Chapter 54: Being Carried Up
Just as Lu Yunxi’s mind was drifting off into distant thoughts, a rich, savory fragrance wafted over from the campfire.
She snapped back to her senses, taking a light sniff and offering a silent, approving nod. Regardless of the actual execution of the dish, at least the aroma was exactly where it needed to be.
“Master, dinner is served!” Shen San called out, leading her toward a comfortable rattan chair. He had even placed a plush cushion on the seat to ensure she wouldn’t feel the slightest discomfort. “Please, take a seat.”
Looking at the set of exquisite tables and chairs he had manifested, Lu Yunxi felt a sudden, complicated wave of emotion. When she traveled alone, she usually survived on dry biscuits, and a piece of roasted rabbit was a luxury. Her apprentice’s life on the road was vastly more refined than her own!
“Master, please try it. Have I made any progress?” Shen San asked enthusiastically.
The spread on the table was relatively simple—mostly home-cooked favorites. After all, when Lu Yunxi had first taken him on, her own high-tier repertoire was limited, so she had focused his training on mastering these foundational classics.
She scanned the dishes and decided to start with a bowl of soup. The crucian carp and tofu broth was a beautiful, milky white and radiated an intoxicating scent. She took a sip; the liquid was rich and deeply flavorful. The tofu was silky smooth, having absorbed the essence of the broth, while the fish itself was tender and aromatic.
Yunxi moved on to the other dishes, nodding to herself as she tasted each one. Every single item was of Blue-grade quality. This meant her apprentice had officially breached the threshold of an intermediate-tier chef!
Recalling the global rankings she had viewed earlier, it appeared that the person holding the number two spot with a hidden name was indeed her own student.
“Shen San, it’s clear you’ve been practicing diligently since we last met. You’ve executed these dishes flawlessly!” Having eaten her fill, Yunxi offered her praise with genuine satisfaction.
“I’m just glad they meet your standard, Master. If you aren’t in a hurry to resume your travels, allow me to handle the cooking for you every day from now on!” Unlike his usual stoic and composed demeanor, Shen San’s face was bright with unfiltered joy. For him, receiving a word of approval from his master was far more rewarding than any public acclaim; she was, after all, the person who had essentially given him his career in this world.
Lu Yunxi was genuinely moved by the gesture, yet she still felt compelled to decline his kindness. With Shen San hovering around her, how was she supposed to engage with wild bosses or clear high-level dungeons? She would be forced to maintain her facade as an ordinary NPC and watch from the sidelines while all the experience points vanished!
She fell silent, her mind racing for a diplomatic exit.
The following morning.
Lu Yunxi didn’t rush to depart immediately. Instead, she spent the morning meticulously copying every volume in the local school library, stashing the duplicates in her spatial storage before tracking down her apprentice.
Shen San was her student, after all. Since their last meeting, she had discovered countless new recipes and regional specialties. It was only right that she impart that knowledge to him. You couldn’t simply accept a disciple and then leave them to fend for themselves without guidance!
“Shen San, I have officially taught you every new dish I’ve mastered lately, and you’ve committed the core techniques to memory. The rest is simply a matter of practice,” she said, echoing the parting words she had used once before. She adjusted the strap of her travel pack, preparing to set off.
However, a split second later, Shen San called out to her. He began rummaging through his backpack, searching for something. “Master, wait a moment.”
Yunxi secretly wondered: Has he realized what a magnificent master I am and prepared a stockpile of rations for my journey?
A moment later, however, the apprentice appeared directly in front of her. His hands were empty.
? ?
“Disciple, what are you doing?” she asked, thoroughly confused.
“Master, aren’t you venturing out to forage for rare ingredients? Allow me to accompany you! Tracking down the world’s finest delicacies is truly one of life’s most noble pursuits. Besides, I can handle all the cooking along the way so you won’t have to lift a finger!” Shen San offered a bright smile. “I’ve already settled my affairs. Let’s go!”
She looked at him with a highly subtle expression but ultimately didn’t refuse. His logic was sound, and she lacked a solid reason to turn him away. She figured she could just find an opportunity to slip away from him later.
However, after a few days on the road, she abandoned the idea of ditching him entirely.
