Peacock God remained silent until Tan Xiao finished his work, obediently eating his own food.

After preparing the offerings, Tan Xiao began setting up the altar by stacking two smaller eight-immortal tables to create a high platform. On either side of the platform, he placed another eight-immortal table, known as the civil and martial tables.

In the front center, he placed half a table, and hung the divine curtain. The setup was quite elaborate. The Rice Guardian panted as he helped Tan Xiao arrange everything, tucking his robe, carrying incense and candles, and running around on his short legs.

"Red candles, joss sticks, sandalwood incense, candlesticks, incense burners, pure tea, fruit offerings, silver pot..." Tan Xiao checked each item one by one. After confirming everything was in order, he lit the incense according to their positions.

The incense smoke drifted and swirled.

Tan Xiao held a set of four divination blocks, each with a yin and yang side. Shamans would ask questions based on the state of the blocks. In the deity invocation ceremony Tan Xiao was familiar with, he had to throw "three yang and one yin" to indicate the deities had arrived. If not, he would have to throw again.

This step could have been skipped, but Tan Xiao wanted to enrich the ceremony. Otherwise, many parts could theoretically be omitted, making it look rather crude.

"On this auspicious day, the heavenly gates open, a propitious time to revere the gods..." Tan Xiao held the divination blocks, chanting the shaman's invocation while circling the incense smoke five times before throwing them to the ground.

The blocks fell, all landing face down, forming two yang and two yin.

One block had not fully settled. Just as Tan Xiao was about to sigh and throw again, Peacock leisurely walked in and flicked his finger. The block flipped to the other side, creating the pattern of three yang and one yin.

The deity had arrived.

Tan Xiao inwardly chuckled and solemnly said, "The revered deity descends, the shaman's altar receives!"

Next, he presented incense, candles, paper, tea, and other items one by one. Peacock was extremely satisfied and enjoyed them at the altar.

Finally, Tan Xiao took out the prepared petition and read the heading: "Petition to establish the household shrine of Lord Peacock, approved as follows."

He then stated his name and identity, along with today's gift list, expressing his sincere offering. If the deity agreed, they would be considered to have signed a contract from now on - of course, this was a supplementary ceremony.

Tan Xiao finished reciting and signed, "Humbly submitted for approval, Shaman Tan Xiao."

As he was reading, Peacock had slowly put down his tea and walked up to him.

As the last sentence fell, Peacock reached out his hand to touch Tan Xiao's forehead, "I hereby consent-"

The moment his fingertip made contact with Tan Xiao's skin, both of them felt as if they had been pricked. Peacock hissed and looked at Tan Xiao suspiciously. It had been many years since he last felt pain. "You attacked me."

Tan Xiao: "..."

How could I attack you? I should be asking if I assassinated you.

Tan Xiao was baffled, "It wasn't me, I didn't."

He recalled and felt around his body, taking out a string of talismans and seals, "...I forgot, it might be because I have too many protective charms on me."

Tan Xiao tossed those things aside and said relaxedly, "Let's do it again."

Peacock snorted and placed his finger again. This time it went smoothly. The semi-transparent spirit body touched Tan Xiao's forehead and swept over the top of his head, bringing a strange icy sensation. He stared at Tan Xiao and recited the blessing, "I hereby consent. The shaman below the altar, slay ghosts if they are ghosts, slay demons if they are demons!"

The Peacock could subdue all within the five elements, naturally possessing pride and murderous intent. Even the blessing sounded fierce.

The ceremony was complete. The Rice Guardian, who had been holding his breath the whole time, finally started clapping beside them to liven the atmosphere. It wasn't for Peacock, but to celebrate for the shaman.

Peacock glared disdainfully. The Rice Guardian was so frightened that his hands froze in midair.

He felt a little aggrieved. Did he have to be glared at by Peacock just for making a little noise?

Peacock said contemptuously, "Haven't you eaten?"

Rice Guardian: "..."

Tan Xiao: "..." You really didn't leave much for him!

"Congratulations, Shaman," the Rice Guardian clapped harder, "Congratulations on inheriting Lord Peacock."

Huh?

Tan Xiao suddenly recalled what Peacock had said during their first meeting, that he had been inherited by Peacock. How come the Rice Guardian's wording was different? "Oh... so I inherited Lord Peacock!"

