Chef God of the Wuxia and Fantasy World

"Of course not," Ling Chi said with a smile. "I'm proud of you."

"Hehe." Zhao Ling'er blushed, her heart filled with joy.

"Woof woof!" The little fox barked twice, jumped down from Ling Chi's arms, ran to the Red Ghost King's side, and picked up a yellowish-brown bead from his collar.

"Huh?" Zhao Ling'er was quite surprised: "Earth Spirit Orb?"

The little fox jumped into Ling Chi's arms and spat the Earth Spirit Orb into his hands.

Ling Chi looked at the Earth Spirit Pearl, which was exactly the same as the Water Spirit Pearl except for its color, and said, "It is full of earth elemental energy, so it is indeed an Earth Spirit Pearl."

Before Han Lingsha and Yun Tianhe joined the Qionghua Sect, they obtained an Earth Spirit Pearl at Nuluo Rock. Han Lingsha later gave the Earth Spirit Pearl to him as a gift for becoming his disciple. However, fifty years later, the Earth Spirit Pearl exhausted its earth spirit energy and disintegrated on its own.

However, it doesn't matter. Even if the Five Elemental Pearls are destroyed, they will regenerate in their respective places with the densest spiritual energy after a period of time. For example, the Water Elemental Pearl, the treasure of the Qionghua Sect, was obtained by Zixuan only after it disintegrated on its own. Later, Zixuan used the Water Elemental Pearl to freeze Lin Qing'er for sixty years until she sacrificed herself to seal the Demon Locking Tower, after which Lin Qing'er began to grow up. Later, the Water Elemental Pearl was stolen by Li Sansi and given to Li Xiaoyao as a toy. Ling Chi found it and returned it to Lin Qing'er.

Now, the Water Spirit Pearl is being kept by the Southern Barbarian King, who will return it to Zhao Ling'er once she returns to the throne.

And this regenerated Earth Spirit Orb, after going through many twists and turns, still returned to Ling Chi's hands.

"I didn't expect the Earth Spirit Orb to return. We really are destined to meet," Ling Chi said with a smile.

"Master, have you seen the Earth Spirit Orb before?" Zhao Ling'er asked.

“Of course,” Ling Chi said. “More than two hundred years ago, your senior sister Han Lingsha obtained the Earth Spirit Orb and gave it to me as a gift when she became my disciple. However, it later ran out of spiritual energy and disintegrated on its own. This one is a newly formed Earth Spirit Orb.”

"I see." Zhao Ling'er nodded.

The little fox opened its eyes wide, sizing up Ling Chi, and barked.

"Don't you think I look very young?" Ling Chi asked with a smile.

"Wang!"

“That’s right, after all, I’m only eighteen years old,” Ling Chi said with a smile.

"???"

"Master, let's go!" Zhao Ling'er said, "It stinks here."

“Alright.” Ling Chi nodded and said, “I will recite the Rebirth Mantra once to help the souls here find peace before I leave.”

Zhao Ling'er's eyes were full of reverence: "Master, Ling'er will help you."

"it is good."

……

The two chanted the Rebirth Mantra for three days and three nights at the Blood Pool and the General's Tomb, finally enabling all the deceased souls to be reborn in the underworld.

Looking at the general's tomb with its much fresher air, the little fox ran around happily; this was the air it wanted.

Ling Chi looked at Zhao Ling'er, whose face looked much more haggard, and handed her two meat buns, saying, "You've worked hard."

"It wasn't hard work." Zhao Ling'er shook her head, munching on a meat bun, and said with renewed spirit, "Master, I'm very happy that you've helped the wronged souls here to be reincarnated in the underworld."

"As long as you're happy." Ling Chi tossed a meat bun to the little fox that ran over and rubbed against his trouser leg, and said, "Everything here has been resolved. Let Doctor Han know when we get back to Baihe Village."

"Mm." Zhao Ling'er nodded.

"Are we going back to Suzhou for a couple more days?" Ling Chi asked.

Zhao Ling'er thought for a moment and shook her head: "We've seen enough of Suzhou. Ling'er wants to go somewhere else to play."

"Alright." Ling Chi smiled slightly and said, "We're not far from Yangzhou. Let's go there after we inform Physician Han!"

"Ah."

