Almond Tofu

"..."

Jiang Xiaofeng looked at Yanxiao.

The workers looked at Jiang Xiaofeng and Yanxiao.

"Can you make almond tofu or not?"

Jiang Xiaofeng asked irritably.

Yanxiao said, "It's not that I don't want to. I can't right now!"

"Why can't you?"

"Almond tofu requires delicate handiwork, but I don't have that kind of precision anymore..."

"I already told you, that ghost you saw is just a ghost, a special case the boss allows to stay here!"

"That's exactly what I can't get used to!"

Jiang Xiaofeng and Yanxiao started arguing.

The workers watched Yanxiao and Jiang Xiaofeng nervously, afraid the two would come to blows.

"Tch, forget it. Give me the ingredients. I'll make it myself."

Yanxiao looked thoroughly unconvinced.

"You don't look like someone who can cook!"

Jiang Xiaofeng laughed.

"You're the first person to make an issue of my appearance."

"Considering that your nerves really are shot right now, I won't kill you."

Jiang Xiaofeng turned toward the workers.

"You lot, can you make it? If not, get the ingredients ready."

Before the workers could speak, Yanxiao stopped them.

"Don't give them a hard time. I'll find the ingredients for you!"

Of course, Yanxiao wasn't afraid of the faint killing intent Jiang Xiaofeng gave off.

After all, there was still a certain gentleman watching over Wangshu Inn. They saw each other all the time, and if anything happened to him, that gentleman would definitely come!

Yanxiao could never have imagined that the gentleman he regarded as his savior was already under the control of the monster before him.

Jiang Xiaofeng looked at the ingredients Yanxiao had prepared for the almond tofu.

Sugar, almonds, milk.

Yes, this was how almond tofu was made in Huaxia.

Jiang Xiaofeng had never cooked for himself.

But he liked watching other people cook!

What was so hard about this?

Add sugar to the milk, throw it into a pot to boil, crush the almonds into juice, then pour out the milk once it set and cut it into pieces. Wasn't that it?

Yanxiao watched from the side, a little surprised.

It seemed this fellow did know a thing or two.

But...

Finally, Jiang Xiaofeng lifted the lid and fell into thought as he stared at the pot of boiled almond milk...

Clang!

Jiang Xiaofeng drew the Blood Sword and pointed it at Yanxiao.

Yanxiao exclaimed in alarm, "You can't blame me because you don't know how to make it!"

Resisting the urge to cleave Yanxiao in two, Jiang Xiaofeng asked, "Does it need white jelly powder or agar?"

Yanxiao froze.

"So you do know?"

"And I know what white jelly powder is, but what's agar?"

Jiang Xiaofeng shook his head.

In his previous life, those people online had all used agar to make almond tofu. Hardly any-no, he had never seen anyone use white jelly powder to make it.

Why hadn't they considered that Teyvat didn't have anything like agar!

Jiang Xiaofeng was relieved he still knew a few things. Otherwise, he really would have made a fool of himself in front of this cook.

He made a large bowl of soft almond tofu as quickly as possible and poured syrup over it.

Hahahaha, who's so stupid they can't even learn to cook, huh? (Tactical lean back)

He left under Yanxiao's gaze, which dared not challenge him.

"That saved me having to trade raw meat for it..."

Jiang Xiaofeng thought for a moment, then turned back anyway. "You don't need to be afraid. That girl just wants someone to play with her."

"Besides, someone willing to deal with her will come along after a while. You can give her some Mora and a few recipes as payment. Works every time."

"Remember to make that wish of yours stronger, so she can see it."

With that, Jiang Xiaofeng headed up the stairs.

After hearing Jiang Xiaofeng's words, Yanxiao began to think.

Make my wish stronger?

Hmm...

Jiang Xiaofeng returned to his room carrying a large bowl of almond tofu.

Yes, the Cursed Sword was in good condition. There was no need to worry yet.

Holding the large bowl of almond tofu, Jiang Xiaofeng sat on the bed, leaned against the headboard, and ate it spoonful by spoonful.

What? You're asking whether this almond tofu was meant for Xiao?

Come on, he's not even awake. Why would he need to eat?

I'm just satisfying a craving.

Jiang Xiaofeng took spoonful after spoonful, and the sweet aroma drifted into the nose of Xiao, who lay there quietly.

"Dream..."

Xiao murmured.

When Xiao suddenly spoke, Jiang Xiaofeng felt that something was wrong.

He remembered the stories about Xiao from his previous life. One theory was that, before becoming a yaksha, Xiao had been controlled by a great demon and devoured ordinary people's sweet dreams, when what he actually ate was those people's brains.

So that was also why Xiao liked almond tofu so much, and why his specialty dish was called "Sweet Dream."

Of course, whether that was true could only be determined by asking.

But Jiang Xiaofeng wasn't interested in any of that.

He scratched his head as he watched Xiao's reaction grow more intense, until he was almost trembling.

Then he pulled off the Cursed Sword, which was still constantly devouring karmic debt, and fed Xiao a spoonful of cool almond tofu.

Xiao's reaction slowly subsided.

Jiang Xiaofeng shook his head.

Xiao had it pretty rough too.

Not as rough as Zhongli.

Two long-lived beings: one was eaten away by karmic debt, while the other was troubled by Erosion.

Only that qilin had numbed herself with work for over a thousand years.

Tsk, tsk, tsk...

Jiang Xiaofeng sighed. "You can easily possess the longevity others seek but can never obtain."

"Yet the busy work others keep at arm's length is something you treat as part of your life, never tiring of it."

"How fucking ironic."

Recalling the discussions in various chat spaces in his previous life about how Ganyu should put down her thousand years of work, Jiang Xiaofeng sighed again.

"They all just have too much time on their hands."

"She treats it like doing daily commissions."

Jiang Xiaofeng picked up a teacup from the small table and poured a small serving of almond tofu into it.

Then he lifted the large bowl and ate the almond tofu spoonful by spoonful until it was gone.

Then he put the spoon in the bowl, set the large bowl on the table, and took out the remaining four scrolls.

"Let's see whether taking in four scrolls of that three-attribute senior's records at once will cram enough knowledge into my head to put me straight to sleep..."

With that thought, Jiang Xiaofeng raised the four scrolls.

The next instant, light blazed!

Then Jiang Xiaofeng, who had been sitting cross-legged, collapsed limply onto the bed, his eyes turning into mosquito-coil spirals.

Jiang Xiaofeng had passed out.

Xiao was still unconscious.

Yanxiao reported what he knew about Jiang Xiaofeng to the boss.

Ningguang also soon received the information Verr Goldet sent about Jiang Xiaofeng.

Link after link, each connected to the next.

Ningguang relied on her eyes and ears throughout Liyue to learn every move and the worth of those who came and went.

In Ningguang's eyes, Jiang Xiaofeng was formidable in both strength and temperament.

He would be a suitable ally to bring over to her side.

As for Xiao...

Ningguang left him alone.

After all, she knew of the deeds of the young adeptus at Wangshu Inn, and had not sent anyone to contact him.

Adepti were all proud and aloof...

The day quickly passed.

Jiang Xiaofeng truly had a good night's sleep.

For Xiao, it was the best rest he had had in thousands of years.

After all, having someone reach out midway through a nightmare and pull him out of the Abyss truly felt reassuring.

By then, it was broad daylight.

Xiao woke up lying on the floor...