Whenever the master and disciple traveled together, the system treated them as a default party! This meant she gained a passive share of experience points from every monster her apprentice defeated along the way!
It was magnificent!
From that day forward, Lu Yunxi’s life became a dream. She spent her days admiring the mountain scenery while her apprentice fought off predators, admiring the scenery while her apprentice prepared five-star meals, and admiring the scenery while her apprentice handled the cleanup.
To have an apprentice who not only powered up your levels but also provided for your every physical need was the ultimate luxury! The gaze she directed at him now was brimming with genuine, maternal affection.
However, a leisurely existence is rarely long-lived, and catastrophe struck without warning.
Lu Yunxi tried to shift into a more comfortable position, but it was impossible. She was currently slumped over someone’s shoulder, her stomach being repeatedly jabbed by the man’s lean, hard muscle as he sprinted. Every jarring step made her feel like she was on the verge of vomiting.
“Master! Let go of my master!” Shen San roared, his eyes blazing with fury as he pursued the abductor.
Yunxi managed to lift her head just enough to see her apprentice chasing them relentlessly. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her stomach in check so she could speak without gagging.
Mustering all her strength, she shouted, “Shen San, stay back! Do not follow me! I will be fine!”
Having delivered the warning, she didn’t dare utter another syllable for fear of losing her lunch. Secretly, she prayed her apprentice would heed the advice. With Shen San out of the picture, she would be free to drop her facade and take action herself!
As luck would have it, the moment she finished shouting, the abductor executed a massive leap across a mountain ravine. Shen San was forced to a halt at the edge of the sheer cliff. His current Lightness Skill proficiency wasn’t nearly high enough to clear such a formidable gap.
All he could do was scream after them, his voice echoing through the ridges. “Master, wait for me! I will come for you! I swear I’ll save you—!”
The sound lingered in the air, vibrating in her ears. Lu Yunxi’s eye twitched, but she quickly refocused on the man carrying her.
This individual’s physical capabilities were extraordinary. The level gap between her and Shen San was roughly ten tiers, yet while Shen San was trapped at the cliff’s edge, this man had cleared the ravine effortlessly while carrying her full weight.
She activated her Appraisal skill. Her heart sank. The man was Level 63—a high-tier martial master. At this stage, Yunxi had only just reached Level 50.
A thirteen-level gap.
It appeared she was in for a brutal confrontation.
Yunxi’s gaze darkened. Her consciousness sank into her spatial inventory, frantically sorting through her supplies. She prioritized the various botanical toxins she had gathered from the ridges—substances that triggered paralysis or vivid hallucinations without being lethal. She had never faced an opponent above Level 60 before; she could only hope these poisons would be effective against a master of this caliber.
She tightened her fists, her fingers beginning to twitch toward her sleeves.
But just as she prepared to strike… the man suddenly skidded to a halt and set her down.
Yunxi, her limbs unbound, immediately scrambled several steps back. She dropped into a low, defensive crouch, maintaining a distance that allowed for both a quick counter-attack or a hasty retreat. Her vigilance was at its absolute peak.
To her immense surprise, however, the man didn’t seem interested in a fight. Instead, he stared at her for a long moment before asking, “Young lady… that dress you are wearing. It is not yours, is it?”
Yunxi’s hands trembled slightly. Remembering that the garment was a disciple’s suit from the Misty Rain Palace, a sudden realization struck her.
Could this man be affiliated with the sect?
“It isn’t,” she replied, her eyes flashing with a calculated curiosity as she looked up at him. “I discovered this garment in a bandit den while I was traveling. Why do you ask? Do you know the individual it belongs to?”
“A bandit den?!” The man’s expression shifted violently, his features clouding over with a grim, dark fury.
“Indeed. I spend my days wandering the mountain ranges foraging for rare ingredients. A few weeks ago, while navigating a specific ridge, I was ambushed by a band of highwaymen,” Yunxi lied, keeping her head low to hide her expression. “My companions and I fought them off, eventually clearing out their hideout. I found this set of clothing inside and used it to replace my own tattered rags.”
The man offered a stiff nod. “I see. In the heat of combat, clothing is often the first thing to suffer. Now… tell me. Can you lead me back to the cavern where you found this?”
