Star-Gazing Pie

"Ah, thanks to Brother Li Ming, we would have been done for." Pardo leaned on her knees, finally emerging from the restroom. She then saw someone lying on the sofa – Hua.

"Hi, Pardo, sorry about that," Hua said with a wry smile, feeling a bit guilty towards Pardo.

Pardo stared at Hua, confused. "Huh? Sister Hua, what are you saying? Brother Su, hurry and save Canned Food! Huh? Where's Canned Food?"

"Don't worry, I'll take good care of it later," Li Ming told Pardo with a smile, though his teeth were clenched as he did so.

Pardo said with some emotion, "I'm so envious. Brother Li Ming only met Canned Food yesterday, and you're already so close."

"Not at all, Pardo, you should focus on recovering. I'll ask Brother Jie to make something delicious. You too, Hua, you drank quite a bit yesterday."

Li Ming comforted Hua and Pardo, then walked towards the kitchen with a smile. Despite his aching body, Li Ming felt incredibly pleased.

As soon as he entered the kitchen, he saw Chrono, wearing an eye patch, just waking up. "Brother Jie, what's for breakfast today? Do you need any help?"

Li Ming presented himself as helpful, and Chrono was a bit surprised. Usually, Li Ming woke up early but would go for his morning training afterward. After training, he wouldn't even want to think about making breakfast, let alone doing it.

Today, Li Ming was actually offering to help him make breakfast. Something was off, very off.

Chrono looked at him with some suspicion but didn't refuse. Li Ming then excitedly said to Chrono, "Brother Jie, Hua and Pardo are a bit weak. Can you make some fish soup?"

"Are they injured?"

"No, last night after they ate Hua's special recipe, they got diarrhea and still haven't recovered."

(+_+)?

Chrono felt like he'd heard something quite bizarre. However, Li Ming didn't explain. Instead, he asked, "Brother Jie, how do you make this pie?"

Although Chrono highly suspected Li Ming's motives, he still taught Li Ming how to make the pie. Then, he watched as Li Ming collected all the small fish heads and began preparing the pie.

When everyone else woke up, Cosmo and Griseo saw Chrono and Li Ming busy in the kitchen, smelling the aroma of fish soup. "Cosmo, what's this? It smells so good!"

"Mmm, it should be fish."

Seeing the two little ones awake, Li Ming had them bring out the Star-Gazing Pie he had meticulously prepared. "Cosmo, there's something else in the oven. Can you help me bring it out?"

The two opened the oven just as Li Ming and Chrono brought out the freshly simmered fish soup. The aroma instantly filled the entire Golden Courtyard.

When Cosmo and Griseo opened the oven, a very peculiar smell wafted into their noses, refusing to dissipate.

Combined with the aroma of the fish soup, they felt a sense of nausea. Especially when they saw the fish heads with their dead, staring eyes on the Star-Gazing Pie, they felt an indescribable sensation.

"Aii, what delicious thing did Chrono make again today? It smells so good!"

"Maybe it's fish."

Elysia and Eden came down from upstairs. Kevin, Sakura, and Rin also came down from downstairs. Even Mobius and Vill-V, who had been lying in bed, came out. Then, they all gathered around the freshly baked Star-Gazing Pie from the oven. Elysia's head popped with question marks. "Ah, what is this?"

"It should be a pie!" Eden also rested her chin on her hand, uncertainly.

Sakura and Rin glanced at the pie, feeling it was comparable to Salted Fish's creation (mediocre appearance, peculiar taste).

"Can this be eaten?" Su, after checking on Hua and Pardo, came to the kitchen to get something to help them settle their stomachs. The first thing he saw was this incredibly artistic pie.

Griseo glanced at the Star-Gazing Pie and hid behind Cosmo. "Cosmo, sca~red."

"We're not eating this." Cosmo decisively placed the Star-Gazing Pie on the table and then looked at another pie nearby.

"This technique is quite crude," Mobius's focus was novel. Vill-V, on the other hand, was contemplating if she could create a magic prop similar to the Star-Gazing Pie.

"Let's just pour it out." Kevin immediately concluded that the pie's taste would be exactly like its appearance and prepared to discard it.

Just then, Chrono and Li Ming, having finished their tasks, walked out. The moment they entered, they saw what looked like a scene of chaos, or rather, they saw their hard work about to be thrown in the trash.

Li Ming quickly reached out, not caring if it was hot, and caught his Star-Gazing Pie. "Spare the pie!"

