Although the Prison of Endless Suffering was broken and the people were truly few, the cafeteria's food was genuinely good.
Master Pang, the chef, showcased his wok-handling skills, and several exquisite stir-fried dishes were served, along with braised lamb and braised pork that had been simmering for a long time.
"Wu Dao, Feng girl, you two are truly blessed today."
Master Pang served the braised lamb and braised pork, looking at them with a hint of doting affection.
"Master Pang, I've lost weight from hunger during the days you weren't cooking," Feng Tu Tu said to Master Pang coquettishly.
"Haha."
Master Pang laughed heartily, "Alright, you've just returned, eat quickly. I'll go make two more dishes for you."
"Master Pang, don't trouble yourself. Let me introduce you. This young man will be the young master of the Prison of Endless Suffering from now on."
Feng Tu Tu introduced Ye Kunlun to Master Pang.
Upon hearing this, Master Pang sized up Ye Kunlun, his smiling expression carrying a hint of admiration, "Not bad, you have the demeanor of the old master."
"Master Pang, you've met my master?" Ye Kunlun asked curiously.
He could tell that although the Master Pang before him possessed martial arts skills, he was only at the middle stage of the Earthly rank, not considered a master.
Given his status, it seemed unlikely for him to have met Ye Kunlun's forty-fourth master.
After all, as far as he knew, his forty-fourth master had not left the mountain for many years.
"Young Master, I came to the Prison of Endless Suffering when I was twenty. I've been here for thirty years, and it was the old master himself who recruited me," Master Pang explained to Ye Kunlun.
"I see," Ye Kunlun smiled, "Please sit, have something to eat together."
Master Pang shook his head, "You, Wu Dao, and Feng girl eat first. I'll bring you two more signature dishes."
With that, Master Pang returned to the kitchen.
"Young Master, please try it quickly. Master Pang's braised lamb is absolutely superb. In the entire capital, even the imperial chefs can't make such delicious braised lamb."
Feng Tu Tu enthusiastically recommended Master Pang's braised lamb to Ye Kunlun.
"Haha, this old man won't be polite with you."
Yellow Wine Immortal, already enticed by the aroma of the braised lamb, laughed heartily and picked up a piece of leg meat, stuffing it into his mouth.
"Mmm, not bad, not bad. The meat is fine, tender, and not gamey," Yellow Wine Immortal praised, "This is black-headed sheep from our Northern Xinjiang, isn't it?"
"Senior is absolutely correct. The lamb in our Prison of Endless Suffering indeed comes from the black-headed sheep of Northern Xinjiang," Wu Dao chimed in, surprised by Yellow Wine Immortal's discerning palate.
Ye Kunlun also tried a piece. The taste was indeed good, but not as stunning as he had imagined.
After all, among his one hundred and eight masters, there was a gourmand known as the God of Cookery by the other masters.
The Kunlun Snow Mountain Plateau produced a very rare yellow cold sheep, which only appeared in the twelfth lunar month each year.
At that time, catching a yellow cold sheep and having it prepared by his master was said to be a delicacy unparalleled in the world.
"Tsk tsk, if only there was a pot of good wine with this, this old man would be satisfied," Yellow Wine Immortal muttered, wiping the corner of his mouth where oil had smudged, with a hint of regret.
"I apologize," Wu Dao said with an apologetic look, "Senior, drinking alcohol is forbidden in the Prison of Endless Suffering, but..."
"Old man, after eating the lamb from our Prison of Endless Suffering, do me a favor," Ye Kunlun put down his chopsticks, interrupting Wu Dao, and spoke to Yellow Wine Immortal, who was feasting heartily.
Wu Dao wisely remained silent.
Yellow Wine Immortal glanced at Ye Kunlun, picked up another piece of braised pork, and put it into his mouth.
"Tomorrow, on my behalf, go to the Shocking Thunder Sect and challenge their Sect Master, Mo Rufeng," Ye Kunlun said calmly.
"What?"
Wu Dao and Feng Tu Tu were somewhat bewildered, unable to understand Ye Kunlun's intentions.
