Chapter 351

Chapter 351 Supreme Delicacy, Sword Talisman

“Young Master Lu actually made so much red-braised pork?”

Madam Wei said with some surprise, looking at the red, shiny, greasy pieces of meat that night.

“Madam, you said this is red-braised pork?” Wei Xinghe asked, “Why is it different from the

ones we make back home?” “Young Master Lu’s dishes are different from everyone else’s. The chefs back home can never achieve this shiny red meat color,”

Madam Wei said with some regret.

Two or three years ago, after being rescued from the mountains by Lu Qing and arriving in Jiuli Village, her first meal included red-braised pork.

She had always lingered on the taste.

Later, she asked Lu Qing for the recipe, but for some reason, the chefs back home could never make the meat look as beautiful as Lu Qing’s, and even the taste was inferior.

“It must be the seasoning,” the old doctor laughed. “Ah Qing always loves to tinker with unusual seasonings, so the taste is different.”

“That’s probably it. The recipe given by Young Master Lu calls for something called soy sauce, and the chefs at the mansion have never figured it out.”

“I remember Ah Qing made quite a bit of it before. Madam, you can ask him for some.”

As the group chatted, dishes continued to arrive.

Steamed fish, white-cut chicken, stir-fried beef, mutton soup…

one dish after another, offering every taste, was laid out on the table.

Not only were the dishes neatly arranged, but the portions were also generous.

When the dishes were finished, two more villagers arrived with a large steamer.

Steaming from the steamer, a delicate fragrance wafted out.

Anyone who smelled it felt their head clear and their spirits refreshed.

“This fragrance…”

Wei Xinghe and Wei Shanhai looked at the steamer in amazement.

As Xiantian Realm experts, they felt a sudden lightening of the scent, their internal Qi even accelerating slightly.

What was steaming inside? The mere scent could elevate the cultivation of such experts by a fraction.

Wei Shanhai and his companions didn’t need to ask; the villagers who had brought the steamer up revealed the answer.

Opening the lid, they revealed a basket of crystal-clear rice, each grain distinct and perfectly cooked.

Even more remarkable was the shimmering whiteness of the rice, tinged with golden hues, creating a truly beautiful sight.

“This is the spiritual rice Ah Qing planted a while ago. Yesterday, when the spiritual grains were harvested, he wanted to invite everyone to taste it,”

the old doctor said with a smile.

He had seen the appearance of the spiritual rice when Lu Qing was husking the grains yesterday, so he wasn’t surprised.

“Is this the spiritual rice that Young Master Lu has been so busy cultivating?”

Wei Xinghe stared at the rice in the steamer, his eyes widening.

He had been living in the villa for the past few months, so he naturally knew about Lu Qing’s cultivation of spiritual grain.

However, he had never expected that the spiritual rice inside the spiritual grain after being shelled would look like this.

“Doctor Chen, have you ever tasted this spiritual rice?” Wei Shanhai asked.

“Not yet. Sharing joy is better than enjoying it alone. I think it will be more delicious if we all taste it together.”

“If that’s the case, then I must try it and see what it tastes like.”

Upon hearing this, Wei Shanhai and the others couldn’t help but look forward to the taste of the spiritual rice even more.

In the courtyard, after all the dishes had been served, Lu Qing held out a glass of wine and announced,

“Fellow villagers, since our parents passed away, Xiaoyan and I have been able to survive those most difficult times thanks to your protection and care.

For a long time, Ah Qing and Xiaoyan have wanted to treat you all to a good feast, but we’ve never found the right time.

Yesterday, I cultivated the spiritual grains for several months and had a small harvest.

So, I’d like to take this opportunity to invite everyone over for a simple meal.

Don’t be shy and eat as much as you can.

There’s plenty of wine and food to go around today!”

Everyone looked at Lu Qing, standing there with his tall, graceful figure and extraordinary demeanor, holding a glass of wine.

They were deeply moved.

Elders like Grandpa Zhang were especially moved, their eyes warming.

The young man, so thin and small that he struggled to survive, had finally achieved great success.

“Alright, everyone, don’t be shy. Pick up your chopsticks.”

Lu Qing downed his glass of wine in one gulp.

Seeing this, everyone stopped being polite and prepared to pick up their chopsticks.

Even when it was time to eat, the young people at each table waited until the elders had started eating before they began to pick up their food.

Everyone immediately reached for the bowl of red-braised pork.

There was no other choice; the succulent, shiny red color of the braised pork was simply too tempting.

Few could resist the allure of such a delicacy.

