The "It Smells So Good" Warning

Two months ago.

Qian Xunji and the two Spirit Hall elders tasked with their protection returned to the Pope's Palace in a hurry.

Seeing Qian Xunji return, Qian Daoliu offered a smile. "Xunji, you've returned. How was the harvest this time?"

As he spoke, he glanced behind Qian Xunji, and upon failing to see Huo Yuhao, his brows furrowed slightly.

"Where is Yuhao?"

Qian Xunji's expression was grim as he recounted the details of their journey to Qian Daoliu.

"That man in black left after telling me those things. Father, Yuhao should be safe, right?"

Qian Xunji guessed that Huo Yuhao was safe, but he wanted to hear a more definitive confirmation from Qian Daoliu.

Qian Daoliu's expression shifted several times.

"If it truly was him, then what he said is likely correct."

"It seems Yuhao's second martial soul is even more formidable than I imagined, to the point that it would garner such attention from him."

"I hadn't mentioned it to you before, but the man you encountered is known as the Beast God. His true form is an incredibly powerful black dragon. I once fought him, and I could not defeat him."

"Given his arrogance, he would not stoop to lying."

Having received Qian Daoliu's affirmation, Qian Xunji finally set his mind at ease.

"Then I shall go inform Yuhao's mother, so she doesn't worry unnecessarily."

At the thought of Huo Yuhao's mother—who was only in her early twenties and over a decade younger than him—Qian Xunji couldn't help but twitch his lips.

The mess his father had made!

Huo Yun'er had indeed changed a great deal since arriving in Spirit City.

When she first arrived, she was somewhat uneasy. Aside from cleaning the house, she found herself with nothing to do whenever she wasn't busy with daily chores.

Fearing she would overthink things, Huo Yuhao found some tasks to occupy her time.

The population of Spirit City was not as large as other cities, but it was still quite lively.

Moreover, most of the residents here were spirit masters, and they were all wealthy.

Huo Yuhao simply had someone purchase ingredients like Soft Bone Rabbit, chicken, duck, and pork, then taught Huo Yun'er how to prepare rabbit and braised meats.

Once the flavor of her cooking met his standards, she could set up a stall on the street to sell them.

It was a way to give her something to do.

Being too idle leads to romantic delusions, and that simply wouldn't do.

Now that she was busy and seeing more people every day, Huo Yun'er appeared much more vibrant than she had back in Guyan Village.

When Qian Xunji found Huo Yun'er, she was in the middle of handing a spicy rabbit head to a spirit master.

Noticing someone approaching, Huo Yun'er habitually asked, "What would you like? We have spicy rabbit heads, cold-dressed rabbit, as well as braised chicken, duck, and pork."

"Young Master?"

Huo Yun'er was not a member of Spirit Hall, but she still followed the lead of the spirit masters and addressed Qian Xunji as Young Master.

How else was she supposed to address him? Should she call the next Pope—who was older than her and held a status far higher than her own—her "nephew"?

"Lady Huo..."

Huo Yun'er quickly interrupted, "Young Master, please call me Madam Huo..."

"Auntie" really wouldn't do.

Qian Xunji followed her lead and changed his address.

"Madam Huo, I came to inform you that Yuhao is currently obtaining his first spirit ring. Absorbing a ring takes some time, so please do not be too anxious."

Huo Yun'er had only a superficial understanding of spirit master affairs, so she believed whatever Qian Xunji said.

They provided free spirit awakening ceremonies for commoners, distributed subsidies to low-level spirit masters, and there were no wars or evil spirit masters harming commoners across the entire continent.

How could the Spirit Hall, which orchestrated all of this, be anything but good?

You say the subsidies distributed by Spirit Hall came from the two great empires?

Then why was it that when Spirit Hall existed, spirit masters received subsidies, but after Spirit Hall was gone, the two great empires remained, yet the subsidies vanished?

In Huo Yun'er's eyes, Spirit Hall was a wonderful organization.

