From a country cook to a master chef

Baiyue Hanzhou is home to numerous families, many of whom are officials or wealthy merchants.

Thirty years ago, the Xiang family was the most powerful and influential family in Hanzhou, enjoying immense prestige.

Unfortunately, it still comes true to the old saying, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river."

In the present-day city of Baiyue Hanzhou, there is no longer the so-called Xiang family. There are only some collateral branches of the Xiang family that have survived.

The Xiang Family Restaurant is located in the northeast corner of Hanzhou City. It is a thriving business and is considered a wealthy family in the area.

It is said that the restaurant owner's ancestors were members of the Xiang family.

The Xiang family compound stands behind the restaurant. It is quite magnificent and stands out from the surrounding courtyards, exuding an air of wealth far superior to others.

At this moment, Lin Jue was standing at the entrance of the Xiang residence, pondering what to say when he entered.

Wealthy families are different from others in every way. Even the servants who guard the house are exceptionally high and mighty, and they speak with a strong voice.

Lin Jue had a way of dealing with the unreasonable steward of the Xiang family, and soon easily entered the Xiang family's residence.

Money makes the world go round, but without money, even ghosts won't open the door.

Today, Lin Jue finally realized the truth of this statement, and he was deeply moved.

The demon king is easy to spot, but the lesser demons are difficult to deal with.

After spending money to bribe officials, he finally met Xiang Fei, the orphan of the Xiang family and now the manager of the Xiang Family Restaurant, whom his master Zhong Liang had mentioned.

……

"So you're Uncle Zhong's disciple. Those servants were ignorant and offended us greatly. Brother Lin, please forgive their rudeness!"

Xiang Fei was an upright and honest man who was never harsh on his servants. After learning Lin Jue's identity, he not only did not intend to punish them, but also personally pleaded with Lin Jue on their behalf.

This scene greatly surprised Lin Jue.

"You are a few years older than me, so it is not inappropriate for me to address you as Brother Xiang."

The Zhanbo army will soon be at the city gates. They are coming in a fierce manner, and Hanzhou City will definitely not be able to be defended. It seems that Tianwu Mountain and Dawu are also willing to abandon this city.

Therefore, I urge Brother Xiang to make all the necessary arrangements as soon as possible and accompany me north to Tiandu Pingzhou. This is also my master's wish.

Lin Jue didn't waste any words and directly explained Zhong Liang's arrangements.

He had thought Xiang Fei would hesitate, but to his surprise, the current head of the Xiang family did not hesitate at all. He immediately summoned the steward of the Xiang family and ordered him to sell the restaurant and move the whole family to Pingzhou in Tiandu.

Xiang Fei never objected to Zhong Liang's arrangements, since everything he had now was a gift from Zhong Liang.

Watching Xiang Fei methodically instruct his servants to handle the relocation, Lin Jue pondered for a long time before finally deciding to tell Xiang Yuan about his situation.

After listening to Lin Jue's account, Xiang Fei was filled with shock. He remained stunned for a long while before finally letting out a soft sigh and slowly speaking:

"Brother Lin, you may not know this, but Xiang Yantian is my uncle. My father, Xiang Tongya, was the head of the Xiang family back then, and he and Xiang Yantian are half-brothers."

Speaking of which, when the Xiang family suffered a great calamity, I was able to survive thanks to my cousin Xiang Yuan.

"Brother Xiang Yuan avenged this blood feud for our family, and Xiang Fei will forever remember it. After safely arriving in Pingzhou, I have decided to rewrite our Xiang family genealogy, dedicating a separate page to Brother Xiang Yuan to record everything he has done."

"Brother Xiang, it's excellent that you have this idea! It's all worthwhile that Brother Xiang Yuan risked his life to avenge the Xiang family's massacre."

Lin Jue calmly echoed, and then handed over the Xiang family sword techniques left by Xiang Yuan to Xiang Fei, including the Heavenly Reversal Sword Technique that Xiang Yuan had painstakingly created.

This sword technique can only be mastered by those who have talent and understanding in the way of the sword.

Lin Jue had possessed this sword technique for many years, but had never mastered its intricacies.

After obtaining the Xiang Family Sword Technique manual, Xiang Fei was overjoyed. It can be said that the Xiang Family Sword Technique is the soul of the Xiang family.

For so many years, he has never identified himself as a member of the Xiang clan of Hanzhou, mainly because he does not know the lost Xiang clan sword techniques.

