Chapter 373: A Gift for Bai Meng

In the end, Li Luo did not rush back to the Astral Sage College overnight, because Jiang Qing told him that at this hour, the various tutors had likely already rested and no one would see his diligence, so Li Luo followed her suggestion and said he would spend more time with her tonight.

However, after dinner, Jiang Qing went to the training room alone, leaving Li Luo to sigh at the empty room, with no choice but to wash up and go to sleep.

The next day, Li Luo returned to the Astral Sage College with Jiang Qing; she would continue to enter the Dark Cave for cultivation, and while that place was indeed eerie and oppressive, if one could withstand the pressure brought by the Otherkind, the improvement to oneself would be quite significant.

So, after entering the college, the two parted ways. Before parting, Li Luo had wanted to urge Jiang Qing to be careful in the Dark Cave, but upon reflection, he saved his breath; the Dark Cave was indeed terrifying for freshmen like them, but in Jiang Qing's eyes, it was likely just a dangerous place for training, and with her ability, she should be more than capable.

After parting, Li Luo went straight to the dormitory building.

Pushing open the door, he saw Xin Fu eating breakfast at the table. The latter was also somewhat surprised to see Li Luo's figure and said in a low voice, "You're back."

Li Luo nodded: "I'm back."

Xin Fu said slowly: "You've missed too much training this month; you have no idea what you've lost. As for me, I have already reached the Third Pattern. Li Luo, if you continue to be so idle, I might just take your place as team leader."

Li Luo said in a deep voice: "Sorry, I'm already at the Fifth Pattern."

Xin Fu was silent for a moment, pulled the chair in front of the table away with his Shadow Resonance, and at the same time revealed a smile: "Has the team leader eaten? There is another portion here."

Li Luo waved his hand and said: "No need to be polite. It seems you haven't worked hard enough this month. Later, I'm going to report to Tutor Xi Chan. After all, our team member Mengmeng is a support; once we engage in battle with other strong teams, the two of us will have to bear all the pressure, so you absolutely cannot hold us back."

"In the name of the team leader, I order you to reach the Fourth Pattern within a month!"

He finished speaking with a smile, then headed to the basement of the building.

Xin Fu looked at Li Luo's back, touched his chin with a heavy expression, and muttered: "He's actually at the Fifth Pattern... how can he be such a freak? A miscalculation; the team leader is truly worthy of being the team leader."

While Xin Fu was self-reflecting, Li Luo had already arrived at the basement and found Bai Meng, who was immersed in her research on spirit liquid and wondrous light, in the refining room. Today, the young girl was wearing a light blue coat, making her look petite and slender, her pure little face glowing with a rosy luster, her skin crystal clear.

At this moment, she was in that self-hypnotic state of research, her eyes like an ice lake, processing many materials in an orderly manner, while one small hand held a pen to record the numerous changes.

Li Luo did not disturb her, but sat to the side and waited quietly.

This wait lasted for a full hour. At a certain moment, Bai Meng's gaze suddenly swept over Li Luo's figure, and the movements in her hands suddenly stopped. At the same time, ripples seemed to emerge in those ice-lake eyes, and her cheeks, which had been calm and expressionless, gradually began to become vivid.

"Team leader? You're back!" A moment later, Bai Meng exclaimed in surprise.

Li Luo smiled and nodded, teasing: "The change in your state is quite interesting."

When she was researching spirit liquid and wondrous light just now, Bai Meng was absolutely focused, as if nothing external could shake her, but as she exited that state of research, she became lively again.

The change before and after, the difference in temperament, was truly like two different people.

Bai Meng's little face flushed slightly, but she didn't say anything, instead lowering her head to tidy up her previous research records.

Li Luo walked up and revealed a mysterious smile: "Mengmeng, I brought you a gift this time."

Bai Meng's hands didn't stop, but her eyes lifted, her gaze filled with curiosity.

