Zhi just smiles a little wider at Qiang as he says, “I am not sure what you were expecting as a gift, but you should be happy. Now you don’t have to buy a bamboo flute yourself. Also you can start practicing and you will get closer to receiving the coins I promised if you become good enough.” Looking at Zhao and Ya, who both have a slight smile on their face from Qiangs reaction to the gift, Zhi says “This is called fried chicken. Normally I would serve this with some other items, but I didn’t want the meal to be too heavy. Me and Zhao need to train some more after this. Please enjoy.” Zhi bows his head slightly at the end of his sentence.

Qiang still looks slightly displeased, but puts the flute back in the box and moves it to the side of the table. As everyone else goes through and serves themself some chicken, rice and salad. Zhao is the first to bite into the chicken and his eyes nearly pop out of his head as he lets out a moan of pleasure. Both of his guardians look at the boy in concern as he continues to moan in pleasure as he finishes his first bite. With the chicken still in hand, he looks at Zhi with reverence in his eyes and says, “This is the greatest thing I have ever eaten! What did you do to make this taste so good?”

Zhi’s face is a mask of calm while inside he is utterly shocked and wondering why the boy was moaning in pleasure from some simple fried chicken. He replies to Zhao’s question with, “Once you get to a certain level of skill, everything you make will taste just as good.” The boy ponders on the answer for a moment before nodding his head in agreement. Then takes another bite of the chicken and lets out another moan of pleasure. His aunt and uncle stare at the boy as he eats in silence. Qiang is actually the next to pick up a piece of chicken and take a bite. An embarrassing moan of pleasure escapes his mouth as he chews on his first bite. Ya, looks at her husband and nephew while they moan and eat their chicken. Then looks down at the piece of chicken on her plate.

She slowly reaches down and picks it up as Zhi watches, after a moment of hesitation she closes her eyes and bites down on the piece of chicken. As she pulls the piece away from her mouth and begins to chew, her eyes snap open as her face flushes slightly red. A loud and very lewd sounding moan comes from her mouth. Causing both her husband and nephew to stop eating and look at her in shock. Zhi himself is just as shocked, he looks down at the piece of chicken on his plate. Then back up as Ya lets out another moan. Both Zhao and Qiang look at each other and then the chicken in their hands. Zhao just shrugs his shoulders and takes another bite, his uncle follows along a moment later. Both of them let out a moan as they do.

Okay what the hell is going on, it’s just some fried chicken. There is no way it is that good.

[Normally you would be right, if you were not in this realm. But if you inspect the chicken, you will see what the issue is.]

Looking down at his plate of food, Zhi looks closely at the chicken and uses his power to inspect it. A window pops up in front of him and his eyes widen at what is displayed.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Fried Chicken

This chicken thigh was cooked by an expert chef

Who has just started on the path of the Dao of Cooking

While only one foot is on the path of the Dao of Cooking

It has helped to enrich the overall flavor of the dish

Creating something that is almost otherworldly in taste

System Comment,

"This chicken is so good, you will sound like an AV Idol!”

-----------------------------------------------------------

Zhi just stared at the comment box for a few moments, before he looked at the other two dishes on the table. Two more boxes appeared and he just stared at them for a while in slight shock. Not paying any attention to the family making indecent sounds over his cooking.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Steamed Rice

This rice was steamed by an expert chef

Who has just started on the path of the Dao of Cooking

While only one foot is on the path of the Dao of Cooking

It has helped to enhance the overall flavor of the dish

Creating something that is almost otherworldly in taste

System Comment,

“How can rice taste this good, it’s just rice?!?!”

-----------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------

Mixed greens salad with dressing

This salad was made by an apprentice chef

While it is simply made, it uses fresh ingredients

This salads dressing was made by an expert chef

Who has just started on the path of the Dao of Cooking

While only one foot is on the path of the Dao of Cooking

It has helped to deepen the overall flavor of the dish

Creating something that is almost otherworldly in taste

System Comment,

“If every salad was this good, fat people wouldn’t complain about dieting!”

-----------------------------------------------------------

It can’t be that good, can it?

[Cooking enhanced by someone who is on the Dao path of Cooking, will taste anywhere from 10-1000 times better than normal food. Remember what normal food with Qi tasted like to you. It is about the same, if not better for anyone else tasting Dao of Cooking made food.]

