"With so many people competing, I'm afraid it won't be our turn," Xiao Man sighed. "Senior Brother Liu, do you know what kind of handyman positions the Sky Sword Sect is recruiting for this time?"
"I heard there are gardeners and cooks."
"Cooks?" Xiao Man's eyes lit up. "Senior Brother Liu, follow me, I have an idea."
The outer sect manager of the Sky Sword Sect was selecting handyman disciples. They needed quite a few this time, especially cooks. Not long ago, the Young Sect Master had thrown a tantrum and driven away many cooks. Now, the Sky Sword Sect was severely short of cooks, yet the Young Sect Master refused to eat, claiming the food made by the cooks was too unpalatable!
While pondering, the manager smelled a delicious aroma. Despite having already eaten breakfast, his appetite was whetted, and he involuntarily followed the scent.
"What are you making here?"
"Replying to the manager, we are cooking," Liu Han stepped forward. "Because there are too many people and we haven't eaten yet, we thought of making something to eat. Would you like to try?"
The manager stepped forward and looked at what was simmering in the pot. It seemed to be ordinary porridge, but it exuded an alluring fragrance.
"Is this porridge you're making?"
"Replying to the manager, this is spiritual rice porridge, made with the finest spiritual rice and spiritual medicine. With careful control of the heat, a fragrant and thick spiritual rice porridge can be cooked. It's sweet, refreshing, and nourishes the spirit. Manager, please try." Liu Han scooped a bowl of spiritual rice porridge and offered it to the manager.
The manager took it, stirred the steaming spiritual rice porridge with a spoon, scooped a mouthful, blew on it to cool it, and then tasted it. In a moment, his spirits lifted, and he quickly finished the entire bowl of spiritual rice porridge.
"You two are selected," the manager announced, putting down his bowl.
"Many thanks, manager!" Liu Han was overjoyed and looked at Xiao Man. "Xiao Qin, the manager said we're selected! We're really selected!"
The Sky Sword Sect selected nearly a hundred handymen this time. Besides Xiao Man and Liu Han, Yang Wei, who was with Liu Han, was also selected. The grand procession of a hundred people entering the Sky Sword Sect was like a stone sinking into the sea, attracting no attention whatsoever.
Xiao Man and Liu Han were assigned to the main kitchen, while Yang Wei was responsible for miscellaneous errands.
As they were the lowest-ranking handymen, they were restricted to their designated areas and could not go elsewhere without permission.
The main kitchen where Xiao Man worked was primarily responsible for the meals of inner and outer sect disciples. Direct disciples and elders had separate small kitchens to prepare their food.
"I heard the Young Sect Master is back."
"He's not back, he was dragged back by the Patriarch and is currently confined to his courtyard for reflection. He's not allowed out," a few inner sect disciples whispered while eating in the dining hall.
"The Eldest Young Master has pleaded for him several times, but was driven out by the Sect Master each time. It's clear the Sect Master is truly furious this time."
"Hurry up and stop talking, the Eldest Young Master is here."
A man in a similar colored uniform, followed by several disciples, entered from outside. He had a kind smile and nodded to the disciples who greeted him, appearing exceptionally approachable.
Xiao Man stood behind a large food vat, her gaze falling on Eldest Young Master Yue Zhong. Yue Zhong did not resemble Yue Ran. Yue Ran was more handsome, possessing a scholarly air, even though his conduct was far from scholarly. Yue Zhong was quite robust, making it difficult to connect them as brothers.
"Eldest Young Master, shall we prepare a separate meal for you?" the dining hall manager hurried forward. As a young master, he didn't need to dine here.
"I heard they've recruited a batch of new cooks recently, so I've come to taste their cooking. After all, those who eat here are the future pride of the Sky Sword Sect," Yue Zhong's voice was hearty, making him seem easy to get along with.
"I will have someone prepare a special meal for the Eldest Young Master immediately..."
"No need. If I were to have a separate meal prepared here, it would lose its original flavor." Yue Zhong walked to the food counter. Xiao Man had already picked up a tray, adding a little of each dish. She even filled a large bowl of rice for Yue Zhong, and fearing he might not have enough, pressed down firmly on the scoop.
Yue Zhong looked at the tray presented to him, his gaze falling on Xiao Man's face. "New?"
"Yes."
"What's your name?"
"Xiao Qin."
Yue Zhong smiled, took the tray, and sat down nearby. The others also got their food and sat with him. Yue Zhong ate with great refinement, a stark contrast to his physique.
"Xiao Qin, you're really brave. I wouldn't even dare to look at the Eldest Young Master, and you actually spoke to him," Liu Han said excitedly. "The Eldest Young Master looks very kind."
Xiao Man curled her lips into a smile, making no comment. People are extremely complex sentient beings; one cannot discern a person's true nature from a single encounter.
"Eldest Young Master, how is the taste?" the manager asked, wringing his hands nervously.
"Not bad. It's clear that effort was put into it."
"Many thanks for your praise, Eldest Young Master," the manager said excitedly. With the Eldest Young Master's compliment, the inner and outer sect disciples would not dare to cause trouble for their dining hall anymore.
"Call Xiao Qin over."
"Yes, Eldest Young Master."
The manager quickly summoned Xiao Man, who bowed respectfully.
"With a Foundation Establishment cultivation, it's somewhat of a waste to be stuck in this dining hall," Yue Zhong said to Xiao Man. "Are you interested in coming to my side?"
Xiao Man knew that serving by Yue Zhong's side would undoubtedly elevate her status, but she would also face more restrictions. Moreover, she was unwilling to serve this Eldest Young Master. Someone who is so skilled at winning people's hearts must harbor great ambitions and would very likely contend for power with Yue Ran in the future.
"Thank you for your great favor, Eldest Young Master, but... I don't know how to do anything except cook..." Xiao Man said cautiously. "Am I going to cook for the Eldest Young Master?"
"The small kitchen prepares food for us every day and sends it over."
"Does the Eldest Young Master want me to cook in the small kitchen?" Xiao Man's eyes sparkled, as if she greatly desired to go to the small kitchen.
"Besides cooking, there are many other things you can do."
"But I only know how to cook. I can't do anything else well," Xiao Man said dejectedly. "Eldest Young Master, if you let me go to the small kitchen, can Senior Brother Liu come with me?"
Yue Zhong frowned. His original intention was to bring Xiao Man to his side as an attendant, mainly because Xiao Man was handsome and had a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, making her a suitable companion. However, the person seemed a bit foolish, unable to grasp his intentions and solely focused on cooking, which made him feel displeased.
"You really want to go to the small kitchen?"
"Ah?" Xiao Man appeared bewildered. "Didn't the Eldest Young Master want me to cook in the small kitchen? Or is my cooking too bad, and the Eldest Young Master wants to send me away? Eldest Young Master, please, don't send me away. I will definitely work hard to make more delicious food to reward my fellow disciples."