Li Luo brushed his palm over his space ball, and a pastry that looked like the colors of a rainbow appeared in his hand. He placed it in front of Bai Meng and smiled: "Rainbow Cloud Pastry, this was carefully made by a chef from our House Luolan, the taste is absolutely the best in Great Xia City."

Bai Meng was stunned, her eyes fixed on Li Luo for two seconds.

Li Luo knew she had no sense of taste, yet he was giving her a pastry... what did this mean? Did he forget, or was he just being perfunctory?

The smile on Bai Meng's cheeks faded slightly, but in the end, she didn't say anything, just nodded gently and said: "Then I will have a taste."

Saying this, she reached her hand toward the pastry.

However, at this moment, Li Luo's palm suddenly blocked her, and then, amidst Bai Meng's puzzled gaze, he took out a dark green crystal tube.

"Before you eat, drink this first." Li Luo smiled.

Bai Meng picked up the crystal tube containing the strange liquid with some confusion, and then, as if she realized something, her fine eyelashes trembled slightly, and for a moment, even her voice became shaky: "Team leader... this, what is this?"

"Drink it and see." Li Luo encouraged with a smile.

Bai Meng gripped the crystal tube tightly with her slender fingers, her eyes flickering, as if many emotions were surging within them.

There was anticipation, as well as the nervousness and anxiety of fearing that the anticipation would be shattered.

But in the end, she closed her eyes, put the crystal tube to her lips, and poured it all in.

The cold, viscous liquid rolled down her throat; the strange sensation made Bai Meng almost vomit, but she gritted her teeth and swallowed it all.

After swallowing the liquid, Bai Meng felt no special changes, only a tingling sensation in her mouth.

This caused her heart to sink slightly.

Li Luo picked up the Rainbow Cloud Pastry and handed it to Bai Meng. The latter hesitated for a moment, then pinched off a piece with her fingers and stuffed it into her small mouth.

Her red lips moved gently, the soft cloud pastry was chewed in her mouth, and it seemed as if something was exploding.

Li Luo's gaze was also filled with some nervousness as he watched Bai Meng chewing the cloud pastry. This tube of liquid was the medicine he had concocted for her to restore her sense of taste; it was the greatest achievement he had made during his rest at House Luolan these past two days. If his deductions were correct, this medicine should be able to help Bai Meng resolve her psychological ailment.

Under Li Luo's nervous gaze, Bai Meng just chewed the cloud pastry in her mouth silently, her face showing no expression at all.

This made Li Luo's heart jump—was it ineffective?

Just as Li Luo felt some self-reproach in his heart, he saw large teardrops suddenly rolling down the fair cheeks of the girl before him, then shattering and splashing onto the refining table.

"Mengmeng?" Seeing this, Li Luo was at a loss for a moment, not knowing if she was crying from sadness or happiness...

The young girl didn't speak, but reached out and stuffed the Rainbow Cloud Pastry into her mouth piece by piece, her cheeks bulging like a hamster hiding food, and then she wiped her tears and sobbed: "Team leader... I, I can taste it!"

"My sense of taste, it's back!" Her voice trembled with excitement.

Looking at the young girl crying like rain on a pear blossom, Li Luo breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed his medicine had taken effect.

Then he looked at Bai Meng's bulging cheeks and couldn't help but smile: "Be careful, don't choke."

Bai Meng's little face was a bit flushed, and then she greedily chewed all the cloud pastry in her mouth carefully. That sweet taste was perfectly normal for others, but only someone like her, who had lost her sense of taste, could understand how worth cherishing it truly was.

At this moment, it felt as if her entire world had become bright.

The cloud pastry in her mouth was finally swallowed completely. Bai Meng wiped her red eyes, looked at Li Luo with shining eyes, then stepped forward, stretched out her arms to hug Li Luo, pouring out the excitement and gratitude in her heart.

"Team leader, thank you." The young girl's soft voice reached Li Luo's ears.

Li Luo smiled helplessly. Why did these girls all like to use hugs to express their gratitude? Forget it, considering they were emotionally overwhelmed, he wouldn't hold it against them for taking advantage of him.