Divine Level Witch Doctor

In the factory building, after they finished dividing the Medicine Pills, Fang Yi glanced at his watch and said to Zhao Yuan, ”Little Brother Zhao, it’s almost noon. If you’re not busy, why don’t you stay for lunch before you go?”

”Sure,” Zhao Yuan agreed with a nod. The basketball game wasn’t for another three or four hours, so he had plenty of time to eat lunch and get back.

Fang Yi was delighted that Zhao Yuan agreed. He turned to Zheng Qiang and said, ”Old Zheng, you should come too. It’s my treat today. We’re going to Lakefront House!”

”Of course!” Zheng Qiang nodded eagerly, his face full of anticipation. ”I’ve always heard that the freshwater cuisine at Lakefront House is top-notch, but I’ve never had the chance to go. I guess I’m getting lucky, tagging along with you two bosses!”

Laughing and chatting, the three of them walked out of the factory building.

Along the way, Fang Yi called Lakefront House to reserve a table, while Zhao Yuan pointed to the hole he had punched in the wall. ”Uncle Zheng,” he said to Zheng Qiang, ”there’s a hole in that wall over there. When you have a moment, find someone to patch it up.”

Zheng Qiang followed his finger and saw a fist-sized hole in the wall. He was baffled. ’Strange, where did this hole come from? I was in here yesterday and didn’t see it.’

Finishing his call, Fang Yi glanced over but didn’t think much of it. ”Eh, it’s just a hole. Have someone patch it up with some cement. Still, this is a good reminder for us. Old Zheng, you need to give the equipment a thorough inspection. A hole in the wall is no big deal, but it’d be a disaster if the machinery had a problem!”

The Soul-Stabilizing Incense was about to go into mass production, and Fang Yi didn’t want any hiccups at a time like this.

”Don’t worry, boss. I check and maintain all the equipment in the pharmaceutical plant every single day. I guarantee there won’t be any problems!” Zheng Qiang declared, thumping his chest confidently.

Outside the factory, Zhao Yuan got into Fang Yi’s Audi, while Zheng Qiang followed behind in a Honda Accord.

About ten minutes later, the car entered a beautiful wetland and lake district.

Lakes flanked both sides of the road, giving the illusion that the car was driving through the water. White egrets occasionally soared across the sky. The scenery was truly picturesque.

Fang Yi drove to the center of the wetlands and parked in front of an old-fashioned courtyard manor with blue-gray bricks and green tiles.

It was still a little early for the lunch rush, but the parking lot in front of the traditional courtyard was already packed with cars. It took Fang Yi and Zheng Qiang a good while to find spots and park.

”This place is doing that well?” Zhao Yuan remarked, amazed.

”You know it,” Fang Yi said with a laugh. ”The name Lakefront House might not sound like much, but their business is absolutely booming!”

”The prices are just as explosive,” Zheng Qiang chimed in. ”My entire month’s salary wouldn’t be enough for one meal here. If the boss wasn’t treating, I’d never be able to afford it.”

”No way, it’s that expensive?” Zhao Yuan said, marveling at the cost.

He didn’t know Zheng Qiang’s exact salary, but as the pharmaceutical plant’s manager, it had to be at least several thousand a month. Yet here at Lakefront House, that wasn’t even enough for a single meal. ’The prices here are a little outrageous, aren’t they?’

”It’s expensive, true, but for good reason,” Fang Yi explained with a smile. ”The dishes at Lakefront House are absolutely divine! I guarantee that once you try them, you’ll never forget the taste. Their head chef is a master of medicated cuisine. Unfortunately, he rarely cooks himself. He’ll only show off his skills if someone brings him ingredients or medicinal herbs that pique his interest. And even then, once the dish is ready, he eats first. You only get his leftovers.”

”Medicated cuisine?”

Zhao Yuan suddenly recalled some information about medicated cuisine from the miscellaneous knowledge section of the Information Leaf.

Medicated cuisine was first developed by Healers. By combining different ingredients and medicinal herbs in specific ways, they could unlock their properties, creating nourishing meals that could cure illnesses and strengthen the body. Later on, some Cultivators took this art to a whole new level, pioneering a school of Cultivation known as the Tripod Cuisine School.

The school’s guiding principle could be summed up in a single word: Eat! And their method of Cultivation was also to eat!

Things that flew in the sky, swam in the water, or ran on the ground... if it was beneficial to one’s Cultivation, it could be cooked and eaten!

A recent joke circulating online perfectly described the Tripod Cuisine School: ”In the north, there is a fish called the Kun—so big you can’t fit it in one pot. It transforms into a bird called the Peng—so big it needs two grills, one for a secret family recipe, one for something spicy.”

Cultivators from the Tripod Cuisine School not only loved to eat, but they knew *how* to eat. They had truly researched the art of cooking to its absolute pinnacle. When ingredients and herbs fell into their hands, it wasn’t a matter of simply tossing them into a stew. They would use a Secret Technique to prepare the food, ensuring the medicated cuisine was not only exquisitely delicious but also that every last bit of Spiritual Qi within the ingredients was absorbed by the person eating it, with none lost or evaporated!

’Could the mysterious, rule-obsessed head chef of Lakefront House be a Cultivator from the Tripod Cuisine School?’

Zhao Yuan couldn’t help but wonder. At the same time, he made a quiet resolution.

’When the herbs in my medicinal garden mature, I’ll definitely pick a few and bring them here to test this chef’s skills.’

As they talked and laughed, the three men entered the main gate of the courtyard. A hostess immediately came forward to greet them, asking with a smile, ”Good afternoon, gentlemen. Do you have a reservation?”

The hostess wasn’t wearing a standard uniform, but a beautifully tailored Hanfu that blended perfectly with the antique-style surroundings. It created a wonderful, classical atmosphere and instantly elevated the establishment’s prestige.

Fang Yi gave his name, and the hostess quickly found the reservation before leading them to their private room.

Once inside the room, Fang Yi and Zheng Qiang ushered Zhao Yuan to the seat of honor.

Although Zhao Yuan was the youngest of the three, the abilities he displayed had long since earned him the profound respect of both Fang Yi and Zheng Qiang.

”Little Brother Zhao, what do you feel like eating?” Fang Yi asked, looking over the menu.

Zhao Yuan replied, ”Something hearty. I’ve got a big appetite. As for what to order, you’re the expert, so I’ll leave it to you.”

”Alright, I’ll handle the ordering then.” Fang Yi didn’t stand on ceremony and ordered several of Lakefront House’s signature and specialty dishes. Since they had driven, none of them drank alcohol, instead ordering two pots of the restaurant’s special fruit tea.

Soon, the dishes began to arrive.

Fang Yi pointed to a fish dish in the center of the table and said with a smile, ”Little Brother Zhao, you have to try this fish. The freshwater cuisine at Lakefront House is truly in a class of its own! I’ve traveled all over and eaten a lot of fish, but I’ve never had any better than what they make here.”

”Then I’d better give it a try.” Zhao Yuan picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks and tasted it.

The fish was silky and tender, and its savory aroma tantalized his taste buds—an incredibly enjoyable experience.

”This really is delicious!” Zhao Yuan said admiringly.

Just as the three of them were happily eating, the door to their private room was suddenly thrown open with a BANG.