Chapter 61

Although Cangyan Ren Gui could not perform tasks requiring dexterous fingers due to the two flaming greatswords on its arms, its grilling skills and ingredient-cutting abilities had long reached perfection.

Its blades danced lightly and fluidly over the cutting board, rhythmic as a piano performance, and in the blink of an eye, a small basket of carrots was reduced to neat, uniform cubes.

Next, Cangyan Ren Gui began preparing the other vegetables.

Lean meat, green onions, and ginger were all transformed into minced meat, chopped scallions, and ginger slices beneath its blades.

Luo Mu took half a bag of rice from the storage cabinet and placed some dry firewood beneath each stove; he was about to ask Cangyan Ren Gui to ignite it with sparks when he suddenly had an idea, grabbed a small stick, and hurried to the fireplace.

Flareon: “?”

Luo Mu crouched down, held the small stick in his right hand to the fireplace, and lit it, smiling at Flareon: “Lend me a flame for cooking.”

Flareon: “........”

Flareon wanted to ask if this was polite—its flame, a legendary Pokémon’s flame, was already being used for warmth, and now it was being asked to cook food?

Its dignity, pride, and prestige could not accept such a thing!

“Oh, by the way.” Luo Mu seemed to remember something, paused, and said to Flareon: “Today’s breakfast will be different—carrot and lean meat porridge. It’s lighter in flavor; you’ll probably like it.”

Flareon: “!!!”

Flareon’s face changed like Sichuan opera makeup—its resistance instantly turned to anticipation. Without caring that Catydog was still sleeping on its back, it flipped over, stood up, flapped its wings, and a gust of wind instantly extinguished the burning stick in Luo Mu’s hand.

In the next instant, Flareon opened its mouth and spat out a more stable flame that landed on the stick, reigniting it.

“The fire in the fireplace is too fierce and has been burning for days. This fresh flame is steadier and gentler—perfect for slow simmering.”

“By the way, I want three bowls.”

Flareon raised its right wing, ablaze with fire, and the flames flickered into the shape of the number “3.”

Catydog, innocently caught in the crossfire, rolled onto the floor—but even after such treatment, it remained motionless, fast asleep.

Luo Mu: “.........”

After understanding Flareon’s meaning, Luo Mu felt that as a legendary Pokémon, Flareon wasn’t all that different from ordinary ones.

The “it smells so good” rule must be universal across all dimensions.

Holding the small stick, roughly the size of the Sacred Flame torches in the Quartz and Silver Leagues, Luo Mu reluctantly returned to the kitchen to light the firewood beneath the stoves with the Sacred Flame.

With practiced ease, he rinsed half a bag of rice, waited for the two pots to boil, then added the rice to the boiling water, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

As he stirred, Luo Mu muttered to himself: “The Sacred Flame is different—its scale and stability are terrifyingly consistent. This control is impressive.”

“And... I’m probably the only one who uses the Sacred Flame to light fires and cook meals...?”

As he spoke, Luo Mu’s expression grew strange, his tone uncertain.

“It needs a bit more simmering to thicken. I’ll go wake up the lazy ones first.”

Luo Mu covered both pots and spoke to Cangyan Ren Gui beside him.

Cangyan Ren Gui nodded slightly, carefully removed its apron, and hung it aside; then it split ways with Luo Mu to wake the Pokémon.

Luo Mu went upstairs to wake Kingdra and the others, while Cangyan Ren Gui was responsible for waking up the White Fluffies and Catydog.

When all the Pokémon gathered in the living room, Luo Mu glanced outside at the torrential rain and asked, puzzled: “Why haven’t Gyarados and the others arrived yet?”

His gaze fell on the Mosquitoad, which had stayed overnight here—normally, by this time, Gyarados would have already brought Mosquitoad and the others for breakfast.

Even with the bad weather, as Water-type Pokémon, Gyarados and Mosquitoad should have no trouble coming from Thunder Lake.

As Luo Mu considered whether to grab an umbrella and head to Thunder Lake, Gyarados slowly emerged from the rain, its steps heavy and steady, completely unfazed by the storm.

Luo Mu opened the door for Gyarados and looked behind it—only to find that the three Mosquitoads were not following?

Luo Mu frowned at Gyarados, who shook its head and gestured wildly.

The meaning was clear: the Mosquitoads were oversleeping and planned to come later on their own, so Gyarados came ahead.

Accepting Gyarados’s explanation, Luo Mu turned back to the kitchen, lifted the pot lids, stirred a few times, judged the thickness sufficient, then added the pre-deboned lean meat cubes and carrot cubes. He simmered briefly until fully cooked, sprinkled in a measured pinch of salt with a small spoon, finished with chopped scallions, and served.

Sacred Flame–simmered Carrot and Lean Meat Porridge—please enjoy!

Carrying the two large pots into the crowded living room, Luo Mu scanned the room—still no sign of the three Mosquitoads.

Luo Mu frowned. It had been over ten minutes since he entered the kitchen to complete the final steps. Even the laziest Mosquitoads should have woken up by now—without their leader’s supervision, they shouldn’t be this slack.

For some reason, Luo Mu felt a bad premonition. After setting down the pots, he looked at Mosquitoad, who also looked puzzled and anxious, and said firmly: “We should go check.”

Mosquitoad nodded heavily: “Wulu lu!”

The other Pokémon, seeing Luo Mu was leaving, volunteered eagerly to act as bodyguards.

Though he thought the farm was unlikely to be dangerous, Luo Mu chose the smaller Mimikyu to accompany him, added Mosquitoad, put on rain boots and a raincoat, and together they set off for Thunder Lake under an umbrella.

Meanwhile, at Thunder Lake.

A strange fish Pokémon, its entire body covered in sharp angles and radiating a high-tech aesthetic, rampaged unchecked through Thunder Lake.

It moved at incredible speed, leaving a white trail across the rain-pelted water’s surface, while another blue figure fled in panic from the mysterious Pokémon’s pursuit.

Mosquitoad pushed itself to swim faster, its two companions already injured and unconscious from the fast-moving fish Pokémon’s attacks.

Only Mosquitoad, naturally faster than its companions and perhaps because the mysterious Pokémon was toying with it, had managed to evade its attacks until now.

But... Mosquitoad felt it was nearing its limit.