Soon, the table was covered with all kinds of delicious dishes, each one a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.
Xue Xi picked up a piece of Braised Pig Trotter drenched in sauce. The tender skin jiggled, and since the bones had already been removed, she opened her little mouth and popped the trotter right in.
The trotter was springy and chewy, packed with collagen, and coated in a secret sauce. Xue Xi couldn't help shaking her head, overwhelmed with admiration for her own cooking. As expected of me!
As Xue Xi focused on enjoying the food, smacking her lips, a whoosh rang out beyond the door. Luo Feng put away the Sky-Escaping Shuttle and followed the aroma of the food. His mouth watered uncontrollably. Better to arrive at the perfect time than early! Heaven knew what an ordeal these past few months had been without Xue Xi's cooking.
His heart leaped with excitement, and his feet quickened. Taking the last few steps two at a time, he entered the dining room and burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Welcome back to Earth, Fourth Sister! Your Third Brother's missed you so much! Oh, you're eating? Perfect, perfect—I brought my own bowl and chopsticks."
Xue Xi chewed on a juicy piece of Sweet Skin Duck and watched, speechless, as Luo Feng conjured a set of alloy bowl and chopsticks from his ring. His Adam's apple bobbed as he helped himself to the food like he owned the place, letting out satisfied sighs now and then. "Now this is food fit for a person! Fourth Sister, you can't imagine how miserable I've been these past few months."
Xue Xi put a few Five-Spice Beans in her mouth and picked up the conversation. "Do tell!"
Luo Feng showed off his domain. "My domain and laws have been advancing rapidly thanks to the Golden Horned Beast, but its bloodlust has been affecting me too. I've only been able to vent in the Trial Tower these days. I was waiting for you to come back so we could head into the universe and figure something out."
Xue Xi had thought it was something serious. "Can't the Candied Fruit Shop on my menu cleanse your soul? You didn't know?"
Luo Feng swallowed the last bite of Braised Pork Knuckle and shot Xue Xi a look that said, "Are you stupid?" "Fourth Sister, I know about it, but The Chef went into the universe, and I couldn't get in touch with her!"
Xue Xi coughed a few times to hide her slight embarrassment, then headed for the kitchen. "Hey, it's no big deal. Just sit right there and don't move. I'll go buy you—cough, make you some Candied Fruit Shop. Whatever this bloodlust is, I'll cure it for sure."
Ignoring the starving glutton who was cleaning his plate, Xue Xi went to the new plots in the Cultivation Space and picked a variety of fruits: apricots, kumquats, passion fruit, mangoes, cherries, plums, and more—over thirty kinds in all.
She washed and prepared the fruit, cut it into pieces, dried it over heat, then cooked it and sprinkled it with sugar. After preserving and drying it, Xue Xi popped a piece of dried mango into her mouth. Its rich mango flavor and sweet-tart aroma seeped into her soul, making her relax. It was as if she'd just bathed her soul and washed away every trace of impurity.
Once everything was ready, Xue Xi put the candied fruit and preserves into containers, arranged them on a plate, and carried it out.
Outside, Luo Feng was holding a bowl of Lamb Paomo and tipping his head back to gulp it down. He drained it in one go, then let out a satisfied burp and a long breath. "Ah, that hits the spot!"
Xue Xi set the plate in front of Luo Feng. "All right, give it a try. See if it works for you, Luo Feng."
Luo Feng grinned. "If you made it, Fourth Sister, it's bound to work. I'll try one." As he spoke, he picked up a pitted dried apricot and popped it into his mouth.
The sweet-and-sour apricot immediately made Luo Feng's mouth water, but its effect was just as clear: the restless, violent aura in his domain gradually settled.
Luo Feng swallowed the dried apricot, savoring the relief in his soul. "I haven't felt this good in ages. I've spent months suppressing the Golden Horned Beast's influence on my soul, and I haven't had a good night's sleep. Fourth Sister, you really are something!"
Xue Xi chuckled. "Really? I think so too. By the way, when are you planning to set off for the universe?"
Only then did Babata emerge, having held back for ages. "You finally finished eating! Virtual food just doesn't feel as real. Xiao Feng, you promised you'd buy me an Evolution Heart from the Machine Race once you made it. I want to try Xue Xi's food too. Virtual data just feels so empty! Sob, sob..."
Looking at the little demon's pitiful expression, Luo Feng promised solemnly, "Don't worry, Babata. I, Luo Feng, always keep my word!"
Babata wiped away her simulated tears, cleared her throat, and said to Xue Xi, "The sooner you set off for the universe, the better, of course. But you just got back. How about resting before you leave?"
Xue Xi nodded. "Sure. I also need to take care of some things at the restaurant and say goodbye to a few friends. You and the others can discuss it with Eldest Brother and Second Brother. Just let me know when it's time to go."
After they finished discussing it, Luo Feng, full and satisfied, left with Babata. He wanted to go home and get a good night's sleep to recharge.
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