Chapter 2: Eating Meat

The braised pork had been stewing for quite a while, and the broth gradually reduced, releasing a rich aroma that wafted everywhere, directly invading Yang Yun's nostrils, enticing the cravings in his stomach to rise one after another

As soon as I rushed into the kitchen and reached out to lift the lid of the pot, I saw a pot of bright red, glistening braised pork, bubbling away in the rich broth.

The poor Yang Lin, unwilling to give up, took advantage of the opportunity to assist in the kitchen and made several trips to the stove in a short period of time

Yang finally extinguished the fire and lifted the lid of the pot. A rich aroma wafted through the air, causing everyone to salivate.

According to Yang's intention, it is to make cured meat, to be consumed little by little in daily life. Yang Yun is now feeling as hungry as if on fire, and is urging Yang to prepare a meal of braised pork.

Uncle Wang, where are you going?

Not long after setting off, a bare-chested man approached from the opposite direction, with a gleaming pig slaughtering knife at his waist and several pieces of swaying pork and offal in his hand

The elder brother was conscripted by the Northern Liang army during his escape and was used as cannon fodder in the battle of Qianjiang City, filling the moat like mere expendables

Yang's most favored youngest son, noticing that Yang Yun's complexion was not good, also wanted to nourish him. However, he hesitated, saying, "Making braised pork would be fine, but we have no soy sauce or sugar at home"

Yang Yun's cultivation is still low, and spells such as Searching for Spirits and Traces can only reach a few miles; how could he possibly find his scattered relatives?

Having thought of a solution, Yang Yun walked into the house with a light heart, humming a little tune

Yang Yun recognized the person at a glance; it was the butcher Wang who lived at the eastern end of the village

Unfortunately, Yang was holding a frying ladle, much like a mother tiger guarding her cubs, never leaving its side, leaving Yang Lin with no opportunity to take advantage.

Oh dear—am I not being foolish? I have only been giving ideas to Wang the butcher, yet I did not think of this route earlier. Yang Yun suddenly realized that behind the village was Xiaoyue Mountain, where the vegetation was lush and there were quite a few valuable medicinal herbs. However, ordinary people lack the knowledge to identify them. In my dreams, I have recognized many medicinal herbs, among which I have a particularly deep impression of a herb called Yuehe Tushuguang, which is indeed produced in Xiaoyue Mountain.

The Yang family does not adhere to any particular dining etiquette. A few people sit together, and as soon as Father Yang picks up a piece of meat, it is as if a signal has been given; the entire family immediately descends upon the food with their chopsticks, and the sound of chewing fills the air

Having experienced a dream, Yang Yun's state of mind has undergone some changes without his awareness, thus he greeted the butcher upon seeing him

Yang thought for a moment; the butcher Wang's family was wealthy, and this pork truly meant little to them. His son, Yang Yun, was now also a scholar, so it was reasonable for the butcher Wang to send a gift. Thus, he no longer pursued the matter and began to consider how to prepare this streaky pork.

Yang Lin happily ran off with the bowl in hand, while Yang's family chased after her, shouting, "Be careful, don't break the bowl"

Yang was taken aback, "Why did he give you such an expensive gift"

When Yang Lin returned, the corners of her mouth were greasy, and she wore a smile reminiscent of someone who had just stolen a chicken. Everyone, including the Yang family, pretended not to notice. Yang Lin thought no one had discovered her, and her smile grew even more triumphant.

Sister Yang Lin, along with her elderly mother, endured a tumultuous journey, suffering numerous humiliations, yet they managed to survive against all odds. After a brief respite in the chaotic times, the two found a dilapidated courtyard in a ruined city to settle in. Yang Lin searched for odd jobs or scavenged for scraps, while her mother begged on the streets daily and cultivated a small patch of barren land in the courtyard to grow vegetables. The mother and daughter relied on each other, struggling to make ends meet.

