Empty-Bright Myriad-Color Pagoda, Happy Winter Solstice

At the kitchen door, her fair skin and delicate figure illuminated the snow-covered landscape. Her black, flowing dress stood out against the snow, adorned with moon patterns woven from silver threads, giving her an air of nobility and mystery, and making her waistline appear even more breathtaking.

Ying Bing didn't even need to search; she found someone instantly.

She came in.

"Brother Li, Miss Ying is here to see you... Hmm?"

Huang Donglai suddenly realized.

Brother Li looked very serious and nervous.

And why is Brother Li sweating a little on his forehead in this freezing weather? Are you that hot-tempered?

"You're here." Li Mo put down the barbecue sauce.

"Why are you in the kitchen?"

"You know, I'm somewhat of an authority when it comes to cooking."

"But you're not fully recovered yet."

Ying Bing raised her eyebrows slightly, her gaze seemingly casually drifting towards the dumpling filling and wrappers beside her, a hint of... curiosity flickering in her eyes?

When she arrived from Jiawei Restaurant, the proprietress was making dumplings for the owner.

The owner watched from the side, the couple looking very happy.

At that moment, Ying Bing felt a strange and unfamiliar emotion surging within her.

Is it something to yearn for?

In short, the proprietress pulled her along to learn a couple of moves, Cold Fairy silently followed along for a while, giving off a feeling of 'enlightenment in Longchang'.

If Li Mo knew about this, he would have had a serious talk with the landlady.

"Ice Block!"

Seeing Ying Bing reach for the dumpling wrapper, Li Mo gritted his teeth.

Our brothers fought their way out of a massive battle; they can't just fall at the victory celebration!

"What's wrong?"

The Ice Block's doubts.

"... Your outfit looks so nice today! It's not an ordinary dress, is it?"

Li Mo looked at her with a serious expression.

I've heard that complimenting a girl on her looks can distract her from her feelings.

Ying Bing's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she nodded gently:

"Hmm, this Immortal-Leaving Skirt does have some clever uses; it's quite good for practicing martial arts."

"Are you practicing martial arts even on a holiday today?"

"Didn't practice."

"??"

Li Mo coughed lightly, noticing her gaze shifting back to the dumpling wrappers, and asked more seriously:

"Where are these beautiful clothes made? I'd like to buy one and try it on."

The boy's gaze was sincere and earnest, as if he had a very strong interest in the same item.

"... I won't tell you."

Ying Bing avoided looking into his eyes.

As is widely known.

When people feel lost and helpless, they like to find something to do. Ying Bing just learned some secrets about making dumplings.

Just then, there were dumpling filling and dumpling wrappers in front of her.

Li Mo: "!??"

Staring blankly at the Ice Block he had already prepared, Little Li racked his brains but still couldn't figure out which step had gone wrong.

Kitchen defense operation failed!

A dumpling was held in a fair palm, and surprisingly, it even looked rather exquisite.

Looking up, Li Mo saw Ying Bing's cool and aloof face, her stubborn, defiant lips slightly upturned...

"Really? You made this? How did you do that?"

Chef Li looked shocked.

Has the Ice Block awakened memories of its past life? Has it opened up?!

"It's just a few dumplings."

Ying Bing's expression was confident, cool, and composed.

She casually picked up a dumpling wrapper, wrapped it up in a flash, her movements so fast they were almost imperceptible to the naked eye!

She even used her true energy!

Pork and scallion dumplings, done!!

Little Li gasped, leaning back as if in a tactical retreat, feeling like a villain in a novel, getting thoroughly humiliated by the arrogant heroine's show-off antics.

"How about it?"

"Little Li, I'm in awe!"

As dusk approached, the dark clouds that had hung over the area all day failed to bring any snow.

Looking out over the snow-covered ground, what appeared to be pure white was no longer snow, but rather stacks of dumplings piled up.

