Shortly after Sūō Tsukasa left the private room.
Waitresses dressed in pale-green leaf-patterned attire entered in succession, carrying exquisite lacquerware food boxes, and quickly laid out a beautiful summer feast on the table.
There were not only common Japanese dishes like sushi and sashimi, but also a variety of small, delicately plated, creative dishes.
"Please enjoy your meal."
Once the waitresses departed, the eyes of Shiba Kaien and his group were immediately drawn to the dishes on the table.
The glistening sea bream sushi was formed with a perfect curve; the faint pink streaks on the snow-white fish looked like blooming cherry blossoms, and each piece was dotted with freshly grated wasabi.
The bonito sashimi was sliced just right, arranged on a celadon plate in the shape of outstretched wings, accompanied by tender green shiso sprouts.
Most striking were two creative dishes that incorporated Chinese culinary touches.
One was abalone slices in plum sauce and sweet and sour sauce. Top-quality fresh abalone was thinly sliced, quickly stir-fried with a sauce made from preserved plums, rock sugar, and aged vinegar to create a sweet and sour flavor, then topped with pan-fried pine nuts.
This dish retained the tender chewiness of the abalone while integrating the unique flavor of Chinese sweet and sour sauce, making it particularly appetizing in the hot summer.
The other dish was jade shrimp and tofu. Fresh shrimp and crushed edamame paste were steamed together, then served atop cold tofu drizzled with clear broth.
The pale pink of the shrimp, the emerald green of the edamame, and the pristine white tofu formed a striking contrast. The taste was refreshing and delicate, with a subtle bean aroma and the fresh sweetness of new shrimp.
"This is truly... a pleasant surprise!"
Shiba Kaien's eyes sparkled as he looked at the colorful and fragrant dishes before him.
Beside him, Kiyone Kotetsu had already picked up a piece of sea bream sushi. The fish on the sushi had a cherry-like color, and the vinegar-seasoned rice grains were distinct and glossy.
She eagerly popped the entire piece into her mouth, chewed briefly, swallowed, and let out an excited gasp.
"Mmm, this sushi is so good."
"A girl shouldn't have such crude table manners," Sentarō Kotsubaki admonished upon seeing Kiyone lick her lips in enjoyment after finishing the sushi.
"Oh, really."
While saying this, he was quick with his own hands. He twirled his chopsticks, picked up a piece of plump, charcoal-seared bonito sashimi, and stuffed it into his mouth.
The exquisite taste instantly conquered his palate, and everything he meant to say was stuck in his throat.
Among the three seated officers, Hikaru Mitaka was the most quick-witted and discreet. While the other two were still talking, the food in front of him began to disappear one after another in silence.
A strange silence descended upon the private room. The four individuals' chopstick movements grew faster and faster, leaving only the sounds of eating.
"So... Kaien-sama."
"Can we come back to this restaurant after our next training session?"
Kiyone Kotetsu licked the soy sauce from her fingertips, then looked up expectantly.
She had been slightly reluctant about the outdoor training camp, but now she was looking forward to the next one.
"We'll see, we'll see."
Shiba Kaien's expression stiffened slightly as he gazed at the small mountain of empty plates on the table.
His finger resting on the sake cup trembled slightly. A vice-captain's salary was only moderate, and it couldn't withstand treating these three to a meal like this too often.
Although he himself had eaten a lot, the other three were simply too ravenous, necessitating a second round of dishes before they finished.
If they were to come again, it would definitely be just him and his wife, Miyako Shiba.
He pictured having dinner with his beloved wife at the Teradaya, and her lovely expression as she praised his excellent choice of restaurant in the tranquil private room.
An involuntary, gentle smile surfaced on his lips.
"Ehh..."
"Kaien-sama is smiling so strangely... Oh, what are you... thinking about?"
Kiyone Kotetsu, having finished her tea, keenly noticed the upward curve of Shiba Kaien's lips and caught him in the act.
The girl rested her chin on her hand, put down her teacup, and deliberately elongated the tail end of her words with a teasing finger.
"Idiot, what nonsense are you talking about?"
Clearing his throat, Shiba Kaien, being a veteran vice-captain, quickly stabilized the situation.
He composed himself, sat up straight, and lightly rebuked them, though the slight flush at the base of his ears betrayed him.
"Hey, look, Kaien-sama's ears are red."
"Bright red!"
Seeing this, the other two promptly joined the fray. Sentarō Kotsubaki pointed out the redness behind his ears and burst into laughter.
"You three...!"
Seeing his subordinates barely holding back their mischievous laughter, his defenses were utterly breached, and he couldn't help but raise his voice.
The loud laughter in the private room, combined with the commotion in the hall not far around the corner, filled the Teradaya with a relaxed and joyful summer atmosphere.
After the teasing subsided, quietness returned to the private room.
"Kaien-sama... why did you suddenly invite the head chef?"
"We... we couldn't sense any Reiryoku fluctuation from him at all."
Kiyone Kotetsu swept her gaze left and right at the two beside her, voicing the common confusion shared by all three.
"That's true. Even recalling it carefully now, Mr. Sūō felt like an utterly ordinary soul."
Sentarō Kotsubaki also nodded in agreement, a hint of shame on his face.
"Yes."
The usually silent Hikaru Mitaka also nodded slightly in assent.
The three had not questioned him on the spot earlier purely out of trust in their Vice-Captain's judgment.
Shiba Kaien looked at his three perplexed subordinates, a knowing smile playing on his lips.
He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and spoke.
"Because his mind is very still, the fluctuations in his Reiryoku are extremely subtle."
"Mr. Sūō must have poured a lot of effort into his culinary art. It is this concentration on cooking that has allowed his mind to settle, so his Reiryoku is perfectly restrained."
"And years of continuous work have serendipitously led him into a state similar to calmness of mind."
"I see."
His explanation quickly won the approval of the three, as the unbelievably delicious meal they had just consumed was overwhelmingly persuasive.
Suddenly, Shiba Kaien changed the subject, his gaze sweeping over the three, his tone becoming serious.
"I constantly tell you to practice your spiritual training, but you always complain that meditation is boring and can't settle your minds."
"Now you can't even detect the Reiryoku of someone who hasn't officially begun Shinigami training."
"This is exactly why you always fail when you attempt Jinzen (Sword Zen) training."
Jinzen (Sword Zen) is a form of spiritual training for Shinigami to enter their inner world and converse with their Zanpakutō.
Besides requiring a certain level of Reiryoku strength, spiritual cultivation is the key element.
If one cannot maintain a state of high concentration, the moment their mind is disturbed, their Reiryoku fluctuations become chaotic, and the Jinzen (Sword Zen) cannot proceed.
This is a difficult obstacle that many Shinigami cannot bypass on their training path.
Shiba Kaien seized this rare opportunity to sternly lecture his three subordinates, who were now sitting in a relaxed posture after having eaten their fill.
"Yes."
When one has just eaten another's food, they are at a disadvantage. The taste of the exquisite meal still lingered in their mouths.
They exchanged helpless glances, which ultimately dissolved into silent obedience.
The three straightened their backs, corrected their sitting postures, and obediently nodded in acknowledgment of their error.
-----------------------------------------------
I handpick only the finest and most captivating novels for you. Don't forget to check out my other novels!
p@treon HongMengZi