The Ultimate Meaning of Takeout

The morning sun struggled through the gaps in the not-so-clean curtains, casting mottled beams of light into the dusty air. Lin Fan woke up in an atmosphere of extreme, eerie "serenity."

He wasn't woken by an alarm, but naturally. The room was unusually quiet, with only the faint, distant city noise from outside the window. He rubbed his eyes and instinctively looked towards the two corners of the room first.

To the left, Master Tongtian still sat cross-legged on the yoga mat, his back straight, dark hair cascading down. An invisible, cold barrier seemed to surround him, isolating him from the clamor of the mortal world. He was like a reef that had existed for eternity, unmoved by the passage of time.

To the right, Goddess Nüwa sat gracefully on the floor, her eyes slightly closed, her long skirt spreading out like lotus leaves. Unlike Tongtian's sharp, aloof demeanor, she exuded a gentle, vibrant aura, like a forest in the early morning dew, inexplicably bringing a sense of peace and... spirituality to this humble room?

The two Primordial Era sages, one on the left and one on the right, occupied the strategic points of his ten-square-meter space like two guardian deities (or perhaps, two divine statues he needed to worship).

Lin Fan tiptoed out of bed, afraid of disturbing their "cultivation." He glanced at his phone; it was still early, but an unprecedented financial pressure already weighed heavily on his heart.

Three mouths to feed!

Before, there was only Tongtian, and instant noodles could barely suffice. Now, with Goddess Nüwa added, he couldn't possibly treat the ancestor of humanity to "impure" instant noodles every day, could he? Although she seemed easy to talk to, Lin Fan himself felt guilty.

He crept to the kitchen area (which was really just a corner of the room with an induction cooker and a small refrigerator) and opened the refrigerator door. It was empty, with only two eggs, a lone sausage, and half a bag of pickled vegetables left. There was only one pack of instant noodles remaining.

Even a clever cook cannot cook without ingredients, let alone Lin Fan, who wasn't a clever cook.

He closed the refrigerator with a frown and turned around, only to meet a pair of gentle, clear eyes.

Goddess Nüwa had opened her eyes at some point and was quietly looking at him, a hint of inquiry in her gaze.

"You... you're awake?" Lin Fan felt a bit flustered.

Goddess Nüwa nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping over the empty refrigerator. Though it was just a fleeting glance, she seemed to understand Lin Fan's predicament. She spoke softly, her tone soothing, "There is no need to trouble yourself. Though we have temporarily lost our Spiritual Power, we are not mortal beings. A little hunger and thirst are nothing."

Even so, Lin Fan clearly saw the almost imperceptible, slight movement of her throat, like carved white jade, as she spoke. Even sages had basic physiological needs!

Just then, another indifferent voice sounded.

"Mortal things are merely for sustenance," Master Tongtian also finished his meditation and opened his eyes, his tone still carrying its usual pickiness. "However, yesterday's 'instant noodles,' though containing impure energy, their taste... was still acceptable."

Lin Fan: "..." Great, this ancestor has developed a taste for it? Who was it yesterday that said with disdain, "impure energy"?

However, Master Tongtian's words did remind Lin Fan. The instant noodles were gone, but he could order takeout!

Although takeout was more expensive than cooking himself, at least there were more options, he didn't have to do the work himself, and... perhaps he could let these two ancestors experience the convenience of modern technology?

The thought sparked, and Lin Fan felt a glimmer of hope. He quickly took out his phone and opened the familiar yellow app.

"Um... both of you, uh, seniors," Lin Fan chose his words carefully, "how about we try this for breakfast today? This is called 'takeout,' which means... we don't have to do anything ourselves, and someone will deliver the prepared food to our door."

He showed them his phone screen.

On the screen, a dazzling array of food pictures instantly popped up – golden, crispy fried dough sticks, white, plump steamed dumplings, beef noodles that seemed to exude aroma through the screen, and colorful Cantonese dim sum...

Goddess Nüwa's eyes instantly lit up with unprecedented brilliance!

