Chapter 49: Ice Powder’s Spectacular Turnaround
Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Ice Powder’s Spectacular Turnaround
"It’s actually quite pretty."
Like a little transparent orb. I bet it would be really satisfying to grab and squish.
Uncle Li marveled.
Although the thing didn’t look particularly delicious, Uncle Li’s confidence was restored by Lu Wu’s reassurance.
Uncle Li continued to wait while Lu Wu cut the ice powder into uniform cubes.
When the container was shaken, the ice powder cubes bumped against each other, their jiggly, springy appearance finally capturing Uncle Li’s full attention.
As for the toppings, Lu Wu had already prepared everything.
Ice powder was already appealing on its own, but to make it look even better, Lu Wu had specially prepared a number of transparent bowls.
She placed some ice powder in a bowl and poured in milk. There was no need to stir; a gentle shake was enough to let the milk seep into the gaps between the cubes.
A thick layer of mango was spread on top, with crushed nuts sprinkled over it as a garnish.
And just like that, a bowl of mango milk ice powder was ready.
"Uncle, please have a taste."
Lu Wu handed a spoon to Uncle Li, her own hands never stopping.
She repeated the process, but this time she used peaches, coconut milk, and a different mix of nuts.
Coconut milk peach ice powder—as simple and unpretentious as that.
The last type was brown sugar watermelon ice powder.
A specially prepared brown sugar syrup was drizzled over the ice powder, staining the once-translucent jelly a sweet, reddish-brown.
The ice powder itself balanced the sweetness of the brown sugar, and with the addition of refreshing watermelon, this bowl was a personal favorite of Lu Wu’s.
When she finished and looked up, she saw Uncle Li slurping away with his spoon.
"How does it taste?"
Lu Wu asked, picking up a bowl for herself.
Though the preparation seemed simple, there was a great deal of nuance to it.
The ratio of powder to water, and the white sugar added beforehand, ensured the ice powder itself wasn’t bland.
The sugar in the milk, coconut milk, and brown sugar syrup elevated the flavor, making it an irresistible treat for anyone with a sweet tooth.
The fruit added yet another distinct layer to the experience.
The ice powder, bursting with fruity fragrance, had a tender, smooth, and delicate texture. Yet, upon careful tasting, one could detect a hint of chewiness.
It was so springy that if one wasn’t careful, a piece would fall off the spoon, splashing milk everywhere.
Lu Wu was eating the watermelon and brown sugar version.
The sweet richness of the brown sugar was absorbed by the ice powder, and the moment it entered her mouth, her mood instantly lifted.
Biting into the crisp, sweet watermelon, you could hear it CRUNCH.
The sweetness of the fruit was different from the sweetness of the brown sugar, yet at this moment, they came together in perfect, satisfying harmony.
The oily, plump nuts were fragrant and crunchy, making a satisfying CRACK against her teeth. The more she chewed, the more aromatic they became, leaving a long, pleasant aftertaste.
"Not bad."
Uncle Li had already finished his bowl.
He wiped the milk from the corner of his mouth, feigning casual praise.
But the way his eyes were glued to the next bowl was filled with undisguised craving.
As for his earlier disdain, Uncle Li decided that hadn’t been him—it was the incarnation of his ignorant Heart Demon.
"The rest are all for you."
Lu Wu gestured for Uncle Li to help himself.
She had made a large batch this time. If Uncle Li ate sparingly, it would be enough to last him seven days.
"I knew my girl Lu was the most thoughtful."
Uncle Li chuckled happily and, without any hesitation, stowed all the prepared ice powder away in his Storage Space.
Suddenly, Uncle Li felt rich.
He then grabbed another bowl and squatted by the door, eating while giving Lu Wu pointers about the Secret Realm.
"Remember, if you run into danger, let those two lads handle it."
"If they can’t handle it either, then run. Let them cover your escape."
"If anyone provokes you, don’t worry, just strike back."
"If someone tries to kill you for your treasures, use those two boys as your weapons and kill them instead."
She would get the good stuff, and they would get the bad.
Share the fortunes, but let them bear the hardships alone.
He found these tools specifically for Xiao Lu to use.
This was called putting everything to its best use.
If two grown men couldn’t protect one little girl, he’d laugh himself sick at their incompetence.
"As long as you come back safely, I guarantee that no matter what happens in there, no one will come looking for you afterward."
’With a big shot like me around, how could I let some blind fool cause trouble for Lu right under my nose? Would that mean I’ve wasted all these years?’
Imparting his wisdom to Lu Wu, Uncle Li was full of vigor.
The sharp glint in his eyes was so intense that one wouldn’t dare to look at him directly.
But when his gaze fell upon Lu Wu, it softened with care and concern.
"Little one, strive to grow stronger. This world... it’s a very big place."
Xiaohe Town was just a small corner of the Green Origin Realm.
Although the young lady’s cultivation method was a bit unconventional, it was also destined that a small place like this could not contain Lu Wu.
That day, Lu Wu listened as Uncle Li told her many stories.
The world of cultivation, beyond the lure of immortality and omnipotent Mana, was also filled with danger and darkness.
The world was never simply black and white.
Danger and opportunity had always coexisted.
Lu Wu, who understood this well, felt incredibly fortunate to have met such a meticulous and devoted teacher.
She committed all of his teachings to heart.
She had learned a great deal.
From this, Lu Wu also learned that the Awakenings for all the towns under Hong’an City’s jurisdiction would be held in the main city. Xiao Hua and the others were heading there tomorrow, and Uncle Li’s suggestion was for Lu Wu to hitch a ride on their Flying Boat.
That night, Lu Wu’s sleep was restless.
She had many dreams.
In her dreams, she was sometimes a famous figure in the Green Origin Realm, able to decide life and death with a single word.
Other times, she was a weakling mired in mud, struggling and crawling but never able to turn the tide, as insignificant as an ant, with her life and death beyond her control.
Waking from her chaotic dreams, Lu Wu let out a soft breath and pushed aside the jumble of thoughts.
Her things were already packed. With her storage bag, Lu Wu set off feeling light and unburdened.
After Lu Wu left, her free-roaming dog, Gou Aotian, emerged from the alley and settled down to guard the entrance.
’Day one without Master. I miss her.’
’Good thing Master left me lots of pork knuckles, and that stuff called ice powder for dessert. I’ve got rations for the next few days.’
’I’ll guard Master’s house well and wait for her to come back.’
’I, Gou Aotian, am the best guard dog in the whole world!’
The Flying Boat was docked in the center of Xiaohe Town. When Lu Wu arrived, she saw Qin Zhan and Lou Xiaotian waving at her.
With these two powerful figures protecting her, Lu Wu felt much more at ease.
But as she got closer, she noticed they both had dark circles under their eyes, as if they hadn’t slept all night.
’Could they be even more nervous than I am? Are these two reliable at all?’
But Qin Zhan, who had entered many Secret Realms before, wouldn’t have been nervous. However, after being cornered by Uncle Li last night, who lectured him on one thing after another and told him a series of bedtime ghost stories about backstabbing, Qin Zhan now felt like everyone was a potential enemy.
’The whole world is my enemy.’
Lou Xiaotian, who had gone through the same ordeal, exchanged a look with Qin Zhan. The two brothers in misfortune shared a hug, comforting one another.
The moment they let go, they saw Lu Wu staring at them with a peculiar expression. It was a look that seemed to say everything and nothing at all.
She silently took a step back, then another... giving them some space.
’I’m not going to be a third wheel.’