Chapter 150: The Turmoil at the Five Flavors Pavilion (Part One)

In the mortal realm, dining at taverns required silver coins. Ji Mo and Su Ye originally had none, but having stayed in Luo Wu Town for over three months, it was not difficult for them to earn some silver with their skills. At present, both Ji Mo and Su Ye each carried over ten thousand silver coins, and the Qiu siblings also had a fair amount on them.

“Master, I wonder who this Blue Master at the Five-Flavors Tavern is, that so many people are willing to wait outside for hours just to have a meal,” Qiu Hanshan remarked as he glanced at the diners at nearby tables praising their dishes while waiting for their own.

“Perhaps he truly has some skill,” Su Ye replied. Qiu Hanshan pursed his lips but said nothing further. To be honest, he did not believe any chef at the Five-Flavors Tavern could surpass his own master’s cooking. During their days in Luo Wu Town, Su Ye had been the one cooking, and after tasting his food, it was hard for Qiu Hanshan to imagine anyone could cook better.

Before long, the dishes they ordered arrived. They had six dishes and one soup, four of which were vegetarian. Qiu Hanshan sampled a few bites and commented, “Master, this sour and spicy cabbage is indeed distinctive—tart, fresh, and crisp—very appetizing. The braised tofu is also good, but as for the meat dishes, they fall far short compared to what you prepare.”

His critique was quite fair. The vegetarian dishes were indeed impressive, comparable in quality to Su Ye’s cooking, each with its own unique charm. The meat dishes were not poorly done either—any ordinary cook would be proud—but compared to Su Ye, they were several levels beneath.

“What? So this young guest implies that Blue Master of our Five-Flavors Tavern can’t compare to this gentleman’s master?” A server passing by, delivering dishes to another table, overheard only the last part of Qiu Hanshan’s comment and immediately glared at him with displeasure.

Blue Master’s culinary skills at the Five-Flavors Tavern were renowned throughout Jiangwu City. This was why the tavern did not have VIP rooms or offer special treatment—not favoring the powerful or wealthy. Despite Blue Master only cooking one day a month, this did not diminish the respect and admiration everyone from the owner down to the staff held for him. This was the secret to the tavern’s enduring popularity.

“We didn’t mean it like that. You must have misunderstood. This young man was just praising your sour and spicy cabbage and braised tofu,” Ji Mo said with a smile, addressing the irritable server.

With Ji Mo’s words, the server had no choice but to back down. The Five-Flavors Tavern was a business after all; the guests were already apologizing. To press the matter further would seem hostile. Just as the server was about to retreat, a voice suddenly spoke up: “What praise of the master’s sour and spicy cabbage and braised tofu? I clearly heard this young man say the master’s meat dishes couldn’t compare to his master’s.”

Ji Mo looked toward the source of the voice. A bruised young man accompanied by a burly black-clad guard was approaching. Upon seeing Ji Mo and Su Ye, the guard exclaimed, “Ah, young master, aren’t these the troublemakers who startled our carriage on Jingwei Street not long ago? Our lion was spooked almost certainly because of them!”

These two were the unfortunate fellows who had nearly collided with Ji Mo and his group on the street and were subsequently taught a lesson, tumbling off their carriage.

“Master Wei, there are no vacant seats here. Please, upstairs,” the server said, eyeing the newcomers with obvious recognition of their background. Judging by their tone, it was clear they bore a grudge against Ji Mo and company. Though the Five-Flavors Tavern did not fear trouble, the server preferred to avoid a brawl on the premises and tried to divert their attention.

“Dining isn’t something to rush,” the young man surnamed Wei said, waving his hand with a smirk. “Earlier, this kid said your Blue Master’s cooking is no match for his master’s. Why don’t you have your Blue Master and his master each cook a dish for everyone to judge?”

Though arrogant, he dared not cause a scene here. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t make things uncomfortable for Ji Mo and the others.

“Master Wei?” The server frowned. Was this guy deliberately stirring trouble?

“What’s the matter, Lang? If I’m not mistaken, the Five-Flavors Tavern never refuses a culinary challenge, right? These gentlemen are guests, but since they claim your Blue Master is inferior, if you refuse, wouldn’t that break tradition?” the young man pressed.

Qiu Hanshan was furious and about to speak, but Su Ye interjected first, “Young master, your words are not without merit. What my apprentice said earlier was unintentional but improper. Your master’s culinary skills are exceptional, especially with vegetarian dishes, in which I am far behind. However, every person has their specialty. I happen to have a fondness for cooking, particularly meat dishes. If your Blue Master is willing, I would be honored to exchange skills and learn from him.”

Su Ye was passionate about cooking himself. Encountering a chef in the mortal realm who excelled at vegetarian dishes was rare. Even without this challenge, he would have sought an opportunity to spar with the Five-Flavors Tavern’s master. Now, the chance was presented on a silver platter—how could he refuse?

“Your words are very reasonable. Indeed, every craft has its specialty. I primarily focus on vegetarian dishes. It is rare to find a cooking enthusiast like yourself. Blue Mo is willing to spar with you!” As Su Ye finished speaking, a clear, vibrant voice rang out. Ji Mo and the others looked up to see a stunning young woman dressed in blue, exuding an imposing and graceful aura. Ji Mo couldn’t help but be reminded of their senior sister Feng Chengying.

What shocked Ji Mo and Su Ye most was that this Blue Mo was a high-level cultivator in the Condensation stage, yet she chose to remain in the mortal realm working as a chef in a tavern. This young lady was truly fascinating.

“Excellent!” Su Ye glanced at Blue Mo and exclaimed.

“Please, this way!” Blue Mo extended her hand and led Su Ye toward the kitchen.

“That young master looks refined and scholarly—a true gentleman. Who would have thought he’s a cooking enthusiast coming to challenge Blue Master of the Five-Flavors Tavern? Tsk, tsk…” As Su Ye and Blue Mo disappeared from the dining hall, a buzz of conversation erupted among the diners.

Meanwhile, the young man surnamed Wei, seeing Su Ye leave, paid no heed to Ji Mo’s expression and strode over to Su Ye’s former seat, plopping down with a loud thud. Jin Lie, furious at this, slammed his palm onto the table, producing a sharp crack. The impact sent Wei and his chair crashing to the ground in a heap, the wooden chair splintered into pieces beneath him. (To be continued...)