Chapter 184: I Exposed Senior Brother’s Location

Chapter 184: Chapter 184: I Exposed Senior Brother’s Location

"Senior Brother and Linglong aren’t here?"

Ji Suyao couldn’t help but ask the lady before her. She held great respect for Linglong’s mother, but the news she received still left her stunned.

Her Senior Brother and Ye Linglong had gone out together. The news struck her like a bolt from the blue. Back at the Imperial Palace, her parents and the other elders had all been reminding her, both openly and subtly, to get closer to her Senior Brother. But who could have guessed that all their meddling would lead to him being alone with Linglong?

If they were at the Ye Mansion, it wouldn’t be a problem. But once they left, things would become uncontrollable.

’If something actually happens between them, it’ll be a disaster.’

"Linglong is accompanying Nephew Liu to his new residence. It’s a place the Ye Family arranged for him to stay."

Lady Ye maintained her smile. Her impression of Ji Suyao was quite good. When the incident happened, if not for this girl’s company, her daughter’s spirits might have been even lower.

"My grandfather has something for me to deliver to Senior Brother. Goodbye, Lady Ye."

Once Ji Suyao had the specific location, she promptly excused herself. Missing out on the Spiritual Cuisine wasn’t a big deal, but missing her chance with Senior Brother would be a regret she’d carry for a lifetime.

"Goodbye."

Lady Ye shook her head as she watched Ji Suyao’s retreating figure. From their brief exchange, she understood the Royal Princess’s intentions—they were the same as her own daughter’s. Before, she might have worried about whether her daughter could gain an advantage. But now that his identity as a Third Grade Spirit Chef had been confirmed, there was no point in worrying about such things.

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"It tastes so much better than before. A few more tries, and Senior Brother’s skills will surpass my own."

In the back garden of the residence, Ye Linglong savored the braised pork on her plate, her eyes filled with surprise. Leaving aside the Spiritual Power it contained, the flavor alone was already top-tier. It had taken her thousands of attempts to reach this level, yet her Senior Brother had done it in just two.

"A Cultivator’s Spiritual Sense allows for the precise observation of details. After that, it’s just a matter of replication. Anyone could do it."

Liu Chen nodded. He wasn’t just being modest. In fact, his first attempt had been a perfect replication of Junior Sister Linglong’s method. It was only on the second try that he slightly modified a few steps. His only regret was that the recipe didn’t have its own separate Proficiency meter; there was only the Proficiency for his overall Spirit Chef Skill.

"But not everyone can make Spiritual Cuisine."

Ye Linglong nodded. She had tried to make Spiritual Cuisine herself later on but had never managed it. She even secretly studied it behind her Senior Brother’s back, but she’d made no progress.

Every night on Purple Bamboo Peak, she and Ji Suyao would have a late-night snack—which really meant getting rid of the failed experiments. If it hadn’t been for their Senior Brother’s Spiritual Cuisine, the two of them would have gotten sick of Bamboo Shoots long ago.

"Suyao’s here. Go bring her in."

Just as Liu Chen was about to say something, his Spiritual Sense detected Ji Suyao hesitating outside the residence. He didn’t know how she’d found the place, but since she was here, he couldn’t just turn her away.

"It seems she’s already been to the Ye Family."

Ye Linglong nodded and headed for the main gate. If Ji Suyao hadn’t been to the Ye Family’s estate, she couldn’t possibly know this location. When she and her Senior Brother arrived, they hadn’t run into anyone they knew. And even if they had, no one would have paid any mind to the daughter of a fallen family.

As for her Senior Brother, that was even more certain. He wouldn’t know anyone in the Great Xia Imperial City. The festival hadn’t started yet, so even if the high-ranking figures from various families—the ones important enough to receive a portrait of him—had arrived in the Imperial City, they wouldn’t be making public appearances.

Ji Suyao stood conflicted outside the residence. Even though it was her Senior Brother’s home, it would be inappropriate to just barge in. But simply knocking on the door felt inappropriate too. On Purple Bamboo Peak, she wouldn’t have given it a second thought, but here, her every action was tied to the Great Xia Royal Family.

Even though signing the Spirit Contract meant she was technically free from her family’s constraints, the blood ties remained. She didn’t want to do anything that might damage the reputation of her parents or her grandfather.

Just as Ji Suyao was agonizing over what to do, the residence’s main gate slowly swung open.

"Get in, quick."

Ye Linglong stood just inside the doorway and called out to Ji Suyao. Upon hearing her, Ji Suyao, though she longed to ask what was going on, glanced over her shoulder before ultimately deciding to step inside first.

"Is someone following you?"

After closing the courtyard gate, Ye Linglong couldn’t help but ask. A tracker that Ji Suyao could spot was practically no different from someone following her in broad daylight.

"It’s my second uncle’s fox. I used to think it was just a pet, but now it looks like it’s a Spirit Beast. It must have been trying to find Senior Brother’s location. Other than the Royal Family members and Purple Cloud Valley disciples who dealt with the courier station, no one else could have known so quickly that Senior Brother wasn’t there."

Ji Suyao pouted. She’d actually become friends with the fox. If her grandfather hadn’t reminded her, she would never have known it was her second uncle’s pet. Now that she had officially begun to cultivate, Ji Suyao could clearly sense the Spiritual Power within the fox.

"It smells so good..."

Just as Ye Linglong was about to say something, she saw Ji Suyao’s nose twitch. Her pace quickened as she ran straight for the back garden, clearly having caught the scent of the braised pork.

Ye Linglong shook her head and followed slowly behind her. As she entered the back garden, Ye Linglong saw Ji Suyao pick up a piece of braised pork, pop it into her mouth, and close her eyes to savor the flavor.

"This is so good."

After finishing one piece, Ji Suyao reluctantly put down her chopsticks and glanced guiltily at her Senior Brother, who was sitting off to the side, still steaming the rice.

"What’s wrong?"

Liu Chen looked at her, confused. Back on Purple Bamboo Peak, it was normal for Ji Suyao to sneak a few bites around this time. Liu Chen didn’t mind it at all; in fact, he found his junior sister’s timid manner rather cute.

"Members of the Royal Family might come to visit in the next few days. I’ve exposed your location, Senior Brother."

Ji Suyao said guiltily. The fox had followed her from the Imperial Palace to the Ye Family estate, and then here. Her second uncle must know her Senior Brother’s whereabouts now. According to her grandfather, a Second Grade Spirit Chef was someone the Royal Family absolutely had to win over. As the Crown Prince, her uncle was sure to pay a visit.

"This residence was a gift from the Ye Family, so it’s not like the location is a secret. As the Purple Cloud Valley disciples start moving around the Imperial City, people were bound to come calling anyway."

Liu Chen shook his head and turned his attention back to the rice before him. ’If no one comes to visit,’ he thought, ’then wouldn’t all this Second Grade Spiritual Cuisine I have in my Storage Ring be for nothing?’

’I can’t sell Third Grade Spiritual Cuisine, but Second Grade Spiritual Cuisine is fair game.’

’He had even tried to make Second Grade Spiritual Cuisine, but his efforts had failed. Even when he deliberately tried to reduce the amount of Spiritual Qi gathered during the creation process, the final product was still Third Grade Spiritual Cuisine—a defective version, at best.’

’But even that couldn’t be sold openly. Judging by the reaction of Junior Sister Linglong’s parents, Third Grade Spiritual Cuisine was a huge deal. It was better not to reveal that ability if he could help it.’