"Thank you for making a special trip to notify me." Huo Yun'er quickly packed up a portion of everything she had on display.

Qian Xunji reached out, intending to refuse, but stopped when he heard her next words.

"This is what Yuhao taught me; the spirit masters in the city all love it."

Upon hearing that it was taught by his junior brother, Qian Xunji accepted the package he had been about to decline.

He and his junior brother were family; there was no need for such formalities between family!

When Gu Yuena brought Huo Yuhao back to Spirit City, the city had already become exceptionally lively.

"Why hasn't that Braised Meat Fairy set up her stall today? If I can't eat the delicacies she makes any longer, I'm going to die."

"Wasn't it said that she was going to turn her stall into a shop? The Braised Meat Fairy must be busy with the shop's affairs during this time."

"Is that braised meat really that delicious? I've heard so many people talk about it, which is why I rushed to Spirit City to get a taste."

"This was personally endorsed by the next Pope of Spirit Hall! Every day, soul masters on duty at the Pope's Palace visit, and they buy a large bag every single time!"

"Don't bother waiting today, folks. The Braised Meat Fairy already set up her stall, but it was sold out in no time. If you want to buy the Braised Meat Fairy's goods, you'd better come early tomorrow."

Walking along the streets of Spirit City, Huo Yuhao twitched the corner of his mouth upon hearing these bizarre terms.

The keywords were correct.

His mother had actually earned the nickname "Braised Meat Fairy."

Beside him, Gu Yuena was still curious: "What is braised meat?"

Having never eaten any proper delicacies, the Silver Dragon King was filled with curiosity about the food others were talking about.

"It's a type of..." Huo Yuhao paused, "It's a bit troublesome to explain. Sister Nana, you'll know once you taste it later."

"The Braised Meat Fairy they speak of is... my mother. I'll take you to my home first, then I'll head to the Pope's Palace to see my teacher."

Gu Yuena, who had originally intended to leave once she safely delivered Huo Yuhao, did not refuse his kind offer.

At her level, the desire for food was no longer a necessity.

When Huo Yuhao brought Gu Yuena back to the Huo Family's small villa, Huo Yun'er was busy in the kitchen.

Watching the woman who was busy yet very happy, Huo Yuhao felt gratified.

She hadn't gone astray during the time he was away from home; not bad, not bad at all.

"Mother, I'm home."

Huo Yuhao called out toward Huo Yun'er's back.

Huo Yun'er turned around, pleasantly surprised to see Huo Yuhao.

She had been with her child for so many years, and this was the first time they had been separated for such a long time.

Huo Yun'er asked softly, "Did you encounter any danger?"

Seeing Huo Yuhao shake his head, she finally felt relieved and looked curiously at the woman beside him, whose beauty was so stunning that it didn't even evoke a sense of jealousy.

"And who is this?"

"Mother, let me introduce you. This is Sister Nana, whom I met while obtaining my soul ring this time."

Gu Yuena nodded toward Huo Yun'er and smiled slightly: "I am Gu Yuena. Hello, Auntie."

Gu Yuena's appearance looked like that of a girl of fifteen or sixteen; while the title "Auntie" was a bit of a stretch, it wasn't entirely unacceptable.

"Nana, thank you for taking care of Yuhao."

"By the way, Mother, we heard your reputation when we returned. Sister Nana is very interested in the braised meat. Is there any left at home?"

Thinking of the "Braised Meat Fairy" title the soul masters had given her, Huo Yun'er's expression became subtle: "There is still some left. Wait a moment, I'll go get it."

"Actually, there is no need to trouble your mother so much. I have no particular..."

An indescribable fragrance exploded in the air, and Gu Yuena sniffed the air.

Huo Yuhao held back his laughter, struggling not to let the corners of his mouth curl up.

"Sister Nana, what was that about your requirements for food?"

Gu Yuena composed her expression, looking exceptionally reserved: "I have no special requirements for food."