The Fate of my Soul.

Part 38

The Celestial Palaces kitchen is bigger than the whole fox den thought Bai Qian as she and Feng Jiu walked around the vast kitchen that is split into 3 areas to find Ye Hua and they could not help but notice how cold it felt compared to their own, which in their eyes felt warm and cozy, how a family kitchen should feel.  

"It's sooooo....." Feng Jiu tried to find the right word.  

"Clean?" Bai Qian suggested laughing.

"Exactly!" Feng Jiu sneered, as thoughts of their own kitchen with its hanging pots, fresh produce on display and kitchen utensils scattered about the bench tops had her missing home.

"There you are." Ye Huas voice came at them from the entrance to the larder, smiling brightly at the both of them as he carried in a bundle of mixed vegetables and fresh meat.

Preferring to observe, Bai Qian and Feng Jiu watched as Ye Hua chopped, diced and split a variety of vegetables which he added to a large pot as he went.  And as he added the herbs and spices, the divine smell took over the whole kitchen causing Bai Qians mouth to water.  Then lowering the ladle into the pot, he pulled up a small amount for her to taste.

"You are so talented Ye Hua.  Who would have thought, the Crown Prince of the Celestial Palace could cook." Bai Qian said licking her lips, impressed with this unknown skill that she knew no one outside of the Palace knew.

Refusing a taste of whatever it was he cooking, Feng Jiu merely sniffed the air rudely and walked away. Of course his cooking skills were second to none, but she had no intention of verbalizing it, instead making her way to the larder to see what else people with such a clean kitchen would eat.

And her rude behavior did not go unnoticed as Ye Huas darkening eyes followed her.  

Setting up their plates at the main dinner table, Bai Qian returned to find Ye Hua had already ladled the soup into small bowls, and was busy removing the grilled meat onto a serving platter, which they both helped to carry back.  

"Feng Jiu, dinner is ready." Bai Qian called to her niece as they both took a seat to wait for her.

Taking her time, Feng Jiu entered the room slowly before slumping unceremoniously at the table.  Her immense dislike of Ye Hua clearly obvious and the fact that she was not even bothering to hide it, earned her a harsh look from Bai Qian.  "Might I remind you Feng Jiu, you are a guest.  Behave like one!" she growled her, before turning to Ye Hua to apologize for her nieces rudeness, with every intention of severely berating her in private.

Grinning at the both of them, Ye Hua merely laughed it off, instead suggesting they eat while the food was still hot.  

And at that, the meal began in earnest.  The rest of the evening was pleasant enough, and as long as Ye Hua didn't ask Feng Jiu any questions, she kept her face down while she quickly finished everything in front of her.  Once finished, she excused herself immediately and left the room quickly leaving them alone.  

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Breaking apart the 7 layers of ice that surrounded his father, Qi lowered his sword to his fathers abdomen.  Now that he held every one of his Grandfathers Power Seeds, he had one last task to complete.  Beginning the chant to open his fathers core, he also released a thin layer of his own energy in the sword.  

Then slowly he began to feed it directly into his open core and gradually he drew up every ounce of elite cultivation that lay within.  Slowly and steadily he drained his father of his very core essence until there was nothing left.