"Master this way"
Huh! I was enjoying my meal just when I heard a familiar, annoying voice. I looked in front few figures appeared in sight. While the oil from chicken soup was covering my face. I casually wiped it with my sleeves.
"Li Chen, what the hell are you doing?"
Old man, what hell are you shouting for, can't you see I'm having dinner?
"You…"
I sat on my chair holding a chicken leg while little black lay flat on the dining table, his stomach bulging.
"Chen'er…"
My mother's sharp voice came, clearly not wanting me to cause trouble.
What…?
"Chen'er, show some manners guest has come to our house."
I put down the half-eaten chicken leg on the table, looking at them, blessing them with my grace.
Make yourself comfortable.
"Immortals, please forgive his ignorance."
"No worries, we're here for a meal, no need to be formal."
Another voice chimed in.
They came into the dining room.
"Take this dog out of here and clean the table, and tell the chef to make a special ginseng soup for us, also tell him to use my 200-year-old ginseng."
A servant moves to grab the little black.
Stop! I picked the little black, giving it to the Zhi girl.
Take him to my room.
"Hm"
She quickly nodded, taking the little black with her, leaving.
They all came and sat on chairs while servants quickly cleared the table and brought new dishes. Some of them still continue to stare at me.
Lowly insect, ignoring them, I continued to devour my chicken leg. Truly tasty, much better than that bland meat.
Shortly after the servant brought all the dishes to the table again, filling it up.
"Where is the ginseng soup I asked for?"
"That's, That's ginseng…"
"Why are you stammering?"
I used it to make food for little black.
"What! Do you even know how precious a 200-year-old ginseng is? You fed it to a street dog."
You old man, what street dog he is, my royal pet?
"Today, I will definitely teach a lesson."
Why are you screaming so much in front of the guest? That was just a 200-year-old ginseng. Nothing special.
"Chen'er mined your words"
Hmph! Why do you have to overreact? I made a special soup using it; you can also have a bowl, no need to thank me.
A slight giggle came from the immortal girl. Seeing others noticing her laugh, she didn't even try to hide it. She spoke in a soft voice.
"Let me taste it if you don't mind."
She took a spoonful of soup. Her expression remains the same. She finally spoke. Her face carried a strange smile.
"It's really tasty, much better than from those immortal restaurants with spiritual meals. Did you make yourself?"
If not for me making it myself, I don't think anyone can make anything as good as this one. It's my 10,000-year-old legendary recipe.
"Huh! What nonsense are you spouting?"
"Qing'er, this soup is really good. Elder, try it."
She passed the bowl to the woman in blue who sat beside her. She also took the spoonful off.
"Her eyelash, shifting, giving side glances to the girl, but she didn't say anything."
Likely mesmerized by my cooking skills.
"Is it really that good, Master?"
"You should try yourself."
I thought these immortals were trash, but at least they have an understanding of good food.
A small hand stretched out, grabbing my bowl.
Hey... That's mine.
"Can't you share even a little with your big sister. What kind of little brother are you?"
'Fuck, this brat is really a clever fox.'
"Waah! Water, water…."
Time to leave this place, or these mortals would continue to annoy me. I stood and walked out of the dining room. Ignoring all the voices behind.
"Chen'er..."
"We have spoiled him too much. If we don't teach him manners now. Then he will bring some serious trouble upon himself in the future."
"I ask for forgiveness in his place, immortals."
"No need, he is quite an interesting child."
Walking out from there, I finally took a deep breath of fresh air. It was really suffocating to be amides of so many lowly beings.
Outside, the full moon was illuminating the darkness.
Really beautiful.
Huh! What was that?
Looking at the sky, I saw a crimson star bursting into particles, illuminating the whole sky in red glow for a second.
Aah! Fuck, my eyes.
Today is definitely my worst day...
Time to sleep now. I walked inside the house.
Walking through the corridor, I came in front of my room. I opened the door and was completely shocked by what I saw inside.