Peacock's face darkened. If his spirit body wasn't floating, he probably would have jumped up, "What nonsense! The Chu Shaman and the Primordial Phoenix have had a thousand-year pact, it is I who inherited him!"

The Rice Guardian said in confusion, "But the Stove God said that location determines the perspective. From the view of the mortal realm, it is the Chu Shaman who inherited you, my lord."

Tan Xiao: "Hahahahahaha!"

Peacock held back for a while and said coldly, "What are you laughing at? Conversely, it's also me forcing you to renew the contract."

Tan Xiao: "..."

Damn, that's true. Regardless of who inherited whom, it was Peacock who was imposing a tyrannical contract. Forcing me to inherit him doesn't sound much better.

"How did you make the second party so overbearing..." Tan Xiao said, at a loss for words.

But if it weren't for the Rice Guardian, Tan Xiao wouldn't have known. He secretly slipped a grape to the Rice Guardian.

The Rice Guardian hugged the grape, which was almost as big as his head. Turning his back to Peacock, he tore the skin and took a bite, the abundant juice flowing directly from his mouth.

By this time, Tan Xiao had mostly finished the ceremony, and Tan Chunying had also returned.

Hearing the commotion downstairs, Peacock said, "Wrap it up."

As he descended from the altar, he kicked the Rice Guardian away with his foot.

Rice Guardian: "..."

Angered, he got up and grumbled, throwing a set of air punches. Then he wiped his mouth and went to the kitchen to help Tan Xiao clean up.

Seeing Tan Xiao moving the eight-immortal tables down and the lingering scent of incense and candles in the air, Tan Chunying immediately teased, "Oh, congratulations! You're an independent shaman now. You can compete with me for business in the future."

Tan Xiao corrected, "It's about promoting the Tan family's shamanism and taking on the role of general manager at the Nanchu Shamanism Culture Communication Co., Ltd."

The mother and son smiled at each other happily.

Peacock floated beside them, coldly smiling at Tan Xiao.

"..." Tan Xiao said in a low voice that Tan Chunying couldn't hear, "And continuing the writing of 'The Classic of Mountains and Seas,' striving to get it approved."

The Rice Guardian in the kitchen looked at Tan Chunying through the window and scratched his head, feeling she looked somewhat familiar. After a while, he remembered, "I've seen the shaman's mother before!"

Tan Xiao had finished moving the eight-immortal tables and was tidying up the bowls and chopsticks in the kitchen. "Really? Where?"

The Rice Guardian shook his ladle and pondered, "I think it was at someone else's altar, she was secretly learning."

Tan Xiao: "..."

Not surprised at all.

After helping clean up the kitchen, the Rice Guardian cupped his hands in salute and said, "Thank you again for your help, Shaman. I look forward to, look forward to meeting you again if fate allows." His eyes peeked up at Tan Xiao.

Tan Xiao understood: "In the future, if I hold a ritual to offer sacrifices to the Grand Stove God, you can come to my house to enjoy the offerings - as long as you don't scare my mom, her soul is not whole." The Nanchu shaman altar has many ghosts and gods, and they often hold rituals in the kitchen to offer sacrifices to the Grand Stove God.

"Yes, sir!" The Rice Guardian was so excited to get Tan Xiao's permission that he almost couldn't control his voice. He saw that Tan Xiao's house had a built-in stove, and theoretically he should be able to come and go from inside the stove, but modern stoves have been greatly improved.

Now to go back, he still needed to find a path. "Spirit Master, may I ask what model your built-in stove is? Let me see where the flue is. I can't jump around randomly. Last time I jumped into the dishwasher."

Tan Xiao: "...Let me check the manual."

The Rice Guardian identified the path, and also recommended two models of built-in stoves that would be good for Tan Xiao to replace in the future. Only then did he shout "Hey!" and jump into the flue, disappearing from sight.

......

In the early morning, Tan Chunying had to go out to handle some business, so she got up early for a change and drove Tan Xiao to school on the way.

Tan Xiao got out of the car at the school gate. Tan Chunying opened the car window and said to him, "Hey, I must say, you've really fooled your Sis Mao Mao. She's been asking me about feng shui issues on WeChat. Haha, didn't she go to you for psychological massage?"

Tan Xiao: "..."

Sis Mao Mao, she still didn't believe what he said.

But Tan Chunying wouldn't casually perform shaman rites for people either. When chatting with Mao Mao, it was just about feng shui culture. She had a rich knowledge reserve, so it wasn't a problem.

