4 The Village of Mount Logean (2)

Looking in a daze, Logean Wuji walked around and examined the statue closely. It was, without a doubt, his likeness. What was more was that it was also his exact height. He had already fully grown in stature since ancient times, yet he had never had a statue made to his knowledge back then. The only explanation he could come up with was that someone did it without him knowing.

Perhaps someone that knew him well and missed him, since he and his family had not come back to the realm ever again. Thinking this, he finally sighed and put the matter to rest. It was only then that he noticed an inscription at the base of the statue, notched into the stone.

"The root of suffering is attachment." Seeing those words, a spark flashed in Logean Wuji's eyes. He could tell that those words came from the sculptor, who had been so attached to Logean Wuji that he suffered all his days, finally making the statue as a method of coping.

Sadly, Logean Wuji did not know any such people that were infatuated with him like this. Even the few friends he once had outside of the Logean Clan were more like acquaintances than anything else. He read the inscription a few times more, feeling like it was quite insightful and profound.

'Truly, this person's mental realm must have gone beyond the limits of this world. That person must be a bodhisattva.' Suddenly, he heard a cough behind him.

The people had gathered around him, hundreds of them, in swathes. Their eyes interchanged between the statue and him continuously, driving some of them insane to the point that they fainted.

Logean Wuji, the person all their stories and legends told of, was real? To top it off, not only was he real but he was standing before them. This was an insane concept! It was the equivalent of a young child standing outside to take a piss and seeing a superhero hovering in the air above them.

That child would surely become so tense that they could no longer piss!

Logean Wuji smiled and regarded them all with his friendly countenance. Ling Ji'er and Ye Hong were still beside him, but when Ling Ji'er spotted some of her clan members, she went over to them since she was afraid of calling them over to stand near Logean Wuji. Even if she did, they surely would not dare to get too close.

All of a sudden, a few people came pushing through the crowd, some faster than others.

An old man and old woman, both with slightly tanned skin that appeared just a tad bit gold, stepped out of the crowd. Their eyes were both black and narrowed, both their earlobes were stretched long, but the woman wore a number of ear ornaments that dangled from hers, clinking and clanking against each other. They both wore simple robes that covered their bodies and were barefooted.

As soon as Logean Wuji saw them, he felt a familiar aura and smiled knowingly before concealing it.

After they came out, another old man followed, but he was taller and thin, much more so than the others. Large and long grey sideburns grew on the sides of his face into a majestic beard that had been braided. His eyes were open just a crack, but they seemed dim. His robes were also simple, though they were a bit too baggy on his lower body.

Once again, Logean Wuji smiled.

Finally, a man in soft armor came strutting out proudly, his chin sticking out. He was a bit old, but definitely not as elderly as the others that came before him. This was the chieftain, Lin Fei. They all stood apart from the crowd, looking at Logean Wuji with differing expressions.

Lin Fei was the first to speak, pointing toward Logean Wuji and snorting coldly. "Just who are you that dares to masquerade as the Son of Destiny!? Answer me then prepare to die!"

Hearing this, not only did Ye Hong and Ling Ji'er secretly sneer, even the odd elders hid a trace of ridicule in their expressions.

This Lin Fei was a heaven-blessed type of idiot.

Logean Wuji frowned deeply, but not because he was truly mad or upset. He did this mainly for the image he instinctively upheld. This was something instilled in him ever since he was a child. No matter what he did, he had to carry himself about in a manner that would not bring shame to the Logean Clan.

A cold wind blew down from the sunny sky, stunning the gathered villagers. A cold blade of air suddenly took shape and sliced toward Lin Fei in the same instant. No one could react fast enough to even think.

Woosh!

The blade of wind cut through space and arrived at Lin Fei's head, less than an inch away from removing it from his body. "I am Logean Wuji of the Logean Clan, son of Logean Zi and Xuyue Zailiang."

Those words were the cause of mind-breaking migraines and over-exaggerated shouts of surprise and terror. Lin Fei was as still as stone and quiet as a lamb. After realizing how easily Logean Wuji could have taken his life, he did not even dare to breathe loudly anymore.

"As of today, I have returned to this realm. My Clan's Mountain shall be my home from now on, so I suggest you stop using it as a tourist attraction." The people shivered at the authoritative majesty in his voice. It was like his very words were becoming unbreakable law.

"Ye Hong, Ling Ji'er!"

"Sir Wuji!"

"At your command, Sir Wuji."

With strengthened resolve and newfound reverence, Ling Ji'er and Ye Hong rushed to Logean Wuji's side, proud to be at his beck and call.

"These two shall be my servants. I will be choosing others to come live with me on my mountain, to serve and aid me. I expect you to organize an event and showcase your talents before me." Hearing him speak was like listening to a supreme leader of some sort. The villagers were in a stupor, unable to respond in any other way but a collective nod. The odd elders glanced at each other and nodded, then refocused on him.

"I have plans for this region, but first we need to do something about the backwater reputation it has. If not for my mountain, I fear it would not even be on the map."

They all felt the raging fire of excitement within them, thrashing about and wanting to burst free in the form of a loud, rejoicing cry.

"Attend me well, people of my Logean Mountain Region."

With that, he turned around and started to walk back toward the restaurant. The people were slowly breaking away from the still silence, whispering among themselves about what had just transpired.

"Is this real? It can't be a dream, can it?"

"Of course it's real, you dimwit! I knew the omens were in our region's favor since last week! Didn't I tell you? My shit levitated for six seconds before falling into the latrine!"

