Chapter 159: The Arrogant One

What Niu Youdao found even harder to endure came afterward.

“Master Dao, I’m going to buy some vegetables!”

Someone had checked the map along the way and learned there was a town not far off. After calling out a word, he galloped ahead.

Not long afterward, the fellow returned at full speed carrying several jin of pork.

The sight was almost too beautiful to bear, especially when the others began earnestly debating the balance of fat and lean as though they were seasoned experts. Niu Youdao looked up at the heavens, speechless.

Granted, flesh-and-blood bodies could not escape worldly needs, but the cultivators in his memory had not been like this.

Whenever Niu Youdao stood atop some cliff with both hands resting on his sword, gazing at the stars and savoring the mood, fragrant cooking smoke would be drifting up from below while a spatula clanged endlessly against a wok.

All along the road, whenever they encountered a town, someone would either gallop off to buy meat or gallop off to buy greens.

Black Peony and the other three were all extremely interested in this “untransmitted secret” and wanted to practice their skills.

Unfortunately, there was only one wok. The four could only take turns cooking.

So whenever it was the next person’s turn at the wok, the one shouting that he was going to buy ingredients would invariably be that person.

Niu Youdao had begun to feel that their travel speed had slowed. Of course it had slowed.

Every little while, someone wanted to set up the wok and cook.

Gradually, even Niu Youdao grew used to the four of them. There was nothing he could do.

He was the one who had led them astray in the first place.

Whenever conditions happened to be suitable, he would even teach them a new dish or two.

The endless clank, clatter, clang from their baggage drew stares and backward glances from passersby all along the road. Eventually Niu Youdao grew used to that as well.

As for eating in towns or relay stations, Black Peony and the others had completely lost interest. If they could eat well, why eat badly?

They looked down on the local food and would rather cook for themselves.

Long-distance travel was indeed monotonous and dull, so Niu Youdao simply let them amuse themselves.

And so, in this loose and disorderly fashion, the group finally left the territory of the State of Zhao and entered the State of Han... Green rivers, verdant mountains.

A party of more than thirty riders thundered across the landscape.

At their head rode a young man in white robes beneath a black cloak. His features were refined and handsome, and his hair was fastened with a green jade hairpin.

Among the thirty-odd attendants behind him, half were warriors and half cultivators.

After charging up a sloping road, the young man raised a hand and pulled his horse to a stop, wheeling it in place several times. Everyone behind him reined in sharply.

A retainer cultivator asked, “Eldest Young Master, what is it?”

The young man lifted his face toward the upwind side of the mountains, nostrils flaring as he sniffed.

Then he asked those around him, “What is that smell?”

Everyone else sniffed as well. Without another word, two cultivators sprang from their saddles and shot into the air, flying toward the forest upwind. Between two mountains, a stream murmured over stones. Niu Youdao’s group had stopped here to rest. Black Peony was at the wok braising red-braised pork. The aroma was enticing. Sitting nearby, Niu Youdao felt helpless.

They had eaten red-braised pork for so many days already. Were these people truly not sick of it yet? Two figures swept through the air. Everyone abruptly turned.

Two middle-aged men flashed down to the ground and stared at them coldly.

Niu Youdao and the others slowly rose, vigilance appearing in every eye.

Judging from the distance the two men had glided through the air, their cultivation might well have reached the Golden Core Realm.

Two possible Golden Core Realm cultivators appearing at once, with no way to know whether they were friend or foe...

The group could not help wondering whether the State of Yan had sent them.

Then both middle-aged men fixed their attention on the covered wok over the fire.

One cupped his hands. “May we have a look at what is inside the pot?”

Niu Youdao extended one hand. “Please.”

The man immediately walked over and lifted the lid. A pot of red-braised pork was bubbling away inside, the rich aroma surging outward. He could not help taking a deep breath.

The other man came over as well, sniffed, and praised, “Good stuff. What is this? How is it made?”

Niu Youdao rose and walked calmly over to them.

Smiling, he said, “I do not believe we know one another.”

