"Let's go, I'll take you out for a nice meal!"
Liu Rusi laughed heartily.
Then she grabbed Ling Feng and leaped into the air.
Ling Feng felt the scenery rushing backward on either side. In just a few blinks, he and Liu Rusi had arrived at the foot of the mountain.
This speed was many times faster than Elder Li.
The two descended the mountain and arrived at a nearby city.
The city was called Yan City.
It was one of the major cities in the Great Zhou, bustling with trade and commerce.
Along the streets, there were numerous shops and restaurants, many selling various weapons and armor.
The martial culture in the Great Zhou was quite prominent, and there were not strict regulations on weapons.
Many people on the streets carried swords and daggers.
Some even wore armor as they walked about.
This was Ling Feng's first visit to such a large city, and he was filled with curiosity, looking around like a country bumpkin entering a grand garden.
Noticing his reaction, Liu Rusi smiled slightly, slowed her pace, and allowed Ling Feng to catch up. After a short while, they arrived in front of a restaurant.
The restaurant had a golden plaque hanging outside, on which were inscribed four grand characters: Tianquan Mountain Villa!
Ling Feng was a bit curious. "Master, this is clearly a restaurant. Why is it called Tianquan Mountain Villa?"
"Tianquan Mountain Villa is a renowned force in the Great Zhou's martial world. They specialize in various businesses, including restaurants, weapons, tea, fabrics, and more. All these industries are unified under the name Tianquan Mountain Villa."
"I see."
Liu Rusi led him inside and found a window seat. The people here seemed to recognize her and immediately came over.
"Elder Liu, how much wine will you be buying today?"
"Not buying wine today, just food! Bring me everything delicious you have!" Liu Rusi said boldly.
"Uh…"
The waiter was taken aback.
In the past, Liu Rusi only ever bought wine and never ate here.
What has gotten into her today?
He glanced at Ling Feng beside her. Could it be because of this guy?
Not asking too many questions, he quickly went to get the dishes.
The service was efficient.
Before long, the table was filled with a dazzling array of dishes.
Eight Treasure Duck, Four Happiness Meatballs, Steamed Bass, Braised Lion's Head, Chicken with Dried Bamboo Shoots, Stir-fried Garlic Sprouts with Meat, Nine-turned Intestines, Spicy Chicken Cubes…
Ling Feng looked at the feast in front of him, eyes wide. "Master, isn't this a bit too much?"
"As martial artists, we need to have a big appetite! Just eat your fill!"
Gulp…
Ling Feng's stomach was just starting to grumble.
He stopped holding back, picked up his chopsticks, and started to eat.
Watching him devour the food, Liu Rusi smiled indulgently and began to eat as well. However, after just a couple of bites, her brows furrowed.
"This isn't as good as the food my disciple makes."
She muttered under her breath.
The waiter, who happened to overhear this, felt displeased but didn't say anything. After returning to the kitchen, he couldn't help but complain.
"That Elder Liu can't do anything but brag. What could a useless gambler like her possibly have eaten? We at Tianquan Mountain Villa have the best chefs in the Great Zhou. What's so special about her disciple's cooking?"
"Who? Who said my cooking is better?"
At that moment, the chef, Zhang, was unhappy.
He stormed out of the kitchen, grabbing the waiter by the collar and threatening, "You just said someone insulted my culinary skills? Who was it?"
"Zhang, Chef Zhang, it was Liu Rusi from Baiyun Sect. She said her disciple's cooking is better than yours," the waiter replied.
"Oh, really? I want to see what kind of rubbish her disciple is!"
Chef Zhang snorted coldly.
He had been the head chef for over twenty years, even working in the imperial palace. Anyone who ate his food praised him.
No one had ever dared to claim that their cooking was better than his.
Today, he wanted to see for himself.
...
Inside the restaurant, Ling Feng was still gobbling down food.
After breaking through to the Innate Realm, he realized his appetite had significantly increased.
Of the numerous dishes on the table, most had been consumed by him, while Liu Rusi, who often fought with him for food at the table, had hardly eaten anything today and seemed to lack interest.
Ling Feng curiously asked, "Master, aren't you hungry?"
"It's not that." Liu Rusi shook her head and said, "Little Feng, from now on, let's just buy ingredients and cook for ourselves back at Piaomiao Peak."
"Master, whether you say you're eating here or cooking at home, it's still you. Are you really that fickle?" Ling Feng responded helplessly.
"Ah, what can I say? My taste buds have been spoiled by someone," Liu Rusi smiled.
There's no harm in comparing.
She never expected her disciple's cooking to be so impressive that it could surpass even the chefs at Tianquan Mountain Villa.
"Now, who is Liu Rusi?"
At that moment, a loud voice echoed through the restaurant. Everyone turned to look, and they saw Chef Zhang, a big-bellied man holding a frying spoon, striding out of the kitchen.
Ling Feng and Liu Rusi were taken aback.
Who is this?
As the crowd heard Liu Rusi's name, they turned to look at her.
Chef Zhang immediately noticed her and rushed over. Although he recognized her beauty, the thought of her belittling his cooking made him furious.
"So you're the one who dissed my dishes."
"I didn't!"
"You said my dishes are not as good as your disciple's, right?"
"Uh, yeah, I might have said that," Liu Rusi tilted her head and thought for a moment. She had indeed muttered that earlier but hadn't expected anyone to hear her.
Still, she was bold enough to stand by her words.
"Good, good! Isn't that an insult?"
"Is that an insult? I was just speaking the truth."
"Fine, let your disciple come out and compete with me! I, Zhang, have been the head chef for so many years and have yet to meet a worthy opponent."
"Dear disciple, this person wants to compete with you in cooking. Why don't you give it a try?" Liu Rusi smiled slightly at Ling Feng.
The crowd looked on in surprise.
Zhang's face turned even darker.
"This kid is your disciple?"
"Are you kidding? What cooking skills can a little brat like him have?"
"Has he ever even stepped into a kitchen?"
"Hmph, Chef Zhang is the head chef at Tianquan Mountain Villa. He has catered to countless nobles and officials. To claim his cooking isn't as good as some kid's? Liu Rusi really knows how to insult people."
The crowd felt a bit indignant for Chef Zhang.
Zhang's expression was stormy. "Fine, Liu Rusi! You dare to insult me like this?!"
"How did I insult you? Are you out of your mind?" Liu Rusi looked at Zhang as if he were a fool.
Is it a crime to speak the truth?
"Master, let's just forget this and head back," Ling Feng suggested.
"Not a chance! You two aren't leaving until I get an explanation!" Chef Zhang fumed.
Liu Rusi's eyes flashed coldly. "Fine! In the Great Zhou, no one can stop me. Watch me tear down Tianquan Mountain Villa!"
She wasn't someone to be easily provoked.
It didn't bother her when others called her a drunkard or a gambler.
Those were just words.
But if someone dared to challenge her directly, even the emperor wouldn't intimidate her.
"Wait, Master, calm down!" Ling Feng hurriedly stepped forward to soothe Liu Rusi. Then he turned to Chef Zhang, "How about this? I'll compete with you, but how do we compare?"
"Simple! You and I will each make three dishes and see whose is better!"
(Please consider some Power Stones, Thank you)