Chapter 138: So-called Fate, Naturally Fortune
Chapter 138: Chapter 138: So-called Fate, Naturally Fortune
Tossing aside the luggage she had just packed, Lu Wu looked over the ingredients needed for the two new dishes.
There were a lot.
Lu Wu made a list, preparing to go out and shop.
’I have to open for business tomorrow. Time is tight.’
"System, can I do a buy-one-get-one-free promotion?"
’Snail noodles and crab roe burgers are complete opposites. With how pungent snail noodles are, I don’t know if the cultivators of the Green Origin Realm can handle the assault on their senses.’
[NO!]
The system’s response left Lu Wu deeply disappointed.
The moment she stepped outside, Lu Wu was surrounded by several people.
"Boss Lu, I’ll miss you."
That was Shan Hanzhi.
"Boss Lu, once I’m done with my work here, can I come find you?"
Zhang Yue twiddled her fingers, looking expectantly at Lu Wu.
Qin Zhan and Jiang Yunhe wore similar expressions. They had received a message from their Sect and couldn’t leave for the time being.
The only exception was Lou Xiaotian. As a free agent, he grinned slyly, pulled his luggage out of his Storage Space, and slung it onto his back. Then he started wiggling his eyebrows at the others, showing off.
’Wherever Boss Lu goes, I, Lou Xiaotian, will follow.’
’Without these nuisances in the way, I’ll definitely succeed in taking over this time.’
Daggers shot from their eyes, but Lou Xiaotian pretended not to notice.
Lu Wu, however, looked at Lou Xiaotian in surprise. "You’re heading back?"
’Why didn’t he tell me beforehand?’
"Yep! What about you, Boss Lu?"
Lou Xiaotian answered casually, only realizing something was off after the words left his mouth.
"I’m not leaving."
Lu Wu held up the basket in her hand. "I’m just going to buy some ingredients."
"What?"
Lou Xiaotian cried out in shock. His bag fell to the ground with a CLATTER and a CRASH, but he paid it no mind.
’My world is ending!’
He stared at Lu Wu in stunned disbelief, his large eyes filled with despair.
’Boss Lu isn’t leaving!’
"In that case, I’ll..."
Just as Lou Xiaotian was about to make an excuse, a hand clamped over his mouth.
It was Qin Zhan.
"Heh heh, buddy. I know you’ve been away from home for a while and want to go back for a visit. We support you, really. Go on, leave now. We’ll miss you."
Qin Zhan was determined not to give Lou Xiaotian a chance to back out. He shot a meaningful glance, and Jiang Yunhe casually moved to Lou Xiaotian’s side.
It wasn’t clear what he did, but Lou Xiaotian’s body suddenly went limp. After Qin Zhan released him, his mouth gaped open and shut, but no sound came out.
Zhang Yue went a step further, summoning a ghost spirit that hoisted Lou Xiaotian onto its back and headed toward the Teleportation Array.
Seeing this, Shan Hanzhi took out a One World Communication device to contact the Yuanhai City Law Enforcement Team. He asked for their assistance in making sure Lou Xiaotian’s journey home went as smoothly as possible, and to guarantee he wouldn’t be able to utter a single word before reaching his destination.
Lu Wu’s eyes welled with tears as she watched the scene unfold.
’Ah, so this is that deeply moving, heaven-shaking brotherly bond. How enviable! Thank goodness I’ll never have to experience it myself.’
In the courtyard next door, Uncle Li, who had been watching the entire spectacle, silently kicked his own luggage into a corner.
’There’s no way I’m going back.’
’As the strongest Guardian, I have to continue my post.’
With the show-off gone, the remaining group felt instantly refreshed. All traces of their earlier sadness had vanished.
"Boss Lu, I’ll go with you to buy groceries."
Qin Zhan asserted his status as the number-one helper, holding his head high and puffing out his chest.
’Boss Lu must have decided to stay because of me.’
’So moving!’
What was supposed to be a solo trip had become a five-person excursion. Lu Wu, leading her four market novices, weaved through the stalls, buying a large number of ingredients.
