The Foolish Agent

Chapter 56

"She's probably going to lie down in the tree and digest it slowly," Qingfeng replied, then asked worriedly, "Is Xiaojie disappointed with Wuyou Valley?"

Leng Jie soaked the soup in her rice, shook her head, and said, "At first, I was a little scared by my master. He was the first person who could read my mind. But not anymore. Now I actually think my master is quite funny."

Because she already knew his weakness.

"Is Master fun?" Qingfeng asked, shaking his head.

"Senior brother, how old were you when you came here with Master?" Leng Jie seemed to have seen Qingfeng being teased by Master and couldn't help but ask with a smile.

"I've been here as long as I can remember. It wasn't until I was fifteen that my master sent me away."

"So you used to cook for the master?" The poor child, even more pitiful than she was when she was little. Leng Jie couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Qingfeng cleared away the bowls and chopsticks, and answered calmly:

"Well, I've been cooking since I can remember. But my cook wouldn't eat it. He said it was awful. Back then, I'd never had any really good food, so I thought it tasted pretty good. It wasn't until I was nine that my cook brought me back a roast chicken from outside, and that's when I realized chicken could taste so different! I always tried to recreate that flavor, but I could never quite get it right. In the years since I left the valley, I've eaten all sorts of delicacies. But I've never tasted such delicious chicken again."

The breeze paused for a moment, then suddenly looked up and gazed tenderly at Leng Jie, saying:

"But eating this chicken you made today brought back that familiar taste!"

Luckily, she had just swallowed that mouthful of rice, otherwise she would have choked to death. Leng Jie put down her chopsticks and said:

"No way! This is poached chicken, didn't you just say you were eating roast chicken?"

Qingfeng laughed and said, "I know! The taste is different, but the feeling is the same! This is my first time eating poached chicken. Just think about how satisfied Master was with it just now, and you'll know I wasn't lying. No, I should say yours is even better!"

Leng Jie broke out in a cold sweat! She teased, "If you were saying this for a profit when you came out of seclusion, I would definitely believe you and be very happy. But now? After you've been eating imperial cuisine for three years, do you think anyone would still believe you if you said this poached chicken was delicious?"

"Who says nobody believes me? I believe you! What's so great about imperial cuisine? Nothing compares to the poached chicken made by my dear disciple!"

The carefree old man suddenly appeared behind Leng Jie and interrupted.

"Master, have you ever eaten imperial cuisine?" Leng Jie deliberately provoked.

Sure enough, the old man lost his appetite at the mention of food. He said with dissatisfaction:

"Hmph, there's nothing in this world that I haven't eaten." Then he laughed and said, "But the most delicious food is still the food of my Queen disciple."

"master!"

"master!"

Qingfeng and Lengjie called out at the same time.

"Ah! Both are good disciples. But your master isn't hard of hearing, so don't shout so loudly next time," the carefree old man replied with a smile. Then he turned to Qingfeng and said, "Feng'er, go and hunt a few wild rabbits. Have Xiaojie change things up for dinner tonight."

“Yes, Xiaojie, shall I come with you?” Qingfeng immediately asked Leng Jie.

The carefree old man's face darkened, and he glared at Qingfeng, saying, "That kind of thing should be done by a man. Go quickly."

Qingfeng reluctantly flew out of the dining room.

Leng Jie had been watching her master's expression, knowing he had something to say to her. She spoke first:

"Master! If you still want to eat my cooking, you must never mention the word 'Empress' again!"

"Alright! Alright! Since my good disciple doesn't like it, then I won't mention it," the carefree old man shrugged in response. He then stared at Leng Jie for a moment, a strange smile suddenly appearing on his face.

"However, some things can't be ignored just by not mentioning them. Silly girl, you've been smart for two lifetimes, so why are you always so confused when it comes to matters of the heart?"

Leng Jie's heart skipped a beat. She stared in astonishment at the still-smiling Old Man Wuyou. He actually knew she had lived two lives? He could see through this secret, which even Qingfeng didn't know, at a glance? Or was he truly not human but a god? This question that had been plaguing Leng Jie was finally answered by someone. Excitedly, Leng Jie rushed forward, clinging to the Old Man Wuyou's arm, and asked urgently:

"Master! You know how I got here, right? Can I go back?"

"You still want to go back? Go back and suffer the same pain again?" The carefree old man asked casually, letting Leng Jie's arm hang in a sling. "Or do you want to go back and castrate that man?"

"Uh!" Leng Jie was stunned for a moment. After thinking for a while, she said, "If it were before, I might have wanted to castrate him to vent my anger. But now, it seems that he has disappeared from my heart."

The carefree old man nodded in satisfaction and smiled, "Hmm, my disciple is indeed gifted. Do you still want to go back?"

“Of course! That’s my home! My comrades, family, and work are there. I can’t stay away from a man who’s already disappeared from my heart, can I?” Leng Jie nodded hurriedly in response.

