Chương 33: Feast

Ren woke up to his not-so-personal alarm, in the shape of a scorching globe of light. He let out a long, satisfying yawn, still feeling sleepy. And a little stiff. Or maybe more than a little, as he almost stumbled when he tried to get on his feet.

"I should've slept in the bed like normal people," Ren muttered, rubbing his numb feet from sitting cross-legged for the whole night. However, he couldn't complain about the results. [Growth: 1913/10000] The Foundation Establishment seemed closer than ever, even though he still couldn't grasp the exact number he needed to reach it. The advancement was a little erratic, at least it seemed that way to him, since he hadn't put much effort into keeping track of it.

It didn't matter much at these levels anyway; he was still so far away from the peak of this body. What truly mattered was that he had nearly completed two-tenths of his initial goal. I wonder what I'll get. An evolution, maybe? Another skill? A slot to use another seed? The possibilities are endless if the system doesn't screw me up. Ren found himself smiling as he finished stretching and went to the bathroom.

After all, there was no better way to start your day with a hot, relaxing shower full of spiritual energy. Furthermore, it gave the feeling of having a professional masseur at your service, breaking down the fatigue clinging stubbornly to his bones." Hah, this is truly fine living…" As Ren emerged through the steam, a cup was offered to him.

"Morning, young master," Madam Zhang greeted, her lips curled gently.

"I assume you got a good sleep."

"Not so bad," Ren nodded, taking a hurried sip. An ice-cold grape-like flavor caressed his taste buds, washing away the drowsiness in an instant.

"Wow, this must be new."

"Miss Ruolan made it specially for you, saying it might lessen your stress and help you relax."

"Pfft—" Ren choked, freezing with the cup in hand.

"Ruolan did it? Have you checked for—""There's no poison in it, don't worry," Ruolan said, emerging from the long corridor with a towel in hand.

"Please. I wouldn't lower myself to using Madam Zhang just to get what I want. Now, if you'll step aside…" Ren stared at her with a slight doubt, taking a step back for her to pass. She closed the bathroom door behind her with a soft click; however, he could have sworn he saw a mocking smirk just at the last second.

"She planned this, right…" he muttered.

"She resembles your younger days," Madam Zhang answered with the same smile.

"A lot, in fact." Exhaling slightly, Ren shook his head and smirked. At least it's delicious.

"They are getting better at this," he said, waving a hand as he proceeded to his room.

"Don't wait for me for breakfast, and for lunch, you know the drill." … The kitchen door creaked open, and Ren strolled inside. The place was enormous, had a good airflow, and oh boy, how great were those myriad utensils and stoves. Maybe only the greatest Michelin-starred restaurants in his old world could compare. Even though Ren couldn't call himself a chef, let alone a great cook, the faint smell of the aromatics lingering in the place caused him to stop and admire it, a smile unknowingly plastered on his lips.

"What a rare guest, the Eldest in flesh," came a soft voice from who knows where.

"Which poor bastard had the fate of meeting with the scariest hall in the whole existence?" Ren closed the door behind him and made his way into the hall. Of course, he first put on a clean apron, then washed his hands three times, lest he be berated.

"Let's say they sure weren't so poor." He smiled.

"How about you? Have you decided which poor ingredient is gonna be the victim of today's menu? A juicy, nasty pork might work since the weather is getting colder. Maybe a sweet-and-sour chicken along with some soup and wine? Or you might wanna return to basics. Rice and some tender fish meat on top. It wouldn't hurt to remember."

"Someone must be hungry," the voice chuckled, and its owner peeked from the last row of stoves.

"Or angry. Or a mix of both, most probably." He smirked and struggled to put a slab of meat bigger than his whole body on the counter. Master Lei. The Heavenly Cook. For such a great name, he was a slim, ordinary-looking young man. Maybe around early thirties, presence shallow, almost as if he was a mortal until you noticed how deep his black eyes were. Still, the people tended to ignore that as his soft, gentle features made it impossible for him to look scary.

"And you just took out what I was searching. Is that deer meat by any chance?" Ren asked. Master Lei arched an eyebrow, impressed.

"Well, you were always lucky. I just got a shipment from the Nightdweller Post. I heard they got a huge windfall and took down a lot of game. Like this Stone-Antler Deer, and…" He picked up another slab with fresh blood dripping down and settled it in a metal container filled with a green liquid.

"Copperfang Boar. Sure, it's a little smelly— but that's what marinades are for. Pick the fatty kind, and it's smooth sailing from there." He slapped the meat, showing how sensational its rippling was with all the fat it carried.

"But if you want something light, I've got the right thing too. Can you believe they found a family of Redplume Pheasants? The fucker didn't even hesitate to rip me off." Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Ren took out the gloves from the closest counter as he approached.

"I thought they went extinct for the past ten years. You're the lucky one to get them. Let me see."

"You wouldn't say the same if you heard the price," Master Lei snorted, taking out a sealed container, this time from an upper shelf.

"A middle-grade spiritual stone, can you believe? And he even said he was doing a great discount because of my name. Greedy merchant."

"Still lucky," Ren opened the container and saw four melon-sized frozen pheasants.

"Just a middle grade for a whole family of extinct birdies? That's a total steal." They hadn't even been plucked yet, feathers glimmering with a faint shade under the sealing ice— a crimson shade all too familiar. He closed and slid it back to Master Lei.

"It's easy to say when you're not the one paying, little bastard."

"Come on, even the simplest salad costs more than a middle-grade s. p when you're the one making it. Who's the greedy one?"

