The morning became tense suddenly. Sunlight streamed through the canopy, highlighting the rigid set of everyone's shoulders. The air felt thick with unspoken words.

  But when the two beauties smiled at each other, their faces softening in the golden light, Lin Fan felt his shoulders ease up. He released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. The knot in his stomach loosened.

  He had a bond with both of them, different yet equally important, and he wouldn't want any friction between them. Whatsoever.

  "Guard Min, this is Teacher Shen Yue from the academy," Lin Fan introduced, his voice slightly uneven.

  "Teacher Shen, this is Guard Min who patrols our district."

  "A pleasure," Shen Yue said, bowing slightly.

  "Likewise." Guard Min finished her tea quickly. "I must continue my patrol."

  As she placed her cup down, she looked directly at Lin Fan. "Consider what I said about assistance." Her eyes lingered on him a moment longer than necessary.

  "Your soup tomorrow?" Lin Fan asked.

  Guard Min glanced back, a small smile touching her lips. "Without fail."

  As she departed, Lin Fan turned to see Shen Yue watching him with open curiosity.

  "She visits regularly?" Shen Yue asked, her tone casual though her eyes sparked with interest.

  "Recently, yes." Lin Fan felt inexplicably shy about discussing it.

  "Interesting." Shen Yue said, placing the bundle on the counter. "I brought you several texts, and you can study them in your free time."

  She unwrapped the bundle, revealing three old scrolls. "Have you made progress with the spring and winter theory I told you about?"

  Lin Fan shook his head. "Not yet. My attempts keep failing. The winter essence is harder to control."

  "Your spring essence must be overpowering," she guessed.

  "How did you know?"

  "Spring essence is notoriously unstable." Shen Yue unrolled one scroll carefully. "Without proper anchoring, it dissipates quickly."

  Another customer approached. Lin Fan served them before returning to Shen Yue.

  "I also brought this." Shen Yue produced a small vial of clear liquid from her bundle. "Winter spring water, collected during the last full moon of winter. This will be helpful."

  "Winter water?" Lin Fan asked, accepting the vial carefully. The liquid inside felt cool against his palm. Even through the glass, he sensed its quiet power. "This must be precious. I can't accept this."

  "It should help anchor your spring energy," Shen Yue explained. "Balance is essential."

  "This must be valuable," Lin Fan protested. "I can't possibly—"

  "Knowledge exchanged for knowledge," Shen Yue insisted. "Your culinary cultivation techniques are worth more than this water, and I will be watching you more and more."

  More customers arrived, and Lin Fan found himself once again struggling to keep pace.

  His movements sped up but remained precise. His breathing synced with his stirring, an unconscious cultivation technique his father had made him practice from childhood.

  Two dock workers requested dumplings. Three clerks asked for clarity broth. A seamstress needed something for her aching fingers. Old Xu dropped by and asked for tea which he needed to clear his thoughts.

  Things became messy once more, and Lin Fan became busier than anything he had experienced before.

  "Is it always this busy?" Shen Yue asked during a brief pause.

  "No," Lin Fan wiped sweat from his brow. "It's getting worse. Or better, depending on how you look at it."

  "Your reputation is spreading."

  Stolen novel; please report.

  During a particularly hectic moment, Lin Fan felt that strange sensation again, his qi circulation splitting into parallel currents.

  This time, Shen Yue's posture changed dramatically. She leaned forward, eyes widening.

  She had definitely seen something.

  The moment passed as Lin Fan refocused on his cooking. After serving several more customers, he finally reached another lull.

  "Your customer base is growing," Shen Yue noted. "Have you considered an assistant?"

  Lin Fan laughed softly. "Guard Min asked the same thing."

  "Smart woman," Shen Yue remarked. "But finding someone who understands cultivation cooking would be challenging."

  "Exactly. I'm not sure anyone could help with..." He gestured vaguely.

  "Perhaps, perhaps not." Shen Yue opened one scroll, pointing to an intricate diagram. "This manuscript describes seasonal energy flows through the Five Elements cycle."

  Lin Fan studied the circles and lines connecting different symbols.

  "Spring is Wood energy," Shen Yue explained. "But it requires Water as its foundation and generates Fire as its product."

  "Like these cycles here?" Lin Fan pulled out his father's journal, showing similar patterns.

  "Yes!" Shen Yue's eyes lit up. "Your father understood the principles perfectly."

  She traced the diagram with her finger. "When creating your spring essence dish, you must balance new growth with underlying stability."

  "Like a seedling needs both rain and sunshine?" Lin Fan asked as he leaned closer to her.

  "Precisely." Shen Yue smiled, pleased by his quick understanding.