A row of large pots, each as tall as two people, were bubbling with boiling water, and countless barbecue grills were already placed on the charcoal fire.

Well, the hustle and bustle of everyday life is so intense it's making even God's eyes water; no wonder it's not snowing today.

"Start cooking the dumplings!"

Qu Sheng gave the order.

Stacks of white dumplings were thrown into the pot, and moments later, they were shaken up by the powerful Inner Scene field, flying into bowls and being continuously delivered to various camps.

"Commander Qu, you've been busy all day, have something to eat."

Huang Donglai brought over a bowl of freshly cooked food.

"Okay, let me see how it tastes."

Qu Sheng held the bowl, picked one out, his brows relaxed, and he murmured:

"It does have a bit of... the smell of home?"

As he spoke, he started eating again, wanting to confirm once more whether this was the taste of his hometown that he had forgotten for decades.

Suddenly, Qu Sheng froze.

Huang Donglai nodded and looked into the distance.

Following his gaze, Qu Sheng saw Li Mo, who was sitting on the weapon rack holding a bowl of dumplings, smiling at him and mouthing something as if he were saying something:

"Happy Winter Solstice, Commander Qu."

"Happy winter solstice."

Qu Sheng nodded and disappeared from the spot.

Li Mo breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time, a crisp and pleasant notification sound rang in his ears.

[Congratulations, host! You have successfully invested in Qu Sheng, adding sixty years to his lifespan.]

[Investment Feedback: Empty-Bright Myriad-Color Pagoda]

[The Empty-Bright Myriad-Color Pagoda]: "It consists of thirty-six levels, each representing a different color. It can absorb and refine the Power of All Living Beings, eliminating their impurities and making them pure and harmless, which is then stored within."

"Note: Significant losses have been incurred; only one-tenth of the purified Power of All Living Beings remains."

"!"

This is like a pillow delivered when you're sleepy!

Li Mo increasingly felt that Commander Qu was a very good person.

Even the rewards for investments are so thoughtful.

Now all we need to do is find a way to gather the Power of All Living Beings, but how exactly to do it still needs further planning.

"What's wrong?"

"Commander Qu... he's good."

Before long, the dumplings that Ice Block had made were ready. Li Mo held the bowl and looked down at them.

A bowl of noodle soup with meat.

It was still pitch black.

Little Li was stunned for a moment. He picked up a uncooked Ice Block masterpiece and finally noticed that there was a thin layer of ice on the edge of the dumpling skin.

So the Ice Block were made by directly using true energy to freeze the edges of the dumpling wrappers?

That's why they moved so fast!

Little Li covered her face, but this was Ice Block's first time making dumplings. Anyway, there were dumpling wrappers and fillings in the bowl, so it was reasonable to call it a bowl of dumplings.

"And this soup..."

"Isn't it said that you have to use vinegar when eating dumplings?"

How much vinegar was added to the soup?

"You want soup too?"

Ying Bing tilted her head slightly; her deep eyes, veiled by the smoke of cooking fires, appeared somewhat hazy.

It seems to be saying:

'I made this especially for you, aren't you going to try it?'

She seemed eager to see Li Mo eat the dumplings and praise them highly.

But Li Mo remembered that last time she made Stir-fried Pork with Chili and Scrambled Eggs with Tomato, her expression was full of seriousness and aloofness, as if she couldn't believe there was anything she couldn't do well.

Now there's a new kind of... little expectation?

"How about we try something sweet first...?"

"Can't."

Ying Bing retorted, "You wish! Do you think you can just casually take advantage of someone like that?"

But she glanced down at the Taiyin Immortal-Retaining Skirt she was wearing.

He then said softly:

"But there are others..."

What is it?

Happy Winter Solstice!

"Ah?"

Ying Bing pursed her lips, scooped up a spoonful of Vinegar-Soaked Dumpling Filling Soup, and quickly fed it to Little Li as he opened his mouth in confusion.

The Painful Piggy Hero returns to the world.