The Best Taste in Memory

Yi Feng stepped forward, patted Cang Sheng on the shoulder, and laughed, "You are really waiting with bated breath, aren't you."

Instantly, Cang Sheng's face flushed red all the way to the base of his ears.

He only felt a burning sensation on his cheeks.

"Brother Yi Feng, please do not speak nonsense."

Recovering his wits, Cang Sheng asked, "Where is Brother Yi Feng heading next?"

"I want to stay in Hua City for a while, but I am unfamiliar with the place. Do you have an empty guest room where I could stay for a short time?"

Cang Sheng said with pleasant surprise, "Sure! My house happens to have an empty guest room. You are very welcome, Brother Yi Feng. You can stay as long as you like."

"But you will have to wait for me. I need to move these goods into the manor, and then I will take you to my home!"

"No rush. I am a man with plenty of free time. You go ahead and finish your work; I will wait for you right here."

"Mhm."

Cang Sheng was very happy; he had a very favorable impression of Yi Feng.

After all, other than the Third Miss, he had never met anyone else who would listen attentively to his bragging without showing disdain.

Furthermore, Brother Yi Feng had been encouraging him all along the journey, helping him rebuild his confidence.

Cang Sheng's residence was left to him by his parents. Ever since they passed away one after another, their room had remained empty.

Although it was empty, Cang Sheng still cleaned the room frequently, keeping it as a way to remember them.

Therefore, as soon as Yi Feng mentioned it, he gladly agreed immediately.

By the time the sun set in the west, Cang Sheng finally finished the work at hand. He walked toward Yi Feng with brisk steps.

Upon getting closer, he was surprised to find that Yi Feng was actually carrying a lot of vegetables and meat in his hands.

"Brother Yi Feng, what is this?"

"My cooking skills are not bad. I will make some dishes for you. I cannot just stay at your house for free."

Cang Sheng smiled, "Brother Yi Feng, you are a guest. How can I let you buy groceries and cook? I..."

Yi Feng directly interrupted Cang Sheng.

"Let us go. We can talk about it when we get back."

West City.

A small residence.

Within the residence was a small courtyard, a small kitchen, and two wing rooms.

Beside the rockery in the courtyard sat a stone table.

Many flowers and plants were also planted in the yard. The entire small courtyard could be considered clean, tidy, and well-organized.

Cang Sheng took the vegetables and meat Yi Feng bought to the kitchen, and then led Yi Feng to his parents' room.

The room's furnishings were very simple: a tea table, a dressing table, and a bed.

Although very simple, the room was clean and warm, giving off the feeling of home.

"Brother Yi Feng, I am the only one in my family now. This room originally belonged to my parents. You can stay in this room for as long as you want."

Yi Feng smiled and rubbed Cang Sheng's head, "Thanks, kid. Go rest for a bit. I will cook."

"Brother Yi Feng, let me help you. My cooking is not bad either!"

"No need. Go tend to your wounds and just wait for the food."

"This..."

"Go on, it is fine."

Cang Sheng gave a sound of agreement and went back to his room.

Yi Feng started the fire, picked the vegetables, and chopped the meat, as if he had returned to his former peaceful life of daily necessities.

Thinking of various past events, he could not help but feel a sense of melancholy in his heart.

After a sigh, he began to fully display his culinary skills.

Hearing the sounds coming from the kitchen, Cang Sheng only felt an incomparable peace in his heart.

The last time he had waited in his room for a meal was when his mother was still alive...

Reminiscing about this tranquility, Cang Sheng unexpectedly fell asleep without realizing it.

After a while, Yi Feng's call came from the courtyard.

"Kid, come out and eat!"

"Coming."

Cang Sheng revealed a smile and jogged over to the stone table.

Although cultivators could already abstain from eating, this table full of delicacies, complete with color, aroma, and taste, still greatly whetted Cang Sheng's appetite.

"I am digging in!"

