The mountain breeze carried the moist fragrance of grass and trees, dispersing the last trace of salty sea spray from everyone's bodies.
When the full view of the Valley of the Four Winds unfolded before them, even Lin Xiyue and Su Wan, who were used to seeing the grand scenery of various places, felt their breath hitch.
This place was beautiful in a way that felt too full of the smoke and fire of mortal life.
It was not like the Elf Royal Court, which was beautiful in an aloof and lofty way, filled with a sense of exquisite and distant Order.
The beauty of the Valley of the Four Winds was a natural Abundance that grew from the land.
The distant mountain ridges had soft contours, and the terraced fields stretched from the foot of the mountain all the way to the clouds, with tender green vegetable seedlings, golden grains, purple eggplants...
Large patches of color were pieced together, as if a God had knocked over His vegetable basket.
Several clear streams wound down from the mountains, connecting villages with an ancient style. Cooking smoke rose in curls, sketching the aroma of food in the air.
"Gurgle..."
Xia Lian's stomach growled at an inopportune moment.
Her face instantly flushed red, and she covered her stomach in embarrassment.
"It's not your fault."
Lin Qingyue chuckled and patted her shoulder.
"The air here just smells appetizing."
Pan Ironpaw's face overflowed with the joy and pride of returning home. She waved her large hand, which was like a cattail leaf fan:
"Let's go! Master Lin, and everyone else, my uncle's inn is right in the center of the valley. Today's meal is on me. Let's try our Pandaren's most authentic 'Hundred-Vegetable Stew'!"
The group walked down the mountain path paved with bluestone.
Along the way, they continuously passed by amiable Pandaren villagers.
Some carried hoes, others bore bamboo baskets. Seeing Pan Ironpaw, they all enthusiastically raised their fluffy paws to greet her, calling out, "Ironpaw girl is back," their eyes simple and friendly.
When these villagers' gazes fell upon Lin Qingyue's group of four, there was more curiosity.
After all, compared to the Pandaren's burly figures, the four of them seemed all too "slender."
Lin Qingyue observed everything imperceptibly, yet a strange feeling rose in her heart.
The residents here had emotions that were too peaceful.
Peaceful to the point of being almost insipid.
Whether it was the farmers working in the fields or the children playing by the roadside, their faces all wore a kind of contentment and serenity that came from within their hearts.
This formed a sharp contrast with Dungeon Rule Two, Punishment of the Seven Sins, that extremely sensitive and harsh environment.
Her heart stirred slightly as she quietly said to Lin Xiyue, "Xiyue, have you noticed? The people here don't seem to be very much affected by the 'Seven Sins' rule?"
Lin Xiyue, who was curiously studying the cured meat hanging under the eaves of a house, snapped back to her senses and nodded.
"I noticed. It's like they were born knowing how to control their emotions. Look at that master sharpening his knife; his gaze is clearly focused, carrying the pride of a craftsman, yet that aura of 'Pride' is kept firmly contained within his body, not a single wisp leaking out."
Su Wan also added in a low voice, "Not just that. I can feel that the elements in the air are extremely stable. This means there are very few drastic emotional fluctuations like Wrath or Envy generated here."
This was a survival wisdom etched into their very bones.
The group understood, and felt an even deeper sense of awe for this seemingly idyllic place.
Passing through the tranquil village, Pan Ironpaw guided them to a bustling half-mountain market.
Unlike the peaceful atmosphere outside, the air here was as thick as a thousand-year-old stew, filled with the rich aroma of various mixed ingredients.
And... an invisible, confrontational battle spirit.
The market teemed with people, almost all of whom were Pandaren chefs.
Most of them were burly, dressed in neat and sturdy attire, carrying uniquely shaped woks on their backs and chef's knives of varying lengths hanging from their waists.
They were all hurrying, their gazes sharp.
Though they did not speak to each other, silent sparks flew as their eyes met.
"It seems they've all come for the 'Feast of a Hundred Flavors'." Lin Qingyue stroked her chin.
"Exactly."
Pan Ironpaw lowered her voice. "These people are the top chefs of this land. Though they look like they're about to head into battle, when they actually start cooking, their emotional control is steadier than anyone's."
