There's something wrong with me

It was nearly eleven o'clock.

On the small road outside the inn.

A team of soldiers carrying guns ran alongside a small car.

A junior official was driving the small car.

Peng Ge sat in the passenger seat, legs crossed, looking at the inn that was getting closer.

At this hour, it was still brightly lit, very conspicuous in the countryside.

'Is their business that good?

Thirty percent, how much money can I make?'

Seeing this scene, Peng Ge couldn't help but sit up straighter. He saw that the tables and chairs outside the inn were also mostly full.

At the same time.

"Look, there are soldiers over there..."

"Are they coming towards us?"

"Look at their clothes... they are Hang General's men..."

Most of the guests outside the inn, upon seeing the group of soldiers approach, had their cheerful drinking atmosphere instantly shattered, replaced by a timid demeanor, not daring to breathe, and only burying their heads in their food.

Only a few individuals went about their business, continuing to drink and chat.

In this area, they were somewhat influential figures and knew some people.

Furthermore, they honestly sent money to Hang General every quarter.

So they were not very afraid of these foot soldiers and junior officers.

Of course, there was still some panic, but for the sake of face, they could only pretend to be calm.

In fact, they themselves did not realize that their speaking voices had also become softer without them knowing.

Or rather, all the guests prayed that these people were just passing by.

However, things did not go as hoped.

Whoosh—

The car stopped at the entrance of the inn.

Swish swish swish—

The soldiers also dispersed, seemingly surrounding the entrance with authority.

However, their discipline was a bit too lax.

Some soldiers even sniffed hard, smelling the fragrance in the air while looking at the food on the guests' tables.

'It really is fragrant!'

As soon as Peng Ge got out of the car, smelling this aroma, he knew this inn would definitely be popular.

Because he had been to many large restaurants and eaten dishes made by many top chefs.

His palate had long been spoiled.

The food of ordinary chefs couldn't attract him.

Even when his Brother mentioned how delicious Zhang Feng's cooking was, he felt the other person was exaggerating.

So he had never come over.

But at this moment.

Just by smelling the aroma of the food in the air, he felt an impulse to eat, a sense of hunger.

Based on this alone, he knew that Zhang Feng's culinary skills had surpassed those of any Chef he knew.

"Peng Boss!"

At this time, there were people who knew Peng Ge, bowing and greeting him.

Peng Ge waved his hand slightly and ignored these people.

He led his team into the inn.

The arrival of Peng Ge and his group caused the inn to become quiet again.

"Factory Director Peng!"

The Manager saw Peng Ge had arrived and was a hundred percent enthusiastic, running out from behind the counter.

"Oh." Peng Ge saw the Manager and, for his nephew's sake, nodded slightly and said, "Where is the Chef in your shop? Take me to see him."

As he spoke, a waiter happened to come out carrying a dish.

It was an authentic braised pork.

When Peng Ge saw it, he waved his hand slightly again.

His subordinate was truly sharp; he stepped forward two steps, took the dish the waiter was carrying, and took out a pair of chopsticks wrapped in floral cloth from his jacket pocket.

Peng Ge didn't care whose dish it was, picked up the chopsticks, blew on them slightly, and took a bite.

As the tender piece of meat entered his mouth, the taste was not greasy. Instead, it had a chewing sensation like fish flakes and a fresh fragrance of a riverbed.

Clearly, these flavors were somewhat conflicting and even the texture was awkward.

But it was simply delicious, an indescribable deliciousness.

Afterward, Peng Ge didn't care about anything else, picked up his chopsticks again, and took a few more bites.

"Gulp..." The people next to him watched, their mouths watering, their stomachs even more so.

'How could there be such great culinary skill in this small place?' After a few bites, Peng Ge realized he had been a little undignified just now.

But then he thought that people often imagined him and his group as crude individuals who would sit down in an inn, take off their clothes, and shout loudly.

In that case, he had actually been quite shy just now.

"Let's go, to the back kitchen."

Peng Ge thought about it, and after eating the delicious food, he was even more determined to see Zhang Feng.

And to be honest.

He no longer wanted Zhang Feng to run an inn.

Wouldn't it be better to be a Chef for Hang General's family?

'If I find such a Chef for the big Boss, the big Boss will probably value me even more!'

As Hang General's confidant, Peng Ge knew that his master not only loved money but also loved gourmet food.

Or rather, most people love to eat.

It's just that Hang General, because he prints money and is rich, is even better at it.

This is reflected in the fact that Hang General basically visits the local large restaurants or tastes food in famous small shops whenever he goes to a place.

This is a certainty.

Peng Ge was also Hang General's confidant, so he naturally ate with him, which is why his palate was spoiled.

