Magic Chef Of Ice And Fire

MCIF Chapter 5.2

Chapter 5.2 - Blue Fields on a Warm Day, Mist Rises from the Jade

Ice Snow City, Ice Moon Empire's second largest city. Looking at it from a distance, the city walls were several tens of meters tall, and extremely wide. Although it couldn't be described as threatening, the entire city standing tall gave a stable and steady feeling. The Azure Sky Riverflowed in from the west of Ice Snow City, and the entire city was actually built around the river, making use of the river water. Although it was not as famous as the Capital of Ice Moon Empire, Ice Moon City, or the Ice God's Pagoda, it was absolutely one of the economic hubs of the empire. Many large merchant federations were based in Ice Snow City, and its population was several million strong. Several dozen years of peace had allowed it to become truly prosperous.

Nian Bing and Zha Ji approached the city from the north. Being inconspicuously dressed as commoners, the guards at the gate did not question them and they easily entered the city.

After entering the city, they immediately noticed a change in atmosphere. The Peach Blossom Forest had an otherworldly beauty and life to it, but the bustling streets of Ice Snow City showed a different type of prosperity. The streets of the city were lined with cordierite and all sorts of shops stood on both sides of every road, and the whole city bustled with noise. Although Nian Bing had been here a year ago, he had spent the rest of the year in a quiet and peaceful setting, so he was unused to this environment.

"Master, what are we going to buy now?" Nian Bing asked.

Zha Ji smiled faintly and said, "This time, we are here to buy many things. We need to buy several sacks of rice so we do not need to come back here so often, and we also need to get some good spices and condiments. Oh yes, I also need to buy you a good knife; you will be officially start learning how to cook soon. A chef's knife is like a warrior's weapon; they are the most important tools of their trades. Only a good knife will allow you to make use of all your skills. It would be best to buy you a knife with a magic stone so you can make use of your magic while cooking with your ingredients.. I'm not sure about other chefs, but for me, the most important kitchen utensil is the knife.

As soon as he heard Zha Ji say that he was going to buy him a knife, Nian Bing grew excited, "That's great, Master! I can finally stop using the cleaver already. You must buy me a good one, but... do you have enough money?"

Zha Ji gave a humph, saying, "Remove that question mark. Your master was, after all, once the great Demon Chef. I wouldn't be able to spend all of my savings even if you gave me several lifetimes. How else do you think I survived alone in the Peach Blossom Forest all these years, choosing that place just because I enjoyed the peace and quiet?"

Nian Bing grinned and said, "That means Master is a rich man, then. But what knife do you use? I didn't notice anything special about the knife you usually use?"

Zha Ji sighed as he said, "My own knife... I have long since sealed it. Since I am no longer the Demon Chef of the past, how can I let such a treasured knife follow me into obscurity? If your cooking skills reach a level that meets my standards in the future, I might give it to you."

"Let's go, don't keep thinking about knives. Even if you get a great knife now, you won't be able to make full use of it. Let's go buy rice first." With that said, Zha Ji brought Nian Bing deeper into the Ice Snow City, and, due to his familiarity with the city, it was not long before the cart Nian Bing was pushing was filled with goods: basic necessities, foodstuffs, spices and condiments - Zha Ji bought them in bulk, along with a few sets of rough cloth clothes for changing. Of course, he also did not forget to buy a string for Nian Bing as he had promised. Now the jade tile was worn on Nian Bing's neck, its warmth pressing close to his chest, giving him an extremely comfortable feeling.