Something of a side story. I'll spend these next couple of days in January sorting out my thoughts, so here's something sweet for you all (*¯︶¯*).
Breakfast.
As the first rays of sunlight spilled across the land, the Blue Silver Grass shook off every drop of morning dew beneath it, greedily soaking up the sun's energy as it strove toward ever greater ages.
Lin Xiao was lying in the Snow Empress's arms.
After obtaining the Eight Spider Lances.
According to the original plot.
He would have no entertainment to watch for a while again.
He would have to wait until the Shrek group went to the Great Soul Arena for Soul Fighting.
Only then could he secretly give Dugu Yan a little extra coaching.
And put on a fine show of a Flood Dragon eating grass.
Still, this lull gave Lin Xiao a chance to properly unwind.
To enjoy an ordinary yet heartwarming everyday life.
And so, for the first time, he abandoned his usually regular routine and slept in with the Snow Empress, nestled in her arms.
Only when the sky had fully brightened.
And the sunlight had slowly shifted from gentle to rather dazzling.
Did he finally open his eyes.
"Ah, life here is so blissful I've forgotten all about home~"
Looking at the ready-made facial cleanser awaiting him the moment he woke.
He could not help sighing in delight.
Then he glanced out the window.
Seeing that it was already getting late, he nuzzled vigorously back and forth in the Snow Empress's embrace.
The scent of jasmine, mingled with the unique cool fragrance of the Far North, filled his nose.
That lovely, warm scent made him instinctively want to relax again.
He gave a sudden shudder.
Lin Xiao came back to his senses.
He had nearly sunk back into that tender paradise.
Suddenly, the Snow Empress stirred faintly in his embrace.
He tilted his head up to look.
She had woken up too.
The hand around Lin Xiao's neck moved toward her own face.
She gently rubbed her eyes.
And spoke in a soft, sleepy voice.
"Xiao, morning~"
Her sweet voice struck Lin Xiao straight in the heart.
His whole body trembled slightly.
"Morning, Xue'er."
He wriggled upward, squirming out of her embrace until their heads were level.
Seeing Lin Xiao come up.
The Snow Empress stopped rubbing her eyes and narrowed them gently.
"Good-morning kiss~"
Lin Xiao smiled at the Snow Empress's puckered little mouth.
"What about morning breath~?"
The Snow Empress gave a little huff.
"You don't smell... Lin Xiao smells lovely~"
So Lin Xiao leaned in and gave her a light kiss, then reluctantly climbed out of bed.
"Sleep a little longer. I'll go make you breakfast."
Downstairs, washing up, opening the fridge-everything flowed as smoothly as drifting clouds and running water.
Looking at the few eggs and the small bundle of dried noodles left in the fridge.
Lin Xiao felt helpless.
He had forgotten to ask Dugu Bo to restock.
He was living right in the heart of the Spirit Pagoda now, as secluded as some hidden sect.
Running to Heaven Dou City to buy things and then coming back would take a fair amount of time.
Besides, it was already getting late. The elderly women who set up their stalls early were probably getting ready to pack up.
With his cooking skills, even a simple bowl of egg noodles would taste good.
But they had only just eaten noodles yesterday morning, and a change of taste was always better.
Just as he was at a loss, wondering whether they should keep eating noodles.
Some leftover rice nearby suddenly caught his attention.
Right! Egg fried rice!
Lin Xiao's eyes lit up. He washed his hands and grabbed his apron.
He took some scallions in one hand and a kitchen knife in the other.
Ready to chop them.
The Snow Empress had finished washing up too and came downstairs.
Clearly, the Lord of the Far North had grown a little lazy after falling in love.
Her eyes were still rather bleary.
She walked behind Lin Xiao and wrapped her arms around his waist.
Burying her head against his back.
"Recharging~"
Lin Xiao half turned to look at her, his face full of affection.
"All right, recharge away. How does lightly seasoned egg fried rice sound for breakfast?"
"Sounds good~"
After a flurry of sizzling and clattering.
Egg fried rice, perfect in color, aroma, and flavor, sat before them.
Since it was breakfast, he had not used much oil.
But they could still taste a faint wok-kissed smokiness.