It was a pure curiosity and amazement, as if she had seen a new world full of creative possibilities! Her gaze was like the most precise scanner, sweeping over each picture, carefully savoring the shapes, colors, and combinations of food she had never seen before.

"What kind of creation is this...?" she couldn't help but sigh softly, her fingertip instinctively reaching out to touch the crystal-clear shrimp dumplings on the screen. "Such diverse forms, such vibrant colors, to combine ordinary ingredients to this extent? Do the mortals of this world possess such ingenuity in the art of 'food'?"

For her, a sage who presided over creation and molded humans from clay, this kind of visually striking and imaginative creation based on mortal ingredients undoubtedly touched the deepest strings of her Dao concerning "creation." This was different from the natural perfection of Primordial Era spiritual roots and immortal treasures; it was an active, meticulous "re-creation" filled with the flavors of human life.

Although Master Tongtian's face remained stern, Lin Fan keenly noticed that his gaze lingered on a plate of spicy boiled beef glistening with red oil and a skewer of sizzling, oily lamb skewers for a fraction of a second longer than other pictures.

Hmm, it seems this Sword Dao supreme prefers something with a heavier flavor? Lin Fan silently noted it down.

"This thing... is 'takeout'?" Master Tongtian shifted his attention from the food pictures to the app interface itself, his brow furrowed. "How can we ensure its safe delivery? And how can we be sure it's not... inferior goods?"

He was clearly wary of this unfamiliar process.

"You can rest assured about that," Lin Fan quickly explained. "We have a review system, where you can see what other customers who have eaten it have said. And payment... uh, it's a way of exchanging equivalent value remotely. Once the item is delivered and confirmed to be okay, the exchange is completed. It's very secure!"

He spent a lot of effort to barely make Master Tongtian understand the concepts of the rating system and escrow payment.

"It is indeed convenient," Master Tongtian commented, acknowledging the method.

Goddess Nüwa, however, was completely captivated by the exquisite food pictures. She pointed to a steamed bun shaped like a little rabbit, her eyes filled with undisguised affection. "This... is very cute. Lin Fan, can we order this?"

"Yes! Of course!" Lin Fan immediately nodded, feeling like he was acting as a product consultant for two VIP customers from ancient times. "Goddess Nüwa, is there anything else you'd like to eat? Mas... Master Tongtian, how about you?"

Under Lin Fan's guidance, the two sages began their first takeout ordering experience in their lives (or rather, divine lives).

Goddess Nüwa showed great interest in all the foods that were beautifully shaped, softly colored, and looked "vibrant." She ordered bunny-shaped custard buns, lily and pumpkin porridge, and stir-fried seasonal vegetables.

Master Tongtian, on the other hand, was focused. He directly ordered spicy boiled beef, grilled lamb skewers, and a generous portion of beef fried rice noodles. After ordering, he seemed to feel something was missing and added expressionlessly, "Yesterday's 'instant noodles,' those are also acceptable."

Lin Fan: "..." You really can't forget about it, can you?

He quickly added another pack of braised beef noodles (thinking he'd eat it himself), then met the minimum order price and chose to pay.

"Alright, it should arrive in about half an hour," Lin Fan put down his phone, relieved.

The waiting time that followed was routine for Lin Fan, but a novel experience for Goddess Nüwa and Master Tongtian.

Goddess Nüwa kept looking towards the door, her eyes filled with a childlike anticipation. She seemed very interested in this mode of "creating objects from afar and delivering them instantly," and quietly asked Lin Fan about the operational aspects of restaurants, chefs, and delivery drivers.

Lin Fan tried his best to explain in simple terms. Goddess Nüwa listened intently, nodding occasionally, her eyes sparkling with thought, as if constructing the vast and intricate operational network of mortal society in her mind.

Master Tongtian appeared much calmer, but his occasional glances towards the door revealed that he wasn't entirely indifferent.

Finally, the doorbell rang.

"Coming!" Lin Fan immediately got up and ran to open the door.

A delivery driver in a blue uniform, sweating profusely, stood outside, holding several packed bags. "Hello, your takeout!"

"Thank you, you've worked hard!" Lin Fan took the bag and closed the door.