"After all, no one wants to see their painstakingly prepared dish ruined at the critical moment by a hint of 'Envy' or 'Greed'."
As they spoke, the group arrived at a three-story wooden building.
A sign was hung above, with three characters written in a sweeping, calligraphic style: "Food is Heaven."
This was the inn run by Pan Ironpaw's uncle.
The moment everyone stepped into the decoratively simple hall, a rich aroma of braised meat wafted over them.
A male Pandaren, a few inches taller and burlier than Pan Ironpaw, was pacing anxiously in the hall. His white chef's coat was stained with oil, and his chef's hat was tilted to one side.
Seeing Pan Ironpaw, he rushed forward as if a drowning man grasping at a wooden plank, his fan-like palms gripping her arm tightly as his voice choked with tears.
"Ironpaw, my niece! You're finally back! Quick! Go check on your brother, Wenhuo! If this keeps up, the Pan family's 'Blazing Ladle' reputation will be ruined in his hands!"
The sudden shout silenced the bustling hall instantly.
Lin Qingyue and her three companions immediately perked up their ears, exchanging a knowing glance.
Gossip!
They discreetly took half a step back, blending perfectly into the background as they activated their "online gossip" mode.
"Uncle, what's wrong? What happened to Wenhuo?"
Pan Ironpaw was also startled by this commotion. She quickly supported her uncle, the innkeeper, Pan Big-Ladle.
Pan Big-Ladle's face was a mask of misery as he flopped onto a nearby bench and let out a heavy sigh.
"He's... he's completely changed his personality lately. He's... he's gone 'atavistic'!"
"Atavistic?"
Lin Xiyue couldn't help but mutter softly.
Pan Big-Ladle heard her and explained with a bitter expression, "Young lady, you don't understand! Although we Pandaren are broad-minded and easy-going, taking most things in stride, we have an unparalleled passion for 'eating' and 'cooking' in our bones!"
"But Wenhuo, that boy, has lost interest in everything lately! Let alone delving into the culinary arts, even when the most beautiful woman in the valley tried to show him favor, he couldn't even be bothered to lift his eyelids!"
He grew more agitated as he spoke, pointing toward the backyard, spittle flying.
"Now he spends all day either munching on the tenderest bamboo shoots from the back mountain or lying in the courtyard soaking up the sun! He's lazier than a real panda in the wild!"
"He won't even listen to a word of our Pan family's 'Blazing Ladle' secret technique!"
As Pan Big-Ladle spoke, the dark circles around his eyes turned red.
"I've summoned all the famous doctors in the valley, and they all say this is a sickness of the heart, a curse from the 'Sin of Sloth' with no cure."
"I heard you've traveled the world and seen much. I can only place my last hope on you!"
The Curse of the Sin of Sloth?
A glimmer flashed in Lin Qingyue's eyes.
Isn't this exactly the concrete manifestation of Dungeon Rule Two, the 'Punishment of the Seven Sins'?
And it's the state where 'Sloth' has been amplified to the absolute extreme.
This is simply a perfect breakthrough opportunity, delivered right to their doorstep, to deconstruct the rules of this world.
Lin Xiyue quietly nudged Lin Qingyue with her elbow, lowering her voice to a whisper, "Sis, this sounds like the Dungeon Rules are at play. Should we... step in?"
Before Lin Qingyue could even reply, Pan Ironpaw suddenly turned around.
She straightened her robes and performed a formal cupped-fist salute to Lin Qingyue.
"Master Lin!"
Her earnest plea echoed through the hall.
"My younger cousin, Pan Wenhuo, once had the highest culinary talent of our generation. His control of heat was already superior to mine."
Pan Ironpaw's eyes burned with hope.
"I know this request is incredibly presumptuous, but your cooking possesses the miraculous power to soothe the soul."
"Perhaps... perhaps only you can awaken him from the abyss of 'Sloth'!"
Lin Qingyue glanced at her character panel.
The faint line of the "Desire" authority was emitting a soft pink aura, resonating with her current thoughts.
Sloth is the exhaustion of desire.
And she, as it happened, held authority over "Desire."
She was taking this case.
Lin Qingyue's lips curled slightly upward as she nodded confidently to Pan Ironpaw and Pan Big-Ladle.
"Take me to see him."
"This illness, I might be able to cure."