Chapter 170: Second Senior Brother

Aside from being deeply grateful for the young master's patronage and cultivation, what impressed Gao Zhongyi even more was that the young master, despite his tender age, could offer such insightful culinary suggestions regarding plating, vegetable carving, color coordination, and novel dish creation. These insights had benefited him immensely, enabling him to showcase his talents at the Jiangnan Culinary Competition and claim the championship.

It was the young master who had helped him fulfill his lifelong wish.
It was the young master who had enabled him to stand tall and live with dignity.
Such grace from the young master was impossible to repay; henceforth, he would follow him for the rest of his life.

At this thought, Gao Zhongyi felt his blood surge with passion. Rolling up his sleeves, donning his chef's hat, putting on his apron, and taking up his cleaver and spatula, a heroic spirit akin to charging onto a battlefield welled up within him.

Gao Zhongyi's culinary skills were truly beyond reproach. As she partook of the grand feast spread across the table, Liu Qin nodded repeatedly.

What she had valued in Gao Zhongyi from the beginning was not merely his passion for cooking and his eagerness to learn, but above all, his innate talent. The difference between someone with talent and someone without was that the former could become a master of the craft, while the latter could only ever remain a common artisan.

Therefore, among the lineup of chefs at the flourishing restaurant back then, she had chosen neither the already famous head chef nor the senior apprentice nearing the end of his training, but instead picked this kitchen helper who lacked both experience and credentials, and had barely even stepped in front of a stove.

She chose him simply because of the spark of genius shining in Gao Zhongyi's eyes and the innate dexterity of his hands. Even when simply chopping vegetables, he could carve out extraordinary and unique shapes.

"Mm, truly delicious."

Even having tasted Gao Zhongyi's cooking many times before, everyone could not stop praising the food. In no time at all, they swept through the dishes on the table like a whirlwind, leaving every single one of them with a shiny, grease-flecked mouth.

Wiping her mouth, Liu Qin collapsed back into her armchair, cradling her round belly and letting out a comfortable groan.

Jiang Li picked up a cup of tea and fed it to her by hand, smiling as he shook his head and teasingly tried to deflate her spirits, "How come my little sister looks a bit plumper?"

"What? I've gained weight?" Patting her chubby little face, she sprang up from the chair in an instant and began pacing rapidly around the room.

"Young master, what are you doing?"
"Losing weight, understand? A hundred steps after a meal keeps you alive to ninety-nine; a thousand steps after a meal melts off two pounds of fat. I ate too much today, so I need to walk off those two pounds."

"Hahaha..."

Little Wu also burst into laughter, pulling her back and saying, "Junior sister is not fat at all, no need to lose weight."

Liu Qin touched the flesh on her face and looked down at her rounded figure with utter bewilderment. What kind of aesthetic was Little Wu operating under? Could it possibly be that the Kingdom of Li regarded plumpness as beauty?

As everyone was laughing and banqueting, the voice of the restaurant attendant drifted in from outside the door, "Right in here."

Shortly after, the attendant pushed the door open, followed closely by Lei Hu.

Lei Hu cupped his hands in greeting toward Liu Qin and Jiang Li, then turned to Little Wu and said, "Little Wu... Master Mu asks Little Wu Young Master to return immediately, saying there is news from the Kingdom of Li."

With a sharp clatter, Little Wu suddenly stood up, knocking over the chair behind him.

The group swiftly returned to the Liu residence, and Little Wu headed straight for the martial arts training grounds.

Liu Qin longed to follow and find out what had happened, but since it concerned the Kingdom of Li, perhaps her master did not wish for her to know. Thus, she had to suppress her impulse and wait for news with Jiang Li in the Ink Fragrance Courtyard.

As dusk approached, Little Wu finally came over to invite the two of them to the martial arts courtyard, without saying anything else.

Yet Little Wu's gaze seemed different now. It carried a hint of uncontrollable excitement, mixed with a profound sorrow. When he looked at Liu Qin, his eyes also seemed tinged with a lingering reluctance to part.

Clueless as to what was happening, Liu Qin and Jiang Li arrived at the small courtyard beside the training grounds and entered Mu Qing's room. At a single glance, they saw that besides their master, there was a man of about twenty-three or twenty-four—a complete stranger whom they had never laid eyes on before.

