The Chef's Immortal

Introduction by Bohai

IMMORTAL CLEANSING PLATFORM

Two men stood staring at the blackish-purple pool as if mystified by the depths of its darkness.  Though the two seemed to be the same age, tens of thousands of years separated the generations of their births.  The taller man had black hair, pulled neatly into a topknot, large violet eyes, and a slightly upturned nose.  He was well built under his light green silk tunic.  And though he wore a violet sash, who would argue with the god of war over clothing?  The man next to him was a tad bit shorter, sporting a larger build, and deep, red hair.  He may not have been as elegant as the god of war, but the god of fire was just as handsome.  The pair of best friends studied under the same teacher and had been together for nearly 75,000 years.

Honestly, they didn't seem a likely pair at all.  Supreme Deity took them both in as children.  Wudi was loyal, upright, honest, and brave.  Always calm and collected, he seemed cold and aloof to those who didn't know him.  But, once he allowed you in, he was one of the most caring people you'd ever come across.  Wudi was orphaned before he reached a millennium and with no one but teacher, their family was small.  So, Supreme Deity decided to take in another student.  After all, the god of war needed someone to watch his back.

Zhurong was the complete opposite of Wudi.  Hot-tempered, rude, arrogant, and just, all wrapped up in one tiny little package.  Yes, the mighty god of fire was a red-headed, green-eyed runt!  And though he was always charismatic with the girls, very few boys could stand to be around him.  But Wudi was patient.  He would allow his junior brother to run all over him and then some.  Let's just say that Zhurong got away with anything!  Then one day, Wudi searched for Zhurong in the Peach Forest where he'd hidden from his senior brother, and a group of fairies came along.  Wudi was only a junior immortal, so he paid his respects to the fairies before he tried to resume his search.  But the fairies stopped him abruptly, and after speaking for a moment, the group seemed to get quite angry and presumed to drag his senior brother away.  Zhurong gleefully returned to the Palace Hall and asked after his senior brother as soon as Supreme Deity returned to the hall.

"Would you truly like to know where your senior brother is at this moment or do you only ask to please me?" Caught off guard at his teacher's words, Zhurong could only stare.  Supreme Deity continued, "Wudi is on the Lightning Platform taking your punishment for the immortal peach you stole from Queen Mother.  Again.  He'll be there for three months."

Zhurong was flabbergasted.  Never had he imagined that his cold, aloof senior brother would go so far as to take a lightning punishment for him.  And, apparently, this wasn't the first time.  How many times did he sneak away and take a punishment that wasn't his? How many times had he protected his arrogant junior brother?  The thing was, not even Supreme Deity knew the answer to that one.  Each time Wudi was asked about an infraction, no matter the amount of punishment, he would answer that he, and he alone, was the perpetrator.  From that day forward, Zhurong began to work harder than ever before on his studies.  He was determined to live up to his senior brother's expectations and protection.

"Wudi, must you go now?  Fuxi will not go easy on you after that argument you had with Nuwa during the last war."

"Zhurong, I can't help it if she finds me ruthless.  I'm the god of war, I cannot get caught up with how many lives are taken before a war is even won.  I can only try to minimize the loss by ending the war as quickly as possible.  She will just have to be angry.  Besides, teacher said I must go now.  So, no, I do not have a choice.  And remember not to interfere with my mortal trial under any circumstances.  At least not unless the demon realm tries to pull some kind of stunt."

"That's why only me and Fuxi know where you're going.  It'll be safer that way.  Only someone who can break through one of Fuxi's seals would be able to gain access to the information, and you know how few gods that includes."