Yunjiang Prefecture, Cui Family’s villa. After Cui Yunqi regained consciousness, the first thing he did was kneel before his father, Cui Heng, to plead guilty. "Father, I have failed your expectations, please punish me!" Cui Heng said, "I have a general understanding of the events in the small bamboo forest, but I don’t wish to hear others speak of it. I only want to hear your account." "Father!" Cui Yunqi immediately lifted his head, his face pale, and cold sweat rolling down his face. Everything he encountered within the Star Array was a huge shadow over Cui Yunqi’s current life. He had struggled to wake up after two days of unconsciousness, and now being asked to recall and recount it was akin to flaying his self-esteem. Cui Yunqi simply couldn’t respond; he didn’t want to say a word. But ultimately, the authority of Cui Heng was heavy. Even though Cui Yunqi was unwilling, under the deep gaze of his father, he bit down and gradually said, "I, that day, entered the great formation, originally not paying attention to the person behind me, never expecting this person, this person..." Before he finished speaking, he thought of the scene at Moon Lake where the ordinary-clad scholar effortlessly stepped forward and crossed the chasm that he could never overcome. Cui Yunqi’s throat suddenly tasted metallic, and he couldn’t hold back anymore as he spat out a mouthful of blood. Cui Yunqi was instantly filled with panic and hastily rushed forward, trying to wipe away the puddle of blood on the floor. However, he heard a sigh, and a hand reached out to support him. Cui Heng bent down and said with a gentle tone that Cui Yunqi had never seen before, "Yunqi, you’ve had a remarkably smooth life so far, never knowing what setbacks are. Now, encountering some minor storms, you are unable to withstand them. What should you do in the future?" Cui Yunqi looked up in a daze. Though he was being comforted, he felt even more uneasy for some reason. "You need not blame yourself, as it is common human nature. There are very few in the world who are unaffected by victory and defeat. Such people mostly have already seen through worldly fame and wealth, secular love and hate, possessing a sage-like mindset. Yunqi, can you?" "I, Father, I cannot," Cui Yunqi said with shame. "It’s fine if you can’t, because even I, your father, cannot." Cui Yunqi was stunned once more. "Of course, although we can’t completely see through things, we also shouldn’t be completely swayed by emotions. Those trapped by emotions will ultimately lose themselves and become slaves to these feelings. Yunqi, do you wish to be like that?" Cui Yunqi immediately said, "I absolutely do not wish to be like that!" "Then tell me now, what do you want to do?" "What?" Cui Yunqi was once again unable to react. Cui Heng asked, "You were defeated by someone, and it was by a poor scholar from a rural family. Do you... wish to kill this person?" "Kill him? No!" Cui Yunqi blurted out, then was taken aback himself. A moment later, he reflected, "Father, if just because of one defeat, I need to resort to killing to vent my anger, then I’m afraid I’ll be stuck at this point for my entire life. Even if I kill him, who have I actually beaten?" Cui Heng laughed, "If you don’t want to kill him, then do you want to win back openly and honorably?" Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝕟𝕖𝕥 "I..." Cui Yunqi hesitated. His confidence had somewhat been shaken, and Chen Xu had become his heart demon. Cui Heng shook his head, sighed, and said, "You’re still young, and such minor matters trouble you so. Yunqi, you naturally feel bitter about being defeated by a countryside farmer, but what if the one who defeated you was a renowned figure famous throughout the world?" "Famous throughout the world?" Cui Yunqi echoed, his dull eyes lifted, initially with a trace of confusion, then gradually, they revealed a bright light. He seemed to have thought of something, and gradually his face showed an unusual brilliance. In the morning, Chen Xu made crispy thousand-layer pancakes. The dough was prepared the night before, and in the morning all he needed to do was cook them, making the process very quick. Now his Fire Control Skill was at Level 1 Perfection, and applying it to controlling the heat of the stove was a skill that had been honed to perfection, making it extremely convenient. Therefore, the thousand-layer pancakes he made were especially crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, fragrant and delicious. One bite, and crumbs would fall layer by layer, even the sound of the flaky crust seemed scented. In controlling the heat and cooking the pancakes, Chen Xu also felt his cultivation experience from the Food God Cultivation Technique Scroll slowly increasing. Although this increase was not obvious, so much so that even after making a hundred pancakes, the Celestial Book Plate didn’t add a noticeable experience point, Chen Xu could clearly sense there was some difference. This difference, Chen Xu had never experienced before completing the Three Elements Foundation Establishment and officially cultivating the Food God Technique Scroll. Thus, it seems that making not only Spiritual Food can enhance his cultivation insight, but making ordinary food can also. It’s just that the inspiration bonus from cooking regular food is not as apparent as from making Spiritual Food. But if done knowingly and consistently, it also becomes a good form of cultivation. Chen Xu thus had more patience and a more serious attitude toward the culinary arts. During this time, Chen Xu also heard the chirping conversation of Little Mouse Ashi and Master Jiu. The little mouse’s voice was lively and spirited, like a sprite accompanying the stove fire, adding much amusement for Chen Xu. "Master Jiu, the scholar’s pancakes have become even more delicious than before. Ashi’s tongue is almost going to be fragranced off, squeak squeak squeak..." Having two Mouse Demons hidden at home, yet giving Chen Xu a feeling of tranquility and stillness, was indeed rare. After finishing the morning chores, Wang Mochuan and Xu Wenyuan came one after the other to find Chen Xu. Wang Mochuan also brought a servant and a carriage, so in the end, the three of them shared a carriage to the Lin Mansion. During the journey, of course, Chen Xu took out his pancakes to share with the two. Wang Mochuan’s daily like limit was 30 points, and Xu Wenyuan, although only having 10 points, every little helps, and they wouldn’t let it pass. However, it wasn’t easy to make them continuously say compliments, which required some verbal guidance from Chen Xu. In the carriage, Wang Mochuan couldn’t help but laugh and say, "It seems Brother Chen is truly dedicated and meticulous about the culinary arts. Today’s skill surpasses yesterday’s. Brother Chen, your culinary skills are impressive, and your scholarship even more so. Such progress is truly inspiring. How about I provide you with some tuition, and you teach me how to cook?" Chen Xu said, "If I really teach, will you, Brother Wang, truly learn?" He seemed serious, and Wang Mochuan couldn’t help but be taken aback. Then the two exchanged glances, and the carriage was filled with hearty laughter. Wang Mochuan laughed loudly, and in the carriage with the three of them, only Xu Wenyuan quietly munched on the flaky pancake, occasionally casting envious glances at Chen Xu and Wang Mochuan. Suddenly, Chen Xu asked, "Brother Xu, is it good?" Xu Wenyuan immediately straightened his back and hurriedly said, "Good, very good, extremely good." Chen Xu glanced at him, and Wang Mochuan also looked at him. Then the three of them laughed together. It wasn’t until the carriage reached the entrance of the Lin Mansion that the laughter inside gradually faded. After all, they were here to mourn a fellow student; there’s no reason to laugh and joke in front of a mourning hall. With solemn expressions, the three disembarked; Xu Wenyuan’s face especially carried sorrow. However, the atmosphere within the Lin Mansion seemed a little off.