Chapter 350: The Banquet and Wei Zihao's Whereabouts

Chapter 350: The Banquet and Wei Zihao's Whereabouts

September 22, 2024

The entire Nine Li Village was bustling with excitement.

Upon hearing that Lu Qing was treating the entire village to a meal, and that he would be cooking Spirit Rice, everyone was filled with anticipation.

Most of the villagers had seen the two acres of Spirit Fields behind Lu Qing's Half-Mountain Cottage, where the Spirit Valley grew in abundance.

The Spirit Rice that grew there was thriving, and the rice panicles were heavy with grains, the best they had ever seen.

Everyone was curious about the taste of such high-quality rice.

Lu Family Yard was now filled with tables and chairs, each set unique in its design.

These were borrowed from various households in the village, creating a makeshift dining area.

In rural areas, it was customary for families to host banquets, and everyone pitched in to help.

Lu Qing, wearing an apron, was busy in front of a temporary stove set up in the yard.

As the host, he naturally took charge of the cooking.

With such a large meal to prepare, the family kitchen was not spacious enough, so he decided to set up a simple stove outdoors.

Lu Qing was busy slicing meat.

On the makeshift cutting board, the knife flashed as large chunks of beef, mutton, and pork were swiftly cut into cubes or thin slices.

Swish, swish, swish...

With a quick press and turn of Lu Qing's palm, a piece of bright red beef transformed into a beautifully sliced piece.

Each slice was as if measured precisely with a ruler, uniform in size.

The onlookers watched in awe.

They now understood why Lu Qing had refused their offers to help earlier.

Even if they practiced for a lifetime, they would never match his knife skills.

Helping out might only create more work.

Ma Gu was also observing Lu Qing's knife work, but unlike the villagers who were merely spectators, he was studying the profound meaning within Lu Qing's knife techniques.

As a fellow master of the blade who had also attained the realm of domains, Lu Qing's knife skills had reached an unparalleled level.

Even when using a simple kitchen knife, the essence of his blade mastery was evident, captivating Ma Gu's attention.

As the crowd watched Lu Qing's knife skills, a commotion arose outside the yard.

Soon, Xiao Tian arrived with several men, carrying various items.

"Young Master Lu, I've brought the chickens, ducks, and fish you requested," Xiao Tian said respectfully.

"Good, just leave them there for now," Lu Qing nodded.

"Is there anything else you need us to do, Young Master Lu?" Xiao Tian asked.

"Not for now, but you and your men can stay for a quick meal," Lu Qing said.

"Oh..."

Seeing Xiao Tian's hesitation, Ma Gu approached and gently tapped his head.

"Stay if I say so! No need for all that hesitation!" he scolded.

This young man didn't seem to realize what a great opportunity it was to be invited to such a meal.

Ma Gu, aware of the value of Spirit Rice, couldn't help but feel exasperated.

"I understand, Uncle Ma. I'll leave you to it, Young Master Lu," Xiao Tian said, bowing his head slightly in compliance.

Lu Qing smiled, "It's just a simple meal, no need to be nervous."

As Xiao Tian went to find a spot, the other villagers finally found tasks they could assist with.

They went to retrieve the chickens, ducks, fish, and other items Xiao Tian had brought, preparing to slaughter them.

While they couldn't help Lu Qing with cutting vegetables, they were capable of handling tasks like slaughtering chickens and ducks.

With the villagers' collective effort, the ingredients were soon ready.

Baskets of freshly slaughtered chickens, ducks, and fish, along with the meat Lu Qing had prepared, were laid out.

Even before cooking, the villagers were salivating.

It was no secret that Nine Li Village was impoverished, and such lavish ingredients were only seen during festivals, weddings, or when a family hosted a banquet.

On ordinary days, they rarely had the chance to eat meat.

Lu Qing, understanding the villagers' limited access to meat, had specifically asked Xiao Tian to purchase a large quantity of meat for the occasion.

With the ingredient preparation complete, it was time to start cooking.

Given the number of people, Lu Qing opted for a simpler approach, cooking in large pots rather than preparing intricate dishes.

However, with his skills and the various seasonings he had developed over the years, he was confident that even these large-scale dishes would be delicious.

Soon, a large iron pot was set up, and once the firewood was burning brightly, Lu Qing scooped a large chunk of solidified lard into the pot.

