A melodious chime rings out, but is only heard by one person. Zhi opens his eyes and sits up, before stretching his arms and standing up.

You can turn off the alarm now. Kinda hard to sleep after what happened anyways.

[Alarm turned off and senses are now back on.]

Oh god it still smells. How is it still so bad?

[It’s not too bad, most normal people won’t notice the smell too much. Like a really bad fart, if anything.]

Well hopefully it clears out by the time I get back tonight. I really don’t wanna stay in this room otherwise.

Walking out of the room, the smell isn’t that bad, but does linger a little close to the door. Walking into Zhao’s room, he walks the boy up and tells him to meet him in the back area of the house for morning training. Once Zhao makes it outside, they go through a stretching routine, then light exercises. Once complete they go inside to clean up and change, before heading out to grab a light breakfast on the way to Zhao’s work.

As they walk to the restaurant, Zhao keeps glancing over at Zhi. It’s no longer dark out and he can see Zhi better now and something just looks off, but he doesn’t know what it is. It doesn’t take long for Zhi to notice the boy giving him glances, so he says “What's wrong? Don’t tell me you like me, like you like Xiulan?”

Zhao flushes red and looks away while saying, “I don’t like Xiulan, I barely know the girl. I was just wondering why you look kinda different today?”

“Well around your age, most boys go through a change called puberty and things begin to change. They start to notice girls, they get hair in places they didn’t have it before. But it looks like in your case you are starting to notice men.”

“WHAT!?! It’s nothing like that! I like Xi.. GIRLS! I like girls, not other boys. You just look different today is all. Nevermind, it doesn’t matter.” Zhao’s face is still red and he is looking everywhere but towards Zhi.

Zhi just smiles and keeps walking to some food stands they saw yesterday morning on the way to the restaurant. They were open this time and sold some breakfast foods Zhi was looking forward to checking out.

Buddha, is something going on? Does my face look different or something?

[You have stepped into the Qi Distillation, you now project a slight aura from all the Qi in your body. You just need to concentrate and pull back on that aura and you will be like you were before.]

Any advice on how to do it? This sounds kinda vague, pull back on my aura? How am I even projecting an aura? I know back home people used to use crystals and stuff to “read” someone's aura. But I have no idea how that worked, or if it was just a crock of shit.

[I will help you with this for now, but there is a book you can buy from the store which will teach you how to control your Qi. You need to buy it and learn it tonight. Tomorrow I will not control your aura for you.]

Alright thanks, I will look for it tonight when I get back.

Zhi stopped at a few food stalls and bought himself and Zhao a few things to eat. Mostly to help Zhao practice his talent, but also before he was a foodie and loved to eat new things. Once at the restaurant they spend most of the morning with Zhi quietly watching as Zhao worked. Only pointing out things here and there. Today he actually finished earlier than the day before, and was able to help a little with the kitchen meal. Once the meal was being set out, Zhi walked over to YongZheng, to talk while Zhao followed behind him. Sitting at his table was Xiulan, who smiled slightly at Zhi and Zhao’s approach.

“I have something I Cooked, that I want you, Xiulan and Meifeng to try.”

Yongzheng was a little surprised, but stood up from the table, while saying. “Little Mei should be next door, I will go get her.”

As he started to turn around and leave, Zhao actually spoke up, “Ummm, I don’t know if that is a good idea Zhi.” He glanced at Yongzheng, then at Xiulan, before becoming red in the face and looking away while saying. “I think maybe you should let them eat someplace else Zhi, with less people around.”

Both Yongzheng and Xiulan are slightly confused over what Zhao said and look at Zhi for an answer. Zhi for his part just smiles and says, “Maybe it’s for the best, maybe one of the rooms upstairs?”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Yongzheng looks between Zhao and Zhi for a moment, then says, “We can eat in my dining room. Come follow me.” Yongzheng looks over to his employees that were starting to sit down to eat and says, “We will be back in a little while, open like normal and have someone cover for Xiulan till we get back.

One of the better dressed cooks replies, yes boss. Before Yongzheng starts walking into the kitchen followed by everyone else. As they walk out of the back kitchen door, Zhi who is trailing behind a little with Zhao. Leans over and says in a low voice, “Why did you have to ruin the fun?”

Zhao quickly looks over at Xiulan then looks at Zhi and says in a hushed tone, “I didn’t think it would be appropriate to embarrass my new boss like that.”

“Sure you were doing it for the sake of your new boss, it had nothing to do with the pretty girl you keep sneaking glances at whenever she is around.”