The two exchanged a glance. Neither answered. They replaced the lid, then sprang into the air together and flew away just as abruptly as they had come. This time Niu Youdao’s group saw clearly. They really were Golden Core Realm cultivators. Black Peony and the others relaxed. Good that they had left.

If those two had come looking for trouble, things would have been troublesome indeed.

Who could have expected that before long, chaotic hoofbeats sounded through the mountains. Birds scattered from the forest. A mass of shadowy figures appeared among the trees.

Guarded on every side, the handsome young man in white robes and a black cloak emerged from the woods and approached unhurriedly along the stream bank. Niu Youdao and the others tensed again.

Among the newcomers they recognized one of the Golden Core Realm cultivators who had just left. So it had not been merely two men. There was an entire group.

And judging from the clothing of some among them, there were clearly government troops mixed into the party. Black Peony and the others began regretting their meal.

It seemed the smell of the food had drawn all these people here.

If they had known, they would never have cooked like this. The group approached. The handsome young man swept his cloak aside and dismounted.

With guards flanking him, he stepped forward and cupped his hands.

“I heard there was something good here. I took the liberty of coming over to broaden my horizons. I hope you will not take offense.”

He addressed Niu Youdao directly. From the way Black Peony and the others clustered around him, he had already identified Niu Youdao as the leader.

Niu Youdao returned the salute. “It is nothing particularly good. May I ask who this distinguished gentleman is?”

The handsome young man said, “Shao Pingbo of Beizhou.”

Niu Youdao paused slightly. Beizhou, and the surname Shao... Then he looked over the man’s entourage.

He could not help asking, “May I ask what relation the Provincial Inspector of Beizhou is to you?”

Shao Pingbo smiled. “He is my father. You yourself appear extraordinary. May I ask which distinguished figure I have the honor of meeting?”

The compliment was not entirely exaggerated. Appearance and bearing aside, Black Peony and the others were clearly older than Niu Youdao, yet they treated him as the leader. That alone was unusual. Niu Youdao was speechless. He had actually run into Shao Dengyun’s son.

He waved a hand. “I am no distinguished figure. I merely run errands for others. My name is Zhang San. I have just come from Lord Zhuge, who is serving as envoy to the State of Zhao, and was ordered to return to the capital to handle some business.”

It was complete nonsense. Black Peony and the others, however, showed not the slightest surprise.

They could not tell whether these newcomers were good or bad. Leaving themselves some room for maneuver was always wise.

“Oh! So Brother Zhang is one of Lord Zhuge’s men.”

Shao Pingbo nodded. He sniffed the air, then looked toward the covered wok.

“I hear Brother Zhang has cooked a pot of something delicious. Would you mind letting this Shao share a little of your good fortune?”

Niu Youdao smiled. “Easy enough. Since Lord Shao has spoken, how could I refuse? It only needs a little more time over the fire. I will have to trouble you to wait.”

“Naturally.”

Shao Pingbo nodded. Every person behind him immediately dismounted.

Then he asked Niu Youdao, “May I ask what errand Lord Zhuge ordered Brother Zhang to handle?”

Niu Youdao heard the probing intent behind the question. Shao Pingbo was checking his identity.

He replied, “Nothing important. Some days ago, Lord Zhuge learned certain information and sent it back to the capital. The authorities carried out a round of rectification at relay stations across the country. Now the capital wants some details confirmed. Letters cannot explain everything clearly, so I was told to make the trip back and report in person.”

Shao Pingbo froze for a moment.

“The relay-station affair... Lord Zhuge learned about it from Zhao?”

Niu Youdao asked in return, “Is there some problem? Or does Lord Shao know something else?”

Shao Pingbo waved a hand and stopped pursuing the matter. Seeing Niu Youdao remain calm before him and hearing that he clearly understood certain official affairs, Shao Pingbo seemed to believe his identity to some extent.

Still, he asked, “Brother Zhang is a cultivator as well, I presume. Which sect or school do you come from?”

Niu Youdao had originally intended to invent an identity tied to some major cultivation sect of the State of Han.