A sizzling sound filled the air as the lard melted, releasing a mouthwatering aroma.

After the oil was sufficiently heated and the iron wok well-greased, Lu Qing added a block of sugar to caramelize.

He then poured in a large plate of diced pork belly, which had been pre-blanched, creating a sizzling sound. The rich aroma of meat quickly filled the entire yard, causing the nearby villagers helping out to sniff the air uncontrollably.

The little rascals, in particular, couldn't help but drool.

The enticing meat fragrance was simply irresistible.

With such a robust aroma filling the air, everyone's anticipation for the banquet grew even stronger.

Once Lu Qing had caramelized the pork to his satisfaction, he added water and various spices, allowing the dish to simmer slowly.

Taking advantage of this time, he set up another wok to prepare other dishes simultaneously.

Meanwhile, at the Wei family's guest residence, a wave of surprise swept through.

"Hai, what did you say? You found Zihao?" Wei Xinghe looked at Wei Daguan in disbelief.

Lady Wei also trembled with excitement.

"Uncle Hai, are you saying you found my brother?" Wei Zian echoed his father's surprise.

Over two months ago, news had arrived from Jizhou that the Azure Cloud Sword Sect had somehow offended a powerful enemy. In a single night, the sect was uprooted, with over eighty percent of its disciples annihilated. Even the sect's mountain gate was burned to the ground, leaving only a few disciples who happened to be away at the time to escape the catastrophe.

Upon receiving this news, the Wei family was naturally anxious. Their eldest son, Wei Zihao, was a disciple of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect.

Wei Xinghe immediately ordered a search for Wei Zihao, determined to bring him home alive or dead.

However, after two months, they had no leads on Wei Zihao's whereabouts.

Just as Wei Shanhai and the others were starting to believe that Wei Zihao might have perished in the Azure Cloud Sword Sect's calamity, Wei Daguan brought news of finding Wei Zihao.

"Yes, Master and Madam, a few days ago, our scout spotted the young master in the state capital," Wei Daguan reported respectfully. "As soon as I received this news, I rushed here to inform you."

"If Hao'er is in the state capital, why hasn't he returned home directly?" Wei Xinghe wondered.

"According to our scouts, the young master seems to be with several fellow disciples from the Azure Cloud Sword Sect," Wei Daguan explained. "They appeared anxious and fearful, as if hiding from something. Our scouts didn't understand the situation, so they didn't dare approach the young master directly. They've been observing and protecting him from a distance."

"Hao'er is hiding from someone?" Wei Xinghe's face clouded with concern, and then realization dawned on him. "That's right, the Azure Cloud Sword Sect was annihilated overnight, and to this day, no one knows who was behind it. Hao'er must know something, or he's afraid of implicating our family. That's why he hasn't returned or contacted us and is hiding in the state capital."

The force that could silently annihilate a powerful sect like the Azure Cloud Sword Sect in a single night must be an extremely formidable power or cultivator. Whomever it was, they were not someone the Wei family could afford to offend.

Perhaps Wei Zihao was considering this very fact, which was why he had been hiding outside and hadn't returned to the Wei family.

However, Wei Xinghe couldn't bear the thought of his son being in danger.

Without hesitation, he decided to go to the state capital to bring Wei Zihao back.

"Father, wait!" At that moment, Wei Zian spoke up, stopping his father.

"This matter is of great importance. Let's consult with Lu Xiaolangjun first before making any decisions."

Although Wei Zian was equally concerned about his brother's safety, after hearing Uncle Hai's words, he instinctively sensed a hint of danger.

Wei Zian trusted his intuition. Over the past few months, the strand of Primordial Essence within his body had completely merged with his physical form, leading to a transformative change.

Not only had his talent increased, but his intuition had also become incredibly sharp.

So, when he sensed this subtle danger, he dared not take it lightly.

"Consult Lu Xiaolangjun?" Wei Xinghe hesitated. "But today, Lu Xiaolangjun is hosting a banquet for the villagers of Nine Li Village. It's probably not a good time to disturb him."

Wei Xinghe held Lu Qing in high regard. In their daily interactions, he was always cautious and respectful.

His relationship with Lu Qing was not as close as Wei Zian's.