On the way to the capital, Ye Kunlun had mentioned that the Shocking Thunder Sect should best not provoke him. Now, after only a few hours, he wanted Yellow Wine Immortal to challenge them in his name?
Yellow Wine Immortal's hand, mid-way to picking up food, paused in the air, thinking he had misheard, "Kid, are you joking?"
"What? You're afraid?"
Ye Kunlun looked at Yellow Wine Immortal with calm eyes, showing no sign of joking.
With a "snap," Yellow Wine Immortal slammed his chopsticks onto the table, "I naturally don't put that old geezer Mo Rufeng in my eyes, but do you know the rumors about the Shocking Thunder Sect having a mountain-protecting formation?"
"So what?" Ye Kunlun said dismissively, "Rumors only."
"It's true!"
Yellow Wine Immortal looked at Ye Kunlun with a headache, "That mountain-protecting formation is not something ordinary people can breach. After all, it was personally set up by the sect master Mo Jinglei back then. It is said that even those in the Human Immortal realm dare not easily breach it!"
"Senior, what is the Human Immortal realm?" Wu Dao asked.
"The Core Condensation realm, also known as the Human Immortal realm!" Yellow Wine Immortal replied to Wu Dao, looking at Ye Kunlun.
Unexpectedly, Ye Kunlun scoffed upon hearing this, "A mere Core Condensation realm dares to call itself the Human Immortal realm? Old man, are you joking?"
The disdain in Ye Kunlun's tone made Yellow Wine Immortal frown. Although Ye Kunlun was that person's disciple, he was truly a bit too arrogant!
"You just go and challenge Mo Rufeng. I guarantee that the Shocking Thunder Sect will absolutely not activate that formation," Ye Kunlun said with full confidence.
Wu Dao couldn't help but ask the question that was on his mind, "Young Master, why do you want to challenge Mo Rufeng of the Shocking Thunder Sect?"
Ye Kunlun pondered for a moment, looked at Wu Dao, and asked, "How do you think one can attract the attention of the powerful figures in the capital?"
"Of course, by doing something earth-shattering!" Wu Dao replied without hesitation. Immediately, he understood Ye Kunlun's intention.
"The Shocking Thunder Sect is the only sect within a three-hundred-mile radius of the capital that catches my eye. Challenging Mo Rufeng will undoubtedly draw the attention of the entire capital," Ye Kunlun said with an air of arrogance. "Since I have already arrived in the capital, why should I act low-key? The enemy is in the dark, and I am in the light, so there is no need to hide. I want to do the opposite, to make everyone notice me, to let that hidden hand know that I, Ye Kunlun, will surely expose it!"
The reason Ye Kunlun chose the Shocking Thunder Sect was precisely because Chen Cang's son was a disciple of the Shocking Thunder Sect. As soon as he entered the capital, Chen Cang's people approached him, so he naturally had to strike back!
Wu Dao and Feng Tu Tu were moved by Ye Kunlun's words, their chests burning with fervor. Yellow Wine Immortal gazed at Ye Kunlun; despite his advanced age, he found it somewhat difficult to see through the young man before him.
"Fine, since you say so, this old man will indulge in your impulsiveness." With that, Yellow Wine Immortal said to Wu Dao, "I will challenge Mo Rufeng tomorrow. Prepare the finest wine to celebrate my victory!"
Wu Dao looked at Ye Kunlun with a somewhat embarrassed expression.
Ye Kunlun, however, smiled and said, "Old man, the Thunder Cloud Brew from the Shocking Thunder Sect is one of the four great wines in the world, brewed with thunder and fire. You didn't know that, did you?"
"Of course, I know," Yellow Wine Immortal's eyes lit up, "but that Thunder Cloud Brew is extremely rare, and few people in the world have ever tasted it."
Ye Kunlun thought for a moment and smiled, "How about this: tomorrow, when you ascend the mountain, say that you are here on behalf of Ye Kunlun to ask for a cup of Thunder Cloud Brew."
"If Mo Rufeng refuses, then beat him!"
"This way, we'll have a righteous cause!"