That is some bullshit magic, but I am actually fine with this. At least they are enjoying my food. A slightly evil smile plays across Zhi’s lips. I will definitely have to save some of this for Yongzheng, Xiulan and Meifeng.

Taking that thought in mind he quickly stores all the food not plated. Noticing all the food disappearing, the Hai family looks at Zhi in confusion. Zhi smiles and says, “If anything that I store away, will stay the same as when stored and does not change at all. Making it as fresh as it is right now. Let me know if you would like more. But finish what is already on your plate first and don’t get greedy, it’s not good to overeat.”

They all accept what Zhi said and go back to eating. Zhi himself picks up his piece of chicken, it is extremely flavorful, but it is toned down by his repressed senses. As everyone is enjoying their meal, Zhao is the first one to taste the rice. He is surprised by the taste and says to Zhi, “Where did you get this rice?”

Zhi smiles and replies, “In the open air market earlier today.” Zhao looks over to Zhi then looks at the rice before saying, “This is really just normal rice?”

Zhi nods his head and says, “Yes, now try the salad you made. I also picked those up in the market today.”

Zhao looks at his salad before taking some and trying it. He lets out a little moan, while he stares down at the salad in amazement. Looking over at Zhi he says, “I Made this, how is it so good?”

“Because I helped make it. Apparently I can enhance the flavor of any food that I help prepare. One day you might be able to do the same.”

Zhao’s face lights up at that answer and goes back to eating. Both Ya and Qiang haven’t stopped eating, but were listening to the conversation. The rest of the meal passes pretty quickly and Zhi has Zhao clean up all the dishes that he didn’t store away. Once finished, they are all sitting around the table, Ya says. “I forgot to ask, but why are there so many crates in the corner of the kitchen?”

Zhi lets out a laugh and says, “I went a little overboard today when I was shopping. When I came back, I realized I needed to free up a little space, so I took out the crates since I don't really have a use for them. Maybe you can use them for firewood?”

Qiang actually speaks up first. “No I will take care of them, you can sell each one of them at the markets for a few bits.”

“Alright, you can do that then. If Ya doesn’t want them.”

“No, I have no use for them. Plus it will give my Husband something to do tomorrow, instead of wandering around town trying to scam people.”

Qiang looks a little indignant at the comment and says, “I do not scam people, I con them. There is a big difference, thank you very much.”

Zhi fixes Qiang with a glare, before saying, “I am pretty sure both of those words mean the same thing.”

Qiang replies while looking smug, “They might, but scam sounds more negative then con. So I con people, not scam them.”

Zhao and his aunt look at Qiang like he is an idiot. Zhi just sighs and says, “Zhao, this is why you don’t want to be like your uncle. Go change clothes and meet me outback. You remember what we did this morning?”

As Zhi stands up and walks to the back door, Zhao replies, “Are we gonna do stretching and that jump thing again?” While getting up from the table to go change.

“That is called a burpee, and yes we will be doing more of those. Along with some other things.”

Zhi changes his clothes from his inventory, then begins to mark out some lines in the backyard area of the house. It’s almost like another street but a lot more narrow and a well is in the middle of it. The only way to get to it is from the back of one of the six houses that share the well. Once he is done marking lines, Zhao comes out in a change of clothes. Zhi starts him on a set of stretching, then they move into a light jog around the back alley a few times. After a while they go into a full set of exercises, push ups, situps, burpee’s, squats, forward to reverse lunges, bicycle crunches, plank hops and a few others.

By the time they were done, Zhao was exhausted and covered in sweat. Zhi was also covered in sweat, but still felt pretty good. They both cooled themselves down, before they took a quick sponge bath. Zhao made it to his room and was completely passed out within a few minutes of laying down on his bed.

Zhi went into his room before sitting on his bed in the lotus position. Calming his breathing down till he is only taking one breath a minute.

Alright, set an alarm for the same time I had this morning and put it on everyday till I ask you to cancel it.

[Alarm set]

Great, now I will start this Qi Distillation cultivation, is there anything I need to know? Will I have enough time to do it before I need to be up in the morning?

[Host should have no issue doing Qi Distillation for the first time before the morning. With the low quantity of Qi in the area, you will most likely only step into the very beginning of the first stage. It is recommended that the host either moves to an area with higher Qi saturation or does quests from the system to increase cultivation level quickly after stepping into the first stage of Qi Distillation.]

Alright, good to know. Let's try this out.