"Lu Qing won't mind, Father." Wei Zian said, "Father, the Azure Cloud Sword Sect is one of the most powerful sects in Jizhou, yet it was annihilated overnight.

The culprit must be an extremely formidable figure, more powerful than we can imagine.

If you go to the state capital rashly and accidentally expose your tracks, what if the culprit discovers you? It's best to discuss this matter with Young Doctor Lu and Elder Chen first.

If that doesn't work out, we should seek guidance from Ancestor first."

Wei Zian analyzed the situation for his father and advised him.

In Wei Zian's heart, Lu Qing and the Great Doctor's knowledge and strength were unparalleled.

Therefore, it was most appropriate to consult them first when faced with a problem.

However, seeing Wei Zian's confident and eloquent demeanor, Wei Xinghe and his wife, including Wei Daguan, were all left speechless.

They seemed to find it hard to believe that these words could come from the mouth of the once-spoiled and naive young master.

"Master, An'er is right, we should discuss this matter with Young Master Lu."

Lady Wei also spoke at this time.

"Alright, let's listen to An'er. I was just too hasty earlier."

Wei Xinghe also realized that he had been too anxious and confused, and An'er's perspective was clearer.

Thinking of this, he looked at his younger son with relief, "An'er, you've truly grown up. Now, you handle matters even more calmly than your father."

Wei Zian's face turned red, "Thank you, Father, for your praise. I know you're only concerned about Big Brother's safety, which is why you're acting like this."

Seeing his expression, Wei Xinghe's face showed even more relief.

At the same time, he felt incredibly fortunate.

Agreeing to let his younger son accompany Lu Qing on his journey was one of the best decisions he had ever made.

After returning from Zhongzhou, Zian had transformed completely.

Not only had his cultivation increased significantly, but he had also reached the Initial Inner Organ Realm and was not far from the Minor Accomplishment Realm, making him one of the top experts in the Wei residence.

Most importantly, his mental maturity and stability had grown, and he could now handle matters independently.

The words he had just used to dissuade his father were something Zian would never have been able to say half a year ago.

"Zian, you're right. We should consult Young Master Lu first about this matter.

However, Young Master Lu is hosting a banquet today, and we shouldn't spoil his mood.

Let's seek his advice after the banquet."

"But Father, if we do that, what about Big Brother..." Wei Zian hesitated.

"It's been over two months, and there's no rush.

Your brother has chosen to hide in the state capital, which shows that he has assessed his own safety.

You were right before; if I go to meet him rashly, it might do more harm than good.

Let's go; Young Master Lu is hosting a banquet and has invited us. It's time to go."

When Wei Xinghe and the others arrived at the Lu family residence, Lu Qing had just finished preparing the dishes.

"Young Master Lu."

"Master Wei, welcome. Please take a seat; we'll be starting the banquet soon.

Xiao Yan, take Master Wei and the others to see my master." Lu Qing called out.

Soon, they saw Xiao Yan running out of the house, "Auntie, let's go inside. Grandpa Chen and Grandpa Wei are already there."

"Is Ancestor also here?" Wei Xinghe was a bit surprised.

Ever since Wei Shanhai received Lu Qing's cultivation guidance, he had rarely been at home.

He was like a mythical dragon, rarely seen, either at the Half-Mountain Cottage or an unknown location cultivating.

Even Wei Xinghe rarely got to see him.

He hadn't expected that Ancestor would have time to come for a meal today.

This made Wei Xinghe feel more at ease about Wei Zihao's situation, especially with Ancestor present.

At least, after the banquet, he wouldn't have to worry about not being able to find Ancestor.

As Wei Xinghe and the others entered the house, Lu Qing began to serve the dishes formally.

He first lifted the lid of the pot that had been simmering the meat.

Instantly, a rich aroma filled the air, quickly permeating the entire courtyard.

"It smells amazing!"

For a moment, everyone in the courtyard couldn't help but inhale the fragrance.

All eyes were on Lu Qing.

Then they saw Lu Qing scoop out bowl after bowl of bright red meat from the large iron pot, which was then served by the villagers to each table.

As the meat was placed on the table, it trembled slightly, showing its excellent elasticity and juiciness.

Even Wei Xinghe, who was used to fine cuisine and had eaten his fair share of luxurious meals, couldn't help but feel a sudden craving.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end