Huang Rong from The Return of the Condor Heroes: Guo'er, calm down.

The music stopped.

The white figure disappeared into the night.

Yang Guo did not rush to carry out the self-inflicted injury scheme of "going into demonic possession".

That was a last resort, something to be used only as a last resort. If Granny Sun turned out to be the kind of person who wouldn't help someone in distress, then this whole joke would be a disaster.

First, we need to pave the way.

The road should be paved smooth and level so that it won't hurt anyone's feet when walking on it.

Early the next morning, Yang Guo squatted at the entrance of the thatched hut, holding a fire poker in his hand, writing and drawing.

Yin Zhiping arrived with dark circles under his eyes.

He was so excited last night that he didn't sleep a wink, clutching two radishes and getting excited half the night. Seeing Yang Guo squatting there, he immediately came over.

"Guo'er, what are you writing?"

Yang Guo didn't even look up: "Prescription."

"A prescription?" Yin Zhiping became anxious. "Who's sick? Is Miss Long sick?"

"A mental illness." Yang Guo propped up the wooden board, which was covered with writing. "Master, think about it. The fairy sister spends all day in the ancient tomb, eating honey and drinking dew. Although that sounds elegant, it doesn't keep you full. When people are hungry, they are in a bad mood; when they are in a bad mood, they don't want to talk to people. That's called 'appetite determines feelings'."

Yin Zhiping was stunned: "Then... according to you?"

"We need to change the food." Yang Guo pointed to the wooden board. "This is a 'dietary therapy list' that I came up with last night. Take a look."

Yin Zhiping took a closer look and frowned deeply.

"Custo from the Western Regions? Top-quality flour? Snow lotus honey from the Tianshan Mountains? And this... pepper?" Yin Zhiping gasped. "Guo'er, these things aren't cheap. Especially cumin and pepper, those are rare goods that only Western Region caravans have. Our Quanzhen Sect's kitchen only has salt and vinegar."

"Master, you can't catch a wolf without risking your cub." Yang Guo threw down the wooden plank, crossed his arms, and said, "If you think it's too expensive, then forget it. Anyway, the Fairy Sister is getting thin from hunger, so it's not me who's worried. I'll go cook some wild vegetables and make do with this meal."

When Yin Zhiping heard the words "starved to death," his heart broke.

"Buy it!" Yin Zhiping gritted his teeth, reaching into his robes and rummaging for a while before pulling out a few loose silver coins. His face was grim. "But... I spent all my monthly allowance on roast chicken. This..."

"Master, you're the second-in-command among the third-generation disciples," Yang Guo said in a low voice, trying to persuade him. "Didn't our temple just receive a batch of incense money? Wasn't it your people who were in charge of purchasing it? Just say that the Ancestral Master appeared in a dream and wanted to eat some tribute items from the Western Regions. Who would dare to check your accounts?"

Yin Zhiping was startled, his face turning pale: "This...this is embezzlement!"

"What do you mean by misappropriation? This is called borrowing." Yang Guo patted Yin Zhiping on the shoulder. "Once you've won over the fairy sister, just take a couple of antiques from the ancient tomb and you'll have filled the hole, right? Besides, if you can't even be flexible enough for such an important matter, how can you achieve great things?"

Looking into Yang Guo's resolute eyes, Yin Zhiping's defenses crumbled little by little.

Also.

For Miss Long, he would have done anything, even embezzled public funds, or even stripped the tiles from the main hall of Chongyang Palace to sell for money.

"Alright!" Yin Zhiping stamped his foot. "I'll go down the mountain to take care of it right away! You wait, the goods will definitely be delivered before dark!"

Watching Yin Zhiping's hurried figure disappear into the distance, Yang Guo's lips curled into a wicked smile.

……

It was evening.

Yin Zhiping returned with a large bundle on his back, panting heavily.

"Guo'er, everything... is here." Yin Zhiping put the bundle down in the thatched shed. "That cumin powder was so hard to find, I went to three markets before I could buy it. And this flour, it's fine flour that's been ground three times, as white as snow."

"Master, you've worked hard." Yang Guo opened the bundle, inspected it, and nodded in satisfaction. "Go and rest in the woods over there, and wait to see the show."

