"Master, this is a special dish that I prepared. It's rich with spiritual qi and the soup can help soothe your inner force. Here, have a taste!"

Master Lu watched in horror as the young girl once again presented a huge bowl filled with a delicious steaming soup with lotus seeds floating in it.

The past few hours had been the most torturous moments of his life. Never had he known that some mortal dishes would cause an uproar inside his always calm mind.

Someone like him who was past the point where his body needed to consume food regularly, it was quite shocking that he had been craving to taste those delicious dishes that Li Ming had been presenting to him for the last four hours.

The entire day was full of chaos and unexpected surprises. And it all started because he refused to take the girl as his disciple.

She was indeed a genius among the young generation. However, Master Lu was still not eager to take her as his disciple.

Everyone thought that she would be embarrassed after his rejection and would try to stay lowkey for the coming days.

However, no one expected to see a completely chirpy and determined Li Ming starting the day with a fresh fragrant tea that she presented to the Head of the Sect during the morning assembly.

Even though her determination to win the Head Master over to become his disciple surprised everyone, they all burst out into laughter as they witnessed Master Lu once again rejecting her.

But if they expected this second rejection to destroy Li Ming's determination then they were all in for a surprise.

Not only she served the delicious tea to all the elders and the disciples, but they also got to enjoy never seen before snacks.

After that Li Ming joined her very first class where they learned about the basics of Array formations.

She was pondering about what to do next to impress the Master when the chance landed right in her lap.

Master Lu needed someone to assist him in the library and the boy who was supposed to help him got stuck with some work.

Li Ming was short to offer her help to the boy who was somehow completely oblivious to her identity and accepted her help, directing her towards the library to help the master.

However, Li Ming had no idea that she would be assigned to clean the dusty books and shelves that were piled up in one of the last portions of the hall.

It was a tough task seeing that it was forbidden to use spiritual qi inside the library, study hall, and the great hall.

However, Li Ming persisted to not fail in the very first task that she was assigned by the Head of the Sect.

Somehow, she succeeded in completing the task within the given time, and even though Master Lu was once again left surprised by her persistence to succeed and determination to achieve her goal, he still refused to acknowledge her hard work in the way she wanted.

After that Li Ming got no other chance to show her determination to the Head of the Sect.

It was finally evening and most of the elders were gathered in the Sect Array's main pavilion to enjoy an evening tea.

Although it was very rare for the Head of the Sect to take part in such gatherings but due to some miracles, the Elders found Master Lu sitting on the head seat.

They all were waiting for the disciples to bring the tea and snacks to the pavilion when they all noticed Li Ming leading a group of young disciples towards the pavilion.

The elders were actually happy to see Li Ming bringing them the tea and snacks since they all enjoyed the morning surprise.

However the same could not be said about the man whose face looked as dark as the clouds that used to cover the sky during rainy days.

The elders eagerly started savoring the fragrant tea that filled their bodies and minds with a new kind of energy while enjoying the wonderful snacks that were prepared by the young girl.

Despite her young age, the girl was filled with numerous surprises. She was not only a genius in cultivation but she could also cook wonderful dishes that could make anyone hungry in one single glance.

Some pitied her persistence for trying to win over Master Lu as they knew that the result would never be in her favor.

While some were actually impressed by her determination even though they too knew that she was unlikely to succeed.

As she served the tea to Master Lu, the man stayed completely oblivious to her presence as he kept his attention on the chessboard.

It was Xiao Heng who took pity on her and told her that the Master was not that fond of tea.

As they all watched the departing figure of Li Ming, no one thought about seeing her again that night.

But once again they all were left speechless when they saw her again approaching the pavilion after half an hour or so.

This time she brought a light soup that looked as delicious as it was nourishing and full of spiritual qi.

However, once again Master Lu ignored her and her hard work.

But Li Ming kept kneeling on the hard ground as she waited for the Head of the sect to show some reaction.

Time sped by and nearly everyone was feeling bad for the little girl who had been kneeling on the hard ground for nearly two hours.

They could neither help her nor could they leave the pavilion. They just kept sitting there in silence waiting for Master Lu to finally show some mercy on the girl.

And it happened!

However, what he said was not what everyone was expecting to hear. They could not decide whether it was a win on Li Ming's part or if once again she got rejected and this time in even a harsher way.

Master Lu asked her to prepare a soup that could help his tired muscles to relax and at the same time nourish his inner force while providing his body with spiritual qi.

In short, he wanted Li Ming to make a soup that could only be prepared by a top-class chef.

As everyone waited for Li Ming to finally give up on her, they found out that she was nowhere near giving up.

All this brought them to the current situation. The young girl had succeeded in cooking the soup that the Master had asked her to.

Now everyone was waiting in silence to see what Master Lu was going to do.

Everyone had their own assumptions about what the Master was going to do next to skip the predicament that he had landed himself in.

Some predicted that he was going to neglect her presence to skip the situation, but then some thought that he won't do that seeing that he was the one who asked Li Ming to make the soup.

The theories and assumptions carried from person to person. However, not a single one thought about the possibility that Master Lu would accept her hard work.

Master Lu stood up from his seat as he gave a quick glance to both Li Ming and the delicious soup that was resting on the table.

"Since you have worked so hard to make this soup, it would be a pity to waste it. Xiao Heng!"

"Master..."

Xiao Heng quickly kneeled down as soon as Master Lu called his name.

"Don't waste your junior sister's hard work. However, you are not allowed to ask her to cook it again even if you liked it so much."

With these words being said, the silhouette of Master Lu disappeared from the pavilion.

The elders sighed as they pitied the young girl that had tried her best throughout the day to impress the Head of the Sect and to show him his sincerity.

However, she was only met with the harsh reality. It was clear that she was still lacking in her sincerity.

Xiao Heng picked up the bowl of soup as he took the first sip. Immediately his eyes shone with sparkles telling Li Ming that he liked the soup.

The elders too had left the pavilion since it was already past eight o'clock in the evening, leaving Li Ming and Xiao Heng alone.

After ten minutes, the boy put the bowl back on the table before cleaning his mouth with the back of his sleeves.

"You are a good cook."

Li Ming turned her attention towards the young man as she heard his whispered words.

She raised her eyebrows in return as she eyed him while asking, "Only good? And here I was thinking that I'm fabulous when it comes to cooking."

A sigh left her lips as she shook her head lightly. Her eyes filled with sadness over the fact that she was still only a good cook.