And now, there was a super Chef, far surpassing all the chefs Peng Ge knew.

The value of this is naturally self-evident.

Peng Ge even imagined that when he sent Zhang Feng over, Hang General would surely be overjoyed.

Rustle—

While thinking, Peng Ge lifted the curtain of the backyard and came to the door of the back kitchen.

This kitchen had no door, allowing various mixed food aromas to waft out in waves.

Upon entering the kitchen, the temperature also rose.

Hoo hoo—

There were three stoves burning, and there were six people in the back kitchen now.

The former Chef and a newly recruited Chef were stir-frying, and there were three apprentices helping out.

They were stir-frying ordinary dishes, but the prices were also higher than those of ordinary inns.

After all, Zhang Feng had guided them for several months, so their skills had naturally improved.

And at this moment.

Peng Ge didn't look at these two; instead, he recognized Zhang Feng at a glance, because the strong aroma in the air was all coming from Zhang Feng's side.

And seeing Zhang Feng stir-fry with ease, every movement seemed naturally perfect.

Peng Ge felt that 'Chef Zhang' must be him, even though Chef Zhang looked very young, completely different from the fat, big-eared image he had imagined.

"Master Zhang?"

Peng Ge called out from the doorway, this time very politely.

And he waved his hand for the third time, this time signaling the soldiers following behind him not to enter the kitchen area.

"You are?" Zhang Feng currently had six Spiritual Minds open, working on six things at once, and had already seen Peng Ge arrive.

But he really didn't know who he was.

However, judging by the people following him, plus what his nephew said about notifying some factory director.

Then he should be that factory director.

"My brothers all call me Peng Yaozi." Peng Ge said with a smile, "I heard from my Brother that Master Zhang's skills are good, so I came to meet you tonight."

Speaking of this, he couldn't hide his amazement, saying, "But I didn't expect Master Zhang's skills to be so good? If I had known earlier, I would have come to support Master Zhang long ago."

'His way of speaking, one set after another, doesn't seem like a soldier.' Zhang Feng felt that he was like someone doing business in the martial world.

In other words, he had a kind of 'righteousness of the underworld'.

But that didn't mean he was righteous; it was just that this military uniform coupled with this set of words felt very awkward.

It was like the suit and bowing he saw earlier.

Now, Zhang Feng also knew what this awkwardness was; it was like the Republican era dramas on TV, full of superficial pleasantries.

It was all too fake.

"It's just a bit of skill to make a living."

They were fake, and Zhang Feng was also fake, integrating into them, integrating into the life of this era.

"Master Zhang is being too modest!" Peng Ge was very happy to hear Zhang Feng being so humble, fearing that some people would be arrogant with their talent.

Of course, he felt that the reason Zhang Feng was so humble was likely related to the row of soldiers outside the door.

The complete suppression in terms of strength made Peng Ge feel that most of the people he met were humble people.

At the same time, after saying these words, Peng Ge looked at the two plates of dishes in the kitchen that hadn't been taken out yet.

These were all made by Zhang Feng's hand, and they could be said to be perfect in color, aroma, and taste.

Peng Ge couldn't help but eat directly.

Zhang Feng didn't mind, instead thinking that this connection with Peng Ge was good.

Originally, he was thinking of slowly approaching Hang General.

But now a bigger figure had arrived, and he was directly connected to Hang General.

Then he could completely use him as a stepping stone and directly contact Hang General.

In response, Zhang Feng instantly had two plans.

First,术法 (Technique).

Second, culinary skills.

He quickly rejected the first one.

Because if he used a technique in front of him and then asked him to introduce him.

In that case, facing a cultivator, and perhaps worrying about the general's safety, he naturally would not introduce him.

After all, he didn't have that overwhelming strength yet.

Of course, holding a knife to him and forcing him to introduce him was also an option, but it would just be creating trouble for himself and adding unnecessary steps.

Zhang Feng currently just wanted to be stable, just wanted to devour knowledge.

Find a stable knowledge base first.

Then, culinary skills, this is the breakthrough.

If that doesn't work, then he would make this Peng Ge suffer from an incurable disease that wouldn't kill him, and then he would happen to know about it and treat him.

Superb medical skills are also a connection.

It's just that Zhang Feng hadn't decided exactly what to use yet.

After Hang Ge ate a few satisfying bites of the dishes, he said to Zhang Feng, "Are you interested in cooking at the General's mansion? If you are, I can help you with an introduction."

"Okay." Zhang Feng agreed directly.

...

Really, Zhang Feng didn't expect to connect with the General so quickly.

But thinking about it again, his culinary skills had broken the world's limits, so it seemed quite normal.

It's just that they might be investigating his identity, which is why this introduction needs to wait a bit.

