From a country cook to a master chef

Upon arriving outside Hanzhou, Lin Jue looked up and saw that the city walls of Hanzhou were several meters high, magnificent and imposing. He couldn't help but marvel at how this was indeed an ancient city that had witnessed the rise and fall of several dynasties.

It was nearly night when we entered Hanzhou City.

The streetlights gradually illuminated the streets, and shops lined the streets. The silks and satins in the tailor shops shimmered under the candlelight, while the fire in the blacksmith shops made the craftsmen's angular faces glow red...

Lin Jue strolled along one side of the street, deeply attracted by the dazzling array of goods before him, momentarily overwhelmed by the sight.

The prosperity of Hanzhou City exceeded his expectations. If it weren't for the soldiers patrolling around him from time to time, he would have almost forgotten that the Zhanbo army was about to arrive at the gates of Hanzhou City.

As Lin Jue passed by a restaurant, he couldn't help but look up. On the third floor, the carved wooden window was half-open, and two beautiful women were waving at him with their faces covered, saying in sweet voices, "Young master, such a beautiful day, why don't you come up and have some fun?"

As night deepens, the moat is filled with the lights of countless homes, and painted boats glide gently, accompanied by songs and dances.

Seeing this scene, Lin Jue's heart stirred, and he strode into a proper restaurant.

"Waiter, prepare a superior room for me, and also have the kitchen prepare some good wine and dishes to be delivered to my room."

"Yes, sir."

Seeing that Lin Jue was dressed in extraordinary clothes and had a handsome appearance, the waiter concluded that he was a young master from a noble family. From the moment he entered the door, the waiter followed Lin Jue very attentively, waiting for his orders.

Lin Jue secretly gave a thumbs up to this waiter who was so good at entertaining customers. He would never have been able to do such a job of running errands and reading people's faces.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have chosen to become a chef in the first place.

This place is as prosperous as seven or eight Yu cities, and even Lanzhou city is far inferior to Hanzhou city at this moment when the lights are just coming on.

"Guest, here is your order of food and drinks."

Shortly after Lin Jue entered the room, he heard someone knocking on the door. Strangely, it was a woman's voice that came from outside, and the voice sounded somewhat familiar.

Lin Jue was puzzled. This was his first time in Hanzhou City, and of all the people he had met before, only Xiang Yuan, who had long since passed away, was from Hanzhou.

Besides, he had no acquaintances in Hanzhou City, so how could he hear such a familiar voice?

Although puzzled, Lin Jue gently opened the door.

"Senior Sister Ruyan! It's you!"

"Lin Jue..."

The moment the door opened, both of them froze on the spot. The woman, realizing what was happening, quickly handed the wine and food to Lin Jue and then turned and hurriedly fled.

boom!

Lin Jue was still lost in thought and didn't notice that the food and wine had spilled all over the floor.

Hearing the commotion, the shopkeeper rushed upstairs to check. He was so frightened that he repeatedly apologized, saying, "Sir, please don't be angry. She's new here and doesn't know the rules yet. Please calm down, and I'll serve you a fresh table of good wine and food."

Ignoring the in charge of the shopkeeper, Lin Jue ran past him and chased after the woman who was fleeing the restaurant.

He wanted to find out why Liu Ruyan was here. With her strong and proud personality, how could she lower herself to work as a waitress in a restaurant?

"Didn't Master Liu and the others escape to Xiaoyao City? Did something happen to them on the way?"

Lin Jue was secretly worried. Master Liu and his fellow disciples at the Four Symbols Martial Arts School treated him like family, and he couldn't just stand by and watch them get into trouble.

Regardless, he was determined to catch up and get to the bottom of it.

Thinking of this, Lin Jue immediately used the Eight Steps to Catch the Cicada technique and finally caught up with Liu Ruyan, who was trying to escape, and grabbed her wrist.

"Senior Sister!"

After forcing Liu Ruyan to stop, Lin Jue didn't say anything, but pulled this once extremely proud and lively senior sister to the moat.

"Senior Sister Ruyan, what exactly happened? Why are you avoiding Lin Jue?"

The two sat by the moat, and after a long while, Lin Jue asked the question that had been bothering him.

Upon hearing this, Liu Ruyan remained silent, her expression gradually turning aggrieved. She then suddenly collapsed into Lin Jue's arms and cried uncontrollably.

For a moment, Lin Jue even doubted whether this was still the confident and flamboyant Liu Ruyan from before.