"I'm not going to help?"

"What can I do to help?" Yang Guo pushed him out. "A gentleman keeps away from the kitchen. You're a master; how can I let you do such rough work with smoke and fire? Just stay there and watch. When Granny Sun comes out, just strike a dashing pose and let her catch a glimpse of your elegance from afar."

Yin Zhiping thought this made sense, so he straightened his clothes and hid in a small grove of trees about fifty feet away. That spot offered a clear view, allowing him to see the thatched hut and the entrance to the ancient tomb.

Yang Guo only began to make his move after seeing that he had hidden himself well.

He set up several stones in the open space in front of the thatched hut and placed a clean bluestone slab on top of them.

These days, if you can't get teppanyaki, stone slab grilling will do.

He started a fire under the stone slab and made it burn brightly. When the stone slab was hot to the touch, he brushed it with a thick layer of vegetable oil.

"Sizzle—"

Oil fumes rose.

Yang Guo sliced ​​the wild rabbit he had caught in a snare at the foot of the mountain in the afternoon and laid it out on the stone slab.

Instantly, the aroma of meat filled the air.

Then he grabbed a handful of cumin powder and pepper and sprinkled it on top.

This flavor is so overpowering.

In the back mountains of the Quanzhen Sect, where the diet is light and health-conscious, the strong aroma of meat with its Western Region flavor is practically a biological weapon. Following the evening breeze, it slips straight into the crevice of the ancient tomb.

As Yang Guo flipped the meat slices over the grill, he hummed an unknown little tune.

Next to him was a ceramic pot, inside which his special "honey cake" was steaming.

Most pastries these days are either too hard or cloyingly sweet. Yang Guo used whipped egg whites and refined flour, plus the expensive Tian Shan snow lotus honey that Yin Zhiping bought at great expense, and the steamed cake was as soft as a cloud.

Fifteen minutes later.

Sure enough, the stone door of the ancient tomb stirred.

"Boom!"

The door opened a crack.

Grandma Sun poked her head out, still holding her cane, her face full of anger.

"You brat! What are you doing?" Granny Sun grumbled as she walked over. "You've made this back hill a complete mess! Don't you know the young lady prefers peace and quiet? What's that smell... Achoo!"

The cumin flavor was so strong that it made Grandma Sun sneeze.

Yang Guo had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

He immediately threw down the shovel in his hand, picked up an exquisite wooden tray that had been prepared beforehand, and went to greet it with a fawning expression.

"Grandma! You've finally come out!"

Yang Guo held the wooden plate up to Granny Sun.

On the plate were two pieces of golden-brown, crispy roasted rabbit meat, and next to them were two pieces of soft, steaming honey cake.

"I was just worried that Grandma and Fairy Sister would get tired of cold food, so I specially came up with some new ideas," Yang Guo said, his eyes crinkling into crescents with a smile. "Would you like to try some? I grilled all the fat off the meat, so it's not greasy. And these pastries are made with egg whites; they melt in your mouth without needing to be chewed."

Granny Sun originally came to scold people.

But the aroma wafted straight into her nose, making her stomach rumble with hunger. The ancient tomb was usually a place of bland food and drink; she'd never encountered such a powerful fragrance before.

She looked at Yang Guo suspiciously: "You did this?"

"Of course." Yang Guo patted his chest. "I practically dug up the corner of the Quanzhen Sect's kitchen wall to gather all the ingredients for this meal."

Grandma Sun swallowed hard, picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of meat, and put it in her mouth.

The unique aroma of cumin, mixed with the meat juices, explodes on the tip of the tongue.

The old woman's eyes widened instantly.

"this……"

"Is it delicious?" Yang Guo quickly handed over the honey cake as well. "Try this one too, it'll cut through the richness."

Grandma Sun took another bite of the cake.

Soft, sweet, and with a faint floral fragrance.

"Good lad." Granny Sun's expression completely changed; her fierceness vanished, replaced by a loving look as if she were looking at her grandson. "I didn't know you had this trick up your sleeve?"

"Grandma, you flatter me." Yang Guo shoved the wooden tray into Granny Sun's hands. "This portion is especially for you. There's another portion in the pot, wrapped in lotus leaves. Would you like to take it in and let the Fairy Sister have a taste?"