A villager took a piece of the braised pork, its fat and lean texture interspersed with fat, and the next moment, his eyes widened.

The lean meat in his mouth was not tough, the fat melted in his mouth, soft, sweet, and rich in flavor.

The rich flavor spread throughout his mouth, the taste simply indescribable.

He could say he had never tasted meat so delicious in his life.

“Ah Qing, how did you cook this meat? How is it so delicious?”

“Can pork be cooked this well? It’s even better than beef or mutton!”

The other villagers who had tasted the red-braised pork also stared wide-eyed,

marveling at its flavor.

“This braised pork is truly different from the ones we have here,”

Wei Xinghe exclaimed in amazement.

“Young Master Lu’s cooking has truly improved,”

Wei Shanhai exclaimed after sampling a piece of meat.

He frequently visited the small courtyard halfway up the mountain and often stayed for meals.

So, he’d had this braised pork several times before, but he felt Lu Qing’s this time was even better.

As for Hu Laosan and Hu Zezhi, father and daughter, it was

their first time to experience such a unique dish.

“It seems Ah Qing collected some special seasonings on our trip to Zhongzhou. This might be related to this,” the old doctor explained.

Although their journey to Zhongzhou was relatively rushed, Lu Qing occasionally wandered around the area around their accommodations, looking for any unexpected finds.

Thus, he’d acquired quite a few unique condiments.

After tasting the braised pork, Wei Shanhai and the others tried the other dishes on the table, which were equally delicious.

Each one had a unique flavor, a true delicacy.

After tasting all the dishes, the group turned their attention to the steaming bowl of spiritual rice.

They knew that while the other dishes on the table were delicious, the spiritual rice was the real highlight of the banquet.

“Doctor Chen, is there anything special about eating this spiritual rice?” Wei Shanhai asked.

“Probably not,” the old doctor shook his head. “Ah Qing didn’t explain any special ways to eat this spiritual rice. It should be eaten just like regular rice.”

“Grandpa Wei, let me help you serve the rice.”

At this moment, Xiaoyan obediently stepped forward to help everyone with their rice.

Soon, bowls of crystal-clear spiritual rice were served and placed before everyone.

The faint aroma of hot steam and its delicate fragrance filled everyone’s noses, making them salivate even more than the other delicacies on the table.

“Doctor Chen, we’ll be more than polite then.”

Wei Shanhai was the first to pick up the bowl and place a handful of rice in his mouth.

Seeing this, the others also picked up their bowls and began to eat.

With each bite, everyone immediately felt the uniqueness of this spiritual rice.

The rice grains were soft and glutinous yet chewy, and the rice was sweet and delicious.

With every chew, a natural and pure aroma lingered between the lips and teeth.

The taste was so wonderful that it was simply a supreme enjoyment.

Everyone couldn’t stop eating, bit by bit, until they had finished their bowls.

“The taste of this spiritual rice is truly indescribable. It’s the best rice I’ve ever tasted in my entire life.”

Wei Shanhai’s eyes lit up with wonder after finishing a bowl of it.

More importantly, he sensed a gentle life force hidden within the rice, no less potent than those of precious medicinal herbs.

“And I feel like my body feels much lighter after eating this rice,”

Madam Wei was equally astonished.

“Ah Qing once said this rice is imbued with spiritual energy, nourishing the body and enhancing vitality. It’s a very gentle spiritual tonic. Madam, your feeling isn’t an illusion,” the old doctor explained.

“Such a spiritual ingredient, and yet Young Master Lu directly offered it to us for a banquet? How generous!”

Hu Laosan was filled with astonishment.

He was a Bone Refining Realm warrior, his Qi and Blood strength was not weak.

But after just this bowl of spiritual rice, he felt his Qi and Blood, which had long stagnated, noticeably increase.

A bowl of rice can have such miraculous effects. If he could eat it every day, wouldn’t it not be long before he could break through his limits and have the hope of entering the Inner Viscera Realm?

Suddenly, Hu Laosan realized how precious the magical rice that Lu Qing had brought out to entertain his guests was.

Even a warrior like him, who was already old and had reached the end of his cultivation path, could enhance his Qi and blood.

If those young and extremely talented young geniuses could receive the assistance of this magical rice,

wouldn’t their cultivation progress by leaps and bounds if they consumed it for a long time? !

“Senior Wei, Patriarch Wei, everyone, I apologize for being late.”

At this time, Lu Qing walked into the house after entertaining the villagers outside.

