Wang Sheng froze. "Why?"
Su Mo pointed at the ground.
A few bundles of things lay there—vegetables and meat he'd bought along the way, as well as some seasonings.
There was also a large pot.
Tang San had forged it on the way here using the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer.
Su Mo glanced around Dorm Seven.
There was plenty of room, and plenty of people.
"Hot pot."
Wang Sheng was dumbfounded. "H-Hot pot?"
Su Mo nodded. "Right. Once the broth's in, you cook things yourself. Eat as much as you want."
Tang San's eyes lit up.
In his previous life, he'd been a disciple of the Tang Sect and hadn't been too particular about food, but just hearing about hot pot made his mouth water.
Xiao Wu needed no convincing. She'd already circled the pot several times, her nose twitching.
"It smells so good! What's that smell?"
That girl's nose was sharper than a dog's.
Wang Sheng was still hesitating. "But Boss Su, the cafeteria..."
Su Mo waved a hand. "I know. The cafeteria's cheap, and Work-Study Students get a subsidy. But cheap or not, the food really is bad."
He paused, recalling the description in the original story.
"Besides, if we go to the cafeteria, we'll have to deal with those noble students who have nothing better to do."
Su Mo shook his head.
Showing off and slapping faces was satisfying, but he just couldn't work up any interest in doing it to a bunch of brats.
Wang Sheng fell silent.
He remembered what it was usually like in the cafeteria: the nobles acting all high and mighty, the sarcastic remarks and taunts, the disgusting way they'd deliberately bump into you and then demand that you apologize.
It really was a pain.
He looked at Su Mo, a little more respect in his eyes.
Boss Su understood them.
"Great!" Wang Sheng slapped his thigh. "Then it's hot pot! We in Dorm Seven will cook for ourselves!"
Gou Dan, Er Gou, San Wa, Tie Zhu, Shi Tou, and the others cheered along.
"Yeah! Hot pot!"
"I haven't had meat in ages!"
"I'll start the fire!"
"I'll wash the vegetables!"
"Where's the pot? Where's the pot?"
The whole group bustled about, full of energy.
Su Mo watched them, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
Tang San came over and asked in a low voice, "Master, if we don't go to the cafeteria, will we miss some plot?"
Su Mo glanced at him. "What plot?"
Tang San thought for a moment. "Like... someone comes looking for trouble, and then you put them in their place?"
Su Mo was silent for a second.
This kid had read too many novels.
"No." He patted Tang San's bald head. "There's no plot today, just hot pot."
Tang San nodded, then pressed on. "What about tomorrow?"
"We'll see tomorrow," Su Mo said.
Tang San pondered this.
The pot was set up.
The fire was lit.
The broth melted.
Slices of meat, leafy vegetables, tofu, vermicelli... They went in one after another.
Steam billowed, and the aroma spread everywhere.
Wang Sheng squatted beside the pot, staring straight at the bubbling broth, practically drooling.
Gou Dan was even worse. He'd already grabbed a pair of chopsticks and was waiting beside the pot, muttering, "Hurry up and cook, hurry up and cook..."
Xiao Wu sat beside Su Mo, peeking into the pot every so often. She'd sniff, then wear a satisfied expression.
Tang San stood guard on the other side of the pot, ready to serve Su Mo some food at any moment.
The Big Black Ox lay not far away, watching the humans bustle around the pot. It let out a leisurely "Moo."
(Not bad. At least they didn't count me in this time.)
Su Mo turned to the Big Black Ox. "Come on, give it a try. See if it tastes like your second uncle."
"Moo!" (You little schemer!)
Unexpectedly, the Big Black Ox actually came over to the hot pot, picked up a bowl and chopsticks, and sat down.
No wonder it was a six-hundred-year-old great demon king!
The meat was cooked.
Wang Sheng was the first to pick up a slice. He blew on it, then stuffed it into his mouth.
His eyes lit up.
"Delicious!"
At his command, seven pairs of chopsticks reached into the pot at once.
"That's mine!"
"I grabbed it first!"
"You clearly grabbed mine!"
"Did you write your name on the food in the pot?"
They bickered and laughed, the air warm around them.
Su Mo picked up a slice of meat and put it in his mouth.
Mm, not bad.
The seasonings were meager, and the ingredients were nothing special, but the warmth of the whole scene reminded him of his previous life.
Back then, he'd often eaten hot pot with his students, too.
It was just that those students had been a little older than these ones.
He looked at the children before him.
Wang Sheng had grease all over his mouth.
Gou Dan was wrestling with Er Gou over a piece of meat.
San Wa was grimacing from the heat but still refused to put down his chopsticks.
Tie Zhu and Shi Tou, the two quiet ones, just kept their heads down and ate. Their chopsticks never stopped moving.
Tang San ate while remembering to serve him food, his mouth covered in oil.
Xiao Wu sat beside him. Whenever she was happy with what she was eating, she'd rub her head against his arm like a contented little beast.
Su Mo smiled.
Some of these kids were chuunibyou, some were thickheaded, some were silly, and some were rash.
But at least—
At this moment, they were all happy.
Outside the window, night deepened.
Dorm Seven was filled with warmth and steam.
When the meat ran out, they added more.
When the vegetables ran out, they put more in.
When the broth dried up, they added water.
The group huddled around the pot, sweating profusely as they laughed without a care in the world.
Someone started singing.
It was a little tune from Notting City, with simple lyrics and a cheerful melody.
Soon, everyone joined in.
Xiao Wu didn't know the words, so she hummed along.
Tang San didn't know them either, but he clapped hard, keeping time for everyone.
The Big Black Ox lay in the corner, its tail swishing to the rhythm.
Su Mo watched them and smiled.
It felt so warm.
Dorm Seven was full of steam and laughter.
Outside Dorm Seven, the autumn wind blew bleakly and fallen leaves drifted by.
Beneath the same night sky, some people were eating hot pot, while others were—
Yu Xiaogang sat in the cafeteria, a table of cold leftovers before him, his expression blank.
He'd been there since noon.
Noon.
It was already pitch-black outside.
Yu Xiaogang looked at the dark night through the window, then at the empty tables and chairs around him. His mind was a blank.
Where was Tang San?
Where was his fated disciple?
Why hadn't he come yet?
According to his memories of his previous life, today was supposed to be Tang San's first day at the academy. That evening, he'd come to the cafeteria for a meal, run into trouble from some noble students, and then Yu Xiaogang would step in, resolve the crisis in a few words, and successfully earn Tang San's goodwill.
He'd even written the script already.
But the problem was—
The actor hadn't shown up.
Yu Xiaogang had waited all afternoon.
From noon to dusk, and from dusk until nightfall.
People came and went from the cafeteria in wave after wave.
He'd watched the noble students come in, eat, and leave.
He'd watched the Work-Study Students come in, get their food, hide in a corner to eat, and leave.
He'd watched the cafeteria aunties start wiping the tables, sweeping the floor, and putting away the dishes and chopsticks.
He'd watched the cooks start scrubbing the pots and washing the basins, getting the ingredients ready for tomorrow.
Where was Tang San?
Where was that huge Tang San of his?
Yu Xiaogang's stomach growled.
He lowered his head and looked at the leftovers on the table—roast chicken bones, the sauce from braised pork, steamed fish bones, a few plates of exquisite desserts, and two flasks.
At noon, he'd gotten bored waiting and wanted to cheer himself up, so he'd ordered himself a table full of fine dishes.
He'd thought, I'll have Tang San in my hands any moment now. This expense will be nothing.
That was what he'd thought at the time.
But he'd forgotten that he wasn't the Soul King backed by a god from his previous life.
And so...