Mingled with the fresh fragrance of eggs and scallions.
Paired with freshly squeezed sour orange juice.
The juice's mild tartness and sweetness awakened their taste buds, blending beautifully with the fragrance of the egg fried rice.
It also cut through the little bit of oiliness lingering in the rice.
Meow~ ah.
With their hunger and thirst satisfied.
A slightly bored Lin Xiao pulled the Snow Empress into a game.
He stood before an assortment of fruit juices.
Watermelon juice, pomegranate juice, grape juice, mandarin juice, apple juice...
Beside them were empty glasses and a bar spoon for mixing drinks.
He gave a mysterious smile.
"Blindfolded guessing!"
"Once the game starts, Xue'er, you'll put on a blindfold. You can't look by any means-not divine sense, spiritual power, or Soul Power."
"Then I'll pick from these juices. It might be one kind, or it might be several. I'll mix them in a glass."
"You have to drink it, then guess which juices are in it."
"If there's only one kind and you guess right, you get two points. If it's a mixture, you get one point for each kind you identify, plus an extra point if you get them all."
"But if you guess anything wrong, you get no points, just like a multiple-answer question on an exam."
The Snow Empress looked at the juices and Lin Xiao, then gave him a kiss.
Afterward, she obediently put on the blindfold.
On Lin Xiao's turn, he first poured in half a bottle of watermelon juice, then added half a bottle of apple juice.
He brought the straw to the Snow Empress's lips.
The Snow Empress took a sip.
Then, after thinking for a moment, she said:
"Watermelon and apple!"
Lin Xiao was rather surprised. After all, those two fruits were not easy to distinguish once their flavors blended.
"All correct, Xue'er."
The Snow Empress took off her blindfold and winked playfully.
Then it was her turn.
The Snow Empress looked at the juices around her.
Then at Lin Xiao, sitting ramrod straight like an elite soldier as he waited to be fed.
She gently leaned forward and kissed Lin Xiao on the lips.
A breeze happened to pass, stirring a few strands of the Snow Empress's hair.
Her snow-white hair brushed against Lin Xiao's cheek.
Tickling him.
"What flavor is it?"
She asked with a smile.
Lin Xiao was no longer the innocent little cook he had once been.
He only blushed a little.
Then answered as though savoring the aftertaste.
"Sweet, with a floral fragrance and the chill of the Far North. It's Xue'er's flavor!"
Only then did the Snow Empress nod in satisfaction.
Then came the second round.
Lin Xiao's mind raced.
Suddenly, an idea sprang into his head.
First, he used Soul Power to imitate the scent of pomegranate.
Then he mixed apple juice and watermelon juice together again.
Adjusting the proportions slightly.
Sure enough, after tasting it this time, the Snow Empress.
Gave her answer without hesitation.
"Pomegranate and watermelon!"
Lin Xiao grinned mischievously.
"Wrong, Xue'er~"
The Snow Empress removed her blindfold in confusion.
Then she lightly sniffed the air and instantly understood Lin Xiao's little trick.
She gently thumped Lin Xiao's chest.
"Xiao, you tricked me!"
Then, before Lin Xiao had finished laughing, she pulled him into a seat and put the blindfold on him.
Another fragrance drifted beneath Lin Xiao's nose.
Followed by another familiar kiss.
Lin Xiao removed the blindfold and looked tenderly at the Snow Empress.
"Xue'er, it's your flavor again."
Unexpectedly, the Snow Empress covered her mouth and giggled.
Then a pair of hands covered Lin Xiao's eyes.
"Guess who?"
Hearing that familiar voice, Lin Xiao shook his head.
He had never expected the Snow Empress to take his own trick and turn it into a whole new one.
"Bing'er, you were the one who kissed me just now, weren't you?"
The hands covering his eyes parted.
Lin Xiao turned around to find the Ice Empress looking at him with a broad grin.
"Yep. What a small fry you are, Lin Xiao. You can't even tell that apart anymore?"
Lin Xiao felt rather helpless.
He had never expected the Snow Empress to lean close herself, only to have the Ice Empress kiss him.
Even less had he expected her to wake the late-sleeping Ice Empress in such a short time.
Before you continue