Cang Sheng served a bowl of rice for Brother Yi Feng, then began to shovel food into his own mouth in large bites.

With a face full of pleasant surprise and his mouth stuffed with rice and food, Cang Sheng mumbled indistinctly, "This is too delicious, Brother Yi Feng. Your cooking is even better than my mother's. No, your cooking is even better than Drunken Immortal Pavilion, the best in Hua City!"

"Eat slowly, no need to rush," Yi Feng smiled, eating alongside Cang Sheng.

"After my father died, my mother also passed away due to an accident. Since then, I have not had a proper meal, especially one this delicious. Drunken Immortal Pavilion was where my dad used to take me; that was the most delicious food in my memory!"

The speaker had no particular intention, but the listener took it to heart.

Yi Feng's heart felt as if it had been gripped, and a surge of sorrow welled up within him.

"Since you like it so much, I will cook for you every day during this time."

Joy appeared in Cang Sheng's eyes.

"Really, Brother Yi Feng? If it is too much trouble, you do not have to. I can just abstain from food."

"It is no trouble. Your frame is still a bit thin, and constantly fasting will not do your cultivation any good."

"Mhm, then thank you, Brother Yi Feng."

The bright moon hung in the sky, shedding its lunar light.

Yi Feng sighed in his heart, thinking how people today do not see the moon of ancient times, yet today's moon once shone on the ancients.

Yi Feng continuously reminded Cang Sheng to eat slower.

But Cang Sheng ate with increasing delight, until he had completely devoured all the rice and dishes. He let out a burp, seemingly still left wanting more.

"Good appetite. I will buy more groceries tomorrow."

"It was truly too delicious, Brother Yi Feng."

Cang Sheng scratched his head in embarrassment.

......

At night, Yi Feng lay on the wooden bed, using his arm as a pillow. With a faint smile, he fell peacefully asleep.

Cock-a-doodle-doo.

A burst of rooster crowing tore through the long night.

The morning sun lazily climbed up, sluggishly poking its head out.

Cang Sheng rolled over and sat up.

Every day at the rooster's crow, he would get up to practice his sword. This was the self-discipline of a cultivator.

Creak.

Sword in hand, Cang Sheng pushed open the room door, only to see a figure in white robes already sitting on the stone stool.

"Brother Yi Feng, you are up way too early. Or did you simply not sleep at all?"

Cang Sheng knew that high-grade cultivators did not need to sleep.

Yi Feng smiled and said, "I took a short nap. Are you getting ready to practice your sword?"

"Mhm."

"Then show me a few moves."

"Alright!"

Cang Sheng was still quite confident in his swordplay; this was what his father had taught him in the past.

The characteristics of this sword art were quickness, agility, and a dashing, elegant flow.

As Cang Sheng brandished his blade, the sword moved like a flying phoenix, and his posture was light and graceful.

Drawing, pointing, lifting, thrusting, slashing, sweeping, and wiping, he practiced every kind of striking technique once over.

Next, Cang Sheng leaped into the air, dancing through various stances mid-flight.

Clang, clang, clang! Under his swinging, the longsword emitted bursts of humming and the sound of piercing wind.

After finishing a set of sword forms, Cang Sheng asked with a hint of pride, "Brother Yi Feng, my swordplay is not bad, right?"

Yi Feng nodded slightly and said, "Your foundation is very solid, but it lacks a bit of fluidity."

Hearing this, Cang Sheng immediately became interested.

"Brother Yi Feng, do you understand swordplay too?"

"Mhm, I know a little. When you swing the sword, you should not grip the hilt too tightly, as that will affect the dexterity of your strikes."

"When exerting force for a thrust, you need to sink your breath, generate power from your footing, and transfer the strength through your joints all the way to the tip of the sword. Try it again."

Cang Sheng pondered for a moment first, carefully digesting Yi Feng's words.

Afterward, seemingly struck by a sudden realization, he followed Yi Feng's guidance and sure enough, improved significantly.