From a country cook to a master chef

The cellar was quiet, with the gentle scent of sandalwood wafting through the air.

As Wu Yanzi recounted Zhao Kun's next plans, Lin Jue frowned.

"I never expected that guy would invite the Liu family troupe from Yucheng to perform. Now things are even more complicated."

The Liu family of Yucheng is famous throughout the entire Xiaoyao Prefecture.

Although Lin Jue had not been in this world for long, he had heard of the Liu Family Troupe of Yucheng.

Lin Jue glanced at the mutated black snake in the snake box, thought for a moment, then beckoned to the silver ring snake in the corner and took out a piece of chili pepper and placed it near its mouth.

"I've heard that Master Liu of the Liu Family Troupe in Yucheng is a Foundation Establishment cultivator? I wonder how he compares to your master, Venerable Golden Light?"

The chili pepper in Lin Jue's hand made the silver-ringed snake uncomfortable, but after hesitating, it still decisively swallowed it whole.

Seeing this, Wu Yanzi was shocked. "He actually has such snake-taming skills. It seems that the mutated black snake will eventually be surnamed Lin. I'd better not dream about it."

Wu Yanzi swallowed hard. His original plan to find an opportunity to reclaim the Soul Blood and seize the mutated black snake vanished instantly.

Lin Jue has left him with a psychological shadow that is difficult to shake off.

He pulled out a slightly wrinkled letter from his pocket that had already been opened: "I dare not comment on my master, Venerable Jin Guang, but Liu Hua, the leader of the Liu family troupe, is said to have broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage a year ago. Now that a year has passed, his strength must have become even more unfathomable."

"This letter was written by Zhao Kun in secret communication with Liu Hua's adopted son, Liu Qiang. After reading it, Liu Qiang intended to burn it, but fortunately, Xiao Dao replaced it in time."

An adopted son!?

Hearing this, Lin Jue secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It's only natural for a traveling opera troupe leader to take in a few adopted sons.

If he is just an adopted son, even if he gets hurt or injured, as long as he is offered a large reward, the trouble with the head of the Liu family troupe should be easily resolved.

Of course, Lin Jue would not want to do this unless absolutely necessary.

As for Zhao Kun, with Miss Zhao Er pointing out his wolfish ambitions, and the head of the Liu family troupe being an upright and honest person, he would not interfere in this matter.

"Since Zhao Kun invited the Liu family troupe to perform to pray for good weather and a melted snow, he'll probably need to perform a ritual involving spirits before the performance," Lin Jue said, teasing the silver-ringed snake with his index finger. "Have you found out when the spirits will be invoked and when the performance will begin?"

"Today!"

"today?"

Lin Jue was surprised, not expecting Zhao Kun to be so impatient.

Hiring someone to perform is a pretense; with so many people around, their true intention is to secretly take action against Master Zhao.

"As long as the Second Miss and I don't show ourselves, Zhao Kun shouldn't suspect that Zhu Xinghe and his group have already run into trouble at Wufeng Mountain..."

Upon hearing Zhao Xiaoyao's name, Lin Jue suddenly realized that the second young lady, who should have been staying in the cellar, was now...

Missed.

"Women can cause trouble!"

Lin Qi stood up, sighed deeply, and hurriedly sent Wu Yanzi out to look for Zhao Xiaoyao, praying that she had not yet been discovered by Zhao Kun.

Otherwise, if Zhao Kun becomes wary, things will become difficult.

"The Crimson Scale Python problem hasn't been solved yet. Zhao Kun is very meticulous. If the Second Miss is captured by him, it would be best if I didn't get involved in this matter."

Lin Jue waved for the silver-ringed snake to go cool off somewhere else, then sat down, feeling extremely depressed and heavy-hearted.

"Although my master has treated me well, it's ultimately just a matter of mutual benefit. The only one who truly cares for me is Master Xu!"

Back then, in the freezing cold, Lin Jue was huddled alone in a mass grave. Fortunately, Master Xu rescued him; otherwise, as an unregistered outsider, he would probably have become a cold corpse in the mass grave long ago in this snowy weather where everyone was busy taking care of themselves.

