Near the Official Disciple Courtyard, nestled within the Inner Courtyard on the third level of the vast sect grounds, one would need to traverse through the vast Central Courtyard and ascend the marble stairs to reach it.

Unlike the Central Courtyard, which served as a lively gathering place reverberating with announcements and the rhythmic footfalls of disciples, as well as housing grand structures like the Kunlun Thousand Pavilion and the Hall of Order and Disciples, the Inner Courtyard harbored a more serene atmosphere.

Here, the Hall of Insight stood tall, accompanied by sturdy storage houses that guarded the Kunlun Sect's treasures, and the all-important kitchen—the beating heart that sustained the disciples.

The Inner Courtyard was also home to the dormitories where most of the Official Disciples resided.

Early this morning, the area was alive with activity, as disciples clad in flowing robes scurried back and forth between the storage houses and the kitchen, their faces alight with purpose.

Entering the kitchen, one would find a vast space, equal in grandeur to the Hall of Order and Disciples.

Akin to the Hall, a long wooden counter separated the bustling kitchen area from the dining area, where a few early risers were already savoring their breakfast, the clatter of utensils against ceramic bowls punctuating the tranquil atmosphere.

Most of the sturdy oak tables stood vacant, their polished surfaces gleaming in the soft morning light.

The kitchen itself was a marvel, its marble floors and walls radiating a sturdiness and magnificence that surpassed even the Hall of Order and Disciples. Countless sparkling chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling, while large windows, framed in intricately carved wood, lined the walls, allowing the golden rays of the morning sun to flood the dining area with a welcoming embrace.

The rich, mouth-watering aromas of roasting pork and sizzling chicken permeated the air, mingled with faint wisps of smoke wafting from the lively cooking area. In the former Kunlun, guided by Taoist teachings that emphasized harmony with nature, such tantalizing scents would have been unheard of, but times had changed.

...

Meanwhile, a group of Official Disciples entered the dining area through the main door, their robes swishing gently with each purposeful stride.

As they approached, a couple of fellow disciples who were already partaking in their morning meal greeted them warmly, their faces radiant with sincere smiles.

The newcomers, all feminine figures clad in crisp white martial robes adorned with dark blue stripes, carried woven baskets brimming with fresh food ingredients.

"Greetings, Sister Lian! Come, join us, the breakfast today is delicious!" one of the male disciples called out softly, his voice warm with invitation as he gestured towards a steaming bowl of rice and savory soy sauce pork, chopsticks poised in his hand.

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"Thank you, Fellow Martial Brother," Lian Rougang, the one being addressed, responded with a faint, polite smile, her movements graceful as she inclined her head. However, her tone remained formal as she politely declined the invitation.

"It's a busy day today, but seeing how diligent you always are, your future husband will be lucky, Sister Lian," another male disciple across the table quipped, a jovial chuckle escaping his lips, oblivious to Lian Rougang's momentary stunned expression, her eyes widening ever so slightly.

"Hush, eat your meat! Don't talk while eating, or else your Qi will get bloated," one of the female disciples accompanying Lian Rougang quickly intervened, her brow furrowing as she noticed the unusual silence that had befallen her friend.

Gently, she nudged Lian Rougang's arm, guiding her away from the awkward situation and toward the sanctuary of the kitchen.

...

Once inside the bustling culinary domain, the female disciple who had rescued Lian Rougang cast a glance at her friend, whose cheeks still burned with a rosy flush, her eyes unfocused and distant.

A soft sigh parted her lips as she signaled to another disciple to begin preparing the ingredients, before turning her attention back to the flustered Lian Rougang.

"Gang'er, how long are you going to dance around this?" she said, hands planted firmly on her hips, her dark eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "Either confess to him or admit that Junior Brother is as dense as a rock."

With eyes as black as charcoal and dark brown hair cascading down her back in a glossy waterfall, Ding Xiuying's appearance was quite ordinary compared to the heavenly beauty of her best friend, Lian Rougang.

"W-what do you mean, Ying'er? I-I don't know what you're talking about! There's nothing to confess!" Lian Rougang stammered, her eyes darting around nervously, her tone pitched slightly higher than usual as she unconsciously grabbed a knife from the wooden table, her slender fingers toying with the blade in a nervous gesture.

"Oh, please," Ding Xiuying scoffed, rolling her eyes with an exasperated fondness. "You're not fooling anyone, least of all me. I've known you since we were knee-high to a grasshopper."

Another disciple, Mei Ling, chimed in with a sly grin, "Sister Lian, we've all seen how you look at him. It's like he hung the moon and stars in the sky just for you."

Lian Rougang continued to fiddle nervously with the knife, her slender fingers toying with the blade as if it were a talisman warding off her friends' teasing. "I... I don't know what you mean," she stammered again, her voice barely above a whisper.

A vein twitched on Ding Xiuying's temple as she watched her best friend's obvious denial, her eyebrows narrowing into a stern line. "Put that down first," she commanded firmly, nodding towards the knife in Lian Rougang's restless grasp.

Hearing the stern tone of her friend's voice, Lian Rougang obediently set the knife back on the table with a soft clink, prompting a chorus of giggles from the other female disciples who were watching their interaction with rapt amusement.

"Sister Lian, if you don't plan on confessing, maybe I should make a move?" another female disciple teased, pausing mid-cut with her own knife, her lips curling up in a playful smile that betrayed the mischief dancing in her eyes.

"Go ahead," Lian Rougang replied reluctantly, her voice low and sounding almost like a squeak, which triggered another wave of laughter from the other disciples, their mirth echoing through the bustling kitchen like a melodious chorus.

It was only in moments like these, when the topic of her feelings was brought up, that these Sisters could tease the usually calm and kind Lian Rougang, her cheeks flushing a rosy hue that rivaled the dawn's first light.

"I'm only joking, Sister Lian! We all know he only has eyes for you," the teasing disciple relented with a warm smile, her eyes twinkling with affection.

"That's if he ever opens them," another disciple, Liu Fang, added with a grin, her words laced with fond exasperation. "Sometimes I wonder if Junior Brother would even notice a boulder if it fell on his head."

"He's so understanding and handsome, but his strength..." The kitchen fell silent for a moment, acknowledging Ji Wuye's lack of physical prowess with a collective sigh. "But that's not the problem. He's barely twenty, and plenty of women are already eyeing him."

Lian Rougang grew even more silent, her shoulders slumping as she buried her flushed face in her hands, desperately wishing the cool palms could soothe the burning heat in her cheeks. "Can we please talk about something else?" she pleaded, her voice muffled and laced with embarrassment.

However, just as she shielded her face from their knowing gazes, her eyes caught sight of a familiar object sitting amongst the culinary tools - a cauldron.

An ordinary cauldron, and yet, for some inexplicable reason, Lian Rougang felt a twinge of recognition stir within her, but the memory eluded her grasp like a wisp of smoke.

"Where did you get this cauldron?" she asked, her voice quiet yet laced with curiosity as she lifted her head, brow furrowed in contemplation.

It was then, as the words left her lips, that the memories came rushing back in a vivid torrent - the embarrassing memory she had sought to bury, now resurfacing with crystal clarity. With a sudden intake of breath, Lian Rougang remembered that this was none other than her Junior Brother's cauldron, the very one she had used on that day when...