, "Rivers Return to the Sea" , The Missing Luo Qingfeng

night.

After a lively celebratory banquet with his colleagues at Baiweilou, Nanxu returned to his room with a full belly.

"Phew... I'll practice my internal energy for a while now, and also help with digestion."

He had just sat down cross-legged and hadn't even started practicing when he heard a knocking sound on the door.

"Ah-Xu...may I come in?"

"Sister Qinzhu?"

Nan Xu opened the door, and standing outside was indeed Luo Qinzhu.

Luo Qinzhu walked in naturally and closed the door behind her.

"Ah Xu, I've been thinking about it... Uncle Li is right. You've done so much for Baiweilou, I should thank you properly."

She looked intently at Nan Xu, her hand reaching into her clothes—

Then, she took out a handwritten booklet with a faint fragrance.

"So, I plan to copy down the entire 'All Rivers Flow into the Sea' and give it to you."

Nan Xu was somewhat surprised by Luo Qinzhu's words. "Hundred Rivers Return to the Sea" was Luo Qinzhu's family's culinary technique. It was one thing for her to let him see the first few levels before, since it wasn't the whole book, but judging from her current appearance, she was planning to pass on all the secrets and key points to him at once.

Moreover, she didn't even make a vow to Heaven that she would never reveal it to anyone.

"Sister Qinzhu, aren't you worried that I'll teach this cooking skill to someone else?" Nanxu asked.

"I trust you won't just tell anyone," Luo Qinzhu said confidently. "If you really were to pass it on to someone else, it would have been carefully selected, or there would be a special reason."

"Moreover, my intention in giving you this complete culinary technique was to make you its successor. As such, you naturally have the right to pass it on to others."

Nan Xu was taken aback by these words: "In that case, your father..."

Luo Qinzhu smiled slightly. "My father never stopped me from finding a successor for this culinary skill. As a member of Baiweilou, it's only right that you inherit this skill, isn't it?"

Nan Xu thought for a moment: "In that case, should I call you teacher?"

To everyone's surprise, Luo Qinzhu shook her head and said reproachfully, "No, that title makes me sound too old!"

"To be honest, we're the same age, maybe just two or three years older than each other."

"Okay, okay... then thank you very much, Sister Qinzhu." Nan Xu also showed a smile.

He took the booklet and glanced at it. With a "ding," the "Hundred Rivers Return to the Sea - Remnant" on his panel changed to "Hundred Rivers Return to the Sea," and its rank jumped to fourth grade.

He tried out his cooking skills and was surprised to find that the results were almost incomparable to before.

Even though it was just a single rank increase, it was much smoother to use than before. He quickly came up with many advanced uses after a brief thought.

"How was it? If you encounter anything you don't understand, feel free to ask me anytime..."

"No need, it's easy to understand what's written here." Nan Xu smiled.

"That's true." Luo Qinzhu sighed inwardly, thinking of Nan Xu's talent.

After thinking for a moment, she added, "Actually, I don't know all the contents of 'All Rivers Flow into the Sea.' There is a small part of the contents that only my father knows."

"Moreover, before leaving Baiweilou, my father subtly seized the opportunity to further improve this culinary skill. Over the years, perhaps he has successfully taken this culinary skill to the next level."

Upon hearing this, Nan Xu nodded inwardly.

Having memories of his past life, he naturally knew that Luo Qinzhu's father, Luo Qingfeng, had indeed taken the culinary skills to a new level, but...

"But I don't know where he is right now." Luo Qinzhu sighed. "I only know that he went out to find rare ingredients, but I haven't heard from him since."

She looked up at Nan Xu: "Ah Xu...you're leaving Baiweilou, aren't you?"

Nan Xu paused, then sighed helplessly, "Sister Qinzhu, how did you figure that out?"

Luo Qinzhu shook her head: "I'm just guessing. After all... you've always had a strong sense of urgency, as if you already have a clear goal."

"I think someone like you would never be content with just staying in a small corner of Baiweilou."

She smiled gently: "Don't worry, I won't stop you. On the contrary, I agree with your decision."

"I'm saying this because I have a favor to ask you."

Have a mission?

Nan Xu's eyes flickered: "What is it?"

"I hope you can keep an eye out for my father," Luo Qinzhu said earnestly. "So many years have passed, and I really want to see him."

"Oh, of course... just keep an eye out for it, no need to go looking for it specifically." She quickly added, "But... if you find anything, please let me know, okay?"

[Ding! The quest "Find Luo Qingfeng" has been triggered. Accept?]

"Since it's Sister Qinzhu's business, leave it to me." Nan Xu smiled slightly and accepted the task.

"That's great, thank you so much, Xu!" Luo Qinzhu smiled sincerely. "Don't worry, I won't let you come all this way for nothing. Once I find him, I'll have him send you the rest of 'All Rivers Flow to the Sea'!"

Nan Xu glanced at the task panel and, sure enough, found the follow-up content of "All Rivers Flow into the Sea" in the rewards section.

But at this point in time, finding Luo Qingfeng won't be easy; this matter needs further consideration.

However, for him, the fourth-grade "All Rivers Flow into the Sea" is enough for the time being.

More than that, he cared about...

"...Sister Qinzhu, are you really willing to let me leave Baiweilou? I've learned the core essence of 'All Rivers Flow into the Sea'." Nanxu asked earnestly.

The culinary skill "All Rivers Flow into the Sea" is usually passed down through a single lineage in other large restaurants. Once you learn it, you're essentially tied to the restaurant for life. Yet Luo Qinzhu was willing to let him leave without any conditions.

Luo Qinzhu smiled gently: "Although we haven't known each other for long, I've already come to consider you family. It would be a lie to say I don't feel reluctant to see you leave."

"But... I also have to admit that staying at Baiweilou for the rest of your life would be a waste of your talent."

"I've even been thinking that once Chef Li has fully mastered those signature dishes, I'll let him take over as acting head chef, and I'll also leave Baiweilou for a while to hone my culinary skills..."

She gazed at Nan Xu and said softly, "Moreover, I can see that your dream is definitely not just to be a chef at Baiweilou."

"In that case, why would I stop you?"

"So, do whatever you want. Just remember, Baiweilou will always be your home, and we... will always welcome you back."

Nan Xu was silent for a moment, then nodded:

"Thank you... I will."