"Tan Xiao?" Someone behind him greeted Tan Xiao.

Tan Xiao turned around. He didn't recognize the person, but he still nodded, "Good morning."

Tan Chunying also nodded to her son's classmate.

That classmate smiled shyly, then quickly walked away, as if just saying hello had used up all his courage.

It was really the case. With Tan Xiao's usual style, few classmates dared to greet him on the road, fearing Tan Xiao would give them the cold shoulder.

Tan Xiao walked along the artificial lake to the classroom. Seeing the fish floating on the surface of the lake, he casually skipped stones, startling a school of fish. He broke off some bread and threw it in, watching the fish and ducks fight over the food.

Mm-hmm, steam one fish, braise one duck...

Tan Xiao was bored and mentally simulated a hundred ways to cook fish.

When he got to the classroom, the classmates around him also greeted Tan Xiao, "Morning."

-- Tan Xiao guessed that the one at the school gate just now was also his classmate. After getting along for so long, all the classmates in the class knew that Tan Xiao only looked aloof, but was actually a nice person.

But Tan Xiao always felt they were whispering about something.

Kong Xuan, the classmate with a mercurial temper, had a sunny disposition today, and even nodded slightly at him.

Because of Wu Tianyu's matter, Tan Xiao's impression of Kong Xuan was now very different from before. He also smiled at him.

Lin Yang saw this and thought to himself that classmate Kong Xuan was quite amiable today, even taking the initiative to greet Tan Xiao. How strange. He didn't dare ask Kong Xuan, and only leaned close to Tan Xiao and asked, "Xiao Bro, I heard that a tattoo master sent you to school today?"

Tan Xiao: "Huh??"

He thought for a long time and said in disbelief, "It's only been a few minutes and you already know about it? What master, that's my mom."

Lin Yang: "..."

Lin Yang said sheepishly, "I was tricked. These people are really gossipy. Your mom is so cool, she even has tattoos."

"That's the tradition of our shamans. The tattoo is of a snake, symbolizing the ability to control snakes." Tan Xiao said with amusement, "If I didn't have to go to school, I would also get a tattoo when I turn eighteen."

So cool? Lin Yang wanted to compliment a few words.

"Hey, hey, do you guys know, the cafeteria is going to change contractors." Yu Zhenzhen turned her head and interrupted Lin Yang, bringing everyone the latest school news. "There are three companies competing now. The school has decided to let each of them prepare the meals for a day, and in the end they will also let everyone vote."

"That's great!" Lin Yang clapped like a seal. "I've been tired of the food for a long time. The chef's cooking is really bland, bland as hell."

But he still ate it clean every time. He was a bit picky, but not very picky.

Even Tan Xiao became interested. He was quite picky about food. The previous cafeteria chef's cooking didn't suit his taste, but what if there was a chance this time? He had to go and taste it.

"Also, in a couple of days, a senior schoolmate who graduated ten years before us will come to give a lecture." Yu Zhenzhen recalled the name. "He's a writer... but I don't read many physical books, so I'm not too clear." The textbooks and recommended reading lists were enough for the students to read. They really hadn't expanded their reading to include the senior's books.

"A lecture, are you sure it's a senior and not some gratitude lecture?" Lin Yang couldn't help but mock. "Every time they come with that same old spiel. Also, they won't make us buy books on the spot, right?"

"Hahaha, that I don't know!"

Tan Xiao listened and was a bit interested. After all, he was also continuing to write the Classic of Mountains and Seas now. Going to listen to a writer's experience wasn't bad either. He wondered what genre the senior wrote.

At noon, Kong Xuan was already used to Tan Xiao not eating with him at school. He stared blankly into space.

Unexpectedly, today Tan Xiao actually invited, "Kong Xuan, do you want to go to the cafeteria to eat together?" He had made plans with Lin Yang for everyone to go as a group to taste and vote. Seeing Kong Xuan's figure, since their relationship had improved, he naturally invited him to join the group activity.

Lin Yang secretly glanced at Kong Xuan, wondering in his heart if Tan Xiao had been instructed by the teacher again, even becoming enthusiastic towards Kong Xuan. But Kong Xuan always came and went alone, and even his whole person seemed incompatible with the cafeteria atmosphere. It didn't seem like he would agree.

Kong Xuan slowly raised his head. After thinking for a moment, he disdainfully said, "Whatever."

