Chapter 104: Rebuilding Qingyang

Yun Jiao and Bai Yu both wore expressions that said they were already used to this kind of thing.

“I can make those dishes, but…” Yun Jiao took a step forward and pointed toward the pile of rubble beside them. “The kitchen’s collapsed. Without a stove, I can’t cook anything. Patriarch, could you please help us out and restore it first?”

Ye Yuan glanced at the heap of shattered bricks, his brow furrowing in hesitation.

“Oh, right!” Yun Jiao quickly added, “Those ingredients you personally picked in Pingdan City a few days ago are all buried under there.”

His expression changed immediately. With a flick of his sleeve, he sent out a spell. In an instant, the pile of rubble began to move on its own, bricks and beams flying back into place as though time were rewinding. Within two minutes, a brand-new kitchen stood where the ruins had been. Even the fruits and vegetables that had been crushed were restored perfectly, fresh as ever, without a trace of damage.

“Thank you, Patriarch.” Yun Jiao examined the result carefully, then pointed out a few more spots. “But that counter’s a bit too high—it’s inconvenient for chopping vegetables. Could you lower it a bit? And that corner’s too dark, maybe add a couple of translucent tiles for light? Oh, and the fire-gathering formation under the stove’s old and weak—could you re-inscribe it? Also…”

She listed off a dozen minor complaints in one breath, detailing every flaw in the kitchen. Ye Yuan said nothing and simply followed her instructions, one by one making the adjustments. In less than half an hour, the once-ruined shack had been rebuilt twice its original size and transformed into a high-end, luxurious kitchen. Two extra storage rooms had even been added on the side.

“That should do it. Thanks, Patriarch.” Yun Jiao finally stopped, satisfied.

“Mm.” Ye Yuan nodded in equal satisfaction. Matters of the kitchen were not to be taken lightly.

Bai Yu: “…”

Wenqing: “…”

Why did it feel like someone had just been tricked? No, surely they were imagining things!

But Yun Jiao wasn’t done yet. She glanced at the others, composed herself, and said, “Oh, by the way, I just sent that cat demon’s demon core back a few days ago. By now, the little fox’s payment should’ve arrived too. It’s timid, so who knows what it brought—or where it dropped it. With the temple in this mess, it’ll be hard to find. Patriarch, why don’t you let Venerable Wenqing use magic to restore the rest of the buildings? Otherwise, if we leave things buried too long, the offerings might spoil.”

Ye Yuan’s brows furrowed, his cold gaze slicing straight toward Wenqing like a blade of ice. This useless disciple had smashed his temple and destroyed his food—Ye Yuan’s fingers itched to clean up his own sect.

Wenqing shuddered under the stare, instinctively retreating half a step behind Bai Yu. He desperately wished the ground would swallow him whole. Blue and slimy… I’m a mushroom!

“Fine,” Ye Yuan finally said after a pause, conceding with visible reluctance and temporarily lifting the punishment hanging over Wenqing’s head.

Yun Jiao exhaled in relief and said to Bai Yu, “Old man, I’ll go make breakfast. You take Venerable Wenqing around and show him what the temple looked like before.” She gave him a meaningful look.

The old man’s eyes lit up in understanding. “Got it, girl. Leave it to me—I’ll describe everything in great detail.” Ah, yes, it was time Qingyang Sect got a little… expansion. “Venerable Wenqing, the center area’s here—let’s start from this side, please!”

“Y-yes, yes!” Wenqing nodded rapidly, bowing toward Ye Yuan before hurrying after Bai Yu. As long as he wasn’t stuck under his master’s gaze, he’d gladly rebuild the whole sect—or even go to the demon realm, if that’s what it took.

——————

Yun Jiao was a fast cook. In less than half an hour, the aroma of breakfast filled the air. Just as she finished setting the dishes, Bai Yu and Wenqing returned, having miraculously completed the reconstruction of Qingyang Sect.

Bai Yu truly was a quick learner after freeloading on Yun Jiao’s meals for years—he had grasped the full essence of her “you know what I mean” look. Following him, Wenqing took every “suggestion” and “minor adjustment” he offered, and by the end, the once-ruined temple had been not only restored but tripled in size.

It might not be as extravagantly opulent as the Demon King’s palace, all jade floors and golden pillars, but it now had the grandeur of a first-class sect—on par with the Celestial Masters Hall itself.

Yun Jiao, pleased, picked up a chive pocket and dropped it into the old man’s bowl. See? Reading really did pay off. She also placed three on the Patriarch’s plate, then lifted her gaze and saw their “construction engineer,” Venerable Wenqing, standing awkwardly two meters away from the table, looking lost.

She blinked, then gestured toward an empty seat. “Sit down! Don’t be shy. Want porridge or noodles?” She had made enough for four. After all, he’d spent the entire morning rebuilding their home—the least she could do was feed him.

Wenqing hesitated, glancing at the spread of fragrant dishes. He was an immortal; he’d long transcended the need for food. Mortal fare shouldn’t tempt him. And yet… it smelled amazing. So rich, so savory—he could practically taste it already.

(﹃)

Guilt prickled, and he snuck a glance at the other ascetic at the table. Ye Yuan merely frowned slightly but said nothing. Taking that as tacit permission, Wenqing carefully sat down on the right.

“Here.” Yun Jiao handed him a bowl of porridge.

“Thank you,” Wenqing murmured, taking a sip. The moment it touched his tongue, warmth spread from his mouth down to his core, filling him with comfort. A faint sweetness lingered on his lips.

So good!

(⊙ o ⊙)

It was as if the tension of the entire day under his master’s crushing aura melted away. His body felt light again.

Letting out a long sigh, Wenqing turned to Yun Jiao, his eyes full of gratitude. Perhaps it was the teacher in him—he had always liked praising talented juniors. Remembering she had said she was a hundred-plus generations down from Qingyang, he smiled kindly and began, “Little grand-disciple, your cooking—”

Before he could finish, an icy glare sliced through him like a blade. Ye Yuan’s gaze was sharp enough to freeze the air. Who are you calling little grand-disciple?

Wenqing’s hand jerked, nearly dropping the bowl. Why was Master looking at me like that? So scary!

The cold aura thickened. Wenqing swore he could feel frost creeping up his spine.

Had he said something wrong? Was “little grand-disciple” forbidden? Then maybe…

“L-Little… Martial-niece?” he stammered, forcefully bumping her seniority up by over a hundred generations.

Only then did Ye Yuan withdraw his gaze.

“You really do… have good cooking skills,” Wenqing muttered stiffly.

“…” Martial-niece? Yun Jiao blinked. This whole lineage was getting more confusing by the minute. Still, she didn’t care to correct it. “Thanks. Eat more if you like.”

Wenqing managed a strained smile, then wisely decided to keep quiet and just eat. He drank a few more spoonfuls of porridge, feeling calmer. Spotting a small dish of pickles in the middle of the table, he reached out his chopsticks to grab one.

“Don’t!” x2

Yun Jiao and Bai Yu shouted together—but too late.

A loud bang! echoed through the hall. Wenqing shot backward like a cannonball, slamming into the freshly built wall ten meters away, embedding himself neatly in the bricks. From the looks of it, he wasn’t coming out anytime soon.

Yun Jiao: “…”

Bai Yu: “…”

They really should have warned him earlier. That dish of pickles came from the Patriarch’s private jar—even the old man never dared touch it.

(End of Chapter)