Xu Ziyan smiled. He knew that his appearance in the kitchen would frighten the cooks, but this head cook was rather interesting. On the surface, the man seemed to be taking offense on Xu Ziyan’s behalf, when in truth he was trying to shield the other cooks.
He waved a hand to reassure them. “It’s nothing. I’m just a little hungry and want to make something to eat.”
The large man brightened at once. As long as the young master had not come to cause trouble, all was well. If their cooking happened to please him, they might even receive a reward.
“Young Master, just say the word! Whatever you’d like to eat, I guarantee we’ll prepare it immediately!” The man thumped his broad chest, his thunderous voice making Xu Ziyan’s scalp tingle.
Good grief, what a voice! Xu Ziyan was already at the sixth level of Qi Refining. Though he had not put up any defenses, the fact that an ordinary man’s voice could make him feel dizzy was proof enough of the man’s unusual ability.
Xu Ziyan quickly searched his memories, but he could not recall this man among the powerful cultivators who would emerge in the future. Still, if that remarkable voice could be combined with something like a Lion’s Roar technique, its destructive potential would be astounding.
The thought made Xu Ziyan rub his chin and begin to ponder.
After the original Xu Ziyan left to study at the Flowing Light Sect, Xu Zirong had slaughtered the Xu family before he ever completed his studies and returned. Apart from the treasures they had hidden beforehand, the family had left him practically nothing.
After that, the original Xu Ziyan had struggled alone through the cultivation world and narrowly escaped death on several occasions. Some of the memories were enough to make anyone’s hair stand on end. His eventual place as one of the four great Venerables of the Xuanyu Domain had undoubtedly been earned through his own efforts.
But that very fact gave the current Xu Ziyan an idea.
Of the four Venerables, the original Xu Ziyan was the strongest in individual combat. In terms of influence, however, Lin Xiaotian’s Tianyu Sect and Mo Ziyuan’s Moyulong Pavilion were both among the most powerful forces in the Xuanyu Domain. The declining Xu family could not compare.
Back then, Lin Xiaotian and Mo Ziyuan had grudgingly acknowledged Xu Ziyan’s standing only because Bai Hua insisted on it. The present Xu Ziyan had no intention of becoming entangled with any of them, so he naturally had to make plans for his own future.
Even if the Xu family were not destroyed, it was far inferior to the Tianyu Sect and Moyulong Pavilion. There was no chance it could protect Xu Ziyan and Xu Zirong against the combined pressure of those two organizations.
To put it bluntly, if such a situation ever arose, Xu Ziyan could not be sure that Xu Xiao would not hand the two brothers over for the sake of the clan. After all, family interests meant far more to Xu Xiao than his sons.
Xu Ziyan still took the events of the novel seriously. He might despise the man named Bai Hua, but he had to admit that Bai Hua’s luck was extraordinary. Not only did he survive countless perilous situations, but almost everyone who opposed him eventually died.
Xu Zirong had been the unluckiest of all. Bai Hua had repeatedly snatched treasures that should have fallen into his hands, then framed him, until he was ultimately destroyed in body and soul under the name of a demon bent on destroying the world.
Xu Ziyan would never allow Zirong to suffer that fate again. To prevent it, he would first have to build a force capable of standing against the Tianyu Sect and Moyulong Pavilion.
He did not need to defeat them outright. He only needed enough strength to make them think twice. That business of casually pinning every crime on Xu Zirong, as in the novel, could absolutely never happen again! Even if Xu Ziyan’s little brother did something wrong, he was the one who should discipline him. What right did a bunch of outsiders have to interfere?
Exactly! Xu Ziyan was that fiercely protective! He did not care what outsiders thought. As long as Xu Zirong did not cross the limits of his own moral principles, he would stand by his little brother.
“Big Brother?” Xu Zirong tugged at Xu Ziyan’s sleeve, reminding him that the cook standing across from them was about to freeze his smile in place.
Xu Ziyan came back to himself and gave an embarrassed smile. “It’s fine. Go back to your work. I’ll do it myself.”
“What?!” The large man was horrified. Had he heard correctly? The young master was dissatisfied enough to cook for himself? Did he think their food was not good enough?
“Don’t worry.” Seeing his concern, Xu Ziyan smiled reassuringly. “I just want to make Zirong a bowl of noodles. I’m not preparing some elaborate feast.”
“Oh…” The man let out a long breath and wiped his forehead. “Young Master, perhaps…”
Xu Ziyan waved him off. “No need. Go about your work. I can manage.”
The man retreated awkwardly. Since the young master had said he did not need them, none of them dared interfere. The cooks resumed their work under the head cook’s orders, but every one of them kept stealing glances at the young master who supposedly intended to ‘show off his skills’.
