"Everyone," Gustave announced with satisfaction, gesturing toward their magnificent spread. "Tonight we dine on ingredients that are completely natural!"
The three Taoists exchanged puzzled glances at his unfamiliar terminology.
"Natural?" Simu asked with confusion. "As opposed to... what?"
Gustave caught himself—in this era, finding anything unnatural in food would be nearly impossible. The concept of processed or artificial ingredients simply didn't exist yet.
"Ah, Excuse me," he said with embarrassment. "Just a slip of the tongue. Please, let's begin!"
He demonstrated by selecting a piece of the glistening braised carp, but noticed Jiale hesitating beside the table despite the obvious hunger in his eyes. The young man's gaze kept darting between the incredible feast and his master, clearly waiting for permission to eat.
Recognizing his disciple's predicament, Simu picked up one of the golden fried crabs and bit down with a satisfying crunch, shells and all.
"Amazing!" he declared, chewing appreciatively. "Brother Gustave, your culinary skills remain extraordinary. This crab is perfectly crispy—even the shell has become edible. With just this touch of pepper and salt, the flavor lingers beautifully on the palate!"
"The quality of the ingredients deserves most of the credit," Gustave replied modestly. "Since Taoist Simu enjoys it, please eat as much as you like."
Permission granted, Jiale immediately claimed his own fried crab. The moment it touched his tongue, his eyes widened with amazement. Never in his life had he tasted anything so extraordinary.
Lin Jiu, meanwhile, had chosen a piece of the braised fish. "This glutinous rice chili preparation gives the fish such a brilliant red color," he observed with appreciation. "Very appealing to the eye, and the scallion garnish provides perfect contrast."
He chewed thoughtfully before continuing. "The spice level is more subtle than expected, and frying the fish before braising was inspired—the texture is absolutely ideal."
"Exactly right, Senior Brother," Simu agreed after sampling the same dish. "And this fennel omelet! Fennel happens to be my favorite aromatic herb, and its marriage with eggs is pure genius. One bite fills the mouth with fragrance that seems to rise straight to the brain!"
Gustave felt his cheeks warming at such effusive praise.
"Mm! Mm! Master Gustave's cooking is incredible!" Jiale managed to say despite his mouth being completely stuffed with rice and various dishes. His eating style bore an uncomfortable resemblance to Wen Cai's enthusiastic approach to food. "This is definitely the most delicious meal of my entire life!"
Even with his cheeks bulging like a chipmunk's, Jiale continued nodding vigorously in agreement with his master's assessment.
The assault on Gustave's seven dishes and one soup was nothing short of spectacular. By meal's end, only the carp and tofu soup retained any remnants—everything else had been consumed with military efficiency that left Lin Jiu slightly stunned.
"Burp!" Simu patted his distended belly, which had expanded to remarkable proportions. "I'm absolutely stuffed!"
"Junior Brother," Lin Jiu said with concern, "no matter how delicious Gustave's cooking might be, moderation is important for health. You've eaten enough for three people."
"Senior Brother, you misunderstand my motivation," Simu protested, finding a stool to support his considerable girth. "This isn't mere gluttony—it's showing proper respect for Brother Gustave's artistry! Besides, once he leaves, who knows when I'll taste such cooking again?"
He looked to Gustave for support. "Isn't that right?"
Caught between amusement and exasperation, Gustave could only nod in agreement.
"See? Gustave agrees with me completely!" Simu declared triumphantly, settling onto his stool with obvious satisfaction.
Lin Jiu simply shook his head in resigned defeat.
As night deepened, the peaceful atmosphere was shattered by sounds from next door. Master Ikkyu had begun his evening religious observances—wooden fish blocks clacking rhythmically, sutras chanted in sonorous tones, and ceremonial gongs punctuating the entire cacophony.
The noise reverberated through Simu's dojo like an audio assault.
"That bald fraud!" Simu growled, clutching his overstuffed stomach. "Day and night, clack, clack, clack! Doesn't he ever stop?"
Having witnessed this rivalry in films, Gustave had found it amusing. Experiencing it firsthand, however, proved significantly less entertaining. No wonder Simu harbored such animosity toward his neighbor—the noise was genuinely maddening.
"Taoist Simu, allow me to assist," Gustave said calmly, raising one hand.
A subtle electromagnetic field expanded around the entire dojo. Instantly, the cacophonous sounds from next door vanished, leaving blessed silence in their wake.
"Wonderful!" Simu exclaimed, his irritation immediately replaced by relief. "Brother Gustave, you're a lifesaver!"
While Gustave had been curious to witness another confrontation between the feuding neighbors, his own need for quality sleep took precedence. The electromagnetic barrier would ensure a peaceful night for everyone.
Remarkably, despite their massive overconsumption, both Simu and Jiale fell asleep easily, their snores soon adding to the dojo's nighttime sounds. Gustave marveled at their apparently superhuman digestive systems—most people would have suffered severe discomfort after such overindulgence.
The electromagnetic shield proved equally effective the following morning, preventing Ikkyu's pre-dawn religious exercises from disturbing anyone's rest.
The next two days passed pleasantly as Simu completed his professional obligations, delivering preserved clients to their final destinations throughout the region. Gustave and Lin Jiu accompanied these expeditions, gaining valuable insight into local customs and burial traditions.
On the third morning, thick clouds gathered overhead without blocking the sun, creating perfect weather for outdoor activities. However, after two days of travel, all three men felt inclined toward rest rather than adventure.
They had just finished a leisurely breakfast when the sound of a gong echoed across the valley.
"What's that noise?" Gustave asked, rising to investigate.
The others followed him outside, where they discovered Ikkyu and Qingqing had also emerged to observe the disturbance.
In the distance, a substantial procession was advancing along the old imperial road—roughly a hundred people moving in organized formation. The gong sounds came from their advance guard, announcing their approach in traditional fashion.
"Impossible," Simu breathed, his eyes narrowing as he studied the banners flying above the column. "Those are Qing court colors."
Lin Jiu nodded grimly. "The imperial dragon standard, without question. But what are court forces doing this far south?"
The historical complexities of Lin Jiu's world differed significantly from Gustave's own timeline. Here, the Qing Dynasty's abdication had unfolded differently—Emperor Guangxu had survived and ultimately triumphed over the Empress Dowager Cixi in their final power struggle.
Yet even victory couldn't halt the tide of history. Despite his political success, Guangxu had still been swept aside by republican forces, though his abdication had been considerably more dignified than that of the child emperor Xuantong in other timelines.
After Marshal Yuan's death, Marshal Zhang Xun had attempted to restore Guangxu to power, but the emperor had declined the offer. Nevertheless, with Zhang Xun's support and backing from Qing loyalists, Guangxu effectively commanded one of northern China's two largest warlord factions—the other being controlled by a different Marshal Zhang operating beyond the Great Wall.
This meant the Qing imperial banner still held real political significance, representing substantial military and economic power.
"But why would northern court forces be operating in the southwest?" Lin Jiu wondered aloud. "This region lies far beyond their traditional sphere of influence."
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