Hearing Li Ming's plea, Kevin stopped, but still said, "This pie looks wrong. It's better not to eat it."

"No, no, this is something I made specifically for Canned Food. With so much fish, Canned Food will definitely like it." Li Ming served himself a bowl of soup and then went out with the soup and the pie.

"Are Ming and Canned Food's relationship that good?"

Sakura looked puzzled, but Elysia said, "Probably. Ming and Canned Food met yesterday. Yesterday, Li Ming was the one who helped Pardo find Canned Food."

"Oh, that makes sense." Everyone looked enlightened. Su stared expressionlessly at Li Ming's departing back, feeling that something was off, but he first brought a bowl of soup to Hua and Pardo.

"Dinner time, everyone!"

The atmosphere in the Golden Courtyard was still harmonious. Li Ming arrived in the yard, avoiding the puddle of chocolate under the tree where Canned Food was hanging.

"Canned Food, look what I have." Li Ming raised an eyebrow, found a spot upwind, and said with a smile, "Fish, oh, fragrant fish!"

He then drizzled some fish soup over the Star-Gazing Pie, took a sip of the fish soup himself, and winked at Canned Food. "How about it, want some?"

"~Meow~" Canned Food stirred excitedly. Li Ming quickly got up to avoid being splashed with chocolate by Canned Food. To avoid being disgusted and unable to eat later, Li Ming quickly drank the fish soup clean.

Seeing Li Ming drink the fish soup from his hands, Canned Food became even more agitated, its paws scratching incessantly. However, it didn't want to fall into its own chocolate, not even its own.

So, just as it was about to fall, Canned Food froze, lying on the branch. "Meow~ Meow~"

"If you call me 'Ge' (older brother), I'll give it to you." Li Ming offered the Star-Gazing Pie, drizzled with fish soup, to Canned Food.

Canned Food, perched on the tree, looked very unwilling. Finally, it let out a low meow. "Meow~~ow~"

"I'll consider that you called me. Alright, we're even now. I'll go clean you up." Seeing Canned Food's submission, Li Ming stopped teasing it. He placed the pie aside to prevent Canned Food from dropping it into its chocolate while eating.

"Meow~" Canned Food pounced into the pie. After taking a bite, it felt like it had eaten chocolate that tasted like feces. It was a feeling that, although this thing wasn't really a thing, it was edible.

The Canned Food hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided not to overthink it. No matter what, this was much better than what it ate last night.

"Here, let me wipe you clean, give you a wash."

Li Ming was grateful he was wearing gloves, otherwise his hands would be covered in chocolate. He didn't know why, but when he cleaned the Canned Food, it wasn't disobedient, yet it always managed to get chocolate on him in various ways.

After exerting himself immensely, Li Ming finally managed to clean the Canned Food. The Canned Food finally stopped fussing and obediently curled up in the pie, staring at the dead-eyed fish.

Pardo took a sip of the fish soup. She had originally wanted to bring some for the Canned Food, but then she saw Li Ming washing the Canned Food and giving it a Star-Gazing Pie. Her face was full of envy. "Brother Li Ming is too good to it. I'm so envious of the Canned Food, and of eating the pie Brother Li Ming made."

"Is that really true, Ming's cooking skills..."

Hua seemed to recall something and suddenly shivered. Su clearly didn't think Li Ming's pie was anything good either.

Li Ming sauntered back to the Golden Courtyard, carrying the towel, and found the three of them looking at him. "What's up? Is something wrong?"

"Brother Li Ming, you're too good to the Canned Food~" Pardo said enviously. Although she no longer felt that sense of exhaustion, she was still incredibly envious that while she could only drink soup, the Canned Food got to eat pie.

"Ahaha, it's nothing. I'm heading to the orphanage now. I'll bring some soup over for Apponia."

After leaving the kitchen, Li Ming walked towards the orphanage, carrying a large food container.

Actually, his anger had subsided by more than half after completing Pardo's task and obtaining the Imprint. However, even so, seeing the Canned Food still made him a little unhappy, so he made a Star-Gazing Pie for it.

But speaking of which, after getting the Imprint, why couldn't he find it anywhere? It wasn't on his face or hands.

Acquired Imprint [Valuable, Shiny]: Killing monsters will grant extra shiny silver coins. Five for lower-tier monsters, 100 for higher-tier monsters.

This Imprint was actually useless before obtaining other Imprints like [Empty Dream]. So, Li Ming was more concerned about where it was rather than its effect.

