Reunion Across Ninety Thousand Miles

In truth, Chen Baiqing had no idea how to cook.

The moment she stepped into the kitchen, she was like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden—utterly bewildered, staring blankly at the unfamiliar space.

This kitchen was nothing like the one in her home.

The only thing she recognized was the large iron wok resting on the stove.

Chu Xingchen immediately noticed Chen Baiqing’s awkwardness. Picking up a small stool nearby, he led her to the hearth and had her sit down. With a casual flick of his hand, he tossed a flame into the stove, igniting the fire. Pointing at the flames, he said, “Just keep an eye on this and make sure it burns steadily.”

Relieved, Chen Baiqing nodded earnestly, grabbing a piece of firewood and fixing her gaze intently on the flames.

The firewood had already been prepared in the kitchen. Chu Xingchen usually cooked by manipulating flames with his fire-controlling technique, using his spiritual energy to handle the pots, pans, and utensils.

By giving Chen Baiqing a simple task, he wanted her to feel useful—to give her a sense of belonging and security.

The meal wasn’t elaborate. Chu Xingchen whipped up a few dishes and steamed some rice, and soon, dinner was ready.

While he was cooking, Li Xingtian returned first, carrying a large bag of candied fruits and sweets. He strode into the kitchen, set the bag on the table, and opened it.

From inside, he retrieved a small pouch of candied fruit and walked over to Chen Baiqing, offering it to her.

“Little junior sister, have some,” he said.

Chen Baiqing looked up in mild surprise. For the first time, she sensed that this senior brother might genuinely care about her.

She glanced cautiously at Chu Xingchen, who gave her a subtle wink in response.

“Thank you… Senior Brother,” Chen Baiqing murmured as she accepted the candied fruit.

Li Xingtian nodded lightly before turning to his master. “Master, do you need any help?”

“No need. Your senior sister once swore she’d sooner die than eat anything you cook.”

Li Xingtian opened his mouth as if to protest but ultimately sighed and retreated from the kitchen, the battlefield of culinary disasters.

Once he was gone, Chen Baiqing looked down at the candied fruit in her hands. Though wrapped tightly in oiled paper, a faint, tantalizing sweetness seemed to escape.

She had never tasted candied fruit before, but she had seen others eat it.

Back in her village, people would savor it bite by bite in front of her, telling her how sweet and delicious it was—something she would never get to taste in her lifetime.

That night, she dreamed of eating mountains of candied fruit. In her dream, it was so sweet… even though, to this day, she still didn’t know what sweetness truly tasted like.

Yet, that dream had stayed with her, lingering in her memory all this time.

“Go on, eat it before you drool all over yourself,” Chu Xingchen teased.

Chen Baiqing looked up to see his usual playful grin, his eyes crinkling with amusement.

She was beginning to understand… what her master was trying to do.

Without further hesitation, she peeled back the thick oiled paper, revealing a handful of candied fruit resting in her small palm.

She picked out the tiniest piece and carefully placed it in her mouth.

“Master… it’s really sweet.”

Chu Xingchen glanced over from where he was stir-frying and saw, for the first time, a faint smile gracing Chen Baiqing’s face.

Before long, Li Yingling returned as well, carrying another bundle, her spirits high. She immediately took Chen Baiqing by the hand to change into new clothes.

Once Chen Baiqing was gone, Chu Xingchen unleashed his spiritual energy in full force, swiftly transferring the dishes to the stone table in the courtyard.

Though there was a table in the kitchen, the three of them usually ate outside when they actually sat down for a meal.

Li Xingtian was already waiting in the courtyard. He rarely joined them unless explicitly invited by his master.

Today, however, he had come of his own accord.

It didn’t take long for Li Yingling to lead Chen Baiqing back out.

Dressed in her new outfit, Chen Baiqing’s delicate beauty stood out even more.

“Master, what do you think? Doesn’t she look lovely in this?” Li Yingling asked proudly.

Instead of answering, Chu Xingchen turned his gaze toward the gate.

