Chương 35: Cookies

From beside him, Baozhai's voice cut in, amused.

"And what about those?" She gestured toward the towering venison burgers stacked high on their plates.

"Are those also some… variation?" Ren arched a brow.

"Venison smash burgers. Stronger, heavier. For adults."

"Hey," Ruolan immediately chimed in, reluctantly putting her burger on the table.

"Why are we stuck with mere chicken while you're enjoying those humongous… what was it, burgurs?"

"It's burgers, and please wipe your mouth before complaining, you're drooling," Ren answered with a mocking smirk. She faltered for a moment, her cheek blushing a little.

"And who said those are mere chicken?" He snapped his fingers, the sound awakening the other two from their hunger trance.

"The thing is," Ren started when he got their attention, holding the monster of a burger, "Master Lei— who is our sect's Heavenly Cook— got his hands on some Redplume Pheasants, a species thought to be extinct. I don't need to talk about their super sweet flavor, of course, but the more important part is their energy is mild. Even rookies like you can ingest without a problem, unlike this baby here." He raised the venison tower higher, juices already seeping into the bun.

"Stone-Antler Deer. Born with Nascent Soul power, wrapped in a body built to ram mountains apart. An aggressive bastard— even if I made it with one patty, it can scorch the lungs of any Foundation Building brat dumb enough to try a bite." Wenhai's jaw dropped.

"And you just… made it with three patties?" Ren smirked wider, sinking his teeth into the stack. The outer layer of patties literally melted into his mouth, flooding his taste buds with heat and spice. Even Ren was stunned for a moment as the voice echoed like a victory drum in his ears, juices running down his knuckles. Yet he didn't even notice. He chewed slowly, savoring every fiber of it, a sweet herbal taste blooming in his mouth. It didn't carry any gamey smell or taste. Must be from the marinade. It's…

delicious. Great job, you devil of a cook.

"Exactly, a three-stack is the way to enjoy such premium meat." The kids drooled at the sight, even Liuxue gulping audibly as if the burger in front of her suddenly lost its glimmer. Yet Ren was busy trying not to choke to notice their frustrations. [Growth: 1914/10000] [Growth: 1917/10000] Really?! Now you're responding? He swallowed quickly and noticed two more points had been added. Though before he could take another bite, Baozhai tilted her head, golden eyes glimmering with curiosity.

"Mm. And the sauces? You've gone so far as to make three; they can't be just the usuals, can they?" Ren grinned, putting a hold on the surprising fucker. He tapped the small bowls lined neatly on the plate.

"This one," he pointed at the pale, creamy swirl, "is mayonnaise but with a small twist hidden in it. Don't ask what it is, just know it makes everything better. Wenhai leaned in, sniffing.

"It smells sharp. Like medicine."

"You'll change your mind after one bite," Ren shot back. He gestured to the dark, glossy liquid in the next bowl.

"This one's called Au Jus. Basically, venison strips and fat boiled down with herbs, wine, and a little salt. Rich, savory, like drinking the spirit of the meat itself. Needs a lot of effort, but it's safe enough for the kids." Ruolan's eyebrow twitched at that.

"Sauce made from blood and fat. How very… appropriate of you. And what's with the strange name?" Ren ignored the jab, waving toward the last bowl— bright red and shining under the light.

"And for the last one… I went for a classic. Tomato dip. Just a normal one." Of course, this world had nearly everything from his world, just with a few twists. A long life gave one more time to waste in the kitchen after all. Immortality and its little advantages. Still, showing off his world's culinary skills even though they weren't entirely new felt good.

"What about the fries?" Liuxue asked quietly, her gaze lingering on the thin golden strips steaming on their own plate.

"Are they the same or…" Ren leaned back, lips curling.

"Hardly. First, you boil them, just enough to soften. Then shape and freeze them so they trap the water inside— makes them snap when fried again. The result? Crispier than any potato you've ever had." Wenhai didn't wait for permission. He speared one into mayo, blew once, and popped it in. The crunch echoed audibly, his eyes going wide.

"This— wait, there's garlic in it! It's strange and good at the same time."

"See?" Ren smirked.

"One bite and you're already converted." Ruolan sniffed, took a bite, and crossed her arms.

"It's still just salted potato sticks." But even she couldn't hold herself before grabbing another one with a sharp motion. As for Liuxue… she was already halfway done with the fries before any of them noticed. At last, Ren turned to Baozhai. She hadn't touched her plate yet. Noticing his lingering gaze, she gave a measured smile and took a knife. Instead of copying him, she cut apart a small piece and used her chopsticks. For a moment, she only studied it, tilting her head faintly. Then she glanced at the sauces.

"Mayo first?" she asked, tone more curious. Ren lifted a brow.

