435 War at the Southern Border (1/2)

Shangguan Lingxiu felt her heart ache for Lord Supreme Cloud.

In the room, a sudden thud could be heard, as if someone who was in deep slumber had fallen off the bed for some unknown reason. The jarring sound was followed by silence.

Shangguan Lingxiu was visibly startled, quickly wiping her tears away.

Almost at the same time, the door opened with a whine.

Supreme Cloud was still wearing the appearance he had donned when he was last seen in Zilong City as he walked out calmly; he looked calm and collected, his gaze razor-sharp.

He still gave off his usual tranquil and gentle aura, like he had just woken up from a normal period of sleep, exuding a well-rested vibe. The hysteria he had obviously experienced in his dreams was nowhere to be seen.

It was to Supreme Cloud's surprise when he saw Shangguan Lingxiu sitting on a chair, a dozen feet away from him once he exited the room; her chin was resting on her palm as she appeared to be taking a break with her eyes closed.

Yun Yang dared not sleep anymore as he had sensed that there was someone at the door. Seeing that it was Shangguan Lingxiu herself, he could not help feeling surprised amusement.

”Lady Shangguan, why are you here? Are you not going to rest?”

Shangguan Lingxiu smiled and replied, ”I have been receiving an endless stream of messages from the beasts and have gone down to make some arrangements. I was a little busy and only just got up here to find Lord Supreme Cloud awake… Has your sleep been undisturbed?”

Yun Yang coughed and answered with a smile, ”Unprecedentedly so.”

He mused and asked, ”Did Lady Shangguan hear anything here earlier? I seemed to hear someone shouting in my sleep…”

Shangguan Lingxiu looked taken aback as she replied, ”Someone shouted?”

Yun Yang nodded. ”No? I guess I was just imagining it after all.”

He continued with a smile, ”The Shangguan Family of Generals has finally fulfilled the wish to take General Wudi's remains back and complete his last request. I still have matters to attend to though, and I'm afraid I won't be able to send my congratulations personally when you're all back in Tiantang. I apologize beforehand.”

”We, the Shangguan Family, will always remember Lord Supreme Cloud's favor!” Shangguan Lingxiu said smiling.

Yun Yang waved his hands. ”You will do well to forget it now. It was only a convenience, no need to be concerned about it.”

Shangguan Lingxiu did not want to get tangled in this topic, so she changed the topic amiably, ”Sleeping for so long, you must be hungry. Do you want to eat anything? I can ask for it to be prepared immediately.”

An odd glint of remembrance flashed in Yun Yang's eyes as he said slowly, ”Do you have Chinese cabbage and tofu on the ship? I would like to make the dish myself.”

”Chinese cabbage and tofu?”

Hearing the ingredients, Shangguan Lingxiu was understandably puzzled. Supreme Cloud had asked to make something himself, but the items were the most ordinary ingredients that one could find; Chinese cabbage and tofu. Anyone who had heard his request would have undoubtedly been surprised.

”We do.”

Chinese cabbage was a common ingredient that could keep for a long time if stored properly, so it was naturally kept in stock on the vessel. While tofu was not a usual ingredient on a ship, the Shangguan Family of Generals had prepared a sufficient amount for this trip.

Shangguan Lingxiu paused for a moment before saying, ”I'll give the order for it to be prepared.”

It was a decision Shangguan Lingxiu made after some hesitation. Yun Yang had requested to prepare it himself, but what he was about to make was the most common Chinese cabbage and tofu; maybe he was using the most common ingredients to disguise his identity, maybe it was a careful way of preventing detection… maybe he was like her and did not know how to prepare any dish at all. Helpless, he could only make Chinese cabbage and tofu to feed himself and complete the disguise he was currently wearing.

Certain that she understood Yun Yang's sentiment and wanting to indulge him, Shangguan Lingxiu naturally wished to help Yun Yang save the situation. She would personally supervise the chef to make Chinese cabbage and tofu later; it would at least taste better than what Lord Supreme Cloud, someone who did not seem to know how to cook, could achieve.

Yun Yang replied unhurriedly, ”I'm sorry, but I insist on preparing it myself.”

”You are truly going to make it yourself?”

Shangguan Lingxiu's eyes widened. ”Do you know how to cook?”

”My dear lady, I know no other dish except this…” Yun Yang smiled faintly.

…

Shangguan Lingxiu watched in surprise on the side as Lord Yun began to get busy and started to putter about.

Firstly, for the two Chinese cabbages that he had meticulously selected, Yun Yang peeled the outer leaves away and kept only a small part of the tender core.

