Chapter 356: Chapter 275: Like a Cold Winter

Fu Ling’s news struck the Fox Demon couple like a bolt from the blue.

Their daughter had grown up and reached the age where she longed for love, they understood, they were not those old-fashioned parents, but... an Ogre?

Their understanding of Ogres was still fixed in ancient times; some Monsters that fed on humans were tagged as Ogres. They possessed a physical structure similar to humans, but they were much larger, and some even had several heads.

A long time after Fu Ling left, the couple was still caught in the aftermath brought by the Ogre and couldn’t pull themselves together.

"Ogres should have been extinct long ago."

Jiuyue’s father comforted his anxious mother, in their era, Ogres had already become a matter of legend.

In ancient times, people waged a war to subdue the Ogres, sacrificing countless heroes to achieve a bloody victory and completely eradicate the Ogre race from Blue Star.

"It must be just a code name."

"A title?"

"Like in the TV shows, on the surface, it’s a psychologist, but in reality, it’s a serial killer who enjoys human flesh but is still essentially human."

"Doesn’t that make the problem even worse?"

Jiuyue’s mother glared fiercely at her husband, wishing he hadn’t tried to comfort her at all.

Ogres acted on their nature, unrelated to good or evil; humans just happened to be on their menu. Yet, psychopaths are different; they are truly mentally disturbed. In any race, cannibalism is taboo, not even Monsters are an exception.

Her husband’s attempt at reassurance only made her worry more about Jiuyue’s safety.

Their daughter, she couldn’t end up like those victims in the TV shows, completely devoured by the Ogre, could she?

From Fu Ling’s attitude towards the Ogre, it wasn’t hard to tell that this was a very powerful Ogre, such that neither Universe Company nor the Chamber of Commerce could handle him.

"Anyway, we’ll meet him in a few days."

Jiuyue’s father forced a smile and changed the subject, "Jiuyue is also a grown girl now, she must have inherited your beauty."

...

Meanwhile, Duan Mingyuan suddenly sneezed.

This made him frown, bothered by the feeling as if someone was accusing him behind his back of being an Ogre.

He had spent a sleepless night, stuck on how to punish Jiuyue. The existing methods were no longer effective against the little fox, and that’s typical of Calamity Foxes. Once they find an opportunity, they take an inch and want a mile.

"Achoo!"

Jiuyue sneezed as well, mimicking him, but she was choking on the pepper she was fiddling with.

That morning, aside from his role as a director, Norton visited her as the Prison Governor, hoping she could help improve the prison’s meals.

Norton was in a great mood, having been organically transitioning to a slower life after being kicked out of the team by the Judge.

Aside from saving the universe, there were many other worthy pursuits in life, like Jiuyue’s Sichuan peppercorn chicken, which was among them. Since this place was destined to become a shelter for people in the future, infrastructure was crucial.

Norton found pleasure in the process of creation.

They were the first residents of the haven, all its history began with them, and for many years to come, people would remember and discuss their names.

Norton took part in most of the harbor’s infrastructure work.

Not to mention stunt chef Jiuyue, whose recipes would become compulsory in the industry for a long time to come.

Jiuyue was working on a dish called baked chicken leg with white pepper and cheese, described by Norton as a homestyle dish originating from their hometown, carrying the memories of many people’s childhoods.

Duan Mingyuan sat on a chair, his gaze fixed on Jiuyue through the kitchen door, watching her hum tunes and sway her tail.

He could hear the sound of chicken legs sizzling on the pan, the aroma wafting from the kitchen to where he was.

Norton had meanwhile dressed in formal attire, arranged the tablecloth, and looked like he was ready to dine in a fancy restaurant. Joining him in equally formal dress was the Owl, who had become friends with Norton after also being kicked out of the team; Norton promised to reserve the position of editor-in-chief of the harbor’s largest news agency for the Owl.

And Norton himself, naturally, would be the harbor’s first mayor.

"Done, baked chicken leg with white pepper and cheese, I’ve modified your recipe to some extent, paired with a mushroom sauce made with white wine."

Norton’s eyes lit up.

The delicate plating was just like those top-tier restaurants he remembered.

"Mr. Mingyuan, come and try this."

Jiuyue couldn’t wait to bring the baked chicken leg to Duan Mingyuan, and to fully complement the dish, she had also prepared wine and a tall glass.

With a snap of her fingers, the room suddenly darkened, all light blocked out from the windows, and Jiuyue placed a candle on the table.

Everything was so elegant, so beautiful.

Norton felt that the only issue was that there was only one plate of chicken legs on the table, and it had been brought to Duan Mingyuan.

"Miss Jiuyue,"

he cleared his throat, "This dish is undoubtedly a perfect interpretation of cheese-baked chicken legs, taking me back to my hometown’s Mayonnaise Three-Star restaurant. I know the chef there, who, like you, is grounded, yet possesses boundless creativity."

Norton was generous with his praise.

Having said this, he felt Jiuyue should understand his implication.

This one serving of chicken legs was more than enough to be divided into three portions, and if not, then perhaps there was no need to prepare a portion for the Owl—though the Owl had never mentioned it, Norton had heard that he was recently dieting and might prefer boiled chicken breast.

He and Jiuyue looked at each other for quite a while, seeing deep confusion in Jiuyue’s eyes.

"Why are you still here?"

In the heat of summer, this question was as cold as winter, freezing Norton’s heart solid, bringing the bitterness of years spent away from home and never having been served cheese-baked chicken legs to the forefront of his mind.

"Huh! But this recipe..."

"Do not worry, I have already memorized the recipe completely."

Jiuyue said, "You can leave now."

"What I mean is, this is a specialty dish from my hometown, and you might need someone like me to offer you some advice."

"No need."

Jiuyue shook her head seriously, "Although this is a dish from your hometown, I have modified it on that basis, not to evoke memories of the hometown taste, but to adjust the flavor and texture according to Mr. Mingyuan’s preferences."

Simply put, while it used the techniques of Norton’s hometown cuisine, it was a dish specifically crafted to suit Duan Mingyuan’s taste.

Therefore, she did not care for "native" feedback.

Jiuyue’s understanding of culinary arts coincided perfectly with the "Auspicious Fox Cultivation Manual."

To become a truly excellent chef, one needed not only skills and wisdom but also to find passion for cooking.

And she had found hers.

In a few days, she would board the Eco-Ship to see her parents whom she hadn’t seen for a long time. Jiuyue had heard that her father was once a top gourmet who had traveled through most of Blue Star in his youth and had spent some time in the Imperial Dining Room, and she was now following in her father’s footsteps.

The "Auspicious Fox Cultivation Manual" also mentioned that her father had once lured her mother to the mountains with just a meal.

Therefore, she needed no more words.

With just one dish, she could express her entire self.

Norton and the Owl could no longer utter a word.

Jiuyue made their internal winter intensify with frost, as if placing them in icy fields and then taking away their blanket.

Besides, perhaps it was just an illusion, but this plate of cheese-baked chicken legs, after Jiuyue’s reinterpretation, seemed to radiate a dazzling light.

The world is not fair at all!

Why wasn’t there a stunningly beautiful fox demon to prepare such a meal for them?

"Owl,"

after a long time, Norton stood up, "There is more than one chef in this world. Cheese-baked chicken legs is a specialty of our hometown. Allow me to show you our local customs by preparing this dish for you personally today!"

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read