While waiting, Zhang Feng wasn't idle.

He picked some simple techniques from his skills and taught them slightly to the Chef Zhang inside the inn.

After all, he had discussed expansion with the Manager.

Although man proposes, God disposes, he reached his goal faster.

But the thought of opening a large restaurant as a cook still lingered in Zhang Feng's mind.

After finishing these things.

Zhang Feng also made a special trip to The City, telling the 'Corpse Herding Brothers' to keep a low profile for now.

They didn't ask much either.

Furthermore, this Lin Dao Friend wasn't fully recovered yet, even if they wanted to run around, they were afraid of delaying his injury recovery.

Similarly, Zhang Feng also planned to wait until his strength was a bit higher before dealing with Yangshan.

...

Who would have thought that this investigation by Peng Ge and the others took a month?

But thinking about it, it made sense; in those days, there was nothing, everything relied on asking people.

Finally, after discovering that Zhang Feng was innocent and not someone deliberately sent by anyone.

Zhang Feng also entered Hang General's mansion.

His home was in a large city two hundred li away.

The conditions and atmosphere here were indeed much better than the city where the inn was.

At least the colors were much more vibrant, and there were many colorful and boisterous 'nightclubs' in the evening.

...

'You will work here from now on.'

After Peng Ge brought Zhang Feng to the mansion, he left.

Zhang Feng also met this Hang General, a regional Boss in the Min Dynasty.

However, Zhang Feng was used to seeing big shots, so he wasn't particularly excited.

Instead, he felt that Hang General was a slightly overweight middle-aged man.

He looked somewhat imposing, but more often had a smiling 'business' demeanor.

After that, the thing he did most every day was cook over twenty meals a day.

Besides the General's family, there were also five cultivators in his mansion.

Their realms were just average, not comparable to the 'Corpse Herding Brothers'.

But they did have some basic Spiritual Qi structures.

...

In the blink of an eye, a year had passed since he arrived at the mansion.

The thing Zhang Feng did most every day was cook during the day and sneak into one of Hang General's studies at night.

Compared to the Jianghu world, where everyone liked to hide their secret manuals.

Hang General, on the other hand, placed the spell secret manuals in this study and allowed the five cultivators in the mansion to view them at any time.

Zhang Feng also used this convenience, still in the identity of a cook, to look for opportunities to view them.

After all, his current strength was too low, and exposing himself too early wasn't very good.

Like this.

Another year passed.

While slowly learning, Zhang Feng's physique reached [242], and he had ten Spiritual Minds.

In the mansion, he was completely like a small transparent figure, only doing his duty.

And in a carefree state.

Zhang Feng also learned the 'Fire Spirit Body Protection' spell.

It was the best spell in the study, and also the main subject Zhang Feng analyzed over the past two years.

Among them, its structure was slightly more complex than Earth Thorn, being 'drawn with two strokes'.

Precisely because it was two strokes, the difficulty increased geometrically.

Because while the first stroke was completed, before the second stroke was formed, the structure of the first stroke would pulsate irregularly.

This required dividing his attention to control, and constantly modifying the second stroke to correspond to all positions of the first stroke, thereby forming a complete structure.

Among them, the control and management of force required were more meticulous.

Zhang Feng felt this was training 'control over spirit and Spiritual Qi'.

It was also training his thinking.

Of course, drawing a rough outline could also allow him to cast some of it.

But Zhang Feng liked to strive for perfection, making everything related to knowledge relatively perfect.

Furthermore, control needed to be practiced in the first place.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to cast spells like pointing to a deer and calling it a horse, etc., that he envisioned.

Just like this, ever since entering the General's mansion, and after two years of practice.

Zhang Feng could now instantly cast 'Fire Spirit Body Protection'.

The appearance of this spell was to cover the chest, back, and limbs with fire attribute, forming a 'armor' that wasn't completely protective.

This was Fire Spirit Body Protection.

It looked a bit abstract.

Zhang Feng was now also trying, while maintaining balance, to add more and more, striving to cover his entire body.

But what was interesting was that during the process of adding, Zhang Feng also tried combining it with earth attribute drawings.

Simply put, he took some drawings from the fire attribute and tried adding them to the earth attribute.

Going back and forth like this, Zhang Feng unintentionally drew a spell similar to an 'Earth Wall'.

This could be considered an 'upgrade' of Earth Thorn.

The complexity was '1.7 strokes'.

This immediately excited Zhang Feng, making him feel that the basic construction principles of Spiritual Qi were interconnected.

...

In the blink of an eye, another month passed.

Today at noon.

Hang General was in the large courtyard, watching five cultivators practice spells, and there were also soldiers all around.

'General.'

At this moment.