……

It was nearing noon.

The sounds of firecrackers and drums awakened the silent Yulin Town.

The remaining twenty-odd households in the town, men, women, and children, totaling about a hundred people, were all gathered at the entrance of the Zhao family compound.

The Yu family troupe had already set up a stage, arranged tables and chairs, lit a fire, and prepared food in the courtyard.

Once the troupe leader Liu Hua finishes paying respects to the ancestral master, burning the yellow paper, and tossing the divination blocks, he can lead the townspeople to the mountain god temple to invite the gods.

In front of the Zhao family compound, a large crowd gathered. The adults were fine, but the emaciated children were all eagerly waiting, their eyes fixed on the stewed beef and horse meat in the large pot.

Lin Jue was completely covered up, with only his eyes showing, and blended into the crowd.

Everywhere was covered in ice and snow, and his attire was not particularly eye-catching.

"What a waste of this pot of beef and horse meat!"

Lin Jue, the top chef of the Zhao family, felt heartbroken when he saw the cattle and horses being stewed in a big pot. He cursed the inexperienced cooks in the Liu family's kitchen for wasting such a precious resource.

As nine cannon salutes rang out, long strings of red paper firecrackers crackled and spewed up plumes of smoke.

Amid cheers, the townspeople crowded around the palanquin carrying the god and surged toward the mountain god temple.

To avoid being discovered by Zhao Kun, Lin Jue could only try to stay in the most crowded areas.

It's only a two-mile journey from the Zhao Family Compound to the Mountain God Temple in Yulin Town.

The location of the mountain god temple is the ancestral graveyard of every household in the entire Yulin Town.

Therefore, it is more accurate to call it an ancestral temple than a mountain god temple.

Amidst the bustling crowd, a mysterious figure suddenly approached Lin Jue.

It turned out to be Wu Yanzi disguised as a person performing a ritual to summon spirits.

"Miss Zhao has been taken back to the cellar by Xiaodao. As you instructed, she will expose Zhao Kun's conspiracy after we make our move."

"Everything is proceeding according to plan."

Lin Jue didn't say much, not wanting to attract the attention of Zhao Kun's men.

After waiting for an hour in front of the temple slope, Liu, the troupe leader, raised the incense tray and said in a long voice:

"With the wind and snow raging on, the descendants of the five families of Yulin Town respectfully invite their ancestors, mountain gods, and earth immortals to bless Yulin Town with favorable weather and abundant harvests, and for its people to prosper."

"Summon a spirit medium!"

"A second invitation for divine travel!"

"rise!"

As the head of the Liu family troupe lit incense and burned yellow paper, firecrackers and drums suddenly sounded all around.

The people who had already put on makeup rushed forward, carried the paper spirit medium onto a high sedan chair, and, with stilts on their feet, returned to the Zhao family compound while beating drums and gongs, singing and dancing.

Lin Jue casually picked up a Ghost King flag and silently followed behind the crowd, sizing up Liu, the head of the troupe, who was several people away from him.

Spiritual practitioners are detached from worldly affairs. It is truly rare to find a spiritual practitioner like Master Liu, who cultivates himself while also making a living in the mortal world.

Sensing something, Liu, the head of the troupe, suddenly turned around and glanced at Lin Jue. This glance made him feel uncomfortable as if he were being looked down upon.

Lin Jue quickly averted his gaze, thinking that it was best to avoid too much contact with this person for the time being.

On second thought, this person is a cultivator, yet he is still making money in the mortal world. It seems that as long as one is willing to give it up, it is not difficult to resolve the issue.

When it comes to dealing with Zhao Kun, the Second Miss will step in to mediate. Given the wealth of the Zhao family in Yulin Town, even if they make exorbitant demands, it won't matter.

The procession circled around Yulin Town, and by the time they returned to the Zhao family compound, it was already night.

Although there was a campfire for warmth and light, the wind and snow intensified at night. Lin Jue, who was sitting in the back where the wind was blowing, was suddenly startled by a whisper in his ear, which sent a chill down his spine.

"This guest, please come in, my third young master, Zhao Kun!"