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Chapter 28: "Fresh Chopped Gossip."

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Shae found the street outside Fairy Yun's workplace, The Gilded Aurochs, deserted the next morning. She took a seat at that same single chair and small table that was set out two days ago. It was later than she had planned because the relaxing spa evening and a day of urgent physical labor had her sleeping much later than expected. She had stayed at the same inn and had another pleasant exchange with the same Miss Dong Min-an that had helped her the morning before.

Yesterday, she had decided to wait outside the restaurant, because she wasn't in the most presentable state then. Now, she stuck to that plan as she didn't really have business with the restaurant itself. A travel snack from Miss Dong held her attention as she waited.

This area of town was surprisingly quiet for this time of day. Shae expected to see merchants and customers crowding the streets. Eventually she switched to reading her practice manual again.

She was mulling over if she should move on from Controlled Descent when footsteps drew her attention.

"Chef Van! Glad to see you this fine morning."

"Wise Shae, how unexpected. I fear what has brought you back so soon?"

"Oh, nothing disastrous. I am assisting the caravan with scouting and other duties, those brought me back last night. I swung by then too, but there was quite the crowd. Are you normally that busy?"

"Me? No, we have a rotation of chefs and I am one of the less prestigious." He shrugged. "But that is what I prefer, it lets me work my craft at a more comfortable pace."

"Really? I found your cooking to be excellent. Surely Master Long bought out quite a lot of business the other night?"

"He did, though his own talents could have brought even more in. Visiting chefs attract large crowds, even if they are less skilled. While I am no slouch, people don't flock like that for my mortal dishes. Though, I could be called a staple of the community."

"Ah, but that just means the community is bored of you, and takes your presence for granted."

He placed a hand on his chest. "Ah, it pains me to hear you say it so plainly, no, don't apologize. You are correct. My preferred style does me no favors either."

"Hmm, yours was the fruit skewers, the cracker, then later the soup... ah! I think I see it. Well made food, but with simpler ingredients. Reliably delicious, but not as flashy as Long's devouring steak, or whatever someone else might do with strange ingredients."

"Thank you for the buried compliment, and yes, you saw through it well. I'm in no rush to change, however."

Shae nodded. "Yes, do what you enjoy." She smiled. "You could always take a vacation, I bet you'd pull quite the crowd on your return."

He returned the smile. "A bet you'd win, but that no one would take as we have done that before. Now. Were you looking for some breakfast? It might be a bit pricey, but I can accommodate another table."

"Hmm, tempting, but I did just eat. Speaking of food, though. Is immortal cooking mainly about interesting dishes like Long's or can one obtain significant benefits from a well made dish?"

"A good question. Though, I would first argue one point. We are not immortal chefs. The distinction is in power and ability. We dabble in their methods, make imitations of their dishes." He sighed. "It's somewhat depressing to know just how far you have left to go."

"Depressing? I'd think it would be exciting?"

"Hmm, for you youngsters, yes. For us, we are finding our limitations, the edges of our potential. That can be stressful. But you have the right idea for what their true abilities are. Immortal chefs are closer to alchemists. Their dishes are capable of astounding benefits to cultivation and health." He shrugged broadly. "Master Long's signature fiery Bao buns are approaching that, they can be used by fire cultivators for a short boost in qi reserves. Yet, that also means that others must contend with the excess fire qi in the meal. It is said that some immortal chefs do not have this limitation." He shook his head in bewilderment at his next words, "Truly impressive feats of cooking."

"How extraordinary! I can see- well, start to see what you mean about knowing the difference in ability." She nodded slowly and sat in a daze thinking over his words.

He waited, letting himself get lost in his own thoughts. He pulled another chair out of seemingly nowhere and sat with Shae.

"Hmm, what about simpler ingredients with their own cultivation benefits? I found a ginseng on Pilgrim's mountain, would that work just as well in a dish? Or the spiritual water that was added to some of the drinks?"

"Yes, there are some like those. Some need special preparation and careful cooking. Some lose their benefits when mixed too heavily with mortal ingredients, ginseng is a good example of that. Spiritual water is a unique case. It can be used to dilute and break down some things, allowing us to serve potentially toxic foods safely, or to reduce the impact of some strong herbs. Usually, like in the drink you had, it is consumed for its cleansing properties. It can flush quite a lot out of your system when diluted and drank over time."