After Zhang Feng finished cooking, he also brought several mess hall soldiers to deliver food to a few people.

'Zhang Feng is here.'

Hang General saw Zhang Feng and also showed the smile he often wore.

His entire family, young and old, were very fond of Zhang Feng, this Chef Zhang.

But it was precisely the importance placed on him by the General's family.

Which also made the few cultivators very unhappy.

After all, in their opinion, Zhang Feng was at best an ordinary cook.

Fortunately, Zhang Feng didn't 'get carried away'.

They also felt that Zhang Feng was sensible, so they hadn't deliberately made trouble for Zhang Feng in recent years.

However, today.

After delivering the food.

Zhang Feng didn't leave; instead, his gaze swept past the water swords they were casting in the courtyard, and then looked towards the rooftop of a small building three hundred meters away.

On the edge of the rooftop, there were two gunmen wearing gray clothes.

To a normal person's vision, their clothes seemed to blend in with the concrete platform.

At the same time.

They were holding old-fashioned sniper rifles in their hands, secretly hidden behind the railing, aiming here.

Observing their stern appearance carefully, there was an aura of rigorous training and competence.

Zhang Feng felt they didn't seem like they were seeking revenge or anything, but rather like professional killers sent by a certain general.

Seeing this, seeing this kind of crisis.

Zhang Feng suddenly realized that he had unknowingly kept a low profile for almost three years.

'Hmph!'

But at this moment.

One of the cultivators in the courtyard, seeing that Zhang Feng wasn't leaving and was looking at his water sword, said discontentedly, 'What are you looking at, you cook? Can you do it?'

As he spoke, he controlled the water sword to circle around Zhang Feng.

Zhang Feng observed for a few moments; he truly didn't know the structure of the water sword at the moment, instead he was researching the more amazing armor and the upgrade of Earth Thorn, so he honestly said, 'No, I can't.'

'Haha!' The cultivator laughed upon hearing this, then while retracting the water sword, he said, 'You cook, you can't do spells, but you can cook, right?

Instead of using this time to secretly learn, you might as well cook a few more dishes.'

'Okay.' Zhang Feng thought for a moment and didn't say anything, his focus was more on the people three hundred meters away, wanting to see what they were going to do.

'Hey, Li Dao Friend, say less.' Hang General was a mediator and didn't want his own people arguing.

And in his opinion, whether it was his cook or his cultivators.

They were all indispensable parts of his life.

So, harmony brings wealth.

But just at this moment, when Hang General wanted to persuade them further.

Bang!

Two gunshots rang out almost simultaneously, targeting Hang General.

'Gunmen!'

'Protect the General!'

Just as everyone heard the gunshots and instinctively wanted to protect the General.

Rumble—

Zhang Feng had already lightly raised his palm, and a wide Earth Thorn, like an Earth Wall, instantly surged out from the bluestone bricks, standing upright in front of Hang General.

The bullets were also completely embedded inside the Earth Wall.

'This is... an Earth Wall?'

'Zhang Feng... is a cultivator?!'

'Such a thick Earth Wall, such strong Spiritual Qi fluctuations, what is his realm?'

'It formed in an instant...'

Everyone in the courtyard was startled.

'Damn it! There's a great cultivator!' The two gunmen three hundred meters away were also startled when they saw Zhang Feng's gaze directed at them, and they immediately turned around, abandoned their guns, and fled.

Whoosh—

While everyone was surprised and the two were fleeing.

The Earth Wall dispersed.

Revealing the two deformed bullets in the air.

As Zhang Feng reached out to summon them, he also added Inner Force and Spiritual Qi, and with a whooshing sound breaking the air, the bullets shot rapidly towards the distance.

After doing all this in a few seconds.

Zhang Feng looked at the few stunned soldiers,

'Three hundred meters to the southeast, the rooftop of the small building.

The two assassins have been hit in the back by me and are now unconscious. Go tie them up and interrogate them.'

'Yes...' The soldiers subconsciously responded, and after seeing Hang General nod in shock, they immediately ran towards that direction.

Tap tap...

As several soldiers went to carry out the order, their footsteps also brought many people back to their senses.

After Hang General recovered for a few seconds, the first thing he did was look at Zhang Feng, 'Zhang... Zhang Feng, you... are you a cook?'

'Yes, I am a cook.' Zhang Feng looked at the people who were staring at him in fear, 'But I never said I was *only* a cook. Nor did I say I wasn't a cultivator.'

Zhang Feng said, looking at the cultivators whose eyes were full of surprise, and then pointed to the upturned bluestone ground,

'Sirs, you can't block bullets, but you can lay floor tiles, right?

Instead of standing there stunned, why don't you use your spells to level the ground?'