After returning to her room and doing a little exercise, Ye Lin changed her clothes.
"Sister Lin, you work so hard at cultivation every day."
Xiao Wu sighed.
"Ever heard the saying 'the early bird catches the worm'?"
Ye Lin replied casually.
"Ah!"
Xiao Wu slapped her forehead. "Sister Lin, if you're the early bird, what chance does anyone else have?"
"All right, all right. Let's get breakfast."
The two of them headed straight to the cafeteria. Before they even went inside, the savory aroma of meat wafted into Ye Lin's nose, mixed with the scent of herbs.
Inside, Shao Xin, a seventieth-rank Soul Saint from Shrek Academy, stood stirring the meat porridge in a large iron pot with a ladle. The tempting aroma came from the pot.
"Good morning, Teacher Shao."
Ye Lin greeted Shao Xin respectfully.
"Mm."
Shao Xin nodded, quickly took out two bowls, and ladled porridge into them. He also brought over two meat buns, two eggs, and two cups of milk.
"These are for you two. There's more if you need it."
It took Ye Lin and Xiao Wu two trips to carry all the food to the table. Then they sat down and ate.
There was no denying it: food prepared by a Food System Martial Soul was truly delicious.
The savory smell of the lean pork porridge was irresistible. It had a rich rice aroma, the fresh savoriness of lean pork, and the spicy kick of shredded scallions and ginger.
There was plenty of lean pork in it, making up a third of the porridge.
Ye Lin ate heartily, savoring every bite.
Even Oscar, who usually loved to sleep in, had come to the cafeteria today. When Shao Xin saw him, a smile appeared on the teacher's usually calm face.
"Teacher."
"Go ahead and eat."
The other Shrek Academy students were full of praise for their food, too. How could a Soul Saint with a Food System Martial Soul make a bad meal if he put his mind to it?
"That smells delicious."
Suddenly,
Yu Xiaogang's voice came from outside. He entered slowly with Tang San.
He nodded in satisfaction.
"Flender's done a good job. The cafeteria food really has improved."
"I like this."
"That way, Tang San can grow up strong."
"Godfather, have a seat. I'll get us some food."
Tang San helped Yu Xiaogang sit down, then went over to Shao Xin.
"Teacher, could I have two portions, please?"
Shao Xin glanced back at Tang San and Yu Xiaogang, then continued stirring the porridge.
"I'm afraid there's nothing for you two."
"Hm?" Tang San's brow furrowed.
"Are you saying the cafeteria won't let me eat?"
Shao Xin couldn't be bothered to say more. He gestured for Tang San to leave.
Yu Xiaogang slapped the table. "Why not?"
"Why is there nothing for the two of us?"
Shao Xin answered in an even tone.
"That's the dean's order. If you have a problem with it, take it up with him."
"Flender? Fine, I'll take it up with him!"
Yu Xiaogang sprang to his feet. "I'm going to find Flender right now!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Flender appeared in the cafeteria doorway.
He'd already expected Yu Xiaogang to make a scene.
"You don't need to look for me. I'm right here."
Yu Xiaogang glared at him. "Flender, what's the meaning of this?"
Flender didn't get angry. His voice remained calm.
"You said you wouldn't let Tang San suffer. I'll look after my students, and you look after your Tang San."
"If you think our food is bad, then go get Tang San something better yourself."
Yu Xiaogang clenched his fists.
"Fine!"
"Then I'll take Tang San somewhere good to eat!"
"You bunch of worthless fools—I don't need you!"
He dragged Tang San out of the cafeteria.
He had plenty of Gold Soul Coins in his storage Spirit Guidance Bracelet, and Tang San had money too. They could afford all kinds of good food for Tang San.
Yu Xiaogang infused his storage Spirit Guidance Bracelet with a wisp of Soul Power. Then his expression suddenly turned awkward.
Only then did he remember that everything he owned had been stolen!
He was completely broke!
His Spirit Guidance Bracelet was empty!
He looked awkwardly at Tang San.
He had no choice but to use Tang San's money now.
"Xiao San, everything in my Spirit Guidance Bracelet was stolen. I don't have a single Gold Soul Coin left."
"You still have money, right?"
"Ah!"
"I..."
Tang San froze. "Teacher, I'm broke too. I don't even have a single Copper Soul Coin."
"I had to sell all sorts of things to scrape together the money to pay the physician to treat you. I just handed over the last hundred Gold Soul Coins."
Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened.
"You're broke too!"
"So neither of us has any money!"
Tang San nodded. "Seems that way."
"So, Godfather, what are we having for breakfast?"
"I still have to run until sunset today. It'll take a lot of energy."
Yu Xiaogang said nothing. He was terribly embarrassed.
Eat? Eat what?
How could they eat without money?
His mind raced.
Then he slowly looked at Tang San's right hand.
"Godfather, what are you planning to do?"
Tang San shuddered, unnerved by how unsettling his godfather's gaze was.
Yu Xiaogang spoke in a faint, eerie voice.
"Xiao San, do you think it's possible that Blue Silver Grass could be a Food-type Martial Soul too?"
"Ah!"
Tang San was dumbfounded. "Blue Silver Grass as a Food-type Martial Soul?"
"Can you eat it?"
"Godfather, you can't be serious!"
Yu Xiaogang nodded and began spinning a load of nonsense.
"According to the Eleventh Core Competitiveness Theory of Martial Souls I just proposed..."
"The essence of a Martial Soul is energy, and the essence of food is also to provide energy."
"So if you eat a Martial Soul, doesn't that mean you're eating food?"
"I think not only plant-type Martial Souls like Blue Silver Grass can be eaten, but your Clear Sky Hammer should be edible too. We just can't chew it because our teeth aren't strong enough."
Tang San nodded thoughtfully. "As expected of the theory-invincible Grandmaster. That makes a lot of sense."
"So what are we having for breakfast?"
"We're eating your Blue Silver Grass!"
Yu Xiaogang soon strode back into the cafeteria with Tang San, both of them looking proud and defiant.
"Why are you back again?"
Flender asked, puzzled.
"We're back to eat, of course!"
"If you won't let us eat your food, then surely you'll let us use the kitchen. We'll bring our own ingredients, too."
Flender didn't refuse. He wanted to see what Yu Xiaogang would come up with.
"Sure. Go ahead."
In the kitchen,
"Xiao San, release your Blue Silver Grass and stretch it over the cutting board!"
Yu Xiaogang gripped a kitchen knife and gave orders. As the Blue Silver Grass stretched out, he chopped off one section after another, until he had enough for two large plates.
He scraped off the little thorns, then quickly cut the grass into thin strips. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought it was a plate of shredded sea cabbage.
"Light soy sauce? Vinegar? Just a little."
"Pepper powder? Sichuan pepper powder?"
Yu Xiaogang stared at the two bottles and started sprinkling their contents over the plates.
"More. I'm adding a lot!"
Before you continue