After paying their respects to their master, they stood quietly to one side.

Mu Qing pointed at the young man and said, "This is your second senior brother, Shangguan Hong."

Then, indicating the two of them, he said to Shangguan Hong, "Jiang Li, Liu Qin, your junior brother and junior sister."

Liu Qin and Jiang Li hurriedly stepped forward to pay their respects to their second senior brother. The man, who appeared somewhat stern, quickly returned the courtesy, his expression softening considerably as he looked at them.

"Junior brother and junior sister, seeing you both for the first time, your senior brother has nothing particularly grand to offer. Please accept these small tokens as a keepsake."

As he spoke, Shangguan Hong drew two items from his robes: one was a pitch-black object resembling both a flute and a xiao, while the other was a jade hair ornament intended to be worn in the hair, possessing a celadon luster and a simple, unadorned style commonly worn by men.

He handed the flute-like object to Jiang Li: "Junior Brother Jiang, Master mentioned in his letter that you have a fondness for musical arts. I specifically commissioned someone to forge this xiao for you. Refined from fine iron, it is impervious to ordinary swords and sabers, and its timbre is exceptionally unique. Carrying it with you, Junior Brother Jiang can use it as both a weapon and a musical instrument."

Next, he handed the hair ornament to Liu Qin, smiling even more warmly: "Master praised junior sister as an extraordinary woman of this world, and upon meeting you today, I see that is indeed true. Since junior sister prefers men's attire, this hairpin of mine should suit you well. The interior of this hairpin is hollow and conceals poisoned needles, which can be used as a hidden weapon. If junior sister wears it in your hair, it may perhaps save your life in an hour of peril. Later on, I will teach you the method of using it and its antidote."

Taking the jade hairpin with both hands, Liu Qin felt a wave of warmth spread through her heart. Second Senior Brother had truly put a great deal of thought into this. Not only were the gifts perfectly suited to their preferences, but he was also well aware of each person's strengths and weaknesses. Knowing that her martial arts skills were not refined enough, he had given her a hidden weapon for self-defense; knowing that Jiang Li disliked wearing a sword, he had presented him with an iron xiao.

"Second Senior Brother..."

Both of them were moved to the brink of tears, feeling an indescribable closeness to Shangguan Hong, whom they were meeting for the very first time.

Shangguan Hong patted each of them on the shoulder without saying anything more.

In their eyes, this second senior brother, whose sternness somewhat exceeded his years, was as steadfast as a mountain, just like their master, providing a sense of reliable refuge.

"Well, your second senior brother has always loved studying all kinds of weaponry, especially hidden weapons. What he has given you are fine treasures indeed; take good care of them."

Mu Qing smiled as he looked at his four disciples. Seeing them get along so harmoniously filled his heart with joy, yet the thought of the impending parting brought a touch of melancholy, prompting him to let out a sigh. "A-Li, Qin'er, your master and Little Wu will be leaving with your second senior brother in the next few days. From here on, who knows when we shall meet again."

"Master, you... you are leaving?"
The two of them asked in unison.

"Yes." Mu Qing glanced at Little Wu. "Your second senior brother has brought news of Little Wu's family. We must return to verify whether it is true. Once we go, we will not be returning for some time."

"But, Master..."

The words hung on her lips, but she knew not how to continue. Little Wu longed to see his family; how could she possibly try to make him stay? Yet that agonizing sorrow of parting welled up in her heart once more. She had never expected that just after bidding farewell to their mistress and Cuiliu, Master and Little Wu would be leaving as well.

Why must life be filled with so many partings?

With a heavy heart, she lowered her head. Mu Qing stepped closer and stroked her hair. "Good child, there is no banquet in this world that never ends. Once Master has settled these matters, I will return to visit you both. Very well, very well, we are not leaving this very second; Master still has some affairs to attend to, and we shall set out in three days."

They had only three days left.

Little Wu stood to one side, his hands tightly clenched. Upon learning news of his eldest brother, he was overwhelmed with excitement and wished he could sprout wings and fly back to the Kingdom of Li immediately. Yet when he looked at the junior sister before him, he wished time could slow down, stretch out, and freeze entirely, for he did not know whether he would ever be able to return after this journey, or if he would even survive to come back.

Junior sister, will you wait for me? (To be continued.)