"Hmm, including Long's spiteful Bao, I've had at least one other case of absorbing a small amount of foreign qi lately. Would you recommend I do that?"

"Recommend? I am no doctor. So, no, but it's not a bad idea. It is somewhat pricey here, you will be able to buy it for cheaper at the sect."

"Hmm, but will it be mixed in with a drink I rather enjoyed?"

"Haha, no I suppose it will not. What is your budget?"

She grimaced. "More if I hadn't left most of it with the caravan. I think I have about two silver crowns I could part with."

He nodded. "More than I suspected, given your apparent upbringing, but being a cultivator does have its perks. If you are certain I'll see what I can get you. Do you have a glass flask?"

"Just waterskins."

He shook his head. "It should always be kept in glass, and served in it too. That might make it more difficult as glass can be expensive." He looked up and into the building. "Hmmm. Did you dislike that ginger tea?"

"Hmm, the tea at the end? No. I just noticed it. I disliked not being told what else was in it."

"Heh. Noticed it, she says." He shook his head. "In all the commotion, did you understand what that meant?"

She thought it out slowly. "What does it mean to notice the -?"

He held up a hand to stop her. Then pointed at his ears, eyes, and out around the street.

She opened her mouth to silently say "Ah." and nodded. "I am drawing a blank. So...?"

He frowned. "Now is not the best time to go over the details. Do you think you will enjoy spending time in the sect library?"

She smiled. "I'm quite excited for it, actually."

"Oh?"

She nodded. "I am quite the avid reader. Have been since I first learned to read."

She paused to let him react. A subtle widening of his eyes and a nod saying he understood her hidden meaning.

"All the little towns I passed through before this summer had a book or two I sought out. Mainly the dictionary kept by the town's Elder. The dynamics of how small towns keep up with language and teach their young is quite interesting."

"Wise Shae, that is not an answer I was expecting." He paused. "Truly a woman of many talents. I take it you would assist them somehow to gain access to this revered tome?"

"Heh-heh. Of course. The first few were tricky. But eventually I developed a reputation and had letters of recommendation. At least, that was the plan. The events of this summer cut that a bit short. But anyway, to explain. I would fact check their dictionaries. Looking for mistakes and adding to lacking entries. That is why the first few were hard, no one had reason to trust me, and my knowledge was lacking."

"Still, quite impressive to do that at all. You must have quite the memory."

"Not as strong as I'd like. Mostly just for words. Especially since... well, leftovers from my younger days. I would like to learn another language, but I fear that opportunity has passed."

"Surely not, you are still so young! And as a cultivator now, there are techniques for memory."

"Ah, I suppose there are. I guess I've been too busy to consider that benefit."

"Heh, yes, the young generation rarely stops to consider what they have. Oh, don't look at me like that. I really just mean, you don't know what you have, not yet. Let me fetch that spiritual water, then you can tell me why you are really here."

Shae gasped in mock surprise as he disappeared without waiting for a response. He was back by the time her heart rate had slowed back down.

"You have lucky timing. We just emptied a bottle." He set a long stemmed green glass bottle on the table. The stem had an interesting visual feature in that it twisted to the side before ending vertically. "The bend helps to stop the liquid from dissolving the cork. Which it can do, so be sure to keep it upright or it will taste of shoe leather."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

The bottle seemed slightly larger than a wine bottle from Earth, except the center was pinched slightly. This provided a lip for several strands of blue string to tie around it and weave up into a thicker carrying rope. Shae thought she could tie this to her bag and let it hang so the bottle didn't tip. Though, it might not manage as well when she ran.

"Thank you!" She said then quickly fished out her coin purse. It was the same one that Auntie Mei gave her in Minlin City, and she was using the last of the coins she gave her too. She grabbed one silver crown and four taels to set out on the table.

"The bottle had a few drops of something still in it, so you will notice a specific taste. I think you will recognize it, and I assure you again that it is harmless. More likely, beneficial, really. The water itself is diluted, of course, and flavored. Similar to how you had it the other day. For a more medical cleanse, drink it slowly over the next few weeks. Say a mouthful or two a day, but the precise amount shouldn't be a concern."

Shae nodded. "May I?"

"Ah, yes, I suppose a trial taste is in order." Van agreed as he plucked the coins from the table.

