“I’m back!” Gu Qing Shan called out.
“Hm, quickly wash your hands and go make dinner” Li Qiu Yu greeted him.
“Why is it not ‘wash your hand and eat dinner’ instead?” Gu Qing Shan complained.
Li Qiu Yu glanced at him and casually said: “You have the courage to eat what I make?”
Gu Qing Shan then went to the kitchen without any further complaints.
Today, Zhao Qiong wasn’t here.
The one who offered to help him was Banishing Sword Saint – Wang Shun.
Gu Qing Shan appeared shocked, as if his entire perception was flipped over its head.
“Big brother Wang… there’s no need for someone like you to do something as mundane as cooking” he hurriedly rejected his help.
“It’s fine, I usually do this myself when I’m at home anyways”
While saying that, Wang Shun put on an apron and began to prepare the vegetables.
His movements were fluid and skillful, clearly, someone experienced.
“A Sword Saint… making food, why do I feel like that’s wrong somehow” Gu Qing Shan muttered.
「 “Take a good look at yourself in the mirror!” 」
His three swords spoke up in unison in his Thought Sea.
Gu Qing Shan’s thoughts turned.
In truth, he hadn’t mentioned the true reason for his confusion.
If a Sword Saint knew how to cook, that was understandable.
But if some great entity who managed to survive the breaking of the Samsara, then endure the ravages of Apocalypses, ultimately escaping through taking over someone else’s body, now standing next to him preparing vegetables to eat, Gu Qing Shan would definitely feel like something was wrong.
Is Wang Shun still himself?
“Alright, the ingredients are all cleaned, I heard that your skills are quite something, so I’ll be waiting for it today” Wang Shan washed his hands and stood on one side, arms crossed, preparing to observe Gu Qing Shan’s cooking.
Gu Qing Shan didn’t put too much more thought into it, focused his mind, and began making a bigger feast.
After all, Li Chun Dao was also going to return soon, coupled with Wang Shun, and Gu Qing Shan himself, a meal with three men needed to be a bit substantial.
“Ah, Qiu Shan, I can see that meat was done quite well, but how exactly did you mix the soy sauce?” Wang Shun asked after watching for a while.
Gu Qing Shan paused.
So this guy stayed here to help in order to learn in secret.
——this braised meat I’m making only needs to be cleaned properly and taken care of not to be done too well.
The true essence of the meal lies within the soy sauce.
Only with proper soy sauce would this dish have a soul.
“If big brother Wang likes to learn, I’ll write the recipe after we’re done eating” Gu Qing Shan replied.
“Alright, since you’re practicing fist techniques, I’ll give you a pair of gauntlets tonight” Wang Shun lightly smiled and said.
Gu Qing Shan looked back down, continuing to make the feast.
At this point, Li Chun Dao had just returned and went straight into the kitchen.
“Ah? This is some good meat!”
He scanned around, then picked up just the plate of meat and sauce before leaving.
From outside, Li Qiu Yu’s voice resounded: “Brother, I’m going to have the first bite”
Gu Qing Shan paused briefly.
These people…
If they had truly been trapped somewhere for eternity, enduring the ravages of the Apocalypse, they would surely not have this kind of spirit.
Are they acting?
Gu Qing Shan pondered for a while.
He finished stir-frying the last dish and carried it out.
“Pour a full glass for Qiu Shan, the food today suits my tastes so much” Li Chun Dao declared.
Li Qiu Yu glared at him and rejected: “Definitely not! He’s still a child, he can’t drink alcohol!”
“Then how about fruit juice, I have a few relatively sweet ones here, it should be to his taste” Wang Shun suggested.
Knock knock knock!
The sound of knocking came from the door.
Zhao Qiong then came in smiling: “Excuse me, I’m here to join you for dinner”
She was already used to it at this point and no longer became flushed.
——after all, I came to eat San Lang’s cooking, things like reputation and such can be worried about later.
However, since she had been promoted to Head of the Bookkeepers, handling the management of the School’s wealth of knowledge, she had a not inconsiderable position. Furthermore, since she was a girl, Li Chun Dao and Wang Shun would naturally not try to make it difficult for her regarding something as simple as a meal.
“Senior Zhao, come in, the food I prepared today are quite nice y’know, I spent a lot of effort in making them” Gu Qing Shan called out.
Zhao Qiong smiled, then walked up and gave him a bone slab.
“What is it?”
Gu Qing Shan was now very cautious, so he didn’t receive it right away.
“The rankings of the Western Sea Grotto’s experts of the most recent hundred years, as well as their life’s story—— I heard that children your age all like to read things like this” Zhao Qiong replied.