"Mayo's the safe bet. Au Jus if you're feeling bold. Tomato dip if you want something sweet." Baozhai dipped the edge into the dark, glossy sauce without hesitation and took a bite, clean and unhurried. The crunch resounded softly, followed by a slow chew. She didn't speak immediately, as if she was letting the taste linger. Her eyes flicked toward him.

"Not bad," she said at last, lips curving into a faint smile.

"And bold, indeed. It complements the deer's aggression." Ren grinned at that, pride sparking across his face. She then reached for a fry, brushing it through the mayo before tasting it. Her smile widened just slightly, but it was enough for Ren to catch it.

"A good addition, it blends right in. I liked it." She leaned back again, graceful as always, brushing her mouth with a napkin before meeting his gaze.

"You've outdone yourself, Ren. Master Lei would be proud." Stolen novel; please report.

"Cough— ahem..." Silently enjoying her food, Madam Zhang suddenly choked, her composure almost cracked.

"Sorry." Ren shared a quick glance with her. He will be more pissed than proud, he smirked, and finally dived at his plate too. But that's the goal. It didn't take them long before the table was swept bare, satisfied smiles on place. Leaning back, they drifted into idle chatter about the differences between burgers and meat buns while Ren finally found the time to check his little sapling. Unfortunately, he couldn't see any difference. No bubbles, no shower.

It only looked a little more lively, its near-bare branches swirling at the non-existent breeze. Disappointing, but the points he gained were still there. [Growth: 1963/10000] A whopping 50 points of growth with a mere burger? A total steal, I would say. Ren grinned faintly, the aftertaste remaining in his mouth seeming divine. Basically, it covered the weight of a whole day's labor. But the more important thing was the cause. And he had a pretty good guess about it…

"Young master… should I bring out cookies now?" Madam Zhang said with hesitation at that moment, her left eye twitching. Ren tilted his head, feigning innocence.

"Cookies? Oh, right. Almost forgot about those." Madam Zhang's eye twitched harder, the faintest trace of despair leaking through her calm face. But she didn't say anything, just sighed in defeat and took out a tray. A rich, buttery fragrance immediately spread out, mingling with the last traces of meat in the hair. But it didn't merge; instead, it erased. The tray contained ten cookies from the huge batch he made, but each one was almost as big as his hand. Wenhai's jaw dropped.

But before he could say anything, a blurred hand flashed by, and coincidentally, a cookie disappeared too. Everyone froze, then their heads turned in slow motion… just to see Liuxue's swollen cheeks and innocent 'squirrel' looks. She immediately blushed, lowering her head.

"It… smells good," Wenhai gulped, his apparent excitement fading like a bucket of cold water dumped on him. She is… fast. Ren could barely keep his jaw from dropping. At last, he chose to shrug. Baozhai blinked once, then twice, before breaking into a low chuckle.

"I'd take that as a compliment." She said, also reaching forward to take one. However, just then, a huge wave of spiritual energy triggered around Liuxue, flowing into her body in a rush. The air shimmered faintly, a veil of frost glinting across her skin before vanishing into her pores. The cookie paused halfway to Baozhai's lips as her golden eyes widened in recognition. Ren sat up straighter, instincts on edge.

"Well, damn… I forgot to warn about how strong they are." Liuxue's fingers tightened on the table, immediately closing her eyes to focus, yet she never stopped chewing as though her mouth was out of control. The pressure around her suddenly spiked once more when she gulped. Baozhai turned her head sharply to him.

"Even if it's hard to understand why you used Heavenly Butter for mere cookies, I have a good guess about it. But the real question is…" she arched a brow.

"How much did you waste?" Under her piercing gaze, Ren felt like he was sinking into his chair. He muttered under his breath, voice so low that even with the sharp ears of cultivators, her frown deepened.

"I couldn't hear you," she said, her lips pressed into a flat line. Ren coughed into his fist, eyes darting anywhere but her glare.

"…I roughly used half of it."

"Half, huh? I wonder how much the whole is?"

"Around… three kilograms, I guess…" Ren trailed off; his voice grew weaker with every word he uttered. Baozhai's eyes narrowed.

"And how many 'monster' cookies you got?" she continued to ask, her tone thin and controlled, yet every word trembling like glass on the verge of cracking.

"Around… eighty." Ren raised both hands as soon as he saw a blaze flare in her eyes.

"W-Wait! Th-that's a good number, isn't it?" Madam Zhang pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering something that sounded suspiciously like a prayer for patience while the kids' confused gaze went between them. Before Baozhai could lecture him— thankfully— the table rattled again. Liuxue's aura finally burst outward in a frosty ring that scattered petals across the garden. The chill swept over them, only for Ren to wave a hand and dissipate it. He seized on the distraction instantly.

"See? Worth every drop," he declared, pointing at Liuxue like a lawyer presenting undeniable evidence. Baozhai's eyes twitched.

