Myriad Rivers to the Sea

Chapter 986: A Meal in the Open

The bustling noise of the central plaza faded into the background as Li Yu and Princess Jinling walked away from the merchant pavilion. Li Yu let out a soft sigh but he adjusted his mindset after leaving. It was a shame he lacked the funds today but there was no use dwelling on missed opportunities. He still had the thick purple octopus secured inside his holding bag."I need to take my mind off the loss of that good deal." Li Yu said as he turned toward her. "Do you want to follow me outside the capital? I am going to cook this octopus and see if it's worth acquiring as potential breeding stock."

"That sounds fun, I would like that." Jinling smiled. "I rarely get to leave the city walls for leisure."

They quickly took to the sky to leave. The capital of the Aurelian Spear Kingdom was far too big to cross on foot. Walking from the aquatic markets to the outer boundaries would take too long. They flew side by side above the sprawling rooftops and golden spires. The wind rushed past them as they headed toward the eastern gates of the city.

They had to leave through the designated gates because the air zones leading in and out of the capital were strictly guarded by defensive arrays and guards. Flying directly over the walls without clearance would trigger an immediate military response and they did not want that. The two descended near the towering stone arches where dozens of heavily armored guards monitored the flow of travelers.

The guards at the checkpoint were stunned to find the Princess arriving at the gate. The captain of the guard rushed forward and bowed deeply as he too looked around in confusion when he realized she did not have a royal carriage or a visible escort of kingdom elites.

"Your Highness." The guard captain spoke with wide eyes. "What are you doing all the way out here at the city borders?"

"We are heading out just a bit outside the walls." Jinling explained in a calm voice. "We are going to make a camp fire and he is going to cook for me."

The guard captain blinked in surprise as he shifted his gaze toward Li Yu. The guards immediately grew suspicious of the young man as they exchanged wary glances with one another. It looked to them like this unknown cultivator was trying to lure their princess away from the safety of the capital. Several guards gripped the shafts of their spears a bit tighter.

"Your Highness." The captain began hesitantly. "Is it wise to venture outside the arrays for a simple meal? We can provide a secure courtyard within the palace grounds."

"I gave you my itinerary." Jinling stated firmly. "Let me pass through now."

The guards hesitated for a moment but they eventually stepped aside. They understood the reality of the situation, the Princess never traveled anywhere without her silent protectors watching from the shadows. If this young man tried anything nefarious, he would be dead before his blade ever left its sheath. He didn’t want to get in trouble with the princess over a matter that the protectors would surely handle.

They flew a bit more once they cleared the city walls. The landscape shifted from paved stone roads to rolling hills and dense forests. Li Yu kept his eyes scanning the terrain below until he found a nice spot. It was a secluded clearing situated near a gentle stream. Tall trees with thick green canopies provided ample shade from the afternoon sun.

Li Yu landed softly on the grass and he immediately went to work setting up a small camp. He did not pull out a miniature pavilion or any luxury housing artifacts. He relied on the basic things he would do if he was camping outside in the wild on his own.

He gathered several large stones from the edge of the stream and arranged them into a tight circle in the center of the clearing. He collected dry fallen branches from the surrounding trees and piled them inside the stone ring. A tiny spark of fire Qi jumped from his fingertip and ignited the wood as a warm and crackling camp fire roared to life within seconds.

Jinling watched with quiet interest. She could see how smooth he was with each action so this was not lying about doing this often. She found a boulder near the fire and sat down as she watched him move with practiced efficiency.

Li Yu reached into his storage ring and he took out a flat iron grill grate and set it carefully over the flames. He pulled out a series of small wooden jars filled with crushed spices and rare herbs. Li Yu brought out wild vegetables and some marbled boar meat he had saved from his recent hunt with the Zhan clan. Finally, he took out the specialized holding bag and retrieved the thick purple octopus.

"You look like you have done this a thousand times." Jinling noted.

"I have." Li Yu smiled and nodded. "Cooking is a good way to pass the time and I enjoy the favors."

He reached into his ring again and brought out five different bottles of alcohol. He set them down in a neat row on a flat stone next to her. They were of various shapes and sizes with some being made of polished glass and others were carved from heavy clay.

"I collected these during my travels. Either from a town, city or from the actual producers themselves." Li Yu explained as he pointed to the first bottle. "This one is a dark rum from a town I visited. It is made from sweet cane and aged in charred wooden barrels. It has a heavy and warm flavor."

He pointed to a slender green bottle next. "This is a crisp white wine from a high altitude mountain sect. The grapes are grown in freezing temperatures. It is very light and refreshing."

He moved down the line. "The third is a fermented berry drink from a forest clan. It is tart and slightly sweet. The fourth is a dark stout made from earth roots. It is earthy and rich. The last one is a strong clear spirit from a cold land. It burns on the way down but it warms your chest immediately."

Jinling looked at the diverse collection with eager eyes and she felt this whole setup was great. It was a departure from what she was used to so it made for a memorable experience. Seeing on a random boulder in the middle of nowhere. There were no golden chalices or hovering servants either.