The carefree old man shook his head and asked with a smile, "Don't you have any family or friends here? Don't forget there are many people waiting for you to rescue them! Besides, your body has already been cremated. Even if you have a chance to go back, you will only be able to scatter your soul."

"So, I guess I have no chance to go back!" Leng Jie released the old man's arm and said calmly. In truth, she had never held out hope of returning. She had only asked out of a sudden impulse, realizing that someone knew everything about her. But what she really wanted to know was:

"Then Master must know why I came back here, how I got here, and why I appeared inside the body of the idiot queen."

"Now is not the time to know. You will know when the time comes. Just remember that this is the world that truly belongs to you. Your value here is far greater than your value in any other world. Then, just deal with problems according to your heart, and you won't go wrong. I've said it before, except for being slow to understand emotions, you are impeccable in every other way."

"Master, what you're saying is as good as nothing at all," Leng Jie said, dissatisfied.

The carefree old man stroked his white beard and laughed loudly:

"Haha, I knew I couldn't fool you, little girl. Alright, since you made such a delicious meal for me, I'll tell you one more thing, so you can avoid some detours."

"What is it?" Leng Jie asked anxiously.

The carefree old man suddenly said seriously:

"You will leave the valley tomorrow and go to Qizhou to rescue your father. Your family is in trouble, and this is a calamity for you. If you can successfully rescue them, your journey ahead will be much easier. If they don't survive this calamity, you will face more than one calamity afterward."

Judging from her master's expression, Leng Jie knew the seriousness of the matter and had no doubt about his authenticity. She hurriedly said:

"Master, could you give me some hints? For example, Qizhou is so big, where am I supposed to find them? What kind of dangers might they encounter?"

"Smack!" The carefree old man gave her another flick on the forehead. He laughed and scolded, "You brat, you really know how to push your luck! If I knew everything, wouldn't I have just told you to write him a letter and ask him to avoid me? Why did you have to rush to go tomorrow? My poor mouth can only enjoy two meals a day. No way, you have to make tonight's meal extra lavish for your master."

Leng Jie blinked and said, "Master, isn't it easy to eat the dishes I make? You can come to Qizhou with me tomorrow, and I will definitely cook different delicious dishes for you every day to show my filial piety."

"You think I don't know your tricks? Let me tell you, once I leave this Valley of No Worries, I can't calculate anything anymore. Do you still want me to come with you?" the Old Man of No Worries asked with a smile.

If she can't predict anything, then what's the point of having him around? She'd have to prepare a different meal for him every day; she's not stupid. Leng Jie immediately replied:

"Hehe! I was just saying that, how could I dare to trouble you to come out of seclusion?"

"See! I knew you were a sly little devil." The carefree old man reached out, wanting to tap Leng Jie on the head again. But Leng Jie dodged it.

He withdrew his hand, stroked his beard, and said solemnly:

"But starting tomorrow, you'll really have to rely on yourself. Your senior brother also has his own things to take care of. He can only help you so much. If he needs your help in the future, even if you don't care about him, you have to help him for the sake of the TV station. Understand?"

“Look at what Master is saying. My senior brother has helped me so much. If he is in danger, I will risk my life to save him!” Leng Jie said unhappily.

"Don't I know you? I have my reasons for saying this. Just remember what you promised me today. Qingfeng is a good child. He has been gentle and sincere since childhood. I went to great lengths to raise him to be eccentric, strange, and ruthless. But as soon as he meets you, he reverts to his old self. You are his nemesis," the carefree old man said helplessly.

She knew it! Everyone in the palace was terrified of Qingfeng Dao, yet she had never seen his terrifying side. So she was his nemesis. But then again, he was originally a kind person. Yet this awful master forced him to become a villain; the trials he must have endured... Leng Jie couldn't help but shudder.

"You brat, you're cursing your teacher for being heartless again, aren't you! Let me tell you, I'm doing this with good intentions. The hardships he'll face in the future won't allow him to have that kind of character," the carefree old man said meaningfully.

“Since Master knows that Senior Brother is going to suffer, why doesn’t he try to help him? Why make him suffer more from a young age?” Leng Jie said deliberately.

The carefree old man glared at Leng Jie and said:

"Girl, don't try to play tricks on your teacher. You're leaving tomorrow, why don't you go out and have a look around now? Who knows when you'll be back next time!"

Leng Jie, having been seen through again, chuckled and said, "Hehe, in front of Master, I will never dare to play tricks again. Master, take me for a walk." As she spoke, Leng Jie affectionately took her master's arm.

The master and apprentice chatted and laughed as they walked towards the valley...

Chapter Ninety-One: The Impermanence of Life

Surrounded by verdant mountains and clear waters, the place exudes a tranquil and elegant atmosphere. Birdsong and the fragrance of flowers drift on the breeze, and exotic animals are a common sight. The untouched natural beauty is a masterpiece of nature. The fresh air makes one feel refreshed and invigorated. After touring the area with her master, Leng Jie couldn't help but fall in love with the place. She exclaimed involuntarily:

"Master! Worry-Free Valley is definitely a place suitable for immortals to live in! Why don't I stay and cultivate immortality with you?"