What did "whatever" mean?

Tan Xiao was puzzled and exchanged a glance with Lin Yang. Was it necessary to play word games with a single word? "But we're going now. Are you coming or not?"

Kong Xuan stood up: "...I'm coming."

So today, the small squad from Class 3 going to eat at the cafeteria was especially eye-catching, attracting many glances along the way. Moreover, it seemed that Kong Xuan and Tan Xiao's "love-hate relationship" was being discussed with great fanfare throughout the school.

Seeing Kong Xuan and Tan Xiao walking together, everyone became even more confused.

What exactly was the situation? They had said before that the two had fought, and after we analyzed it over and over, now you two are going to eat together. Are the rumors spread by your classmates in Class 3 even reliable?

Not to mention them, the classmates in Class 3 were also very puzzled.

They made their way to the cafeteria and lined up to get food.

Nanchu No. 1 Middle School had a semi-open kitchen that was transparent and visible. The dishes were by the window, and the stoves were behind. When it was Tan Xiao's turn, he didn't look at the dishes first, but instead slightly bent over and glanced inside.

Tan Xiao knew a thing or two about cooking himself, so he was aware that to assess a master chef, one must also look at their stove. It not only represented the master chef's skill level, but also the seamless coordination between him and the other roles in the kitchen team, such as the vegetable choppers and prep cooks.

However, with one glance, the first thing Tan Xiao noticed was a very familiar portrait of the "Grand Stove God" hanging on the wall next to the stove.

It was the same as the one in Wu Tianyu's home, but this one looked much newer. To be fair, it was far more common to see it here than in a household. Many traditional Chinese kitchens would display it, just as many shops would enshrine the God of Wealth.

So, was this newly put up by the cafeteria team? That didn't seem right. The three teams were still in the midst of competition, and the winner hadn't been decided yet. How could they have brought and hung up the Grand Stove God portrait so quickly?

Suppressing his doubts, Tan Xiao ordered three dishes first. He and his classmates had agreed that over the next few days, everyone would order different dishes so they could swap and taste each other's food.

When they gathered together, it was like having a buffet.

Kong Xuan snapped open a pair of disposable chopsticks. Looking at the table full of dishes, he recalled the meal Tan Xiao had cooked for him and thought, hmph, there was no comparison at all. But since Tan Xiao had warmly invited him, he would reluctantly give it a try.

"Hey, hey, it's Wu Tianyu, look at him," Lin Yang pointed at someone as soon as they sat down. "I heard from my buddy that he seemed to have been spotted in the hospital. Looks like he got beaten up, see, there are still wounds on his face."

"But I have to say, after eating hospital meals, his face doesn't look as gaunt anymore."

"...That's true, but although he was skinny before, he looked very agitated and hit people quite viciously. Now his spirit doesn't seem as good as before, maybe his arrogance has been knocked down a peg. He's only a first-year high school student, yet he was so high-profile and made people resent him."

"That's what they call still waters run deep, the wise are unassuming. Those who are too ostentatious are asking for a beating."

"But who on earth beat him up? Wu Tianyu is so formidable... Could it be that he was ambushed and ganged up on?"

Wu Tianyu was also getting his food. In the past, this guy would never have queued up, but after being ill for a while, he had become much more well-behaved. Rather than saying his spirit wasn't as good as before, it was more like he had the air of someone freshly recovered from a serious illness.

However, based on his fearsome reputation during this period, the students beside him still didn't dare make eye contact with him for too long.

After getting his meal, Wu Tianyu also saw that Grand Stove God portrait.

The Grand Stove God portrait had been sent to the school by Mrs. Wu, who had found a way to have the cafeteria put it up. Apparently, the Grand Stove God portrait in their home kitchen was somewhat efficacious. His mother hoped that he could eat well at school too, so as to avoid any more mishaps...

The previous period of time felt like a dream to Wu Tianyu. There were some things he could still recall, but always felt like they were shrouded in a layer of fog, unclear and vague. At that time, his emotions had been especially agitated. And then there were other things that he couldn't remember at all, because during those times, his body had been completely taken over by another entity.

Some things were forgotten, but the sense of embarrassment lingered on forever...

Wu Tianyu turned around and spotted a deeply memorable face at a table to the side.

It was Tan Xiao.

Actually, Wu Tianyu had heard of Tan Xiao before. He was very famous, and many classmates also knew his family was involved in folk performances. Of course, thinking back on it now, Wu Tianyu just found it a bit ridiculous.