Zhao turns a little red and looks away, but says nothing else as they walk across the back area of the restaurant and to another building. Yongzheng opens the door and they follow him inside, into a nice looking kitchen and dining room. Once inside, he leads them to a dining table in the shape of a rectangle with seating for 10 people, while he goes to get Meifeng.

Zhi looks over to Xiulan and says, “Do you have some plates and utensils?”

Xiulan just nods in response, walking over to a cupboard and pulling out some dishes. She sets them on the counter and walks over to get utensils, while she does that, Zhao walks over to grab the plates and begins to set them out on the table. Xiulan doesn’t say anything, but returns with chopsticks for everyone. Once the table is prepared with dishes, Zhi pulls out the food he made yesterday and begins to make a plate for everyone. Once he is done Yongzheng and Meifeng enter the room and both of them look at the food in front of them.

Zhi smiles at them both, and waves to the table while saying, “I had it stored away, it’s just as fresh as when it was first made. It’s only been about five minutes or so since it was finished.”

Zhi and Zhao sit down at the table on one side, Meifeng and Xiulan sit down across from them. While Yongzheng takes a seat at the head of the table. Zhi and Zhao don’t eat while waiting for everyone else to try it. The other people look over at Zhi and Zhao, waiting for them to make a move.

Zhi lets out a sigh and picks up a piece of chicken before holding it up and saying, “This is called fried chicken, it was a pretty common and easy to make dish from my homeland. If you like it, I can teach you the recipe.” He takes a bite and begins to chew on his first bite.

Zhao watches as Zhi eats, then turns to Yongzheng and says “Both my aunt and uncle loved the dish, Zhi made it with chicken that he coated in flour and then cooked in oil. I am not really sure of the whole process myself, but it’s one of the best things I have ever eaten.”

Zhao reaches down and slowly picks up his chicken, the others do the same. But Zhao actually moves slower than the other three people and watches. Zhi has also finished his first bite and looks over at the other three people about to try his cooking. Yongzheng is the first to bite into the chicken, and the noise that escapes his closed mouth, causes both Meifeng and Xiulan to stop and stare at him in utter shock. Yongzheng has his eyes closed and is making quite the lewd sound as he chews on his first bite of chicken.

Both Xiulan and Meifeng look at the chicken in their hands, then back at Yongzheng as he continues to relish his first bite. Then the slow put the chicken down and stare daggers at Zhi. Zhi for his part just smiles at the two girls before taking another bite of his chicken.

Zhao draws the girl's glare when he speaks up and says, “This is why I thought we should eat away from other people.” Both girls are still glaring at him, but he just shrugs his shoulders and takes a bite of his chicken. Before he begins to make some slightly lewd moaning sounds as he eats. Even though he is trying his best to suppress it, it is just an automatic reaction of his body and he can’t stop it. Both the girls are now staring at him and Yongzheng as they eat their chicken and moan in pleasure with each bite. Before turning back to glare at Zhi, who just returns a smile as he quietly eats his own chicken.

Meifeng asks with some accusation in her tone, “Why aren’t you acting like them?”

Zhi finishes his bite and says, “Mostly because I have better self control then them and I have had better food before.”

Meifeng looks at her plate, then at her moaning uncle and Zhao. Then looks back at Zhi and says, “You, Zhao and my dad can go eat in the restaurant. I am sure when my father is done he will want to talk with you.” She stands up and walks to the back door in between the kitchen and dining room before gesturing for them to leave.

Laughing, Zhi stands up and stores away his, Yonzheng and Zhao’s food. Zhao and Yongzheng are slightly confused as the chicken in their hands disappear as they are about to take another bite. They were both too busy enjoying their meal to notice the conversation. So they both look up at Zhi, and then see Meifeng at the open back door waving for them to leave.

A rueful grin appears on Zhi’s face as he says, “The girls here are kicking us out because they don’t want anyone to hear them while they eat.” Zhao stands up, but Yongzheng just says, “I don’t understand? Also, Zhi, this food is incredible. You must teach me how to cook this, I have never had better food in my life.”

“I will give you the recipe later, but come on let's go eat in the restaurant and I will show you why the girls don’t want us here.” He walks towards the door followed by Zhao. Yongzheng gets up to follow, still looking slightly confused about the situation. After they leave, Meifeng watches as they walk back to the restaurant kitchen door and walk inside, before she closes the door and locks it. She sits down next to Xiulan and looks at the plate of food, then looks over to Xiulan and says. “Do you think it is really that good?”

“There is only one way to find out.” Xiulan picks up her piece of chicken as Meifeng does the same thing. They both look at it, before looking back at each other. They both nod to each other at the same time, and then take a bite of chicken. The sounds that came from that dining room over the next twenty minutes would make most brothel workers blush.