"Haha! You little rascal, you really want to become an immortal! But your six senses are not yet purified, you can't become an immortal. Go and do what you're supposed to do." The carefree old man patted Leng Jie's head and laughed:

"Go back and see what your senior brother brought back. I'll go hunt another wild boar. You have to cook it all up today. You can only leave tomorrow."

The sound still echoed in the air when the figure vanished into the forest in a flash.

"What kind of master is he! Instead of teaching and imparting knowledge, all he knows is how to exploit his disciples' labor." Boil a wild boar? It's amazing that he even thought of such a thing! Leng Jie shook her head and muttered to herself, staring in the direction her master had disappeared.

Swinging her arms, she strolled leisurely back along the cobblestone path. The air here seemed to have a purifying effect. Even someone as usually anxious and worried as her felt a sense of peace.

"Xiao Jie!" Qingfeng leaped from behind Leng Jie, carrying four rabbits tied together in one hand and seven or eight pheasants in the other.

Leng Jie stopped abruptly at the sound and turned around. She immediately saw Qingfeng's bountiful harvest and involuntarily gasped. So much food to cook in one meal, plus her master's wild boar... Wasn't this going to kill her?! She then exclaimed in shock:

"How did you catch so many in such a short time! Since they're all alive, you might as well release one of them and keep one."

"If I let it out, Master will definitely make you boil me!" Qingfeng said exaggeratedly.

"Shall I carry a few dicks for you?" Leng Jie reached out to take them.

Qingfeng shook his head and waved his hand to avoid her, saying, "No need, you just need to be in charge of cooking. I'll take care of everything else." Seeing Leng Jie's frightened look, he reassured her, "But we can make less. Two a day will do."

"My master just told me to go to Qizhou tomorrow to rescue my father. So, I have to get all of this ready for you tonight. And I have to make sure it doesn't break," Leng Jie said with a helpless shrug.

Qingfeng paused for a moment, then looked up at Leng Jie and said firmly, "I'll go with you!"

"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Leng Jie said sincerely, her eyes meeting Qingfeng's. Then she added, "However, Master said your troubles are coming too. So, we'll have to deal with them separately."

"What trouble am I in?" Qingfeng asked, puzzled.

Leng Jie turned around and walked backwards to face Qingfeng. She shrugged and spread her hands, replying, "My master didn't say, and I don't know either. But I suspect it might be related to your background? Do you know anything about your own past?"

Qingfeng paused for a moment, then said quietly, "My master has never mentioned it to me. But I don't want to know either."

As they spoke, the two had already returned to the front of the house. Then, they worked together. One killed a chicken, the other skinned a rabbit. Watching Leng Jie's skillful movements, Qingfeng couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Xiao Jie, I really don't understand. Why would someone as well-bred as you do so many things you'd never have the chance to do?"

"Hehe, I think it's probably because I'm particularly diligent and inquisitive?" Leng Jie chuckled. "But Senior Brother, you must have been quite a handful of pranks by Master when you were little!"

...Qingfeng reminisced about his childhood, while the two of them, the senior and junior, chatted and laughed as they cooked.

When their master, the carefree old man, returned carrying a two-hundred-pound wild boar, he witnessed this beautiful scene. A satisfied smile unconsciously appeared on his lips. But then, he couldn't help but sigh sadly in his heart! If his two disciples could always be by his side like this, he would gladly shorten his lifespan by thirty years! Alas, fate is unfair! It grants him such a long life, yet he is always forced to endure endless loneliness here all alone.

The sigh startled the two disciples, and Qingfeng was the first to turn around and call out:

"Master is back!"

"Heavens! Master, you really brought back a giant wild boar!" Leng Jie exclaimed. It wasn't that she was overreacting; she was genuinely terrified by the enormous animal. Her concern was that even if she didn't eat or sleep tonight, she might not be able to cook all the meat properly! After a moment's thought, Leng Jie suddenly asked, "Master, if I cook this whole boar, can you finish it within three days?"

"Do you think your teacher is a tiger? That he can eat a 200-pound pig in three days?" the carefree old man said, feigning anger.

“But if they’re cooked, their flavor will only last for three days at most!” Leng Jie replied earnestly. Seeing that he remained silent, she continued, “However, I have a way to ensure you can enjoy delicious pork for up to six months. Just wash them, put them in rice, and cook them. I guarantee they’ll taste just as good as mine. Would you like to try it?”

"Yes, yes, of course. I'll make all the decisions." The old man replied with a beaming smile.

Then he took a cleaver from the kitchen and brandished it skillfully at the large pig. The dead pig, which had been carelessly tossed on the ground, was now neatly arranged as even pieces of pork on the cutting board.

"Master, you weren't a butcher before, were you? You've actually mastered such amazing pig-slaughtering skills!" Leng Jie asked in astonishment, her eyes wide with disbelief.