As he placed the bags, emitting a rich aroma of food, on the table, he could clearly feel the atmosphere in the room change.

Tongtian and Nüwa's gazes snapped to the bags in unison.

Lin Fan took out the food one by one and opened the packaging. Instantly, various scents mingled, dominantly filling the entire room!

The steam from the soup dumplings rose with a meaty fragrance, the red oil of the boiled beef was mouth-watering, the cumin aroma of the skewers was rustic and enticing, and even the plate of stir-fried seasonal vegetables exuded the natural sweetness of the ingredients...

Goddess Nüwa looked at the dazzling array of steaming food before her, especially the lifelike little rabbit-shaped steamed buns filled with custard. Her eyes were filled with pure joy and amazement. She carefully picked one up, examining its exquisite design as if admiring a work of art.

"Masterful... truly masterful," she murmured in admiration, then took an elegant bite, savoring it slowly. A satisfied and gentle smile spread across her face. "Sweet and soft, very good."

Tongtian, on the other hand, directly grabbed the chopsticks (prepared by Lin Fan in advance) and purposefully reached for the basin of vibrant red boiled beef. He picked up a slice coated in chili and Sichuan peppercorns and put it in his mouth.

The numbing, spicy, and savory flavor exploded on his taste buds instantly! The beef was tender, the broth rich, and the intense, direct stimulation was unlike any immortal brew or spiritual fruit he had ever tasted!

Lin Fan stared at him intently, afraid the esteemed gentleman would utter another "acceptable."

Tongtian's chewing paused slightly, and a flicker of almost "astonished" light flashed through his deep eyes. Although his expression remained impassive, the speed at which he reached for more food clearly quickened.

He then tasted a grilled lamb skewer. The charred aroma, the perfect ratio of fat to lean meat, and the scent of charcoal made it equally satisfying.

As for the instant noodles he had specifically ordered, he set them aside, seemingly captivated by these "new favorites."

Watching the two saints immersed in the satisfaction brought by the delicious food, Lin Fan felt an inexplicable sense of accomplishment. Being able to serve take-out to figures from myths and legends was certainly a unique experience, wasn't it?

He picked up his own bowl of instant noodles, feeling that this particular bowl held a special historical significance.

However, just as breakfast was nearing its end and the atmosphere was harmonious, Tongtian suddenly put down his chopsticks, his gaze sharp as he looked towards the door.

Almost simultaneously, Goddess Nüwa also seemed to sense something, raising her head. Her gentle eyes now held a hint of vigilance.

Lin Fan was taken aback by their sudden reaction. "What's wrong?"

"Someone is spying," Tongtian said concisely, his tone icy.

Goddess Nüwa frowned slightly. "The aura is hidden, not that of an ordinary mortal. It carries... a sense of order and inquiry."

Lin Fan's heart clenched! Spying? Order? Could it be... the police? Or... people from Chen Jing's side last night?

He subconsciously glanced at the window and the door, his heart leaping into his throat again. The relaxed mood he had just settled into instantly tightened.

Tongtian closed his eyes, as if sensing something. After a moment, he opened them again, a hint of cold mockery in his gaze.

"Insignificant ants, hiding their heads and tails," he said, looking at Lin Fan. "They are likely after me and my junior sister. You have been implicated."

Lin Fan's throat felt dry. So... they had been noticed after all?

He recalled Chen Jing's scrutinizing gaze yesterday and the inexplicable scene at the abandoned building. The official forces had finally come knocking.

"Are they... outside?" Lin Fan's voice was hoarse.

"Yes," Tongtian nodded. "There are multiple auras, dispersed around the area, monitoring this place."

The atmosphere in the room instantly shifted from the warmth of enjoying a meal to the cold reality.

Lin Fan looked at the messy bowls and chopsticks on the table, then at Tongtian, whose calm expression hid a sharp edge, and Goddess Nüwa, whose gentle eyes held a hint of worry.

A clear realization dawned in his mind:

His humble "shelter" was not only facing a severe financial crisis but was now also exposed to the gaze of the state apparatus.

The peaceful days seemed to be... coming to an end.