While lost in thought, he arrived at the orphanage entrance. From a distance, Li Ming could hear the children practicing martial arts. At that moment, his first instinct was to turn and leave.

Li Ming poked his head further in and took a glance. Apponia was sitting helplessly in a corner of the confessional, while Adam was leading a group of children, big and small, in practicing punches.

After taking a long detour, Li Ming finally reached the back door. The moment Li Ming closed the back door, Apponia quietly floated out.

She smiled at Li Ming. "What, our busy man has time to visit these children?"

"And you brought food?" Apponia casually took the food container. "Thank you for your hard work."

This reaction, however, left Li Ming completely bewildered. He could only scratch his head and say, "Fresh fish soup I brewed this morning. You and the children can try it."

"So you still remember the children." Apponia took the food container and prepared to show him out.

Li Ming quickly placed a hand on the door. "The children can't just practice martial arts blindly. I have to watch them."

"It's fine. If there are any problems, I'll find Su and Hua. You don't need to trouble yourself."

Apponia silently reached out, about to escort Li Ming out.

"Hua broke her leg, and Su, Su went to find a girlfriend."

Sorry, Su. I'll try my best to help you find a girlfriend later. I'll even find a female Kevin for you.

Li Ming thought to himself, his guilt instantly vanishing.

"Where did you—your face go?" Apponia was clearly defeated by Li Ming's shamelessness.

In the end, Apponia let Li Ming in.

After teaching Adam some key points of the movements, the two of them sat in the confessional.

Li Ming held his head in his hands, looking down, saying nothing. Apponia just watched him, also silent.

Finally, Apponia broke the silence. "You have something on your mind."

"Mmm—" As soon as she spoke, another long period of silence followed.

"Go ahead, what do you need me to do?" Apponia took a contented sip of the fish soup, filling the confessional with its aroma.

Li Ming glanced at Apponia, his gaze deep, especially when he noticed the table's almost unbearable pressure, his eyes flickered.

"Are you under a lot of pressure?" Apponia said calmly, her expressionless face only slightly marred by the fish soup clinging to the corner of her mouth, which was a little distracting.

Li Ming subconsciously looked at his right wrist. Faint patterns were faintly visible on it, like veins.

"Ah, perhaps."

"You're hesitating, you're unsure, you want to ask me, but you're afraid. What are you afraid of?"

Apponia's words were like knives, piercing straight into Li Ming's heart, as if dissecting his chest layer by layer and reaching the very core of his being.

"Li Ming, do you know, destiny has already cast its shadow, and we are merely following in its footsteps."

Light seemed to emanate from behind Apponia, and Li Ming faintly saw several hands reaching out from behind her, embracing him.

"Destiny is woven into threads, forming a dense web, but even the most intricate net has flaws. You and I are not at the end of our road."

Li Ming couldn't understand Apponia's words at all. He could only vaguely sense that Apponia seemed to be implying that Li Ming still had a chance.

Get out of the Elysian Realm, you riddlers.

Su too, Apponia too, Mobius too. Who started this unhealthy trend!

"Honkai Energy isn't evil, the Honkai is," Apponia said, unconcerned whether Li Ming understood. "I've tried to change destiny, but all my attempts ended in failure."

"But someone told me to try letting go of destiny and just enjoy the process, to forget destiny and remember, 'I am Apponia.' So I want to tell you too, Ming, you are just you. Just do it."

After her speech, Li Ming finally understood. He just needed to do his part, and they would handle any consequences.

So unsincere!

"You exist because you believe, you control because you believe, you are eternal because you believe. In the name of Apponia, I wish you belief, and may the Honkai always be with you."

With a flash of light, the butterfly wings suddenly vanished. Li Ming felt like something had been added to him, or rather, not to him, but perhaps mentally.

For a moment, Li Ming couldn't quite explain it. Perhaps this was the power of a Precept. He opened his palm and looked at it. The pattern on his wrist didn't seem out of place; instead, it felt familiar.

When he tried to direct the energy within his body towards it, Li Ming found he couldn't dispel it as he had before. Instead, he felt an indescribable discomfort.

Li Ming immediately stopped, deciding there was no need to court death. As long as the problem was solved, that was enough.

"Thank you," Li Ming said quickly. But Apponia simply raised her hand and shoved him away.

"Once you're better, you should go back. You've stayed too long." Apponia pushed Li Ming towards the back door, and once he was outside, she closed it with a click.

Li Ming stood outside the door, utterly bewildered: (?◇?)?