"Says the one who always eats it for free." Master Lei settled into a haughty grin.

"Fortunately, I've got something even your filthy claws can't reach. I even thought about calling you just for it." He took back the container and lifted it to its place, a few runes lightning up to prevent the ice from melting.

"What?" Ren's eyes widened before he cracked an arrogant smile.

"Don't joke with me. Something I can't get doesn't exist in this world." Master Lei raised his chin, keeping a straight face despite the fact that it was clear he was having trouble maintaining it.

"Don't talk before seeing it. Come." He hurried toward the back of the kitchen, where a formation was placed to keep every ingredient fresh. Some boons of freaking magic. No fridge can challenge its supremacy. Ren shrugged and followed, already interested in the mystery. After all, very few things could make a heavenly cook this excited. They passed through a transparent wall of runes, a thin membrane covering their bodies to isolate them and reduce the risk of spreading bacteria to the frozen ingredients.

He wasn't sure if this world even knew about the bacteria, but it sure knew how to keep everything sterile and clean.

"This baby here," Master Lei took out his token in front of a huge metal door, and it opened with a metallic clink, the temperature instantly falling below zero. A humongous head greeted them.

"Is the reason why I couldn't step out of the kitchen for the whole month. And tonight's the night. I'm finally cooking this fucker."

"Holy fuck." Jaw hitting the floor, Ren stared incredulously at the sight.

"You're complaining about the price of a few pheasants… when you have a fucking dragon in the freezer?!" That drew a thunderous laugh.

"That's not just a dragon, my friend. It's a Hollowsky Dragon. One with an inferior bloodline, but still!" Ren couldn't even protest, eyes locked on the majestic creature lying in front of him. He had to admit that seeing it in memory and in reality was a completely different experience, even though he knew he was repeating it. But— Fucking hell, this thing is gorgeous… and terrifying at the same time. Especially the pressure of it…

even the remnant draconic will of it was probably enough to force low-level cultivators to their knees. It must be an adult dragon, looking at the size. The beast's head was comparable to the biggest trucks he had seen, maybe even bigger. He was pretty sure he could fit one of those tiny rooms in Japan, and that wouldn't be cramped at all. In fact, he could overcharge it by saying, 'You're paying for the experience, not for some shitty concrete block.' That's… a little too extreme.

Size aside, every part of it seemed to be carved with utmost care, as if it came out of a master sculptor's hands. Even in death, the lines of its form carried an unnatural grace. Its bright blue scales glimmered under the faint light, horns sweeping back in perfect symmetry, and the sharp ridges above its eyes gave it an expression both noble and… faintly scared? Like it had witnessed something unbelievable in its last moments.

"Who killed it?" he found himself asking aloud.

"Its realm couldn't be lower than Soul Transformation even with its inferior bloodline."

"Take a guess." Master Lei's lips curled just barely before he waved his hand.

"Come, look at this." Stepping forward, Ren saw its scale-stripped, cleaned body behind its head. Its meat was completely white like a cooked chicken. But what truly drew his gaze was the scar running from the base of the creature's spine nearly all the way to its tail's end. He didn't notice at first, as it was so thin, like it was just another blood vessel. But it was too straight and too long—easily over 20 meters. It couldn't be a natural vein.

"It's art, isn't it?" Master Lei commented as Ren ran a hand through the scar, his touch careful as if to a lover. Art? Ren arched a brow, his mouth too busy to reply as it was wide open in marvel. It's fucking surgical. Of course it's art! And such a clean strike with no tremble in hand till the end, even against the hard scales resistance… It must come from an extremely sharp sword, considering how thin the gap is. The control required for such a tight strike is immense…

wait— Ren suddenly frowned, leaning toward the scar's end at the tail. He gently pulled the cut open, peering into its depths. And there it was. A small imprint of burnt meat, scorched into hard coal. His eyes widened. Lightning… this?! He shot a sharp glare at Master Lei.

"Xue Tian…"

"Exactly. I left that mark untouched purposefully." Ren sucked in a sharp breath as he straightened up. A headache had already started its assault, and he rubbed his temples with more strength than necessary.

"What for?" he asked.

"I mean, why would he hunt a dragon and then give it to you to prepare? He can't eat all by himself; there must be something he is planning." One thing the memories warned about the man all the time was that he wouldn't act unless he were sure of success. And that required careful planning. A man of focus, discipline, and danger— which Xue Tian definitely was.

"Who knows what the fuck that creep is planning?" Master Lei tilted his head.

"I just know that he is preparing for a feast, but only for his peak. Something like a celebration for the return. Maybe he was too tired of all the fighting and war, and thought to pass his time in peace for a while. Or a show of force. After all, nobody would go and hunt a dragon just to roast it over fire. Not while everyone knows Old Void hates to see his kind eaten."

"He and passing time in peace? No way in hell." Ren let out a mocking laugh.

"But that part of provoking Old Void might be true. He'd be furious if he learned." Especially considering the time period he chose.

"That's not my problem," Master Lei said, his gaze relaxed.

"I'm just a cook, and nobody bothers a cook. Anyway, I need to return to work. You don't get the chance to prepare a dragon feast every day." He patted Ren on the shoulder and transferred the dragon's body to a special ring, leaving only the head behind.

"Do you want anything from me?" Eyes locked on the poor creature's head, Ren waved his head. Yet he changed his decision in the last minute:"I'm gonna borrow some pheasant along with the deer meat. Put on my tab."

"If you take more than two of those little birdies, know that I'm gonna kill you."

"Then I'll take the two biggest ones." Ren smirked.