Now that the sword manual has returned to the Xiang family, Xiang Fei was overwhelmed with emotion and could only keep bowing to Lin Jue in gratitude.

For thirty years, Zhong Liang had searched for the whereabouts of the sword technique for the Xiang family countless times, but all to no avail.

Now that Lin Jue has appeared, the sword technique has returned to the Xiang family. He understands in his heart that the return of the sword technique is all thanks to Lin Jue.

After all, if he didn't say anything, who would know that he had known Xiang Yuan, and who would know that the Xiang family sword manual was on his person?

That night, the Xiang family's house was brightly lit inside and out, filled with laughter and joy.

At the banquet, Xiang Fei and Lin Jue became sworn brothers and drank to their hearts' content.

When the Shui family, who had always coveted the Xiang family restaurant but could not obtain it, finally received the transfer document, the head of the Shui family was suspicious.

When the Shui family patriarch learned of the rumors that the Xiang family was moving away from Hanzhou City, he was extremely puzzled.

After all, the Shui and Xiang families have been fiercely competing in the eastern district of Hanzhou City for so many years. Suddenly, with one less competitor, the Shui family head felt a sense of emptiness and loneliness.

……

The next morning, by the time they were discovered, the Xiang family had already vanished.

The Xiang family mansion was completely emptied, as if no one had ever lived there.

A month has passed since the Xiang family of dozens of people were safely escorted to Tiandu Pingzhou.

After completing all this, Lin Jue did not rush back to Jingu Plain to report back, but instead returned the way he came and came back to Baiyue Hanzhou City.

Although he had promised Liu Ruyan that he would avenge the martial arts school, he had not yet had time to properly settle down with this senior sister Ruyan. What he needed to do now was to properly take care of senior sister Ruyan's future life.

When she saw Liu Ruyan again, perhaps because she knew that revenge was possible, she was no longer listless and became lively again.

The dead cannot be brought back to life, but knowing that someone can avenge the martial arts school is enough for her; her life must go on.

"Senior Sister Ruyan, soon Hanzhou City will also be in chaos and war. Staying here is not a long-term solution."

Lin Jue led Liu Ruyan to the moat bank from that night and slowly expressed his thoughts: "Tiandu Prefecture is the capital of the Great Wu Dynasty, so it should be much safer. I have some travel money here. Once you get there, Senior Sister, you can use it to buy some property and start a small business. After I avenge the blood feud at the martial arts school, I will take the time to visit you."

Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible look of disappointment flashed across Liu Ruyan's face, but she still accepted the money bag from Lin Jue's hand, then lowered her head slightly, seemingly lost in thought.

Seeing this, Lin Jue sighed inwardly and did not linger, not daring to stay any longer and cause any more trouble.

Watching Lin Jue ride away on horseback, Liu Ruyan stood there for a long time, looking dejected, before finally letting out a soft sigh and listlessly returning to the restaurant.

Not long after, the restaurant was deserted and sold to other people.

Rumors circulated that the shopkeeper had run away with his newly acquired concubine.

Lin Jue, who had already left Hanzhou City, was unaware of this matter. At this moment, he had already returned to Jingu Plain to report back and found Senior Sister Ding to obtain the fake Reversal Five Elements Pill in advance.

After finally having some free time, Lin Jue rested for two days in Jin Valley Plain and planned to collect some Mighty Pills and Yellow Dragon Pills in an attempt to break through to the Divine Illumination Realm.

He drank the Five Poisons Wine brewed by the patriarch of the Yanxia Sect, thinking he would break through to the Divine Illumination Realm quickly, but several months have passed and there has been no progress.

Could it be that he drank fake alcohol?

"Junior Brother Lin, Master needs to speak with you urgently."

That day, Lin Jue had just walked out of the supplies depot at Tianwu Mountain when his senior brother Long Fei, whom he hadn't seen for a long time, suddenly found him and conveyed Master Zhong Liang's words to him.

Lin Jue was surprised by this, but he still obediently went to see his master, Zhong Liang.

"Lin Jue, an important mission has been assigned to Tianwu Mountain, and you and Long Fei need to go together to complete it."

The detailed task arrangements are all recorded in this jade slip. To avoid delaying important matters, you shall set off immediately.

Inside the tent, Lin Jue and Long Fei had barely settled in when their master, Zhong Liang, urged them to set off as soon as possible, looking worried as if things had reached a critical point.

Upon seeing this, Lin Jue and Long Fei immediately accepted the order and rode their horses out of Jin Valley Plain without daring to stop for a moment.