The young woman grabbed the large bottle and awkwardly tried to drink from the twisted stem.

The chef smirks and tries not to snicker.

She ignores his antics. "Hmm, seems diluted enough. I do like the flavor."

"Good to hear. Hmm, it's a bit impolite, but you don't have a second crown, do you?"

She squeezed her purse. "I do not. Couldn't even count another out with taels."

"Thought so." He handed her back the silver crown, she accepted it with a confused look. "I'm undercharging you anyway. But really, it is said to be bad luck to take someone's last crown." He shrugged. "Now, you were really here for Fairy Yun, weren't you?"

"Thank you, Chef Van." She stood and bowed. "Yes, I was looking for her. I said I would see her again next time I was in town." She shrugged with arms wide and smiled.

"Heh, it is barely the next day, I think you could be forgiven."

"We agreed to be friends. I wanted to at least try. Is she busy?"

He nodded. "She is off to market. I would send you along to help, but it is not the mortal market."

"Oh? How would I help anyway? She has spatial storage, right?"

"Some items are better kept outside of spatial treasures. This market is more of a private auction anyhow. I don't think I could get you in, and you wouldn't really get to socialize with Fairy Yun, she has work to do there."

"Ah, right. I can accept that. Will she be gone all day?"

"Probably not, but I wouldn't expect her until late afternoon, at the earliest."

"Ah, I guess I will see her next time. Heh, I did just see her, I shouldn't be so disappointed."

"We can't always control our emotions like that, especially at your age."

Shae burst into a laugh. "Ah-ha ha! That's so true!"

Van watched her laugh with a surprised look.

She looked up and flushed with embarrassment. "What?"

"I wasn't expecting that laugh, but I hadn't considered the fullness of your situation." He said with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, definitely that." She nodded. "Oh! Can I leave a message for her?"

"Certainly!" He smiled.

"Tell her I already made progress on-" She stopped and looked around. "Should I write it down?"

"If you think it's sensitive enough, or very long. We could also step inside." He pointed at the restaurant.

She nodded and followed him into the small reception room.

"Chef Van, Miss Shae, was it?"

"Just need a bit of privacy, Zanru."

"Of course, Chef." The concierge said and left the room.

"I'm surprised he remembered me."

"He has a good memory for names. And we do not get many like you through these doors, but I can't chat much more, I have prep work to do. Firstly allow me to apologize, I hinted at it, but there was soul calming root in that bottle."

"I got the hints, and it was quite noticeable. Didn't you rinse it?"

"Ah, well. There are secrets there I cannot share. To say the least, it is harder to rinse out than sticky oil. I would have to rinse it several times with pure spiritual water, letting each sit. But still, there should only be the equal of a couple drops in there, it should be weaker than that ginger tea."

"Really? It seemed stronger. Maybe because the other flavors are weaker?"

Van looked confused then surprised, then ashamed. "My apologies again. I seem to have unwittingly performed an interesting test upon you." He rubbed the back of his neck.

"It seems to be a genuine accident. Please, explain." She asked flatly.

"I didn't consider how it would interact with the spiritual water. It seems the flavor has been enhanced, may I try some?"

She shrugged and offered the bottle.

A small sip from a glass later and Van was thinking deeply. "I still cannot taste it. And I don't believe its usual effects are present. Hard to tell at this dilution, but that is most likely. There are not many possible interactions with spiritual water, I had assumed it wouldn't interact, soul and spirit are... well, that would be saying too much."

"Are they not connected? Related quite closely?"

"Hmm, within a living being, yes." He gestured at the bottle. "How is the taste, by the way?"

"Oh, hmm, not terrible? Distinct like sour or bitter, but it isn't really a taste."

He nodded. "Right, I should have guessed it would be something else."

"Is this worth publishing in a paper or something?" She asked.

"A paper?"

"Yes, it would have to be checked again with another lost soul, to do the research properly."

"Oh! You mean a research record, or journal of notes. This would likely just be an observation, without more accounts. A paper? Really? Is that a term from your last world?"

"Yes, they sometimes say white paper. Usually they publish in scientific journals for wider peer review."

"Hmm, curious." He shook his head. "I'll write it up and submit it. It will be my first time, so I don't think they will take me particularly seriously. Oh, and I'll wait quite some time to do it. We should keep you anonymous."

