Cooking for My Students Today

First of all, Cui Hao was no fool, and secondly, he certainly wasn’t itching for a beating.

His master’s words carried a heavy note of warning.

Cui Hao’s gaze shifted once more.

At this moment, Qinghe’s eyes narrowed slightly, her lips curling into a smirk that seemed to say—"Kid, you’ve got some nerve!"

Cui Hao clenched one fist and slammed it into his other open palm with a loud smack.

Then, putting on an expression of sudden realization, he began pacing as he spoke:

"Ah! My memory’s been failing me lately. I must’ve gotten it wrong. What I heard was that the dragon was so mighty, it crushed its enemies in no time—even skinned one alive!"

"I mean, what was that guy thinking? Utterly clueless!"

Cui Hao sighed dramatically as he sidled behind his master, then reached out to clutch the other sleeve of Chu Xingchen’s robe—just like Chen Baiqing had done.

The message was unmistakable: Master, protect me!

Chu Xingchen played along, raising a hand in a protective gesture.

Qinghe’s expression didn’t change, but her voice rose in challenge: "Are you sure it was a human who got skinned?"

"Absolutely!" Cui Hao nodded vigorously. "That was a dragon we’re talking about! A legendary, invincible divine beast!"

A hint of mockery flashed across Qinghe’s face as she turned to Chu Xingchen.

"If I recall correctly, you were the only human who took action that day. Care to share how it felt to be skinned by me?"

Cui Hao suddenly felt the sleeve in his grip turn ice-cold.

Damn it!

This dragon was downright devious! She’d set him up!

He glanced at his master, ready to explain himself, but Chu Xingchen didn’t seem bothered at all. Instead, he pressed a reassuring hand on Cui Hao’s arm.

With a chuckle, Chu Xingchen said, "Just hearsay, nothing personal. Spare my disciple, will you? Look how scared he is."

Cui Hao’s eyes instantly welled up with gratitude—A master’s word is worth more than heaven itself!

Chu Xingchen met his gaze and gave him a look that said, Relax, I’ve got your back.

Touched, Cui Hao nodded fervently.

"Tch…" Qinghe turned away, resting a hand on the stone chair.

This guy might be cunning, but he genuinely cared for his disciples.

Whether it was Li Yingling or Li Xingtian, Qinghe had spent time alone with each of them.

And without exception, she could tell they all held deep, sincere respect for their master.

Her gaze then landed on Lin Luoyu.

Her interest was simple—this woman seemed to be the only one in the sect who was so normal it was almost abnormal.

Lin Luoyu, of course, knew that Qinghe—with her deer-like antlers and undetectable cultivation—was a formidable figure, at least by her standards.

But she never expected the seemingly adorable Qinghe to be a dragon in human form.

Meeting Qinghe’s eyes, Lin Luoyu showed no sign of nervousness, merely nodding lightly in acknowledgment.

Chu Xingchen patted Cui Hao beside him and introduced him to Xie Lingyu:

"This is my fifth disciple, Cui Hao. A promising talent. Call him ‘Uncle-Master.’"

Cui Hao clasped his hands. "Greetings, Uncle-Master."

Then, pointing at Lin Luoyu, Chu Xingchen added,

"Fourth disciple, Lin Luoyu. Exceptionally gifted."

Lin Luoyu stood and bowed. "Greetings, Uncle-Master."

"Xie Lingyu of the Tianyan Sect."

Xie Lingyu considered giving them some pills refined by her own master as gifts but hesitated—these were Chu Xingchen’s disciples, after all.

They might have a natural aversion to pills…

So instead, she took out two protective artifacts and handed one to each.

"Nothing too precious, just a token of goodwill," she said.

Lin Luoyu and Cui Hao glanced at Chu Xingchen, waiting for his subtle nod before accepting the gifts.

In unison, they replied, "Thank you, Uncle-Master."

Chen Baiqing released Chu Xingchen’s sleeve and picked up the teapot, starting to brew tea.

Chu Xingchen’s gaze swept the room.