A figure flickered over the courtyard wall, and Yaoqin’s sharp eyes immediately locked onto Chen Baiqing.

“She does look quite beautiful,” Yaoqin remarked softly.

“Perfect timing,” Chu Xingchen said, eyeing Yaoqin. “Is everything settled?”

Yaoqin nodded lightly and took a seat at the stone table without ceremony.

“Mostly. But tomorrow, I’ll need to wrap things up at the Qingfeng Sect. The Wind Sword Sect is probably already on alert.”

“Should I come with you?”

“No need. You’ve already helped enough. Xie Lingyu can handle the rest.” Yaoqin turned to Chen Baiqing. “Are you planning to take her as your disciple?”

Chu Xingchen grinned. “Mhm. She’s already my third disciple.”

“If it’s you teaching her, I’m not worried.”

With that, Yaoqin’s gaze drifted meaningfully toward the dishes on the table.

Not missing a beat, Chu Xingchen called out to Li Xingtian.

“Xingtian… fetch another bowl and chopsticks for your Aunt Yaoqin.”

With the extra set laid out, dinner officially began.

Chen Baiqing, however, still seemed a little uneasy, quietly focusing on her plain rice. If not for Li Yingling aggressively piling food onto her plate, she might have gone the entire meal without touching anything else.

Yaoqin remained mostly silent, as if she had only come for the food.

Li Yingling, on the other hand, took it upon herself to liven up the atmosphere.

“Master! Your trip with Aunt Yaoqin must’ve been exciting, right?”

Chu Xingchen didn’t hesitate.

“Of course! Your Aunt Yaoqin was thoroughly impressed by my performance!”

Yaoqin paused mid-bite and muttered dryly,

“If by ‘impressed,’ you mean exasperated, then sure.”

“Yaoqin! Tell me the truth—did Yingling corrupt you?”

“Master! That’s slander!”

Chen Baiqing watched as her senior sister energetically bickered with their master, while her senior brother calmly ate his meal in silence.

Even Yaoqin, usually so cold and aloof, wore a faint smile as she observed their squabble.

In that moment, Chen Baiqing felt like she understood the meaning of the word “master” a little more deeply.

All feasts must come to an end.

After dinner, Yaoqin bid her farewells.

That night, Chen Baiqing shared a room with Li Yingling.

Just as Li Xingtian was about to return to his quarters to cultivate, his master gave him a parting instruction.

“Your mastery of techniques is lacking. Practice more from now on.”

Though puzzled, Li Xingtian nodded in agreement.

The next morning, a knock sounded at the courtyard gate.

When Li Yingling opened her eyes, she found that Chen Baiqing had already leapt out of bed, barefoot, and was dashing to answer the door.

“Wait! At least put on your shoes first!”

Chen Baiqing obediently slipped on her shoes and hurried off again, her footsteps pattering against the floor.

Li Yingling sighed and followed after her.

Outside the gate stood a young woman wearing a white veil. Her eyes swept over the two of them in mild confusion before she spoke softly.

"Excuse me, is this Senior Chu Xingchen’s residence? Yaoqin entrusted us to deliver something to him personally."

Li Yingling nodded in response. "Aunt-Master Yaoqin? Yes, I’m Chu Xingchen’s eldest disciple. You may hand it to me."

"My apologies, but Yaoqin insisted it be given directly to him."

"Then wait a moment. I’ll fetch my master."

Just as Li Yingling turned to knock, she saw her master already stepping out, yawning.

Chu Xingchen stretched lazily as he approached the veiled woman. "That would be me. What did Yaoqin send?"

"A storage ring and a letter." The veiled woman handed over the items. "With the delivery complete, I shall take my leave."

Chu Xingchen gave a slight nod. After a brief glance at the storage ring, he chose to open the letter first.

Inside were only two short lines:

[We shall meet again beyond ninety thousand miles.]

[Signed: Xie Lingyu]

Chu Xingchen carefully refolded the letter and sent his spiritual sense into the storage ring.

It was filled to the brim with spirit stones.

At least a thousand of them.