……

In Baihe Village, since three days had passed, the news of the destruction of the corpse demon in Blackwater Town had already reached them. Upon seeing Ling Chi and Zhao Ling'er return, Doctor Han excitedly thanked the two of them repeatedly.

"No need for such politeness, Physician Han," Ling Chi said. "Punishing evil and eliminating wickedness is the duty of my Qionghua Sect. In fact, the fact that no one in my Qionghua Sect discovered the corpse demons that have been causing havoc in Blackwater Town for months is a real dereliction of duty. When I get back, I will definitely teach those bastards a lesson."

The Korean doctor was dumbfounded.

How dare this Lingchi Sword Immortal call a disciple of the Qionghua Sect a "brat"? Just who is he?!

"The matter has been resolved, and we should be going now," Ling Chi said. "Take care, Physician Han."

"Is the Sword Immortal leaving already? Please stay, at least let this old man fulfill his duty as host." Doctor Han hurriedly tried to persuade him to stay.

"No need," Ling Chi shook his head and said, "I still have to accompany my disciple to Yangzhou. Maybe next time!"

"This……"

"Father, are there any guests?" At this moment, a gentle voice came from behind. Ling Chi turned around and his eyes lit up.

What a beautiful and kind-hearted young woman!

"Mengci!" Doctor Han said upon seeing the young girl, "Quickly come and pay your respects to the two immortal masters."

"Immortal Masters?" The young girl stepped forward and bowed to Ling Chi and Zhao Ling'er: "Han Mengci greets the two Immortal Masters."

"Ah! Sister, there's no need for such formality. I'm not some immortal, my master is." Zhao Ling'er quickly waved her hand.

"Oh?" Han Mengci glanced at Ling Chi, a hint of curiosity in her eyes: "Immortal Master, is this the Sword Immortal Ling Chi that Father has been talking about these past few days?"

“If no one else is called Ling Chi, it must be me,” Ling Chi said.

Han Mengci smiled and said, "Sword Immortal Lingchi is truly witty."

"Hehe." Ling Chi sized up Han Mengci, and the more he looked at her, the more he felt that she was a good candidate for cultivation. He turned to ask Physician Han, "Is this young lady Physician Han's daughter?"

"It is indeed my daughter, Mengci," said Physician Han.

Ling Chi nodded and asked, "May I ask how old Miss Mengci is?"

Doctor Han was taken aback for a moment, then said, "My daughter will be sixteen in another month."

"Sixteen? Hmm." Ling Chi nodded, then glanced at Han Mengci a few more times before suddenly asking, "Miss Mengci, do you want to cultivate immortality?"

"Ah!?" Han Mengci and Doctor Han were both stunned.

“Miss Mengci is a rare talent for cultivation. If she is properly nurtured, she will surely achieve great things within ten years,” Ling Chi said.

"This..." Doctor Han was stunned. He never dreamed that his daughter was a potential cultivator.

If it were anyone else, they would have been overjoyed to agree, but Doctor Han hesitated, and Han Mengci herself remained silent.

"What is it?" Ling Chi asked, "Does Physician Han have any concerns?"

"To be honest," Doctor Han said with a wry smile, "my daughter is engaged to Jiang Shaoyun, the eldest son of the Jiang family. Originally, I was going to present the betrothal gift when my daughter turned sixteen. If my daughter leaves now, wouldn't I become a treacherous and untrustworthy person?"

"I see." Ling Chi nodded and said, "You don't need to worry about this matter. I will make that young master of the Jiang family give up the betrothal. I only want to ask Miss Meng Ci if she is willing to cultivate immortality with my Qionghua Sect?"

Han Mengci did not return immediately, but turned to look at Doctor Han.

Doctor Han sighed softly and said, "Meng Ci, if you wish, then go! If my Han family can produce a sword immortal, it will be a great honor for our ancestors."

Han Mengci gave a soft "hmm" and said, "I'm willing to go."

"Alright." Ling Chi nodded with a smile and said, "I will go and persuade the Jiang family now. You should prepare well today and come with me to the Qionghua Sect first thing tomorrow morning."

"Yes." Han Mengci nodded gently: "Thank you for your trouble, Sword Immortal Lingchi."

"No need."

……

Because of Han Mengci's matter, Ling Chi was delayed for another half day. It wasn't until the next day, after sending Han Mengci to the Qionghua Sect and having her become a disciple of the elder who was most skilled in alchemy, that he took Zhao Ling'er to Yangzhou.

