"Red Cliff Sir."
"Sir, you're here so early today?"
Outside the Eighteenth Hall, Bao He and Niu Xiaoguo greeted her.
Hong Ya nodded, "Early."
Because she arrived early today, there weren't many ghosts in the kitchen space.
She found a secluded spot and looked around.
Then she threw out the mourning stick.
At the same time, she brought her index and middle fingers together and circulated the ghost energy within her.
Attempting to control the mourning stick to turn.
*Clack!*
The thrown mourning stick, after flying a certain distance, fell to the ground.
"Not working?"
Hong Ya pondered, then switched hands.
Gathering her strength, she tried again.
*Clack!*
The mourning stick fell to the ground again.
"Why is it still not working?"
Seeing this, Hong Ya couldn't help but scratch her head.
She carefully recalled the feeling from before.
At that time, it was urgent, pressing...
Injecting ghost energy into the mourning stick and shooting it out.
Seeing that ghost run away... she instinctively wanted the mourning stick to pursue.
Circulating the ghost energy within her,
She mustered her strength and connected with the mourning stick.
Controlling the force and speed, forcing the mourning stick to turn...
Hong Ya thought as she simulated the situation.
Imagining an enemy ahead, the mourning stick shot out.
Just then, the 'enemy' was about to escape.
She circulated her ghost energy, took a step forward.
"Chase it!"
*Whoosh!*
As if by a miracle, the mourning stick curved in the air and shot out at an even faster speed.
"Suc-successful?"
Hong Ya looked at the mourning stick in the air, disbelieving.
As she was distracted, the mourning stick instantly dropped.
*Clack!*
It rolled onto the grass.
Although she didn't quite understand what was happening,
Hong Ya's joy was undiminished.
Because, if it were before, she wouldn't have been able to do this at all!
According to the characteristics of the mourning stick, she could control it freely within three meters at most.
After throwing it, she could only retrieve it.
It was impossible for it to travel ten to twenty meters away from her and still be controlled to turn and attack.
"Concentration, speed, power, precise control... you did well."
Suddenly, a voice sounded from behind Hong Ya.
"Who?!"
Hong Ya was startled. She brought her right index and middle fingers together, and the ghost energy within her circulated rapidly.
The fallen mourning stick flew back with a *whoosh*, protecting her.
Behind her,
Was Bai Wan, with a baby face and the scent of food all over him.
He gave off a very approachable feeling.
Bai Wan narrowed his eyes and said with a smile,
"It seems you're almost proficient. Congratulations."
Hong Ya breathed a sigh of relief and put away the mourning stick.
"You scared me. When did you get here?"
"Just now, when you made the mourning stick fly."
Bai Wan smiled, "Very impressive! To achieve this at this realm is already a great breakthrough."
Being praised so directly, Hong Ya felt a little embarrassed.
"Actually, I don't know what happened. Today, in an emergency, I suddenly knew how."
After the first success, it felt much easier to try again.
It was like opening a door to a new world.
"You don't know?"
Bai Wan asked in surprise, his face still wearing that smiling expression.
Hong Ya: "Know what?"
Bai Wan pointed to her mourning stick, "The fact that you can do it means your perception and control have greatly improved."
Concentrate, use perception as an aid, with ghost energy as the main force, and then precise control.
Only then can one achieve this.
"…?"
Hong Ya was half-understanding at first.
Her perception and control had become stronger?
When did that happen?
Suddenly, her peripheral vision fell on the kitchen counters behind Bai Wan.
She instantly understood.
"So that's how it is?! Does ghost energy cooking really work?!"
"No, this training is finally working on me!?"
Hong Ya clenched her fists, her eyes bright, and the corners of her mouth turned up.
It felt like a small seedling planted in spring finally bearing fruit in autumn.
Full of a sense of accomplishment!
"Captain didn't lie to me!"
Bai Wan smiled and said, "Yes. Let's start today's training."
"Huh? Are you done with your guiding work for today?" Hong Ya exclaimed.
Bai Wan: "Temporarily done. The next one is in half a day."
"Alright, you go ahead and do your best."
Hong Ya swayed the mourning stick in her hand, "I have a mission later, I just came back to try this."
"You too, good luck."
Bai Wan finished speaking, turned, and walked to his chosen kitchen counter.
Looking at the various vegetables on the counter, he began to consider today's menu.
He had brought meat, so he could make minced meat with eggplant, or braised meat with potatoes.
He could also make a soup.
Bai Wan picked through the vegetables in the basket, his gaze stopping on the red tomatoes in the corner.
Hmm, he'd make tomato and egg soup.
"I'm leaving now!"
Hong Ya was overjoyed thinking about the new skill she had just acquired.
She had already imagined all sorts of cool poses in her mind.
For example, carrying the mourning stick on her shoulder,
Or holding it in her hand, twirling it like a weapon staff into a flower.
Or perhaps…
"Ha hey!"
Hong Ya tried a few nunchuck poses with very small movements.
She felt pleased.
When she reached the exit of the kitchen space, she suddenly heard a *swish swish swish* sound from behind.
She looked back.
Good heavens.
Five or six potatoes were flying in the air, all cut into small pieces.
What realm had this guy Bai Wan reached?!
…
*Swish swish swish*—
Inside the kitchen space,
The sound of the cleaver cutting through the air and the rhythmic sound of it entering the vegetables blended together.
Soon, all sorts of ingredients were processed and lay obediently on various plates in front of Bai Wan.
He placed the chopped minced meat inside the eggplant and put it on the steamer.
Then he took the iron pan that had already been heated, poured in oil, and started frying eggs.
*Sizzle*—
As the aroma of fried eggs spread, Bai Wan sniffed the air and scooped out the fried egg.
He then fried the diced tomatoes.
Before long, the tomato juice within gradually began to cook out.
Bai Wan watched the heat, added some seasoning, and finally put in the fried eggs.
He picked up the spatula and stir-fried a couple of times.
The color in the pan instantly became richer.
Bai Wan sprinkled a few chopped green onions.
The aroma in the air became exceptionally enticing.
Bai Wan tasted it and showed a satisfied expression.
The sour tomato juice and the rich texture of the eggs combined perfectly.
"Happiness… o(*￣▽￣*)o"
For Bai Wan, the most important thing was not how high his realm was.
But whether he had eaten well and heartily today.
As for other things, enough was good.
As long as no major incidents occurred.
"Steaming some rice to go with it would be even better!"
To pour tomato and egg over white rice, the thought alone made it sound delicious!
Bai Wan acted on his thoughts.
He rolled up his sleeves, set up the pot on the adjacent counter.
And started steaming rice!
…
"So fragrant…"
From a distance, another early-arriving ghost messenger sniffed the air.
Following the scent, he looked towards Bai Wan.
His stomach immediately rumbled.
—Damn it! Coming so early, and I still ran into this guy who's spreading poison.
They came to complete their daily duties.
This guy came to cook for himself!
The kind who packs leftovers if he can't finish them!
…