"I want to try them all." Jinling decided.

Li Yu smiled and handed her a small wooden cup. "Take your time. Some of them are stronger than they look but they are all good in their own way or else I would not have kept them."

Jinling poured a small amount of the sweet berry drink into her cup and took a slow sip and her eyes lit up at the bright flavor. She slowly tried each one of the bottles as Li Yu began to prepare the octopus.

He laid the octopus out on a clean wooden cutting board. He used a sharp knife to expertly clean and score the thick purple tentacles. He rubbed a generous amount of coarse salt and crushed fire seed pods into the cuts.

The spices clung to the meat and then he drizzled a thin layer of fragrant oil over the top to help the searing process. After all of that was done, he massaged the octopus for a bit, learning that this was a needed step to make it more tender from the several times he’s made octopus.

"Did you learn to cook from your travels as well?" Jinling asked as she poured herself a taste of the crisp mountain wine.

"Yes." Li Yu answered while keeping his eyes on his knife work. "I was mostly on my own or traveling with a few friends I met along the way. We spent a lot of time out in the wilderness between towns and sects. I loved to eat good food so I could not rely on dry rations forever. I experimented with different ingredients and eventually became quite a good cook, or at least I like to believe I am one."

"It must have been a very free life." Jinling said softly. "Just wandering and learning as you go."

"It had its moments of peace." Li Yu agreed. “But it was also dangerous at times with suffering. There are always good and bad in every situation you are in. You just have to try to mak the best of it and go with the flow as best as possible.”

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He placed the seasoned octopus tentacles directly onto the hot iron grate and a loud hiss echoed through the clearing. The fire flared up and kissed the edges of the meat while an amazing smell instantly filled the air. The scent of roasted seafood mixed perfectly with the spicy fire seed pods and the natural wood smoke.

Jinling leaned forward and her mouth began to water after the octopus had a chance to cook for a bit. The rich aroma was intoxicating and the environment just lended itself to making it smell even better.

Li Yu turned the meat with a pair of wooden tongs as he let the edges develop a slight char while ensuring the thickest parts remained tender inside. He also threw the wild vegetables and the sliced boar meat onto the edges of the grill to cook in the rendered juices.

After several minutes he pulled the octopus off the fire, it was ready. He set it on his cutting board and sliced it into bite sized medallions. The meat was perfectly cooked. Li Yu portioned out a good amount of both tentacles and head portions onto a wooden plate and set it in front of Jinling along with some roasted vegetables.

"Try this." Li Yu offered.

Jinling did not wait any longer. She used a pair of wooden chopsticks to pick up a piece of the octopus. She blew on it gently and placed it in her mouth. The texture was incredible, it was tender but held a satisfying bite. The meat itself was sweet and savory while spices danced on her tongue.

"This is amazing." Jinling praised him with bright open eyes. "This might be one of the best things I have ever eaten. I think the place we are at and the whole experience has made it taste even better than it normally would though."

"I am glad you like it." Li Yu smiled and was chuckling at her response.

He cut up another large portion of the meat and placed it on a second plate. It seemed like that plate was meant for him but he did not sit down to eat. Instead he stood up straight and looked out into the open air toward a cluster of thick oak trees.

"Seniors." Li Yu called out in a clear and respectful voice. "You must be tired and hungry. Please come out and enjoy this with us. I have had a few that protected me from the shadows before. I know how hard it must be to stand watch while others eat."

Jinling stopped chewing and she stared at him in shock. She knew she always had people following her to protect her. Her father insisted on it and she wasn’t one to try to sneak away from them. They were there for her own protection after all. But she was surprised that Li Yu could actually detect them because she never mentioned them at all to him. The royal protectors utilized high level concealment arts that hid their auras.

Even though Li Yu was in the Paragon Realm, a full four realms higher than her, he shouldn’t have been able to tell where they were. The air near the oak trees shimmered like a mirage and two figures stepped out from the shadows and walked into the clearing.

They were two senior females wearing plain grey robes and they seemed to blend perfectly with the environment while their footsteps made zero sound against the grass. These were Protector Yun and Protector Mal. They possessed calm and unassuming expressions but their underlying auras felt as deep as the ocean. Li Yu guessed they were at least in the Creation Lord Realm, matching the Zhan Clan elders that came with them on this trip.

Protector Yun looked at the young man standing by the fire. "You are quite extraordinary."

"My soul is powerful, senior." Li Yu commented honestly. "I was able to detect your presence when the princess visited us where we were staying. Please join us. There is plenty of food."

Protector Mal offered a rare and subtle smile, since they were being asked by this interesting young man, why not. They could understand now why the Emperor also asked them to watch this young man today and report back what they thought of him later.

The two senior women walked over to the fire and sat down on the grass across from Jinling and introduced themselves. Li Yu quickly produced two more wooden plates and cups from his storage ring. He served them generous portions of the grilled octopus and the marbled boar meat.