In front of the Yangzhou city gate, there was a notice board with several notices posted on it. Zhao Ling'er looked at it with curiosity and went over to take a look.

Notice: "By order of the Prefect of Yangzhou, there has been rampant petty crime in the city recently. In order to effectively investigate the suspects, all personnel are only allowed to enter the city and are not allowed to leave the city."

Notice: "Recently, the female thief gang has been lawless, committing thefts and other evil deeds throughout the city. This order is hereby issued, and anyone who provides a secret report that is confirmed will be rewarded with two hundred taels of silver."

Notice of Seizure: The Gongsun family has been found guilty of corruption, bribery, and collusion between officials and businessmen. All their property has been confiscated and their houses seized. All fourteen members of the Gongsun family have been exiled to the frontier.

Wanted Notice: The notorious bandit You Tianba has committed murder, arson, robbery, theft, kidnapping, and all sorts of evil deeds. This order is hereby issued to severely apprehend You Tianba. A reward of five hundred taels of silver will be given to anyone who assists in his capture.

Notice: By imperial decree of the magistrate of Yangzhou City, a strict curfew is to be enforced. All unauthorized persons are strictly prohibited from leaving the city at night. Violators will be detained for three days and fined thirty taels of silver. Those who knowingly fail to report criminal groups will be fined three hundred taels of silver. Those who spit or urinate indiscriminately will be fined twenty taels of silver. Those who obstruct official duties will be fined one hundred taels of silver. Gambling is strictly prohibited; violators will be fined three hundred taels of silver. Those who release dogs that injure people will be fined ten taels of silver.

After reading these notices, Zhao Ling'er exclaimed in surprise, "Wow! They seem very strict."

“It is indeed very strict.” Ling Chi said thoughtfully, “To put it nicely, this prefect governs strictly; to put it bluntly, he is clearly just looking for an excuse to make money, and he is most likely a corrupt official.”

"Really?" Zhao Ling'er asked in surprise.

"We'll find out once we get in." Ling Chi smiled slightly, looking at the guards standing at the city gate, and said, "Judging from their serious and cautious expressions, it seems that the female thief inside the city is indeed causing quite a stir."

“Perfect timing, we can go catch those female thieves,” Zhao Ling’er said.

“If those female thieves are bad, then of course they should be caught. But if they are just embezzling ill-gotten gains to help the poor, then that’s another matter,” Ling Chi said. “Although government orders are as solid as mountains, it is understandable if the rulers are incompetent and corrupt to resort to unconventional methods.”

Zhao Ling'er seemed to be deep in thought.

"Woof!" the little fox barked in agreement.

"Mei'er is so clever." Ling Chi smiled and patted the little fox's head. The little fox squinted its eyes and wagged its tail.

Zhao Ling'er pouted and said, "Master~~~"

“Ling’er is also very smart,” Ling Chi said with a smile. “It’s just that Ling’er is too kind. You have to know that kindness should be directed at the right person. Indiscriminate kindness will only harm others and yourself.”

Zhao Ling'er fell into deep thought once again.

"Let's go into the city first!" Ling Chi said. "It's not too late yet. Let's find an inn to stay in, and while we're at it, let's try some of Yangzhou's delicious food and enjoy the beautiful scenery."

"Okay." Zhao Ling'er nodded and walked into the city with Ling Chi.

At the city gate, the guards said, "I am a constable from Yangzhou Prefecture. I am here to screen and check suspects. You may enter, but no one is allowed to leave the city."

Ling Chi looked at him and said, "If we catch the female thief, can we leave?"

“That’s good,” the constable said. “Not only can you leave, but you’ll also receive a reward of several hundred taels of silver.”

"Heh, several hundred taels of silver, that's quite a lot." Ling Chi smiled faintly and entered the city with Zhao Ling'er.

The constable watched Ling Chi's retreating figure, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead: Such a strong sense of oppression, this person is not simple.

……

Inside Yangzhou city, Ling Chi led Zhao Ling'er to an inn and checked into a room.

The innkeeper said, "Sir, if you want to stay, the only room left is the rightmost one upstairs."

"..." Ling Chi was a little speechless. Why was there still only one room in Yangzhou?