Grandma Sun looked at the heavy wooden plate in her hand and felt a little guilty.

"This... I can't accept something for nothing. You rascal, you seem so carefree all the time, but you're actually quite thoughtful." Granny Sun sighed. "These things must have cost a lot of money, right?"

Yang Guo sighed, lowered his head, and rubbed his toes on the ground.

"Money is a small matter," Yang Guo said in a low voice. "As long as Grandma and Fairy Sister don't mind, I'd be willing to pawn this Taoist robe. I have no relatives on the mountain, and I only feel close to Grandma. This little thing is just a small token of my filial piety."

These words were spoken with heartfelt sincerity.

Grandma Sun was deeply moved.

This child is so thoughtful! Even though he's going through such a hard time himself, he still thinks about them.

"Alright." Granny Sun put the wooden tray into her basket. "I'm grateful for your kindness. If those Taoist priests ever dare to bully you again, just run to the ancient tomb, and I'll protect you."

"Thank you, Grandma!" Yang Guo was overjoyed.

Grandma Sun turned to leave, but suddenly stopped and looked back at the grove of trees in the distance.

"Is that sneaky Taoist priest over there your master?"

Yang Guo's heart skipped a beat.

That old woman has a sharp eye.

"Ah...yes." Yang Guo scratched his head. "My master was worried about me, afraid that I would burn down the mountain, so he specially kept an eye on it from there."

"Hmph." Granny Sun sneered, "That Yin Zhiping is no good either, he's got shifty eyes. The only good thing about him is that he took you as his apprentice, it's like his ancestors' graves are emitting auspicious smoke."

After saying that, Granny Sun picked up her basket, turned around, and went into the ancient tomb.

The stone gate slammed shut.

Yang Guo let out a long breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

In the grove of trees in the distance, Yin Zhiping saw Granny Sun go inside and immediately rushed out.

"How is it? How is it?" Yin Zhiping grabbed Yang Guo's arm, so excited he was incoherent. "Did she accept it? Did Miss Long accept it?"

"I'll take it!" Yang Guo said, looking exhausted. "Master, you didn't see it. Granny Sun was initially reluctant, saying that the Quanzhen Sect's things were unclean. I went through a lot of trouble, saying that you, Master, were so sincere and had run your legs off for these ingredients, before Granny Sun finally reluctantly accepted it."

"Really?" Yin Zhiping's eyes reddened. "She...she knew it was me who sent it?"

"Of course I know!" Yang Guo said shamelessly. "I specifically pointed to the woods and said that Master was guarding over there. Granny Sun even glanced in that direction several times, her eyes... her eyes were quite complicated. I guess she was moved by Master's devotion."

Yin Zhiping clutched his chest, a lecherous grin spreading across his face. "Guo'er, you've done a great service! A truly great service!"

Yang Guo rolled his eyes inwardly at Yin Zhiping's spineless appearance.

If you found out that the old woman called you a thief, you'd probably hang yourself on the spot.

"Master, this is just the first step." Yang Guo pressed on while the iron was hot. "Since the fairy sister ate our food, she owes us a favor. In the next few days, we need to send her different kinds of food. We need to spoil her palate so that when we stop supplying her, she will come looking for us on her own."

"Yes! Yes!" Yin Zhiping nodded repeatedly. "What should we send tomorrow? What else should we buy? Your teacher will go and prepare it right away!"

"Tomorrow..." Yang Guo stroked his chin, his eyes flickering, "Tomorrow we won't send food. We'll send some... necessities."

"For use?"

"It's cold and damp in the ancient tomb, the fairy sister must wear out her clothes practicing her kung fu." Yang Guo made up a lie with a straight face. "Master, you should buy a few bolts of the finest Suzhou and Hangzhou silk, white, the thinner the better, the more sheer the better... oh no, the softer the better."

Yin Zhiping blushed slightly: "This... isn't sending clothing fabric a bit too abrupt?"

"What's so abrupt?" Yang Guo rolled his eyes at him. "Do you want her to practice martial arts in coarse linen clothes, or in the silk you gave her, clinging to her body...?"

Yin Zhiping almost spurted blood from his nose.

"Buy it! I'll buy it!"