A real shaman was actually right there in their school, and was renowned for being a mascot inheritor of folk traditions?

Mrs. Wu had urged him that when he saw Tan Xiao, he must go and express his gratitude. That day when he was unwell and had fainted several times, he hadn't thanked Tan Xiao in person at all.

In his heart, he was indeed grateful to Tan Xiao. After all, Tan Xiao had saved him, and that feeling of being in a daze and always hungry had been very distressing. However, every time Wu Tianyu saw Tan Xiao, his toes would curl.

Thinking about how he had acted tough in front of Tan Xiao, he wanted to sit up in the middle of the night and slap himself a couple of times: why was life so long!

Moreover, for some reason, when facing Tan Xiao, he also had an inexplicable sense of trepidation.

As if...

As if he had been beaten by Tan Xiao before.

Unbeknownst to Wu Tianyu, his body, when he was unconscious, had indeed been hit by Tan Xiao. Most of the wounds on his body had been inflicted by Tan Xiao and Kong Xuan. Although he had no memory of it, he was still somewhat affected.

But he still had to express his thanks. After staring at Tan Xiao for a while, Wu Tianyu finally mustered up the courage and walked over.

Lin Yang and the others had just been gossiping about Wu Tianyu, when they saw him walking over with a fluctuating expression. They instantly became flustered, nearly dropping their chopsticks. "Oh my god, oh my god!"

He had seen it before - if someone stared at Wu Tianyu for a few seconds too long, Wu Tianyu would grab them by the collar.

Could it be that Wu Tianyu had discovered they were badmouthing him, and was coming over to pick a fight?

As the sports committee member, Lin Yang was also tall and sturdy, but he had always been a good citizen and couldn't compare to these delinquents. He really didn't want to get into a fight in the cafeteria.

However, Lin Yang was overthinking it. Wu Tianyu walked over and merely spoke to Tan Xiao, his eyes darting about as he greeted, "...Good afternoon."

Sigh, he didn't even dare to look Tan Xiao in the eye, and felt his toes curling up again the moment he did.

Good afternoon??

Lin Yang was shocked. Wu Tianyu could actually use polite language? He had never been this courteous even to teachers.

Wu Tianyu rubbed his face with one hand, feeling both embarrassed and at a loss. He felt that he and Tan Xiao, an exemplary student, were completely from different worlds. Now, coming over to express his gratitude, he didn't even know how to start the conversation.

Seeing Tan Xiao quietly observing him, as if he had never met him before, Wu Tianyu could only steel himself and say, "Um, sorry, I just saw you here and wanted to come over and say hello." And also to express his thanks, but he didn't dare say too much about Tan Xiao privately performing rituals.

Wu Tianyu hadn't told any of his peers about these things, not only because no one would believe him even if he did, but more importantly, he only had some delinquent friends around him, and he had recently scared them all off by beating them up.

If he were to go and tell them, "I was possessed before," those delinquent friends would probably just look at him like he was an idiot.

Tan Xiao was actually just checking on Wu Tianyu's complexion and felt that he was recovering quite well.

Seeing Wu Tianyu's inexplicably nervous demeanor and use of polite language, Tan Xiao found it a bit amusing. He reached out, wanting to pull Wu Tianyu over. "Sit down and talk. You're not in pain anymore, right?"

The moment Tan Xiao's hand extended, the entire table, as well as the people around them who had been secretly paying attention, saw Wu Tianyu abruptly recoil and quickly shield his head and face!

Everyone: "???"

Wait, what are you... what are you afraid of...

Seeing the new top dog of No. 1 Middle School, the school bully Wu Tianyu, acting so timid and fearful, a sense of bizarreness welled up in everyone's hearts.

Lin Yang slowly turned his head in a daze and looked at Tan Xiao, a thought that many people shared but found hard to suppress rising in his mind: Damn, could it be that Wu Tianyu was beaten up by you??

Students who were unfamiliar with him thought, could the rumors about the tattooed big shot really be true?

Moreover, some slowly turned their gaze to Kong Xuan, suddenly realizing that Kong Xuan had been obediently following behind Tan Xiao, and hadn't even glared at Tan Xiao. Could it be that he had also been subdued?

... You, a physics genius, since when did you start moonlighting as a school bully! No wonder you've always acted so arrogantly!