Amidst the chaos of war, an elderly father, separated from his family while fleeing, returns home alone. Upon his return, he encounters marauding soldiers who plunder his belongings. The last bit of food buried in the courtyard is extorted from him, and ultimately, he succumbs to injury and starvation in his own home

Recalling the memories from his dreams, Yang Yun remembered that he had left home to seek the Dao at around the age of sixteen or seventeen. After twenty years of diligent practice, he had achieved a modest level of success and was now contemplating returning home

Yang, upon hearing this, truly went to borrow some seasonings and also borrowed 2 jin of new rice, becoming busy in the kitchen

I do not seek to attain immortality or acquire books of wisdom; I only wish for a life of freedom and ease, to follow my heart's desires, for my family to enjoy wealth, health, and peace, to roam freely across the vast skies and lands, and as for cultivation, I leave it to my discretion, as long as I possess the strength to protect myself in chaotic times

Isn't this just a way to make money? There is plenty of money to be found in the mountains, and even if I collect it, no one would suspect anything; they would just think I am lucky. This method of making money has no drawbacks and is as safe as it gets

This is the gift then. Your mother-in-law's family is considered one of the wealthy households in town, and they do not lack for a few pieces of meat. Bringing it over in such a bloody manner would instead seem to lose face.

Yang Lin entered the courtyard carrying a basket of freshly cut grass. Unable to wait to set down the basket, she exclaimed, "What are you making? It smells wonderful!"

Thank you, Uncle Wang. Yang Yun was quick-witted and agile, swiftly catching it from the air.

At that time, it was discovered that the hometown had already been ravaged by war, with relatives scattered and displaced. Yang Yun searched for a long time and only learned from an encounter with a fellow villager that the family had all fled to safety, and there was no further news.

The butcher Wang was overjoyed, "Indeed, you are a scholar! We shall proceed as you suggested"

Uncle Wang is going to his mother-in-law's house in town, isn't he? However, I fear that the elderly person may not appreciate you bringing these items.

Yang carefully filled the best porcelain bowl at home and handed it to Yang Lin, saying: "Go, take this to Uncle Changsheng's house."

This is not difficult; just go next door to Uncle Changsheng's house and borrow some. Once the braised pork is ready, return a bowl to his family.

Despite being memories from a dream, Yang Yun's expression changed drastically upon recalling these events, and he was drenched in cold sweat

"When you go to your mother-in-law's house, you need to change your clothes, and remember to put away the knife as well. Have all these aunts reminded you?" Yang Yun asked

Laughter had not yet subsided when a rumbling sound came from the stomach, indicating that the bamboo shoots could not compete with the meal, and had now been digested to a considerable extent.

Yang Yun swallowed a mouthful of saliva and read a line from the book, hetushu.com. After much difficulty, they finally endured until the sun set in the west, and the two people who had been farming returned home, inevitably facing another round of questioning and explanations

I encountered him on the road, and he spoke cheerfully, then tossed this to me without a care for the reason. As long as I have made it and can eat it, that is sufficient. At worst, when the government bestows this year's annual gifts, I can simply return a token of appreciation to his family.

Recalling the white hair on his parents' heads and the frail figure of his younger sister, Yang Yun silently gritted his teeth and swore an oath. He not only wanted to ensure that he and his family had enough to eat, but also to make the entire family wealthy and prosperous, enjoying all the blessings of life. Only in this way would his dream of cultivating immortality not be in vain

With the machinations of those with ulterior motives and the interference of external demons, only one in ten can survive the True Illusion stage. Most individuals will become lost in the illusions, gradually depleting their cultivation, leading to their demise and the extinguishing of their path, or they may descend into chaos and commit mass slaughter, ultimately being eradicated by the collective efforts of the cultivation community

Having experienced the pangs of hunger, Yang Yun immediately prioritized having a full meal as the most pressing matter at hand

I handed over more than four pounds of pork belly to Yang, saying, "Mother, this is a gift from Uncle Wang from the east side of the village. Please prepare it so we can have it for dinner tonight."

Yang Yun has an elder brother, Yang Yue. Due to the family's poverty and lack of land, he became a sailor at the age of fourteen. The fleet to which Yang Yue belonged lost its business during the chaotic times, and after disbanding, he and a group of sailors fell into banditry. He lost his life in a violent conflict at sea.

In the realm of illusions, Yang Yun must steadfastly uphold his resolve. Regardless of the circumstances faced by his loved ones, he must not take action. The moment he moves a single finger, he will immediately be lost, never to return.

"You little brat, aren't you afraid of burning your hands! Wait until your father and elder brother come back in the evening to eat together."

In the early years, there were indeed individuals who wished to take Yang Lin as a wife or concubine, but Yang Lin could not bear to part with her elderly mother, and ultimately, the matter did not come to fruition. As time passed, youth faded away, and after the death of her mother, Yang Lin was left without anyone to care for her. In the end, she lived a life of solitude, dying without children or relatives, her life marked by desolation. The neighbors merely provided a straw mat, rolled it up, and sent her off to the burial site in a haphazard manner.