But when they saw Lu Wu reach for some sour bamboo shoots with a very distinct aroma, they were completely bewildered.
’That smell... it’s not quite right, is it?’
’Is that edible for humans?’
Faced with their doubts, Lu Wu didn’t explain. Instead, she just gave them a mysterious smile and told them to wait and see.
Both delicacies took time to prepare.
The crab roe burgers, in particular, required the buns to be prepared in advance, so Lu Wu spent the rest of the day busy in the kitchen.
She kneaded flour into dough and left it to rise.
’Being able to use Spells is so convenient. The rising process can be accelerated with a single thought.’
Partway through, however, she still needed to punch down the dough to release the gas. Then, she divided it into appropriately sized portions and set them aside for a second rise until they expanded once more.
Looking at the smooth surfaces of the dough balls, Lu Wu brushed them with an egg wash and sprinkled on some sesame seeds.
Lu Wu didn’t have an oven, but she did have a fully automatic flame.
Huohuo was also roped in to help.
The flame spread out, enveloping each ball of dough and baking it in the intense heat.
The irresistible aroma of baking bread filled the air. The group squatting by the kitchen door watched with rapt attention, their eyes following the dance of the flames.
About a quarter of an hour later, the buns were ready.
They were scorching hot.
But the group couldn’t wait.
’We’re distinguished Cultivators. What’s a little flame to be afraid of?’
But they had forgotten that this was no Mortal Fire.
"HISS... Oww, my hand!"
Qin Zhan grimaced, tossing the bun back and forth between his hands in a physical attempt to cool it down.
The lingering heat seared Qin Zhan’s palms bright red.
If not for his tough, thick skin, his hands would have surely blistered.
Having learned from Qin Zhan’s experience, Jiang Yunhe and the others were not so reckless.
They carefully used a Spell to levitate the buns in front of them, gently blowing on them to cool them down.
The physical cooling method was quite common. Only the highly skilled and daring Uncle Li cheerfully grabbed a bun, formed a hand seal, and the residual heat instantly vanished.
This was cooling by Spell—the heat was banished the moment the technique was cast.
Uncle Li gently tore open the still-warm bun, revealing its soft, snow-white interior. Steam rose from the air pockets distributed throughout the fluffy bread.
The rich aroma of wheat tickled his nose. Uncle Li closed his eyes, completely lost in the sensation.
Despite the bun’s soft interior, its crust was perfectly crisp.
The freshly baked bun was covered in a golden-brown crust. Pressing on it produced a faint crackle before it quickly sprang back.
These buns were meant for the crab roe burgers, so they needed to have a certain chewiness.
This chewiness would enhance the texture when eaten.
Uncle Li tore off a small piece and placed it in his mouth, savoring it carefully.
Besides the natural fragrance of the wheat, Uncle Li could also taste rich notes of milk and butter.
The two flavors mingled and merged, and the high-temperature baking process had infused their aroma into every corner of the bun.
One bun was quickly dispatched.
Uncle Li’s greedy hands reached for a second bun, and the others followed suit.
Dahuang scarfed them down in a single bite each, while Huohuo grew larger just to eat more.
The plain buns alone were enough to stuff both humans and beasts until their bellies were round. The entire batch was devoured.
Lounging in the courtyard, Uncle Li sipped his tea, enjoying the treats. In high spirits, he sent a few of the buns to the Bun Sect to be given away in a lottery.
"To be obtained by the fated."
Of course, the "fate" in question sounded an awful lot like the word for currency.
"Senior, I’d like one."
The sender was Heavenly Wind Taoist. Seeing the amount offered, Uncle Li nodded in satisfaction.
’This one is teachable.’
He cast a spell and teleported a bun over, using one from a separate stash.
The other members of the Bun Sect would have to rely on "fate" to gamble for the three lottery buns.
’One batch of bait, two fish caught. This old fisherman never goes home empty-handed.’
After tossing out a bit of "fish food," Uncle Li read a message from Dan Ji and replied, still in high spirits.
"Proceed with your plan. If anything happens, I’ll step in."