She nodded slowly. "That makes sense, I suppose."

They both considered it silently for a breath.

"Ah, well, you said you were busy. Thank you so much for your time, Chef Van. If you would, please thank Fairy Yun for her explanation of mental focus. I had a busy day yesterday, and was able to make progress on it thanks to her advice."

"Progress on mental focus? Are you sure? It is quite hard to measure progress. Harder still to make progress in such a short time."

The young cultivator insisted with a smirk. "I'm quite sure. I was able to cheat a bit. My qi has a restorative effect, so I was able to train much harder than expected. It does still have limits, though."

"Truly impressive, Miss Shae. If for nothing else, that could make your qi incredibly powerful. I would even say to be careful who you share that with. Even consider hiding your swift progress, if you can. Let it come to the surface slowly, at least until your next cultivation stage."

"Ah, um, well. It's a bit late for that. I think Long figured it out and started testing me in front of the whole sect entourage."

He inhaled sharply. "Testing how? The only two I know about are a spiritual tool he doesn't have and the four crowns test. But I didn't think you used a bladed weapon, considering your peace-bond is still intact."

Shae rubbed the back of her neck. "Right so, we're getting into the full story of what happened yesterday. In short. I took a special ax, Mister Fedir's knarr, Marta, do you know of that?"

Van shook his head. "I hardly followed what you just said."

"Basically it's a long handle ax with a weight enchantment. I took that ahead of the caravan and cleared out a bunch of trees that had swept over the road with a mudslide, from the rain."

"Alright, and from the rain, you say? Funny coincidence, that."

"Oh? I only thought it was weird that a little rain caused a mudslide so easily. Didn't think there was that much to the storm."

"I suppose it was unusual." Go coughed to the side. "It could have been a spike storm: very heavy rain at one location, lighter further out."

"Huh. Are those common?"

"When qi is involved: far too common. But back to the ax?"

"Ah, right. So, I was practicing hitting the same spot with the ax, to make the work go faster. Then I remembered Yun mentioned focus, so I started using that to correct my aim. Nearly overdid it and passed out when I took my first break."

He was nodding along, but stopped and raised his eyebrows at the end. "Most need a lot more work than that to tap into their mental focus or battle focus. Even longer to use enough to exhaust themselves. And you make it sound like you kept working?"

She rubbed the back of her neck, and forced a smile. "Yea, a lot more. But like I said, my qi is weird. I think it still has a lot of leftovers in it from the enlightenment the other day."

Van widened his eyes then tilted his head in consideration. "That is... possible, I suppose, and far more likely. Enlightenments can be quite helpful for focus advancements. If you know how to make use of them."

Shae nodded along. "Speaking of, divine qi and enlightenment qi both seem to heal injuries. Do you know if either are similar to natural healing, where the body repairs and improves itself, or do they work more like a reset, restoring the body to before the damage?"

Van looked a bit stunned and just blinked.

"Chef!" Someone called as they entered the room.

Van turned stiffly to look over at the boy in the doorway and exchanged glances, head jerks towards the kitchen and a nod, then the boy left. "It seems I'm needed in the kitchen. Which is good because that question is beyond me. Most of this conversation has been because I am not your mentor. Even the talk of martial focus is as I've never trained for that. Only heard about it and the four crowns test."

Shae perked up at that. "Four crowns? You said that earlier, too. Crowns as in the coins? Is it common to use sect coins instead? And we are talking about the one where you just cut four coins out of the air with one strike, yes?"

Van stared stunned again for a breath. Then he squinted at the young woman, "You're teasing me."

"I am." She smiled. "Long, without even asking, threw one sect coin at me and told me to cut. I caught it instead and kept it!" Her smile turned smug.

"Hah! Serves him right. And here I thought you were poor, or did he take it back?"

"I left it safely with the caravan. Would you like that last crown now?"

"No, no. I don't mind. I do have to go, however. I'll tell Fairy Yun your absurd news. She may chase you down and test you herself. Heh heh heh."

"Thank you for your time, Chef Van. It has been quite helpful."

"And thank you for yours, Wise Shae. I'll be excited to hear of your progress from Fairy Yun."

They bowed to each other and Van rushed out of the room before Shae could turn to leave.

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