Pow!

"Ow! What was that for!?"

"You dare to suggest that something like poop could tell of Young Master Wuji's return? You deserve at least three more slaps!"

Pow! Pow! Pow!

"AIEEE! My poor old head! Look how swollen it is now!"

"Er, sorry brother."

"We got a bit carried away…"

"It's fine, just don't hit me agai-"

Pow!

As the villagers were working through their excitement, the odd elders started to follow behind Logean Wuji and the others. Seeing the village elders leaving, a few of the more sensible ones followed them as well. Finally coming together, Old Man Sun, Mother Guan and Father Tang spoke to one another.

"Amitabha. It seems this realm was truly the right place to be, Mother Guan, Old Sun." Father Tang closed his eyes and smiled, reminiscing while his palms came together and he whispered a soft prayer.

"Indeed. If only the others had listened to you, Father Tang." Mother Guan brought a single palm to her chest, also uttering a soft word of prayer. Old Man Sun smirked, letting out a chuckle.

"Who cares about them? They were fools to not believe you, thus they received a fool's punishment. We are here now, so we must take advantage of the opportunity."

"Old Sun is right," the two elders said in unison.

Logean Wuji, Ye Hong and Ling Ji'er finally returned to the restaurant, entering it straightaway. Inside, Mister Mantiao was sitting at the special table for important guests and sulking, unable to accept how short lived his business was. When he saw not only three, not only six, but at least forty people pour into the restaurant, his sadness vanished and his enthusiasm returned.

"Ah! That's what I'm talking about, Heaven! I salute you! Welcome, customers! What's this? Feiyan, prepare the special table for the village elders!"

"Uh, sir, you're sitting there right now."

With a wry smile, he got up and grabbed the cloth from his shoulder, wiping the table and pulling out the chairs. Much to his surprise, the elders turned him down and instead motioned for Logean Wuji to sit there.

"It might not be much, but it is, after all, the special table. Young Master Wuji should sit here."

Logean Wuji, who had just been about to sit at another table, smiled and waved his hand nonchalantly. "It doesn't matter. You may sit there. Also, please call me Sir Wuji. I fear the title of Young Master is no longer suitable for me."

One the surface, the elders were smiling and praising his humility, however their minds were racing. What did he mean by the title no longer being suitable? It was enough for them to rack their brains for hours and still not be able to solve it.

Mister Mantiao noticed the respect the elders held for Logean Wuji, but only a bit later did it actually occur to him just who Logean Wuji was. He had been wallowing in sadness ever since they first met, so he did not realize until now. Most speedily, he took the place of a maid to personally serve Logean Wuji, Ye Hong and Ling Ji'er.

"Actually, Mister Mantiao, I would like to observe the preparation of the meals. I plan to use your restaurant as part of my plan to elevate our region's status."

Without delay, Mister Mantiao led Logean Wuji to the back, taking him to an outdoor kitchen where one familiar white-haired chef was preparing the dishes. Logean Wuji immediately began to observe her technique, not finding it bad at all. She was clearly an experienced chef. So much so, that Logean Wuji suspected she walked a special path in life. A path that had something to do with the more intricate aspects of the Culinary Dao. As he thought this, he suppressed the urge to use his divine will to see through her.

He decided to let her surprise him. It wasn't what he wanted to focus on now, anyway. His goal right now was to assess her talent in the kitchen and decide whether she would be worthy.

As he watched her skillful artistry with the knife, her strong and continuous stirring, the expressions on her face as she tasted and smelled, he nodded. Then, he saw how she was preparing the noodles and nodded again. Everything could be said to have reached a certain kind of peak.

Realizing this about her, Logean Wuji decided to put her up to the true test. All the while standing off to the side, Mister Mantiao was silently observing the whole ordeal.

"Variety does not betray a simple thing, but it is simplicity that counteracts the benefit of variety. What does Madam Chef think about this?"

Suddenly shivering, the white-haired chef turned to stare at Logean Wuji with saucer-wide eyes, almost dropping the rolling pin.

"Sir is knowledgeable. This is a quote from Zao Shen's 'Essence of the Culinary Dao' scripture, is it not?"

Logean Wuji nodded, then his expression turned somber. "Does Miss know what it means?"

While returning to her work, she also proudly smiled and said, "I know a bit. The addition of ingredients is either for quintessential change or betterment. If one has simple variety, they miss the point of addition, but if one betters a simple thing with variety, they perfect a simple thing. Not so, Sir?"

Logean Wuji smiled. "You are truly a good seedling. Very well, I will nurture you."

Hearing this, the woman frowned and shot a glare. "Sir is truly confident. Would you like to tell me what meanings you have grasped from the Great Zao Shen's writings then?"

She was truly offended and, also, didn't believe this man could know more than her. She was someone that had devoted many years of her life to the Culinary Dao. If she wasn't as angry, she would have noticed Mister Mantiao trying to get her to calm down.

Logean Wuji just kept a smile on his face and folded his arms behind his back. "Very well, but please, try to safeguard your soul from my aura. Don't blame me if its damaged afterward."

With that, his countenance and aura changed. Instinctively, everyone back inside the restaurant turned to face the direction of the kitchen, sweat already dripping down their backs. His aura wasn't even directed at them, yet they couldn't withstand it. This was the result of some of Logean Wuji's aura leaking out. He could not help cutting loose just a bit in times like these.