Under their doubtful, helpless, disbelieving gazes, Xu Ziyan expertly shook out an apron, tied it around his waist, then began adding water and kneading flour.
After washing his hands, Xu Zirong stood quietly to one side. He had believed that Xu Ziyan would not make an empty boast, yet he was still astonished by how practiced the man’s movements were. Kneading, rolling and cutting the dough, even cracking an egg into the pot, he performed every step with effortless fluidity.
If Xu Zirong was astonished, the cooks were practically stunned senseless.
It was shocking enough that the young master knew how to cook. Even more frightening was the fact that he was actually good at it!
The aroma drifting through the kitchen proved that the egg noodles had turned out beautifully. A few of the cooks could not help swallowing.
“Want to try Big Brother’s cooking?” A bowl of egg noodles topped with a little pickled vegetable was set in front of Xu Zirong.
Xu Ziyan beamed and mentally gave himself a thumbs-up. Although he had transmigrated, he had not lost his culinary skills. He still hoped to use them to woo a wife someday. He had no idea where that future wife might be, but it never hurt to practice early.
Xu Zirong regarded the bowl of noodles with mixed emotions. Golden-yellow noodles, fresh green vegetables and a touch of bright-red chili on top. It was only the most ordinary bowl of noodles, yet the sight left him in a daze.
He picked up his chopsticks numbly and began swallowing mouthful after mouthful. Xu Ziyan kept urging him to slow down, but he seemed not to hear and finished the entire large bowl.
After wiping his mouth, he felt a pleasant warmth in his stomach. He raised his head and smiled with unguarded sincerity. “Big Brother, the noodles were delicious.”
Xu Ziyan frowned and gave his head a vigorous rub. “If they’re good, they’re good. Why eat so fast? You could choke! If you like them, Big Brother will make them again next time.”
Xu Zirong’s eyes brightened. “Yes! Please make them for me again. Then… can Big Brother make them only for me from now on?”
“Sure,” Xu Ziyan replied casually. He did not think his cooking was anything extraordinary, merely ordinary home-style food. Apart from Zirong, probably no one else would have much opportunity to eat it. Zirong rarely asked him for anything, so naturally he would not refuse.
As for his future wife, by the time he married, Zirong would already be grown. Surely the boy would not still care about a childhood promise like that. (He would…)
At Xu Ziyan’s promise, Xu Zirong’s eyes curved with pleasure. Big Brother… failing to keep a promise you made to me will have very serious consequences…
After eating, the brothers left the kitchen. Before going, Xu Ziyan drew the large cook aside and spoke softly to him. The man’s expression changed from shock to gratitude, and by the time he saw Xu Ziyan out, he was so excited he could scarcely breathe.
“Big Brother, why are you recruiting him?” Xu Zirong asked in confusion. To him, that man was useless. He could understand Xu Ziyan gathering followers, but not why he would choose someone who lacked even the most basic cultivation.
Xu Ziyan smiled. “Zirong, are you wondering why I don’t recruit the Xu family disciples instead?”
Xu Zirong nodded. He remembered that plenty of Xu disciples used to cluster around Xu Ziyan. Unfortunately, he had later killed them all.
“Zirong, remember this. The Xu disciples receive their cultivation resources from the Xu family, and their loyalty belongs to the Xu family. I have no intention of rebelling against the clan, but I need people whose loyalty is entirely mine. Especially if my interests ever conflict with the family’s, they must support me unconditionally. Do you understand?”
A glimmer passed through Xu Zirong’s eyes. He nodded slowly, finding himself regarding Xu Ziyan with new respect.
Loyalty to the Xu family and loyalty to Xu Ziyan were entirely different. Xu Ziyan was only one member of the clan. If it became advantageous to sacrifice him someday, those Xu disciples would never stand by him.
Only followers he personally trained and nurtured would possess sufficient loyalty. On this point, Xu Ziyan’s reasoning aligned perfectly with Zirong’s own.
In truth, Xu Ziyan had done very little. He had merely offered the cook, Luo Dashan, a glimmer of hope: the chance to have his spiritual roots tested.
For a bondservant of the Xu family, that was a chance to change his fate. As long as Luo Dashan was clever enough, he would never let it slip away.
After returning to Liushang Courtyard, the brothers went to the training ground together. Although it was a rest day, neither Xu Ziyan nor Xu Zirong intended to slacken his cultivation.
Xu Zirong’s hunger for power had reached an almost obsessive level. Xu Ziyan, meanwhile, trained even harder in order to change their future.
On one side, thin threads of purple lightning danced. On the other, scattered sparks of fresh green light shone. The small training ground was divided between two different powers, yet from a distance they looked strangely harmonious.
The next day, the brothers returned to the training hall. Xu Mo wore his usual fierce expression, while the other Xu disciples began to respond in subtle new ways to Xu Ziyan’s changing attitude.