"You're beyond redemption." She let out a sigh.

"How could Master Lei let you use that much?" Ren winked at her, lips curling up.

"He doesn't know… yet," Ren said, immediately turning to Liuxue.

"How are you feeling? Any problem?" Liuxue opened her eyes slowly, a faint frost still clinging to her lashes.

"…Fine." Her voice came out calm, but the trembling in her hand betrayed her. Her gaze, however, wasn't on Ren— nor Baozhai. It was glued to the tray. Ren followed her eyes, lips quirking.

"Oh no. Don't even think about it." The remaining cookies sat there, steaming softly, each one practically glowing with temptation. He couldn't blame her, as even he gulped her saliva unconsciously. At the same time, he noticed a hand sneaking toward them. His lips curled faintly. Wrong move, brat. Just as Wenhai's hand inched closer to the tray, Baozhai's chopsticks snapped down with a sharp clack, causing him to flinch. Her golden eyes gleamed like lightning, daring anyone to resist.

"One each," she said firmly.

"No more. Not unless you want your meridians to explode." Ruolan gave a skeptical huff but still reached for hers while Wenhai hesitated. The moment the cookie touched her tongue, though, the disdain on her face cracked. Next moment? She was blushing with ecstasy. She quickly finished, probably before she chewed it well. The very air shimmered with greenish motes as heat rippled across her skin. She arched a brow and closed her eyes.

A loud crack of spiritual energy followed soon, her aura deepening into the third step of Body Refinement, just like Liuxue. But she didn't stop there and nearly reached the peak of it before the spiritual energy calmed.

"Tch," Ruolan muttered, letting out a long breath. But she didn't comment. Wenhai didn't even wait a moment when all eyes— except one— turned toward him. He stuffed his entire cookie in one bite, cheeks puffing like a certain squirrel's. The energy burst was instant and more aggressive. Sparks of red and blue lightning danced over his arms, jolting up his neck. He nearly fell out of his chair from the force, laughing between chews.

"Haha—Senior Brother! This is— aaaagh!" Another surge of lightning tore across his shoulders, forcing him to grit his teeth and close his eyes. The sparks condensed, vanished, then recondensed, entering into a loop. In no time, he entered the third step and even reached its peak. The spiritual storm around him suddenly strengthened, and just on the cusp of entering the fourth step— Slap. Ren slapped him in the back of the head, moonlight energy erupting to suppress his breakthrough forcefully.

The spiritual energy building up shivered under the overwhelming moonlight energy, and pulled away into the ball Ren wove over his palm"Ugh, sorry… I couldn't hold myself." Wenhai opened his eyes, rubbing his head.

"But this energy… It's enough for me to jump at least three or more steps without a problem!" This idiot… Ren shook his head and leaned back again, playing with the ball. [Daily Watering: 4/55] Huh, great. First, it rose by 15, and now by 30. At least the amount is consistent.

"At least you know, fool." Ruolan clicked her tongue.

"Don't worry, it won't disappear. Even with one, we can probably have a smooth journey until Formation Building."

"Hey, don't call me a fool! It was just a…" While they were bickering, Ren noticed Baozhai taking a bite, and he too decided to take one. It dissolved with one bite, but didn't have the feeling of filling his mouth until the choking point, like meltaway cookies. And the taste… it was simply heavenly. He finished it in just a few bites. Deserving its name. I can handle any criticism just to have this taste… [Ding! Growth: 1964/10000] [Growth: 1984/10000] … [Growth: 2056/10000] [Growth: 2069/10000] Holy fucking shit.

Ren gritted his teeth and even pinched himself in the leg, his willpower already on overdrive to hide his shock. The ball in his hand flickered momentarily, but he managed to control it with monstrous will as the numbers didn't stop climbing up. On the contrary, they just picked speed when he gulped the remaining cookie. [Growth: 2099/10000] [Growth: 2145/10000] [Growth: 2274/10000] … [Growth: 2338/10000] Huuuh, finally… Ren forced his jaw to relax and closed the system panel before they noticed anything.

Unfortunately for him, Baozhai was watching him far too closely. Her golden eyes lingered on his clenched hands.

"A good dessert," she said, waving the half-eaten cookie in her hand.

"Except it contains too much energy." Ren shrugged, thankful that his moonlight energy didn't have the habit of flaring whenever something happened like spiritual energy.

"Mm." She gave him one last questioning gaze, but gave up at last and turned toward the troublemakers.

"Cookies done, and I'm free until evening. That means…"

"You have 195 minutes of training with me, with no rest," Ren finished her words, a smirk settling up. He clenched his palm and crushed the ball of spiritual energy. [Daily Watering: 16/55]"Let's hope you won't cry…" He deliberately paused as the kids groaned.

"…much."