Chapter 34: The Strong

“Glowing dishes are terrifying.”

Ye Xuan swallowed the slice of meat in his mouth and took a deep breath.

It was hard to imagine that he, who could completely ignore the temptation of even a fragment of the Four Souls Jade, had become helplessly immersed after eating the glowing dish.

If someone attacked him right now, even he probably couldn’t break free at once.

“How is it? Isn’t it amazing?”

Lin Miao looked at Ye Xuan expectantly, waiting for his evaluation.

“I’ve reaffirmed my belief that you will become the strongest chef on Blue Planet.”

“If my future self gains the power to disregard everyone, I will unhesitatingly take you away from the Tian Shu Bureau, just so you cook only for me.”

Ye Xuan did not hide his thoughts—or rather, his desire—from Lin Miao.

It is easy to slip from frugality into luxury, but hard to return from luxury to frugality.

In the past, he had little demand for food flavor; as long as it wasn’t inedible, he could calmly swallow it. But now, after tasting Lin Miao’s glowing dish, he would likely find it impossible to eat ordinary food without disdain in the future.

Although, over time, once his body forgot the taste of the glowing dish, he might regain his former palate and stop being picky—still, who would choose inferior food when better is available?

He was no ascetic seeking spiritual transcendence through suffering.

But Lin Miao was ultimately a collaborator of the Tian Shu Bureau and a holder of celestial treasures; her own value was equally high within Daya.

Although the glowing dish had sparked this thought in him, it did not mean he would—or could—act on it now.

Upon hearing Ye Xuan’s words, Lin Miao froze instantly.

Her cheeks flushed red at a visible speed, the blush spreading rapidly to her ears and neck, until even her fingertips seemed tinged with a faint pink.

Her heartbeat quickened involuntarily, her mind turned chaotic; she waved her hands frantically, shaking her head and stammering:

“Y-you… are you confessing to me?”

“No, no, I’m not ready yet, and we’ve only known each other for two days—we’re not even familiar…”

Lin Miao’s voice grew quieter until it became a mutter; her fingers twisted together unconsciously, her eyes darting away, refusing to meet Ye Xuan’s face.

She was utterly embarrassed.

“It has nothing to do with lust—only the desire to possess a chef who can make glowing dishes.”

Ye Xuan glanced at her and shook his head.

Though his body was in the prime of youth, power held greater allure for him than women.

And as Lin Miao herself said, they had only known each other for two days—how could he possibly feel such emotions toward her?

It was merely the simple desire to possess a chef capable of making glowing dishes.

“So, you want me to become your personal chef?”

After hearing Ye Xuan’s words, the blush on Lin Miao’s face faded slightly, and she felt a quiet sigh of relief.

Though Ye Xuan was outstanding, a confession after only two days was too fast—she needed at least two months.

Yet knowing his true meaning, a strange sense of loss crept into her heart.

Lin Miao shook her head, banishing the tangled thoughts, then looked at Ye Xuan and said:

“You may interpret it that way, but in truth, it will be even more extreme.”

“I cannot be certain whether my future self will act this way.”

Strong ones possess the desire to claim beautiful things; Ye Xuan was no exception, though he could now suppress it.

But as his power grew stronger in the future, nothing in the world would remain to restrain him—whether he could still suppress his desires then, he could not guarantee.

The meal passed in silence.

After eating, Ye Xuan prepared to clear the dishes and wash them, but as he picked up a bowl, Lin Miao stopped him, snatched it from his hands, and without giving him a chance to speak, shoved him out the door.

“...”

Ye Xuan stood outside, bewildered, momentarily stunned.

Didn’t the person who did nothing normally wash the dishes?

Why had Lin Miao pushed him out?

Was it because she’d trained in cooking since childhood? But shouldn’t chefs hate washing dishes the most?

Ye Xuan couldn’t understand it, but since Lin Miao had pushed him out, he naturally wouldn’t insist on doing it himself.

The spiritual energy within the mutated creature’s flesh had been fully activated by the glowing dish; even he, after this meal, felt a significant accumulation of energy within his body.

He could use this opportunity to cultivate and fully absorb the energy.

Thinking this, Ye Xuan let go of his confusion, turned back to his bedroom, sat cross-legged, and began circulating his spiritual power.

As his breathing steadied, the air around him grew still; the warm energy from the dish flowed slowly through his meridians, finally gathering in his dantian.

Under the circulation of spiritual power, a faint blue glow gradually emerged on Ye Xuan’s skin.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen.

While washing the dishes, Lin Miao sensed spiritual energy continuously gathering toward one direction—the direction of Ye Xuan’s bedroom.

“What a cultivation fanatic...”

She muttered under her breath, tone laced with mild teasing, yet more with an inexplicable tenderness.

Though she didn’t know why Ye Xuan was so obsessed with power, she had never considered disturbing him; pushing him out just now was simply because she felt it was her duty.

He hunted; she cooked.

Washing dishes was naturally her task.

She didn’t know about others, but this was how she felt—and she didn’t find it burdensome.

“Still, what he said just now... really stuck with me.”

As she wiped the dishes, Lin Miao recalled Ye Xuan’s earlier words, and a faint blush returned to her face.

More extreme than making her his personal chef—was he trying to claim her as his possession?

Her father and mother had been just like that: after her mother tasted her father’s cooking, she bought his restaurant outright, then pursued him relentlessly, forcing him to cook only for her.

“Hmph, you say it’s different, but it’s exactly the same.”

“Forget it. I don’t need to think about it—I just need to make my dishes.”

“What should I make for breakfast tomorrow?”

Lin Miao gave a light hum, as if she’d reached a decision, and a smile returned to her face as she pondered what to prepare for tomorrow’s breakfast.

(End of Chapter)