But he did not understand the Shao family’s relationships well enough and did not dare make up something recklessly.

He smiled. “No sect, no school. I am only an independent cultivator.”

Shao Pingbo gave a noncommittal “Oh.”

Whether he believed him was impossible to tell. Once the meat was ready, Black Peony removed the wok from the fire, transferred the pork into a basin, and placed it on a large rock. Niu Youdao extended a hand in invitation.

Immediately, however, someone stepped forward and sprinkled a little white powder onto the food to test for poison.

Only after confirming there was no problem did he nod toward Shao Pingbo.

One of the accompanying warriors produced a pair of golden chopsticks and handed them over. Niu Youdao glanced at them.

Together with Shao Pingbo’s clothing and bearing, the utensils told him this was a man particular about appearances and refinement, accustomed to expensive treatment. Shao Pingbo did not stand on ceremony.

He picked a piece of meat from the basin and inspected it before slowly placing it into his mouth. As he chewed, his eyes gradually closed. After swallowing, he shook his head in wonder.

“Rich without being greasy. Fresh, fragrant, and exceptionally savory.”

He handed the chopsticks back after tasting only that single piece. Then he waved to his people.

“Everyone, come have a taste. The flavor truly is unusual. Delicious.”

He did not ask the owners whether they agreed. He acted as though the food belonged to him. His subordinates immediately came forward one after another.

One tried a piece or two, another tried another piece or two.

With more than thirty people taking turns, the entire basin was quickly emptied.

Standing to the side, Shao Pingbo cast a faint sidelong glance at Niu Youdao and the others.

Seeing that none of them dared object, he quietly gained a clearer measure of certain things. Everyone who tasted the pork praised it. Shao Pingbo looked toward Black Peony.

“Elder Sister has excellent culinary skill.”

Black Peony hurriedly said modestly, “Lord Shao overpraises me. Master Zhang is the one with real skill. I only learned from him recently and still have much to improve.”

“Oh?”

Shao Pingbo slowly turned toward Niu Youdao.

“Brother Zhang, how about making a trip to Beizhou with me?”

Niu Youdao looked at him, puzzled.

Shao Pingbo explained, “I intend to entertain an honored guest. I would like to borrow Brother Zhang’s culinary skills.”

What the hell?

You dragged me all the way to Beizhou just to cook for you? Niu Youdao’s face became expressionless.

“I have official business to attend to. I am afraid Lord Shao will be disappointed.”

Shao Pingbo said, “Relax. It will not delay you long. There is no need to travel deep into Beizhou. At most it will take one day.”

“The road to the capital is long in any case. One day will make no difference.”

“If the court or Lord Zhuge asks questions, place all responsibility on me. I will answer for it.”

“If Lord Shao truly has need, her cooking is already quite good.”

Niu Youdao pointed at Black Peony.

“How about letting her accompany you instead?”

It was not that he found cooking beneath him. He simply did not want to go to Beizhou, and he especially did not want to go there with Shao Pingbo.

If the other side had not been so powerful, Shao Pingbo’s arrogant manner alone would have made Niu Youdao unwilling even to lend him Black Peony.

Shao Pingbo said, “The guest I am entertaining is an honored one. Naturally, I should use the best.”

“Brother Zhang need not decline. It is settled.”

With that, he turned and walked away. He gave no room for bargaining and no opportunity for discussion.

Mounting his horse, he led his party out of the forest. Black Peony groaned inwardly. Her modest words had instead landed Master Dao in trouble. Several cultivators surrounded Niu Youdao and the others. One extended a hand.

“Please.”

Faced with people who did not reason at all, Niu Youdao’s group had no choice. Just like that, they were taken along.

The wok, bowls, ladles, and other kitchenware were abandoned in the wilderness.

Black Peony and the others suddenly had no interest in carrying them anymore. Those very things had already caused trouble once. Surely they had learned their lesson.

After leaving the forest, they began retracing part of their route. They did not return to the State of Zhao. Partway along, they changed direction and headed straight for Beizhou.

[End of Chapter 159]