Li Yingling was scrutinizing their surroundings, likely checking whether her junior siblings had wreaked havoc in the sect during her absence.

Li Xingtian sat relaxed in his chair, his usual stoic face softened by the faintest smile.

If Zhang Yuanshan—who once laughed himself to tears with Li Xingtian on the Central Continent—were still around,

seeing this expression, he’d probably think the world was ending.

Each wore a different expression, but one thing was clear—they were all at ease.

Chu Xingchen couldn’t help but smile too.

This was good. Really good.

Once the tea was ready, Chen Baiqing portioned it out and sent the cups floating with a flick of spiritual energy.

Cui Hao’s eyes lit up as he eagerly accepted his.

A connoisseur himself, he knew his third senior sister’s tea-making skills bordered on divine.

But ever since their master left, she hadn’t brewed a single cup.

He took a small sip and immediately felt his body and mind unwind.

Qinghe wasn’t particularly fond of tea, but she liked fitting in.

Seeing everyone else drink, she grabbed her cup and downed it in one gulp as usual.

But this time, after swallowing, she smacked her lips twice.

Tilting her head thoughtfully, she extended her cup again:

"Another."

Xie Lingyu gave her a puzzled look, though wanting a second cup wasn’t that odd.

She took a sip herself and finally understood what Chu Xingchen meant back in Chizhou when he said "Not as good as Chen Baiqing’s."

This tea…

was unbelievably delicious.

"Hmm…" Qinghe finished her second cup, blinked, and held out her cup once more:

"Another!"

Chen Baiqing obliged, this time adding a side of candied fruit.

Even knowing Qinghe was a dragon—her age far beyond human reckoning—

seeing her youthful appearance, Chen Baiqing couldn’t help but share her snacks.

After all, Qinghe seemed to genuinely enjoy her tea.

Accepting both, Qinghe asked curiously,

"What’s this pairing?"

Chen Baiqing answered earnestly, "Good things don’t need a reason to go together."

Qinghe found this unexpectedly profound. Who knew this little girl, despite her youth, could drop such wisdom?

Clearly a kindred spirit—just a tad too young.

I’ll have to ask her for slacking tips later.

Chu Xingchen clapped his hands. "Since we’re all here, let’s clean up. I’ll cook today."

Li Yingling brightened. "What does everyone want? I’ll go buy ingredients!"

Their master’s cooking was the polar opposite of his pill-refining—one was to die for, the other was literally to die from.

Li Xingtian was the first to respond this time: "I’d like spare ribs, Master."

Chen Baiqing raised her hand. "I’ll tend the fire."

Under Chu Xingchen’s urging, Lin Luoyu and Cui Hao casually picked a couple of dishes too.

Xie Lingyu opted for a soup.

When Qinghe met Chu Xingchen’s questioning look, she eyed him skeptically:

"You actually know how to cook?"

"Just try not to eat your chopsticks later."

"Keep bragging!"

An hour later.

Everyone was mostly eating in silence, their chopsticks dancing swiftly across the large stone table.

Lin Luoyu didn’t hold back either, helping herself generously to the dishes.

Cui Hao kept his head down, focused entirely on his meal without a word of idle chatter.

Li Yingling wore a blissful expression as she ate, occasionally picking up food for Chen Baiqing beside her.

Li Xingtian was the calmest of them all, eating with the most refined demeanor.

Qinghe’s cheeks were puffed up as she chewed, her chopsticks already reaching for the sweet and sour ribs on the table.

Xie Lingyu, at least, maintained some decorum. Watching Qinghe—mouth full, bowl still piled high, yet still stretching her chopsticks for more—she tapped the back of Qinghe’s hand with the blunt end of her own chopsticks.

"Mind your manners."

Qinghe shot Xie Lingyu a wounded look, mumbling through her food,

"Can’t even let Qinghe eat when she’s hungry..."

Chu Xingchen raised an eyebrow and teased, "Little Qinghe, how about it?"

"Qinghe will show you how to eat chopsticks later!"