Chapter 8: At the Birthday Banquet

Chapter 8: At the Birthday Banquet

Li Chaofeng lounged in a corner, clutching half a plump chicken leg, his mouth smeared with greasy juices. His sharp eyes darted across the banquet hall, scanning every face. Yet no matter how hard he searched, he couldn’t detect Chu Liuxiang’s signature fragrance.

Aren’t they supposed to be able to smell him from a mile away? Why can’t I find him?

There were plenty of handsome faces around, though none quite as striking as his own.

“Looking for someone, Brother Li?”

Jiang Biehe sat beside him. Over the past few days, Jiang had mingled with Jiangnan’s martial artists, charming his way into their camaraderie. Li Chaofeng, meanwhile, had holed up in his quarters, avoiding socializing. He’d even prepared his own meals—slaughtering chickens, gutting fish, living the life of a hermit.

But after Lord Jin Sizhe tasted his cooking, he’d ordered the steward to supply Li with fresh poultry and fish, even granting him use of a private kitchen.

The only condition? Li had to prepare an extra light meal daily for the Harem Courtyard.

Li agreed without hesitation. Compared to bloodshed, chopping vegetables felt almost therapeutic.

The Five Insect Blade Art’s power relied on the “Fivefold Beasts’ Blood.” While Bare Blood alone could extend the blade, it diluted the potency of the other four insect essences. To maintain its sharpness, Li needed a steady supply of beast blood—hence the daily carnage.

As for the cooking? Waste not, want not. His modern culinary skills, honed on nothing more than food videos and kitchen experiments, had earned him an unintended reputation.

Lord Jin had even dubbed him “Little Gourmet God, Li Chaofeng.”

Li rolled his eyes at the title. A man who’d once binged takeout and instant noodles, now hailed as a culinary genius for stir-frying a few eggs? The honorific felt absurd, even with the “little” prefix.

For the past fortnight, he’d stayed secluded, cooking and reading, enjoying the peace. Jiang Biehe, however, saw him as a martial artist hiding his prowess. If Li practiced his “Wangba Fist” openly, he’d blow his cover.

Now, as Jiang tried to chat, Li ignored him. But Jiang’s admirers at the table weren’t so courteous.

“Little Gourmet God? More like a glorified chef.”

“A cook daring to dine with us? Lord Jin’s too kind letting him sit here.”

“Why’s he even at our table? Does Jin Sizhe think so little of us?”

“Chefs belong in kitchens, not banquets. He’s probably stolen his way here!”

“We’re nobles and masters of martial arts—how dare we share a table with a commoner?”

Li sighed inwardly. He’d kept a low profile, yet here came the inevitable clash of egos.

He set down his chicken, smiling sweetly. “This table was empty when I arrived. Jiang Biehe insisted on joining me. If you’re angry, blame him.”

Jiang’s smile tightened. He’d invited these men to curry favor with Lord Jin, only to realize Jin cared little for him. Li, meanwhile, had become Jin’s favorite—his aloofness mistaken for noble breeding, his recklessness for youthful valor.

Jiang’s resentment simmered, but he maintained the charade. After all, Li’s favor might still serve him.

The burly man across from Li, however, devoured the feast without a care. He’d already wolfed down half the dishes, including the other half of Li’s chicken.

“Gourmet God speaks wisely!” the man boomed, washing down his meal with a swig of Maiden’s Blush.

Li’s eye twitched. The man reeked of sweat and musk—torture for Li’s heightened senses.

“Eat quietly,” he snapped. “Or choke on your food.”

The man laughed, unfazed. “A fine wine deserves fine meat. Twenty-year-old Maiden’s Blush? Only the juiciest trotters will do!”

He gripped the other end of the pig’s trotter Li had just claimed.

Li glared. “Back off, or you’ll regret it. I’ve got nothing to lose. You? You’ll be tossed out.”

The man’s eyes glinted. “A duel over dinner? Let’s see who’s stronger.”

The table fell silent.

Li leaned in, voice low. “This is Lord Jin’s banquet. Insult me, and you insult him. Think your families can handle the Jin Clan’s wrath?”

The crowd paled. Even Jiang stiffened.

The weight of Jin Sizhe’s power silenced the room.

Li turned back to his meal, yanking the trotter free. “Glutton,” he muttered, as the burly man laughed and reached for another dish.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end