  Lin Fan felt a flush of pride at her approval. Her smile transformed her scholarly features, revealing a warmth that matched her intelligence.

  "I've been focusing too much on growth alone," he realized, his voice soft. "Thank you, Teacher Shen. But I have another question." Lin Fan opened his father's journal and showed her a new diagram he had been practicing while walking in the morning. It was the reason he had stumbled on the pothole.

  "This looks like Divine Essence. But how do you have it in your father's journal?" Shen Yue leaned closer, her hair brushing his cheek as she studied the diagram.

  Lin Fan's heart skipped a beat. "What is it?"

  "A rare ability. Some cultivators can briefly project a portion of themselves externally."

  "How?" Lin Fan asked eagerly, leaning in.

  "I don't know much. I have only read about it briefly in an ancient text." Shen Yue leaned back, gazing at the beautiful play of the afternoon sun. "It must be it. I sensed some change in your qi a few moments ago."

  "Yes, I felt like my qi split into another me."

  "How did it feel?" she asked, her hand reaching for his, but stopping an inch away.

  "Like it might branch instead of flowing normally."

  "Fascinating." Shen Yue's eyes sparkled with excitement. "May I see your father's journal? The page about circulation patterns closely?"

  Lin Fan handed her the journal, feeling a little nervous.

  Notes beside the diagram mentioned "dividing one's essence between vessels" and "projecting through food medium."

  "Your father was experimenting with qi projection through food cultivation," Shen Yue whispered. "This is extraordinary."

  "Did you know about this technique before?" Lin Fan asked.

  "Only from ancient texts. It's mentioned in only three sources I've studied."

  "Could my father have mastered it?"

  "Possibly." Shen Yue studied the notes intently. "These diagrams suggest significant progress."

  A customer interrupted their discussion. Lin Fan returned to work, thoughts racing. Had his father discovered something rare? Could Lin Fan learn this technique too?

  "I'd like to try capturing spring essence now," he decided when he returned. "With your winter water."

  Shen Yue nodded eagerly. "May I observe?"

  "Please do," Lin Fan said. "I welcome your insights."

  He prepared carefully, selecting fresh spring onions, tender bamboo shoots, and delicate green herbs. He arranged them in the pattern from Shen Yue's scroll, creating the Five Elements cycle in miniature.

  He heated the base broth, then added three drops of winter spring water.

  Immediately, he felt the energy change. His previous attempts had led to chaotic, unbalanced energy. This time, the water gave a solid base.

  "Can you feel that?" Lin Fan asked.

  "Yes," Shen Yue breathed. "The energies are blending beautifully."

  Lin Fan focused his qi, picturing the shift from winter to spring, from rest to growth. He directed his energy into the broth with gentle intent instead of force.

  Golden specks appeared in the liquid, swirling in elegant patterns like sprouting seedlings. The aroma carried hints of fresh growth and morning dew.

  System: Seasonal Quest Progress: Spring Essence Partially Captured (40%)

  "It's working," Lin Fan whispered excitedly.

  "The qi patterns are stabilizing," Shen Yue said, leaning closer. Her usual scholarly composure slipped for a moment. "You've already achieved partial capture!"

  Lin Fan finished the preparation. He had carefully balanced each ingredient's natural energy. The completed broth glowed with a soft green-gold light.

  "May I taste it?" Shen Yue asked, her voice eager.

  Lin Fan nodded, pouring a small portion.

  She sipped carefully, eyes closing in concentration. "Remarkable."

  "What do you sense?" Lin Fan asked.

  "Spring's renewal energy, tempered by winter's stability." Her eyes opened, bright with appreciation. "Not complete, but a significant achievement."

  Pride warmed Lin Fan's chest. Progress, at last.

  As the afternoon went on, Noodle started acting oddly. The snake became more lively, moving straight to the spring essence broth and flicking its tongue above it quickly.

  System: Alert: Spirit Beast Companion showing increased Qi sensitivity. Monitor development closely.

  Lin Fan shared some broth with Noodle. To his amazement, the snake's scales shimmer briefly after drinking.

  "Did you see that?" Lin Fan asked.

  "Your companion is evolving," Shen Yue confirmed.

  "It's all because of you capturing the Spring Essence. It's beneficial for everyone around you."

  "All thanks to you, teacher Shen." Lin Fan chuckled, feeling a special bond forming between him and Shen Yue.

  Neither Lin Fan nor Shen Yue noticed the elegant figure watching from across the street, a young woman in fine silks, her sharp eyes assessing the growing line of customers.

  Ye Qing, daughter of the merchant clan behind Seraphic Delicacies, made mental notes before turning away. This humble stall warranted further investigation.