Jinling watched the exchange with wide eyes and was quite taken back by it. She had seen both of these women around the palace for years. They were a constant but silent presence in her life whenever she left to go anywhere. However, she had rarely gotten to actually talk to them, let alone eat with them. They were sworn to be unseen swords acting only when her life was in danger.

Jinling decided to use this chance to chat. "I hope the smoke does not bother you."

"Not at all, your Highness." Protector Yun replied before taking a bite of the food. Her eyes widened slightly at the flavor. "This is very well prepared. You have a gift for cooking, young man."

"Thank you, Senior Yun." Li Yu said as he finally sat down with his own plate. "I bought the octopus today at the market as you probably saw. I was not sure how the texture would hold up over an open flame but it turned out well. I will have to come back at another time and order some breeding stock for my lakes."

“You also have an interesting hobby, young man.” Protector Mal said with a chuckle.

Li Yu poured the strong clear spirit from the northern borders into their cups. "Try this one. It pairs well with roasted meat."

Protector Mal took a sip of the clear spirit and she let out a satisfied breath as the strong alcohol warmed her chest. "It has been a long time since I drank something with this much of a kick. The wine at the royal banquets is always too sweet for my taste."

"I agree." Jinling chimed in. "They always serve that honey wine. It gets boring after a while."

"If you prefer stronger drinks, you should try the dark stout next." Li Yu suggested as he pointed to the clay bottle. "It has a very earthy profile. It is brewed by cultivators who spend their lives underground."

The four of them fell into a natural and easy rhythm. The initial awkwardness of a princess eating with her hidden guards and a foreign guest melted away under the warmth of the fire, good food and drinks. They chatted mostly about mundane things. They did not discuss cultivation realms or kingdom politics. They talked about the weather and the vibrant energy of the capital markets.

"Standing in the shadows all day must get tedious." Li Yu observed while turning a piece of boar meat on the grill. He had left behind his two Core Wardens back at the Zhan clan since five elders were already going on this trip.

"It requires patience." Protector Yun nodded. "But it has its amusing moments. We get to observe people when they think no one is watching. You would be surprised how many heirs trip over their own robes when they think the halls are empty."

Jinling laughed out loud at the visual. "I always wondered how Young Master Su managed to get that bruise on his forehead last month."

"He walked directly into a stone pillar while admiring his own reflection in a window." Protector Mal offered in a dry and deadpan tone.

The group shared a warm laugh and Jinling felt a sense of joy blooming in her chest. She was loving this whole experience right now. It seemed so surreal that she was outside the capital walls, eating with almost a stranger and her two protectors that had watched over her since she was a child.

She was sitting in the dirt next to a campfire and eating off wooden plates. It was different from what she was used to and because it was so different, it was amazing. She had to pinch herself a few times to make sure she was dreaming. It wasn’t receiving some grand treasure or advancing in her cultivation but this small experience packed a big punch.

Li Yu kept the conversation flowing effortlessly as he shared a few more stories from his travels. He described the flying beasts he had seen in the lower realms and how they were too strong for him at the time to tame. He talked about the trail grounds at the Veil and the Omen realm. He didn’t reveal any important information but pieces and bits of the more mundane things.

Li Yu then asked the two Protectors about their favorite local foods in the capital.

Protector Yun mentioned a small noodle shop hidden in the lower districts. "They make a spicy broth that is incredible. The royal chefs can never replicate the exact heat and favor. I go there every time I return to the capital from a long trip."

"I will have to find that shop next time I visit. We are leaving tomorrow so I doubt I will get the chance today." Li Yu said as he committed the detail to memory.

The sun slowly began to set behind the trees and the sky turned a brilliant shade of orange and purple. The embers of the camp fire glowed brightly in the fading light. They finished the last of the grilled meat and polished off the sweet plum wine.

Jinling leaned back against her boulder and she held her wooden cup loosely in her hands. She looked at Li Yu and then at her two protectors. She felt a sense of gratitude for the simple afternoon.

"Thank you for this." Jinling said softly. "This was a wonderful idea."

"Good food is meant to be shared." Li Yu replied with a warm smile. "It always tastes better with good company as well as a nice and cozy place like this."

Protector Yun and Protector Mal stood up from the grass, they brushed the dirt from their grey robes and offered respectful bows to Li Yu.

"Thank you for the meal, Young Master Li." Protector Yun said. "It is rare for us to step out of the dark. We appreciate your hospitality."

"You are welcome anytime." Li Yu nodded with a smile.

The two senior women took a step back and their figures shimmered once more. They melted seamlessly back into the shadows of the surrounding trees to resume their silent watch. The clearing grew quiet again with only the sound of the gentle stream and the crackling fire filling the air.

Jinling watched the space where they had vanished. "You have a unique way of treating people, Li Yu. You look past the titles, the roles and the normal order of things. I am ashamed to say I wouldn’t have even thought of that."

"Titles are just words." Li Yu shrugged as he began to pack up his cooking supplies. "At the end of the day we all get hungry. Treat others as you would want to be treated."

Jinling smiled as she stood up to help him gather the empty plates. She knew she would remember this simple meal in the woods for a very long time.