Then, he carefully peeled the cabbage core piece by piece and washed them clean with the Holy Water Charm before beginning his next step of cutting meat and preparing the oil and spices.

Each step was carefully deliberated before being executed.

Shangguan Lingxiu grew more curious with his actions.

Yun Yang's steps were carried out neatly, yet each step seemed like a pilgrimage; they were serious and solemn, like a fixed procedure as precise as clockwork.

As the ingredients greeted the wok and began to simmer, the aroma gradually drifted up. Yun Yang closed his eyes and lightly breathed in the scent, exclaiming in contentment, ”So fragrant!”

Fragrant? Didn't all Chinese cabbage and tofu smell like this?

What was so special about it?

Although Shangguan Lingxiu was a girl, she knew nothing of the culinary arts and would rarely enter the kitchen; in spite of this, she still relished the wonder of good food. That still did not allow her to see the specialty in Yun Yang's Chinese cabbage and tofu. Perhaps the uniqueness was not in the Chinese cabbage but in the tofu.

The recipe had come to its last step. When the tofu was added, the aroma grew stronger. The Chinese cabbage was cooked to tenderness in the wok before the fire was put out and the lid was put on. After some time, the dish was finally considered complete.

Shangguan Lingxiu was still filled with curiosity. What was so precious or intricate about this dish?

Lord Supreme Cloud was incredibly solemn about the whole matter, pouring all of his concentration into his work– there had to be something significant about this particular dish.

Yun Yang did not rush to consume what he had just cooked; he was still identifying the aroma carefully and seriously. Was it the same as Old Dugu's Chinese cabbage and tofu in his memory?

Finally, he sighed contentedly. The Chinese cabbage and tofu he made still paled slightly compared to the wonderful dish in his memory, but the disparity was not great. He believed that he would be able to replicate the flavor with a few more rounds of practice.

”Do you have wine?”

Shangguan Lingxiu answered with a smile, ”Of course. How can a vessel that carries soldiers have no wine? Allow me to accompany Lord Supreme Cloud as he hoists a drink or two.”

If she hadn't figured out Supreme Cloud's identity before this, Shangguan Lingxiu would never have suggested such a thing, but since she knew that Supreme Cloud was Yun Yang now, she wanted to have a meal with her crush.

A strange expression flashed across Yun Yang's face before he said softly, ”I am sorry, but I would prefer to drink alone.”

”Certainly,” Shangguan Lingxiu was momentarily taken aback by the abrupt rejection.

She was inwardly shocked and curious if the Chinese cabbage and tofu had some sort of treasured origin or was it related to some past event. Supreme Cloud's gaze, expression and the vibes he was showing were odd indeed, like an inexplicable lament.

Yun Yang had a sip of wine followed by a mouthful of Chinese cabbage and tofu. Each bite was clearly meaningful, in Shangguan Lingxiu's eyes.

Yun Yang took the entire afternoon eating the wok of Chinese cabbage and tofu, quietly sampling the dish in the swaying ship. His back was faced towards Shangguan Lingxiu, a dreamy aura constantly clouding his eyes.

The afternoon passed just like that.

Yun Yang was exceptionally silent throughout the meal. Other than feeding himself bites of Chinese cabbage and tofu and gulps of wine during the process, he ignored everything else, be it information relayed by the Nine Heavens Dictum or any other matters that arose.

Shangguan Lingixu felt like he was undergoing a grim ceremony that allowed no one and nothing to interrupt him.

Finally, he finished his meal.

Yun Yang exhaled a deep breath and said quietly, ”Thank you.”

Shangguan Lingxiu had watched him eat for the entire afternoon despite being famished herself, and she did not notice the time slipping by. She asked curiously, ”Lord Supreme Cloud, this Chinese cabbage, and tofu… is there any story to it?”

”What story is there to tell? It is simply the best dish I've eaten in my life, my favorite dish. That's all,” Yun Yang answered with a forlorn smile.

The best dish!

His favorite dish!

That was all there was to it?

Shangguan Lingxiu made a mental note and said seriously, ”If time permits in the future, allow me to make it for Lord Supreme Cloud.”

”Sure, I will certainly trouble you if there's a chance,” Yun Yang answered with a smile.

He stood up slowly and said, ”Time flies indeed. A day has passed. I need to rush back immediately, your vessel moves too slowly for my tastes. I'll have to make a move first!”

Shangguan Lingxiu said sincerely, ”Lord Supreme Cloud, do take care!”

Yun Yang nodded and soared into the sky without another word. With a loud swoosh, the clouds in the sky gathered abruptly as the wind blew. A piece of cloud then floated away from the deck.

”The flames of war are beginning to fill Yutang. Everyone, let us meet again on the battlefield!”