The Demon Lords

Chapter 1063: Chapter 257: Curtain Rises!

Another sleep,

Another early wake-up,

Another wake without lying in bed,

Another sitting at the desk,

Another writing "Cloud thinks of clothes, and flowers think of face,"

Another pondering what the next line should be.

Tomorrow is the princess’s wedding, and Lord Zheng thinks perhaps he should choose another poem to recite.

They say you never realize how little knowledge you have until you need it, and it’s true.

Putting down the brush, Lord Zheng went to fetch water to wash up.

As he carried the basin outside, he saw the sword-maker sitting in the courtyard.

The sword-maker was sitting on the ground, carving a wooden sword in his hand.

Zheng Fan had seen the Sword Saint carve wooden sword toys for children, using Longyuan, treating it with the utmost seriousness as if doing something quite childish.

The sword-maker, relaxed and natural with an ordinary carving knife, seemed to be doing something very serious in a childish manner.

To this day, Lord Zheng still couldn’t determine whether the sword-maker could fight.

Last night, he had specially asked the princess about this matter.

The princess’s answer was straightforward: they didn’t know either.

Moreover, the princess mentioned that her brother probably didn’t know either, because every time he went out with the sword-maker, he never lessened his security detail.

So, whether the sword-maker could fight remained a mystery even the royal family of Chu State couldn’t solve.

The sword-maker looked up, noticing Lord Zheng with the water basin, and said with a smile:

"Mr. Su, you’re up quite early."

Zheng Fan nodded, saying, "I’ve gotten used to getting up early when following my master."

"Oh? I’ve heard Master Yao enjoys poetry, wine, and beautiful scenery. Does he really wake up early too?"

In the world,

there are generally two types of people who wake up early.

One type rises with the sun and rests with its setting, bustling about for a meal without respite;

The other type, in old age, can no longer keep up and must rest.

Master Yao doesn’t belong to these two types. He’s long past the stage of toiling for food, yet he doesn’t feel he’s at the stage where he must rest. Such people are the hardest to wake up early and go to bed early."

Zheng Fan responded:

"My master enjoys getting up early."

"Why?"

"He says only the morning sun nowadays can once again give him the sense of holding up the sky."

The sword-maker smiled and said:

"That’s truly in Master Yao’s style."

When old, one can no longer straighten up at will, and can only rely on the strength of the morning to savor a bit of youth.

Zheng Fan put down the basin and walked to the sword-maker.

The sword-maker placed his hands by his side and said:

"If there’s anything you want to say or ask, Mr. Su, feel free."

"I’ve always had a doubt in my heart."

"Speak without hesitation."

"The street rumors have it, they say, can you really fight?"

"Do you want an answer?"

"I do."

"Do you want to know the answer?"

"I do."

"Tell me, if someone casually asks the wine shop owner in Taohua Wu for his brewing recipe, would he give it?"

"Of course not."

"Exactly, and I wouldn’t answer either. If I did, how would I make a living in the future?"

Lord Zheng then asked, "But if forced by sword, I reckon the owner would recognize the interests that prevail."

The sword-maker pointed at Zheng Fan and said:

"Mr. Su, do you have a sword on you?"

Zheng Fan shook his head.

"Next time, when you bring a sword and hold it to my neck, I’ll give you an answer."

"What are you chatting about?"

The Regent appeared.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Zheng Fan saluted the Regent.

"Talking about Uncle Chen," answered the sword-maker.

The Regent didn’t quite grasp it, asking, "Who is Uncle Chen?"

The sword-maker said, "I heard Mr. Su say that Uncle Chen is a servant in Master Yao’s household, good at making soups, and Master Yao enjoys it so much that he wakes up early every day to wait for Uncle Chen."

"Master Yao loves good food. If so, I must taste it...later."

The sword-maker immediately interrupted, "Ah, today, I feel like having noodles."

"Then go make it yourself."

"That’s exactly what I intend to do."

Suddenly,

the sword-maker turned to Zheng Fan and said, "Mr. Su, why not join us later for some noodles?"

"Thank you, sir."

...

The noodles made by the sword-maker were scallion noodles.

The noodles fragrant, the broth fresh, with simple ingredients yet with great depth.

Zheng Fan, having washed up, sat down. On the table were four bowls of noodles, three large and one small.

The princess was also up and sat by the table, eating the small bowl.

Three men, three large bowls.

The Regent pointed at his bowl and said, "Why does my bowl have so few scallions?"

Among the four bowls, the Regent’s bowl indeed had the least scallions.

The sword-maker replied, "You have to attend the court, and I’m afraid it will bother others."

"But I’m not attending court today."

"But you still have to meet people."

The Regent, slightly resigned, nodded as he listened.

The sword-maker got up, fetched a small jar, and began adding some lard to everyone’s bowl with a small spoon.

White lard mixed into the noodles, and the aroma was thoroughly brought out.

Everyone began to eat,

The noodles were indeed delicious. In this world, anything that could please someone as particular about food as Lord Zheng had to be top-notch.

The princess finished hers quickly due to the small bowl. Putting down her chopsticks, she glanced at the three men still eating and said:

"I’ve loved eating Brother Dugu’s noodles since I was a child. Later on, it might be hard to eat it again."

The sword-maker nonchalantly replied:

"It’s not hard. Making noodles isn’t difficult. Just put heart into it. In the future, if you want to eat, have your prince-consort make them for you."

"Pfft..."

Lord Zheng choked,