Chương 53: Outside World, Inside Kitchen

Start of the Second Arc: Beasts into the Abyss Ren couldn't call himself a traveler. At least not in his past life. You couldn't find a chance to travel around leisurely when you didn't know what tomorrow would bring, after all. And even after he'd gained his financial freedom, which he had never expected, the survival instincts carved into his very being never let him just relax. He couldn't simply wander around the different parts of the world and spend his days leisurely.

The modern age demanded hard work, and he simply did that. So, stuck in a lousy metropolis he'd learned to hate with every fiber of his being, he had slowly forgotten how beautiful the real world out there was. It didn't just kill his adventurer soul. It slaughtered it, like a cold, mechanical butcher would.

I feel like I'm repeating the same thing again and again, but the old me was really stupid, Ren thought, watching the sunset break into two separate suns between the cliff walls because of a kind of spiritual quartz. Ethereal bridges of condensed light connected both sides; merchants hurried between them while kids ran around with wide smiles, parents chatted with other parents, their half-attentive gazes lingering on the little ones.

A few merchant ships hovered below them, their speed almost slowed to a crawl, the crew on deck moving quietly.

"The Twinlight Gorge… this place never fails to amaze me," Demoness muttered, leaning on the edge like Ren.

"Slurp, ah, and this, I really wonder how they can make it so sweet."

"The light play is simply mesmerizing," Ren commented, tearing his gaze away to look at what she was drinking. She had put a straw into a fruit resembling a coconut, but bigger, with bent spikes and a bright red color like a strawberry. As she still had her mask on, she had to tilt her head at an awkward angle to reach the straw's end, losing all her elegance and charisma. She's kinda cute, though, Ren thought, and asked, "When did you buy it?"

"Hm? Just now. One of those merchant ships asked for permission to pass us as they needed to land at the Gorge. What, you want some? Go buy yourself."

"Heh, you think I'm gonna snatch?" Ren pretended to shoot a look of blame, seeing her hand rise protectively. But as soon as she lowered her guard, he flashed into motion, snatching the fruit and taking a sip. However, that turned out to be a mistake as his face twisted into a grimace and he spat it all out.

"That's sour, not sweet. You—" He stopped halfway as he noticed the brutal amusement in her gaze.

"I knew you would do that, you bastard!" Demoness burst into laughter, then took another glass of fruit juice and a bottle filled with something green.

"So I bought some sour plum syrup too." I'm taking my words back, she is not cute. Not at all.

"You're really the worst…" he muttered with a cold snort and turned around. Though he struggled to ignore the chuckle of rage-bait, he didn't fall for it. Ren headed to the ship's cabin. Inside, he found Iceberg lying on the bed, her face deadly pale, a bag sitting at her lap. Ruolan sat beside her, wiping the girl's forehead from time to time.

"Still not used to?" Ren asked, smiling gently. Liuxue opened her mouth, but a sudden jerk kept her from speaking. She quickly grabbed the bag and started retching.

"Senior Brother," Ruolan greeted on her behalf, then added, not concealing her scorn.

"Also, can you take care of our loudmouth before I stop holding back and stitch his mouth shut?" Ren raised a brow.

"Where is he?"

"He started to get on my nerves, so I sent him off to grab something salty. Please make sure he doesn't return if he hasn't tired himself out," she answered, biting harshly on her straw.

"Alright, alright," Ren muttered and left with quick steps, lest he get caught in the crossfire too. She is on tenterhooks since we left the sect. He could understand Liuxue's motion sickness; it was something humane, after all. As for Ruolan's sour mood… he really didn't know. Is she scared her family will try something? Or is she on her period? He shook his head. It seemed this journey was going to be more troublesome than he expected. … Ren found Wenhai not long after.

The boy was eagerly explaining something to the ship's chef, while the silver-masked enforcer listened with a blank, half-dead stare. As soon as they noticed him, their eyes glimmered.

"Ah, Senior Brother!" Wenhai greeted, putting up his usual silly smile.

"What are you doing here?"

"Leader," the enforcer said, bowing his head. Ren nodded to the enforcer, motioning for him to step back. The man bowed with gratitude and disappeared out of sight immediately. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"I should be the one asking that, you brat. Why are you trapping my poor enforcer?"

"I just wanted to use the kitchen, but he refused, saying a kid like me shouldn't mess around. So I can't help but reason with him like the reasonable person I am!" Wenhai ran a hand through his hair.

"You know how to cook?" Ren asked, pulling a chair to sit. Wenhai shook his head in exasperation and jumped behind the counter.

"Ugh, not you too, Senior Brother. I grew up with a brother who had a bottomless appetite and countless women ready to do anything to feed him. I had no choice but to pick a few tricks since all of them loved to act like they were my mom."

"Yeah, your brother really has a bottomless appetite, no matter the topic." Ren chuckled.

"So, what are you planning to do? Maybe I can help."

"Heh, it's quite easy, actually. Ruolan is grumpy, and most likely in her time of the sacred blood, so I'll prepare a chicken broth soup." He flexed his fingers, then leaned down beneath the counter.

"As for Liuxue, she needs something easy on the stomach. Plain rice porridge with mint leaves if I can find any. Works like a charm." He began to take out the ingredients, a triumphant smile surfacing when he found mint leaves in some corner. Ren watched with both brows up. Truth to be told, he had expected something like anti-puke dumplings stuffed with ginger, salt, and dried herbs that wake the stomach up before she throws up.

At best, half-burned rice balls sprinkled with salt and pepper would be an achievement in his mind. But what the boy thought… was not bad. On the contrary, he had doubts he could come up with something better. Wenhai put on an apron, wore cooking gloves, and took out two pots.