Since the techniques in dreams are real, are those regrets and resentments also destined to occur? Yang Yun thought of this and clenched his fist, determined not to let the events of the dream repeat.

When Yang Yun caught sight of the front door from a distance, he suddenly stopped in his tracks and slapped his forehead with force

As Yang Yun's cultivation deepened and more than a hundred years passed, he inevitably thought that his family must have long since passed away, thus completely abandoning the thought of seeking his relatives. From then on, he severed all worldly ties and devoted himself entirely to the path.

One of the illusions that Yang Yun encountered during the True Illusion period was a reunion with his parents and relatives

"What this means is, I am just a butcher. Aside from this meat, I have nothing worthwhile to offer. If I were to buy some expensive and unnecessary items, I would only end up being scolded by my mother-in-law," Wang the butcher hesitated and said

The butcher Wang received some guidance and quickly bid farewell before leaving. Meanwhile, Yang Yun happily carried the meat home.

The butcher Wang was taken aback for a moment, then replied with a smile: "So it is the third young master of the Yang family. What brings you to call for someone today?"

Yang Yun let out a bitter laugh twice, and as the excitement of successfully demonstrating the technique gradually subsided, he found no further desire to continue reading. Thus, he tucked two books under his arm, navigated out of the bamboo forest, and slowly made his way back along the path towards home

When cutting meat, Yang was truly reluctant to part with it. He sliced off seven or eight taels of fat from the pork belly, frying it in an iron pot until it was half-dry, and collected the rendered lard into a clay jar, hiding it carefully in the corner of the stove.

In the course of his cultivation, Yang Yun advanced steadily, unexpectedly breaking through layer upon layer of seemingly insurmountable realms, ultimately becoming a peerless master in the world of cultivation. At this moment, it was unclear whether it had been a thousand years or ten thousand years, but Yang Yun had entered the dreaded True Illusion Stage, a phase that sent shivers down the spines of all in the cultivation community.

"How do you know that?" Wang the butcher felt a chill in his heart. He was a burly man, yet he married a petite and delicate wife. In daily life, he both loved and feared her. Wang the butcher often brought gifts to his in-laws, but his mother-in-law always looked at him with disapproval, her tone neither warm nor cold.

Cultivating immortality is arduous, fraught with continuous tribulations. Among these, the most formidable are the three types of calamities: those of heaven, earth, and humanity, which are further categorized into major and minor. During the True Illusion stage, one encounters the so-called "Great Calamity of Humanity," where illusions and reality intertwine, creating a blend of the illusory and the real, making it difficult to discern the truth. This experience directly points to one's true nature, leaving individuals unable or even unwilling to distinguish between the two.

This depends on how much effort you put in. Now that we are transitioning into the Spring Festival season, your aunt's health is weak. Has she been coughing these days? Your mother-in-law is older, so she is probably coughing even more severely. I have a suggestion for you: when you go to town, visit the Rejuvenation Hall to request a nourishing recipe. Combine it with the pig lungs you have, package it well, and send it to her. Let the elderly lady simmer it into porridge to consume morning and night, which will nourish her body and moisten her lungs. Wouldn't that be good

Instantly, Yang Lin's saliva began to flow, and she reached out to grab meat from the boiling pot, only to be swatted away by Yang.

The most remarkable aspect is that, although the characters are illusory, the scenarios are entirely real. What Yang Yun witnesses in the illusion is the plight of his family members who were lost years ago

Before today, Yang Yun, who devoted himself to his studies, looked down upon people like Wang the butcher. Coupled with his family's poverty, while Wang's family could almost eat pork every day, there was a mix of arrogance and a hint of inferiority in his demeanor, leading him to rarely greet Wang when they met.

Ignoring the two lines of tears streaming down his cheeks, Yang Yun laughed heartily towards the sky, feeling as if all the burdens in his chest had vanished, experiencing unparalleled relief

Yang Yun's room is adjacent to the kitchen, and he can hear everything clearly inside. Holding a book in his hands, he pretends to read it with a nodding motion, while secretly laughing to himself several times already

Yang Yun knows that while soy sauce is acceptable, sugar is quite expensive. Generally, the family only buys some during the New Year, and now it has long been used up

Yes, the clothes are all packed inside the parcel

"How fragrant!" As she swallowed a piece of braised pork with white rice, Yang Yun couldn't help but exclaim in her heart, "If only I could eat this every day," as her chopsticks continuously reached for the plate.

"This is a token of appreciation, take it—" said the butcher Wang, tossing over a piece of pork belly.