“Young Master Lu, what are you saying? It’s our great fortune to be able to enjoy such delicious dishes and spiritual rice,” Wei Shanhai said with a smile. “By the way, Young Master Lu, did you have a good harvest of spiritual rice this time?”

Lu Qing was stunned, then smiled. “Senior Wei, are you tempted? This spiritual rice is just something I cultivated casually.

But if you’d like, I can give you a few hundred kilograms.”

Thanks to Lu Qing’s meticulous care, the spiritual rice planted this time is growing beautifully.

The rice ears are exceptionally plump,

so this time his harvest is quite good.

Two mu of spiritual fields yielded over 3,000 kilograms of spiritual rice.

Even after removing the husks, there’s still at least 2,000 kilograms of spiritual rice. Giving

a few hundred kilograms to Wei Shanhai wouldn’t be a big deal.

He, his master, and Xiaoyan wouldn’t be able to eat too much anyway.

And in a few months, he’d be able to harvest another crop of spiritual rice.

“But Senior Wei, while the spiritual rice is beneficial, for a Xiantian realm expert, it can only enhance their cultivation at best.

Breaking through realms still requires diligent self-cultivation,”

Lu Qing advised.

“So, Young Master Lu thought I was asking for this spiritual rice for myself? No,” Wei Shanhai said with a smile. “I’m asking for it on behalf of Zi’an, Zihao, and the others.

Zihao, in particular, doesn’t have the same opportunities as Zi’an, and his cultivation has probably fallen behind.

With this spiritual rice, perhaps he can catch up.”

“Did you find Zihao?” Lu Qing exclaimed in surprise.

He had naturally heard about the destruction of the Qingyun Sword Pavilion in Jeju over two months ago.

He also knew that Wei Zihao, a disciple of the Qingyun Sword Pavilion, had also disappeared in that disaster.

Lu Qing believed Wei Zihao was already dead.

After all, so many masters of the Qingyun Sword Pavilion had perished in such a tragic manner, how could he, a mere Xiantian realm expert, escape unscathed?

But now, from what Wei Shanhai said, it seems that Wei Zihao is not dead?

“Young Master Lu, I was just about to tell you this.” At this time, Wei Xinghe said.

“Two days ago, my Wei family’s spies discovered Zihao’s whereabouts in the provincial capital.

He seems to be hiding something with several other disciples of Qingyun Sword Pavilion.”

“Zihao is in the provincial capital, so why didn’t he contact you? I remember that your Wei family also has property in the provincial capital, right?” Lu Qing’s heart moved.

“This is also what we are wondering. The spies in the mansion reported that when they saw Zihao, he was in a hurry, as if he was avoiding something.

So I wonder if there is another reason why he deliberately did not contact his family.”

“Avoiding something.” Lu Qing pondered for a moment, “Master Wei, you mean that Zihao is facing danger, and in order not to implicate your Wei family, he deliberately did not contact you?”

“Based on the information from the spies in the mansion, Ah Hai and others speculate that this is very likely the case.”

“Zihao would rather put himself in danger than ask for help from his family.

Obviously, in his mind, the person who brought him danger must be extremely terrifying, far beyond the ability of your Wei family to resist.

Could it be the mysterious force that destroyed Qingyun Sword Pavilion?”

Lu Qing analyzed.

Wei Shanhai sighed, “We thought so too, but when we thought that Zihao might be in danger, my wife and I became extremely anxious and restless.”

Madam Wei couldn’t help but reveal a sad expression.

“So, Master Wei, you are thinking…”

Lu Qing could understand. As a parent, how could they watch their son in danger and remain indifferent?

“I want to go to the provincial capital to see if I can bring Zihao back.” Wei Xinghe expressed his thoughts.

“I’m afraid this is not appropriate. Since Zihao hasn’t contacted you, he must have his reasons. If you, Master Wei, suddenly go to meet him, it will probably catch him off guard and disrupt his plans.”

“Of course I know this, but if I don’t go to the provincial capital, if Zihao gets into trouble, I’m afraid I will never be at peace in my life.

Of course, I also know that this trip is full of dangers, and I know that you, Mr. Lu, are proficient in the art of calculation.

So I would like to ask you, if I go there, do I have any chance of survival?”

Lu Qing: “.”

He didn’t know anything about the art of calculation, that was just an excuse for his supernatural powers.

However, seeing the determination on Wei Xinghe’s face, he also knew that persuasion was impossible.

Any qualified father would not really watch his child in danger and do nothing.

So he thought about it and took out a sword-shaped jade talisman from his arms.

(End of this chapter)