A blood red cocoon formed above my bed, its thread spread in my whole room while blood dripped from it like pus.
I instantly closed the door.
Waah!
System, what the hell was that?
Host little black is going through evolution.
What! Why?
Don't you remember that you formed the heavenly bond with him?
His body is still that of a normal street dog; his body won't be able to adjust to such massive. That's why he is going through the genetic modification process.
Oh, oh... That makes sense.
But, tell me you mf where hell I'm going to sleep now.
System…
I had no other way but to walk into my sister's room.
Slowly, I opened the door slightly, peeking my head inside. She wasn't there.
'Good'
I jumped on the bed. Time to sleep.
But even after taking a few turns around, I still can't sleep.
System
What is it host?
I just remembered about the earlier mission, where's my reward?
You want a reward for what? That shitty soup of yours wasn't even edible at all.
Hey, let me refresh your memory. First vote is from me, second from little black, and third from that immortal girl, and if you don't count little black, that immortal lady also loved it.
Host, maybe you don't understand, but those immortals didn't like your soup at all.
Stop giving excuses, you said I needed three, and I got three. Now give me my reward.
System…
Don't waste my time.
Here you go, host.
A familiar translucent screen appeared in front of my eyes.
Mission: Emperor's Feast
Status: Completed
1000 Knife Art (Blue): An ancient knife skill used by an immortal chef in the imperial court. Carries 1000 unique ways to use a knife.
Lottery Ticket: 1
Huh! Trash
Let's see this lottery ticket hope I will get something good. I touched the translucent screen lottery option another slot machine appeared, like those in online casinos.
Fuck, this trashy system is so obsessed with gambling.
At the corner of the screen, it showed one ticket; Below was a glowing button. I tapped on it, and the dials started to spin at a rapid pace.
This feeling of unknown result is really making me excited. Slowly, it came to a stop some unknown symbols were on the dials.
Suddenly, a congratulatory message appeared in bright colour. I tapped on the screen, and another screen appeared with detailed information about the reward.
Reward: Source Flame (Grey)
Description: When the world plunged into darkness, even a small spark of fire could become divine, lighting up the world.
Oh, it sounds good, System, tell me more about it.
Host…
I tried to summon this flame, and a small fire wall appeared in my hand, lighting up the room, but something was wrong with it an unknown feeling appeared while looking at it, like my body feeling super comfy. As my eyes started to close, I fell asleep.
The room fell into darkness.
Zz…
After some time, the door opened again, and a girl walked in. She didn't even notice someone else was sleeping in her bed as she lay on the bed. Finally, she sensed someone else was there.
She lit up the candle, which was right beside the bed on the wooden table.
In the dim candlelight, a small boy's face illuminated not his usual overbearing arrogance but an innocence he never shows.
The girl stared at him for a bit before blowing out the candle flames, letting the darkness fall over the room.
She lay beside him, her eyes hiding tears.
'Master, can't you help him? If I leave tomorrow, who will take care of him if he again causes trouble or is bullied by other kids?'
'I know he acts a bit arrogant, but he never harms anyone. He is even kind to servants.'
As she was murmuring, tears continued to stream down her face, her voice choking occasionally.
A speck of plate blue light emerged from her chest, which was glowing in blue light. She quickly took out a pendant from her clothes the blue light was coming from it.
"Master…"
"Qing'er, I know you want to help him, but he isn't destined to walk on the path of immortality. If you try to force it on him, it will only cause trouble, not help."
"But master…"
"I know you just want help. But the best thing you can do for him is to become stronger quickly. So, you can protect him from any trouble."
"Qing'er, I want to remember path of immortality isn't it even more dangerous than mortals' path, every step can become your last, and once you step in, there is no way back, you either go forward or die…"
Her voice was slowly fading at the end.
Her word lingered in Li Qing's head. As she turned, her hands gently wrapped around her little brother.
Letting go of all problems and drifting into dreams.