——–I’m not eating San Lang’s cooking for free; I have my own way of repaying him.
Gu Qing Shan was a bit surprised.
So it was this kind of knowledge.
…doesn’t hurt to take a look, I guess.
“Thank you, senior Zhao” he received the bone slab and put it into his bracelet.
The meal was happy for both guests and the host.
After the meal, Zhao Qiong left without any hesitation.
Wang Shun took over Li Chun Dao’s shift to guard the School, and it was Li Chun Dao’s turn to guard Li Qiu Shan.
Taking the time when his sister was washing her face, Li Chun Dao silently snuck a bottle of alcohol for Gu Qing Shan.
“Put it away for yourself, drink slowly” he winked.
Gu Qing Shan turned his hand around and instantly put it away into his bracelet.
He stood up to stretch, then yawned: “So sleepy, so sleepy, I’m going to bed”
Chak!
The door closed behind him.
All of Gu Qing Shan’s earlier facial expressions disappeared.
He silently took out the bottle from earlier, opened the cap, and took a whiff.
This is decent alcohol.
It’s not very strong either, just enough to taste good.
Gu Qing Shan put the bottle away, then sat blankly on the edge of the bed by himself.
Wang Shun wanted to give me a gauntlet.
Zhao Qiong gave me a bone slab that contained the stories of experts few knew about.
Li Chun Dao wasn’t too bad either, preparing a bottle of alcohol for me by himself.
Li Qiu Yu had also been taking very good care of me.
These people.
If they haven’t been replaced, then it’s a good thing.
But if they had been replaced, what should I do?
Gu Qing Shan appeared a bit at a loss.
He took out Zhao Qiong’s bone slab, examined it a bit, then scanned it with his inner sight to read all of the contents.
Suddenly, he noticed something interesting.
Whether it was a Spirit Linked Martial Artist, a Weapon Wielder, or a Bone Master, each of them needed to go through at least four stages.
Initial Awakening, Fusing Refinement, Thorough Grasp, Divine Reflection.
These four stages weren’t related to one’s strength, merely the progress of one’s fusion with the inheritance.
One must reach Divine Reflection in order to be considered having fully awakened the inheritance.
Many people were stuck at this stage, requiring a lot of time in order to fully promote themselves.
Those who were true experts were usually summoned by the bigshots of the Schools just as they reached the Divine Reflection stage, after which they were promoted to become pillars of their Schools.
Gu Qing Shan suddenly recalled Shan Hai Qi Xia’s arrangements before she left.
Old Man Embracing Bones and Extinguishing Saintly Hands were brought along with her, quite obviously her trusted supporters.
While Banishing Sword Saint – Wang Shun, and Blade Venerate – Li Chun Dao, were both ordered to remain and protect the School.
Perhaps…
After some pondering, Gu Qing Shan finally made his decision to take a risk just once.
…
The shroud of night fell deep.
Wang Shun brought several of his subordinates to patrol some relatively secluded locations.
“Watch out!”
Wang Shun abruptly stepped out with his sword, shielding the rest.
With a heavy metallic ‘kih’, a figure appeared in front of them all.
Wang Shun shouted: “You actually had the courage to show up again!”
He didn’t attack right away, instead crushing a piece of bone in his hand.
After three breaths’ worth of time, Li Chun Dao will arrive.
Gu Qing Shan silently watched him crush the piece of bone, then suddenly said: “Wang Shun, your swordsmanship is flawed”
Wang Shun coldly responded: “That’s not important, what’s important is that you’re going to die right here today”
“Ah? You’re that confident in being able to keep me here?” Gu Qing Shan asked, apparently intrigued.
A second later, Blade Venerate – Li Chun Dao arrived from above.
Gu Qing Shan didn’t attack and simply glanced at him, saying: “Li Chun Dao, I’m calling your name, you dare answer me?”
“The fuck are you calling me for? You damned bastard who won’t even hold back on a child, this great one is going to chop you up!” Li Chun Dao angrily shouted.
He and Wang Shun both charged at Gu Qing Shan in unison.
Bam!!!
An invisible wall seemed to have manifested right in front of them, preventing them from moving forward.
They stood completely still, unable to move forward to fight.
——it wasn’t just forward, they found that they were completely trapped where they stand.
“What kind of wicked magic!?”
Wang Shun held his sword and slashed forward.
The powerful sword phantom flew through the sky but didn’t hit anything.
Li Chun Dao was the same.
Watching their shocked expressions, Gu Qing Shan relaxed and sighed in relief.
“Calm down, I just came to call you out”
He waved his hand dismissively.