"Are you going to watch, Senior Brother? Or do you want some too?" he asked.

"Let me see if it'll turn out as good as you said," Ren muttered, leaning on his back. He still couldn't let go of his doubts, since cooking meant being steady, and steady was the last adjective you would use to describe Pup. Nodding, Wenhai washed the rice slowly, carefully. Then let it sit in water a little bit as he turned to carve the oversized spiritual chicken into more manageable-sized pieces. He put them in water and then added rice to another, already boiling one.

On the side, he took care of the onions, carrots, garlic and a few other herbs Ren wasn't familiar with. His knife work was sloppy and slow as heck even for Ren's standards, but it did the job. That was enough. From time to time, he skimmed off the foam from the chicken broth, and once the broth turned clear, he set aside a cup and some chicken, adding them to the almost-cooked rice.

He shredded the chicken, tossed it with the remaining ingredients, which he had cooked in a wok until they softened nicely, and started working on the tempering for the chicken. Minutes passed in silence until he had finished everything and served it on plates. The flavors had already permeated the whole kitchen. That's when Ren rose and clapped.

"Great job, kid," he said with a smile.

"I had to admit I expected a half-burned, half-raw walking disaster. But you've done great."

"Ah, is that so? Thanks, Senior Brother." Wenhai beamed, scratching the nape of his neck in embarrassment. And for a moment, Ren could've sworn there was a tail wagging behind him.

"Let's not make them wait and suffer. Take the plates," Ren said, trying not to think of the enforcer's face when he would see the mess the boy left behind. I guess I need to teach him the first rule of the kitchen, or he is going to get a good ass whooping sooner or later. Wenhai nodded eagerly, but before he could even reach it, someone had snatched the porridge.

"Wow, this looks yummy," Demoness smirked.

"I didn't expect you to do such a good job, kid."

"Hey, that's not for you!" Ren opened his mouth, yet surprisingly, Wenhai acted faster. His hand shot at the plate, blue sparks flickering to life faster than ever.

"Pfft." Demoness didn't even take him seriously, dodging and plopping her ass on the chair Ren had just risen from.

"Give it back! That's Iceberg's, not yours, scary lady! Give it back right at this moment!" Eyes glazing in fury, Wenhai stomped on the ground, hands flailing in a vain effort.

"Nope, it's mine now," Demoness said, eyes narrowed. She used one hand to stop him, the other to hold the plate, and her spiritual will moved the chopsticks.

"Go make another— ah, what are you doing?!"

"Ugh, Senior Brother…" Ren towered behind them with a deadpan face, grabbing both by the nape and lifting them. He remained silent, only staring at them until both lowered their gaze.

"I'm sorry, Senior Brother…"

"Sorry…" He let out a deep sigh and put them back in their places. Demoness obediently offered the plate back, though her gaze never left it, her reluctance almost solidifying in the air. Yet Wenhai snatched it out of her hand without hesitation and even hid it behind his back, as if he were afraid she would try to take it back if a chance presented itself.

"You think that would help if I wanted to take it, brat?" she huffed, rolling her eyes. Wenhai flinched and left the room quickly. He paused just shy of leaving, and muttered without turning around, "There are still some in the pot… you can have it if you want, scary lady..." He then ran without waiting for her answer, his steps flustered.

"Hoho, what a good boy," the Demoness said, smirking and giving Ren a provocative stare.

"He's quite protective, just like you." Ren stared at her with eyes asking if she was serious.

"You don't even like porridge, but you had to tease him, right?"

"Who said I can't change my decisions?" Demoness snorted, though her hands were honest as she reached for the chicken broth instead of porridge. She didn't bother finding a spoon and used her spiritual will to scoop some. She also put off her mask.

"Mmh, this brat knows what he's doing. Even without spiritual enchantment, it tastes great."

"You glutton…" Ren uttered. He shook his head in defeat, ignored her laughter, and waved his free hand. Taking Ruolan's plate, he went back to the kids' side. He raised a brow as soon as he opened the door, doubting his eyes for a moment. Thankfully, instead of the chaos he expected, he found Wenhai sitting on the edge of the bed, gently feeding the pale Liuxue— even blowing on the porridge so she wouldn't burn her tongue.

Ruolan was on the desk, grinding some herbs with rather harsh motions while her eyes watched them idly. Ren remained silent, as if afraid to disturb the peace, so he set her plate on the desk, and the Witch nodded quietly. He sat on the second bed and placed his plate on his lap, taking his first bite. Not bad. The chicken's tempering is perfect, too, he thought, chewing slowly. A touch more spice would've made it better, though he knew its goal was something else; hence, it wasn't a valid criticism.

Actually, this is exactly how a chicken broth soup for sickness should be. He gave Pup an approving look. At the same time, he noticed the Witch let out a deep breath, her stiff shoulders slowly dropping as she licked her lips. She had already finished half of her plate in record time. A healthy blush spread across her cheeks. Ren opened his mouth with a smirk, but held his tongue at the last second. As the ship moved, the light rebounding from the Gorge hit right into the window behind Liuxue.

Her black, silky hair glimmered lightly in contrast to her skin. She muttered something inaudible and shook her head, refusing to eat more. Yet Wenhai coaxed her a moment later, voice soft and gentle. He was nothing like his usual exaggerated self. This is it. The peace I've always searched for. The days he spent with his brothers and sisters filled Ren's mind. A smile settled on his lips, and somehow, the soup tasted sweeter than anything he had tried.