

……

As the music ended, Shi Qingxuan opened her eyes again and couldn't help but clap her hands: "I didn't expect Island Master Ling's flute skills to be so superb. The lingering sound of this piece is wonderful and indescribable. Qingxuan is completely defeated."

"You're too kind, Qingxuan." Ling Chi chuckled. "As the saying goes, true friends are hard to find. I wonder if you have any new songs? How about we discuss them together?"

Rarely encountering a fellow enthusiast with such superb flute skills, Shi Qingxuan readily agreed: "Qingxuan has a new piece, and I would like to invite Island Master Ling to appreciate it."

"I am all ears."

Shi Qingxuan took the flute from her waist and was about to put it to her lips to play when she realized that her face was covered by a white veil. After a slight hesitation, she gritted her teeth and reached out to remove the veil.

Ling Chi finally saw Shi Qingxuan's true colors.

Upon closer inspection, my eyes lit up.

This is a face beyond description; no amount of beautiful words in the world can adequately capture its beauty.

If Wanwan is a dark elf, then Shi Qingxuan is a true elf born of nature, like a lush, vibrant bamboo forest in early spring.

As expected of one of the top beauties in the Tang Dynasty, she rivaled Wanwan, Shi Feixuan, and Shang Xiuxun like plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums, each excelling in their own way.

If Ling Chi had just arrived in this world, he would have been captivated by her. But these days, the women on the farm have all broken through the dimensional barrier, their beauty unlike that of ordinary women. Huang Rong, who spends every day with him, is even more ethereal.

Having seen so many beautiful women, although Shi Qingxuan still caught his eye, he no longer felt any sense of amazement.

When Shi Qingxuan saw that Ling Chi had no negative reaction after seeing her appearance, but only admiration in his eyes, she couldn't help but feel a sense of goodwill towards him.

"Qingxuan's appearance didn't frighten Island Master Ling, did it?" After the favorability improved, Shi Qingxuan's tone became more relaxed, as if she were an old friend.

Ling Chi laughed and said, "I was indeed shocked. People say that talented women are talented but not beautiful. But after meeting Master Qingxuan today, I realized that the rumors are wrong. There are indeed women in the world who are both talented and beautiful."

Qingxuan smiled radiantly: "Island Master Ling is truly witty. Although this is our first meeting, it makes me feel as relaxed as if I'm meeting an old friend."

“I would be happy to become old friends with everyone, Qingxuan.” Ling Chi seized the opportunity and said, “I am a few years older than everyone, Qingxuan. If you don’t mind, you can call me Brother Ling.”

"Mm." Shi Qingxuan did feel a sense of familiarity with Ling Chi, and after a moment's thought, she agreed: "Then you can just call me Qingxuan, Brother Ling."

Ling Chi smiled broadly: "Okay, from now on I'll call you Qingxuan."

Shi Qingxuan nodded with a smile and said, "In that case, Qingxuan will play a tune for Brother Ling, and I would appreciate it."

"it is good."

……

Shi Qingxuan played a new piece of music, and Ling Chi listened quietly, feeling it with his heart.

The melody of this piece is not particularly melodious, but its artistic conception is very strong. It is as if every syllable has a magical power to touch people's hearts, making people unable to help but feel their emotions rise and fall with it.

When the music ended, Ling Chi came to her senses.

"How was it?" Shi Qingxuan looked at him, her expression a mixture of nervousness and anticipation. "Brother Ling, do you have any advice?"

“This…” Ling Chi scratched his head and said, “Qingxuan’s flute skills are indeed superb, and she has already stepped from technique to the realm of Tao. However, there is still room for improvement in terms of continuity and completeness, especially the melody. I’m not trying to belittle you, but the melody of this piece is not very pleasant to listen to. In fact, the middle part can even make people feel irritable.”

Shi Qingxuan: "..."

"Uh, this is just my personal opinion, not to be believed, for reference only," Ling Chi quickly tried to excuse himself.

Shi Qingxuan shook her head: "Brother Ling is right. Compared with the song 'The Original Scenery of My Hometown' just now, Qingxuan's new song does have many shortcomings." After saying that, she stood up and bowed: "Thank you for your guidance, Brother Ling."

"You're too kind, you're too kind." Ling Chi quickly waved his hand: "We were just exchanging pointers, how could I be talking about giving you instruction? To be honest, I only surpassed Qingxuan in terms of melody, but in terms of flute playing, I am far inferior, and I still need Qingxuan's guidance."

Shi Qingxuan smiled slightly: "I dare not presume to offer my guidance. Just as Brother Ling said, we can learn from each other."

"Haha, that's wonderful." Ling Chi picked up his wine glass: "Having heard Qingxuan's new song today, let's raise a big toast."

Shi Qingxuan smiled slightly and picked up the Hundred Fruit Fragrance: "Qingxuan is also very happy today, Brother Ling, please."

"please."

The two ate and drank, exchanging their experiences with the flute. Of course, as a master, Shi Qingxuan was not only skilled in the flute, but also had a wide range of other musical instruments and was quite accomplished in them. Fortunately, Ling Chi was not to be outdone. Over the years, even if it was just for cultivating his mind, he had spent much more time playing musical instruments than Shi Qingxuan. As the two's conversation deepened, Shi Qingxuan became increasingly alarmed.

Isn't Brother Ling a chef? How can he have such profound skills?!

Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Most Talented Woman in the World

“I have a qin and xiao duet score here.” Ling Chi placed the qin on the stone table and took out the qin and xiao duet score of “The Smiling, Proud Wanderer” from his bosom and handed it to Shi Qingxuan: “Qingxuan, take a look.”

"Brother Ling has so many sheet music scores." Ling Chi had already played a divine piece like "The Original Scenery of My Hometown" before, but he didn't expect there to be new sheet music, and it was a qin and xiao duet version, which is much more difficult than simply playing the xiao.

"Haha, I like to play the piano and make some tunes when I'm bored. Before I knew it, I had created some of my own scores." Ling Chi laughed. "Although they are just things I made out of boredom, everyone says they sound pretty good. Qingxuan, can you give me your opinion?"

“Okay.” Shi Qingxuan took the sheet music and began to study it carefully.

Once you see it, you're hooked and can't get out of it for a long time.

"The Smiling, Proud Wanderer Qin and Xiao Duet Version" is Ling Chi's favorite piece when he was a child. When he watched the 96 version of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, he was amazed by this piece: How could there be such a beautiful piece of music?