At this moment, Liu Ruyan hugged Lin Jue tightly with both hands, her whole body trembling violently as she cried. Her sobs were filled with pent-up grievances, as she tried to release all the bitterness in her heart.

After an unknown amount of time, Liu Ruyan, exhausted from crying, had already fallen into a deep sleep in Lin Jue's arms.

This time, she slept soundly, even snoring in the middle of the night.

Lin Jue stood guard without daring to move, unable to imagine what had happened after the Four Symbols Martial Arts School left Yucheng.

After a while, Liu Ruyan slowly opened her eyes, gently propped herself up to sit up, and murmured:

"Lin Jue, my father is dead, and all my fellow disciples are dead."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Lin Jue was taken aback; the outcome was even more unacceptable than he had anticipated.

Before Lin Jue could speak, Liu Ruyan smiled foolishly, her voice filled with self-blame and regret, and slowly explained: "After we left Yucheng, we arrived at Xiaoyao Prefecture City without any problems. Father also opened a martial arts school based on his previous reputation."

We thought everything would turn out well, and Father even planned to write to bring you to Xiaoyao City after things had completely settled down in Xiaoyao Mansion.

However, we never expected that our senior brother would betray the martial arts school. He joined forces with the Qi family of Xiaoyao Mansion to kill our father, and he didn't even spare his fellow disciples. They all died at the hands of Wang Lingzhi.

My father and fellow disciples risked their lives to help me escape the city. Afterwards, I fell off a cliff and was seriously injured. I encountered a merchant caravan and followed them to Hanzhou. After that, I lost all my martial arts skills and even contemplated suicide. It was the kind-hearted uncle who ran the inn who saved me from taking my own life and gave me a job as a waiter.

After saying this, Liu Ruyan lowered her head without saying a word.

Lin Jue was filled with rage. He never expected that the senior brother whom everyone respected the most would do such a beastly thing.

Fortunately, Liu Ruyan met a kind restaurant owner.

Recalling how flustered the innkeeper had been after the food and wine had spilled on the ground, Lin Jue couldn't help but sigh.

"I want to avenge my father and my fellow disciples!" Liu Ruyan suddenly looked up at Lin Jue, bit her lip, and said solemnly, "Now that you can avenge them, as long as you are willing, I, I, I am willing to be your slave without any complaints."

As she spoke, Liu Ruyan suddenly knelt down before Lin Jue, because she knew that right now, the only person who would help her was probably her junior brother Lin.

Over the past two years, Lin Jue has made numerous military achievements. Although he is not famous throughout the world, he has become known to Liu Ruyan. She thought she would never meet this junior brother Lin again in her life. Unexpectedly, Lin Jue appeared in Hanzhou City and happened to stay at the restaurant that took her in.

Everything seemed to have been arranged in the dark.

Lin Jue helped the heartbroken Liu Ruyan up; at this moment, he didn't know what to do.

According to Liu Ruyan, Wang Lingzhi had already broken through to the Divine Illumination Realm, and the Qi family of Xiaoyao Mansion, who colluded with him, was even more powerful and deeply rooted in Xiaoyao Mansion. Taking revenge would be no easy task.

Seeing Lin Jue's hesitant expression, Liu Ruyan, knowing that this matter actually had little to do with him, sighed, her expression returning to normal, and said in a pitiful voice:

"Although it was my junior brother who took the initiative to stay in Yucheng, the matter of the martial arts school must have implicated him as well."

It was wrong of Ruyan to rashly ask her junior brother to avenge the martial arts school, but after thinking it over, I had no other choice. Junior Brother Lin was now the only person I knew who might be able to avenge the martial arts school.

I know the Qi family is powerful and Wang Lingzhi is strong. I only ask that Junior Brother Lin, when he has the ability in the future, will step in to avenge the martial arts school!

Upon hearing this, Lin Jue felt a deep sadness in his heart. He was naturally willing to avenge the Four Symbols Martial Arts School, but not right now.

He still has missions to fulfill with his sect and cannot do anything else. Even without this incident, the Qi family is deeply rooted in Xiaoyao Prefecture, and revenge will not be something that can be accomplished in a few days. He still needs to plan for the long term.

After thinking it through, Lin Jue took a deep breath, nodded, and looked into Liu Ruyan's eyes, saying in a deep voice:

"Don't worry, Senior Sister Ruyan. As long as I'm capable in the future, I will definitely make Wang Lingzhi and the Qi family pay the price for our fellow disciples, for our master, and for the martial arts school. They will pay for their blood debts!"

"On behalf of everyone, Ruyan thanks Junior Brother Lin!"