Wait a minute, where is my master?

"Has the young Taoist ever heard of female moss?"

Jiang Xiulan rose from her chair and asked the little Taoist.

Jin Xu picked up a chopstick of pre-prepared dish and shook his head, answering calmly.

"No."

"Uh... how about Vincetoxicum?"

"Neither have I."

"Then you surely don't know about Yin Yang Xiangsi Seeds either?"

"Mm-hmm."

After answering the other party's questions, Jin Xu placed the chopsticks of the pre-prepared dish into his mouth and slowly chewed.

"..."

Jiang Xiulan gave up her roundabout method of introduction and decided to get straight to the point.

"Young Taoist, the three main ingredients I just mentioned are for a special dish. I have already collected the first two, and only the Yin Yang Xiangsi Seeds remain. They are one of the treasures of Shennong Pavilion in Qingmu City and come at an exceptionally high price — one would need a million High-Grade Spirit Stones to acquire them."

At the mention of the price, Jin Xu's hand holding the chopsticks paused ever so slightly; even with a well at home, the price startled him a bit.

"I only spent twenty-eight thousand when I bought Little Hong at the auction. By that calculation, these Yin Yang Xiangsi Seeds could be traded for 35.7 Age Chickens?"

While the little Taoist was busy calculating, Yu Yaoer wiped her greasy little mouth and spoke up.

"Brother Jiang, the Yin Yang Xiangsi Seeds are the main material for concocting the Mutual Love Pill. The special dish you're planning to make wouldn't have an effect similar to that pill, would it?"

Despite her lackluster cooking skills, Little Fish Demon had a knack for alchemy, and her guess was not far off the mark.

Jin Xu heard his demon pet's remark and unhurriedly passed the Spirit Grass garnish from the pre-prepared dish to the Taiji Bull behind him, signaling him to eat some of the dish.

Then he turned his head and inquired, "Little Yu, what exactly is this Mutual Love Pill you mentioned?"

One question had not been resolved when yet another emerged.

The little Taoist thought that, having perused the watchman's library in Gusu City, he should count as one of the more knowledgeable cultivation practitioners in the Nine Provinces Realm, but today's experience taught him otherwise.

The ancients were right when they said, "Live and learn." The next chance he gets, he needs to read more books.

"Young master, my grandmother says that the Mutual Love Pill is an extremely 'wicked' pill, similar to the love poison of the ancient Witch Clan, but much more domineering in effect.

However, due to the rarity of the original materials, it is very difficult to concoct, so not many are aware of it.

In addition to the main Spiritual Medicine, one also needs to add a person's Heart Blood during the pill concoction. Once the pill is made, whoever takes it will fall mutually in love with the owner of the Heart Blood, utterly devoted for the rest of their lives.

Even if you had a deep-seated hatred for that person, you would become so hopelessly in love that you wouldn't even be aware of it.

And since the Yin Yang Xiangsi Seeds contain a sliver of Heavenly Dao law, it results in the effect that, once taken, no one in the Nine Provinces Realm can undo it."

After giving Little White a chicken leg, Yu Yaoer continued with an inexplicably regretful tone, "Because the pill is too domineering, grandmother didn't even pass on the complete formula to me. She only told me about these things when she was drunk."

After hearing this, Jin Xu nodded. He thought the pill was indeed evil, as it completely controlled one's thoughts and even altered consciousness, truly causing aversion to rise in his heart.

If, during the pill's concoction, it wasn't human Heart Blood that was added, and then someone was deceived into taking it...

Hiss... the thought was too horrifying to entertain.

At that moment, Jiang Xiulan had already moved to the opposite side of the long table. After patiently waiting for Yu Yaoer to finish speaking, he laughed in a boisterous and husky voice.

"Miss Yu has quite the discernment. Indeed, the dish I'm preparing does share some similarities with the effects of the Mutual Love Pill. However, this dish is called Yin Yang Union Soup, and its effects are not as overbearing. The diners need to eat the Yin side and Yang side of the Xiangsi Seed separately to develop a trace of affection, but it can't reach the level where even enemies could fall in love with each other."

Jin Xu added a piece of decorative spiritual fruit flower to the plate of the Milk Cow Demon behind him and slightly furrowed his brow. According to Jiang Xiulan's words, his dish seemed to have the power to subtly alter one's perception of themselves.

However, since it involved the life of the man's daughter, the Taoist didn't comment any further.

He was just considering how to casually inquire about the owner of the Benevolent Heart Fruit and whether Jiang Xiulan had been coerced.

But as Jin Xu was pondering, Chef Jiang spoke again, "Hahaha, Taoist, don't misunderstand me. Old Jiang hasn't done anything wicked to save his daughter.

The immortal sect that proposed to exchange the dish is seeking it for their pair of Mountain Guardian Spirit Beasts, who have lived for ten thousand years and have suddenly taken a whim to relive the feeling of initial love from their past.

Moreover, since they knew I used the Benevolent Heart Fruit to save my daughter and couldn't give it to me for free, they suggested I create this dish."

Though Jiang Xiulan seemed carefree and unrefined, he was attentive to detail. Seeing the Taoist's brow lightly crease, he knew there had been some misunderstanding and promptly spoke up to clarify.

Jin Xu, upon hearing this, smiled apologetically to him.

In truth, he could understand whatever a father might do to save his own daughter.

And the Taoist hadn't planned to suddenly come out and play the guardian of justice for no reason.

He just wanted to subtly confirm whether Jiang Xiulan had been coerced into making the dish, especially since he had unconditionally agreed to help him contact his master's old friend.

Even though it was very likely out of consideration for the refrigerator his master had given him.

But the master was the master, and he, Jin Xu, was himself.

So if Jiang Xiulan had been coerced, it would be reasonable for the Taoist to intervene out of gratitude.

However, after listening to Chef Jiang's explanation, it seemed there was no need for him to meddle any further.

Everyone continued to eat for a while longer.

After Little White had cleaned up all of the food on the table and the Taiji Bull had finished off all the plants and flowers, the group prepared to return to their rooms to rest.

Yu Yaoer and Little White shared a room, both women having eaten and drunk their fill, returned to sleep beautifying sleep.

The Milk Cow Demon was guarded by Jin Xu, with Jiang Xiulan personally escorting the two to their room door.

"Taoist, you should rest early. Your master's old friend recently mentioned he would visit me; he'll be arriving in three days. I will arrange for you two to meet then," Jian Xiulan said to Jin Xu from the doorway, adjusting the tie on his head as he informed him about the visit.

"Brother Jiang, I appreciate your efforts in this matter," the Taoist replied, holding the Water Spirit Chain in his hand and politely expressing his gratitude.

"Tsk, what is there to be so formal about between you and me? If it hadn't been for Tianxing Taoist's ice coffin, my daughter would have lost her life. Now that the old Taoist has gone missing, being able to help you contact one of his old friends is the least I can do," Chef Jiang said, waving his hand dismissively and turning to leave.

At the doorway, Jin Xu suddenly had a thought and, as if compelled by some unknown force, asked a question.

"By the way, Brother Jiang, may I know which immortal sect is trading for the Yin Yang Union Soup? Does it have any connection to my master's old friend?"

Turning back halfway, Jiang Xiulan responded with a hearty smile, "This immortal sect is one of the topmost forces in the Nine Provinces Realm, but as far as I know, they have nothing to do with Tianxing Taoist's old friend.

Taoist, you must have heard of the White Emperor Pavilion, haven't you?"