Clouds stacked thick across the sky, dimming the light layer by layer.
By noon, the rain finally began to fall.
The first drops landed gently on the dry ground, kicking up faint puffs of dust. A few seconds later, the dust melted into the rising mist, leaving the air tinged with a damp, earthy scent.
Then the rain grew heavier. Sheets of water splashed against the stone steps, scattering clear droplets everywhere, and pattered across the blooming cherry trees surrounding Tenshukaku.
The sliding doors opened softly.
Xia Zhen stepped out onto the covered corridor. She looked up at the sky washed clean by the rain and let out a slow breath.
Maybe it was because of how exhausted she'd been last night and this morning, but today she felt lazy from head to toe. She didn't want to look at a single document, didn't want to write any approvals. She'd spent the whole morning sitting at her desk, listening to music and staring into space.
Now, finally stepping outside and breathing fresh air, she felt a bit more alive.
"I'm starting to sound like one of those women in Xia Ci's novels," she murmured.
She touched her lips lightly and laughed to herself.
"It's like I'm addicted to that sort of thing… not that Xia Ci would understand."
While she stood in the doorway taking in the rainy scenery, her phone vibrated in her pocket.
She pulled it out.
A new message from Xia Ci.
[Got something good to show you.]
Something good?
A second message came in—an attached file.
Curious, Xia Zhen opened it.
It was a new novel.
The title was… Cousin's Forbidden Love.
Xia Zhen blinked, then quietly read through the entire thing.
When she finished, she lifted her gaze toward Mt. Yougou in the distance and exhaled again.
"…Alright. So she actually does get it."
---
Zhu Zi arrived at the shrine kitchen.
She hadn't seen the boss for a few days and had missed him more than she expected.
Xia Zhi asked how things had been at home.
Zhu Zi said she'd been holed up writing every day and that the new volume was almost done.
Rii peeked at the freshly made instant noodles stacked on the counter, her eyes shining with curiosity.
Xia Zhi laughed and told Zhu Zi to take her to grab two cups to try.
On the other side, Yoimiya was helping Xiangling taste-test the new instant noodle flavors.
Fried crystalflies, braised lizard tail, mushroom stew…
The flavors were actually good. They were just… very spicy.
Xiangling definitely overdid it with the Jueyun Chili.
By the time Yoimiya finished, her whole face was red from the heat and she was gulping water nonstop.
Xiangling hurriedly handed her a cup of Rainbow Juice.
Yoimiya took a sip—and froze.
The flavor burst open like an entire orchard blooming on her tongue.
The heat disappeared almost instantly.
Feeling revived, she stared at the cup. "This is the Rainbow Juice they sell at Mr. Xia's shop?"
"Yeah. Good, right?"
"Really good!"
After a second sip, Yoimiya remembered why she'd come and turned to Xiangling with a serious look. "By the way, thanks so much for the pastries you gave me yesterday."
Xiangling smiled. "It's fine. Did your parents like them?"
"They loved them! And my mom… she said she felt way better after eating your desserts!"
"I'll make more for you to take home later."
"That'd be amazing! Xiangling!"
"No need to make a big deal out of it. We're friends. And take some instant noodles too. You're always up late at your shop. You'll have something to eat when you get hungry."
Yoimiya glanced at the empty noodle cup she'd just finished, the broth still glistening with a tempting layer of chili oil.
She swallowed and nodded. "Okay…"
Xiangling slung an arm around her shoulders. "Relax, I'll send you some Rainbow Juice concentrate too."
"Really?"
"Of course. And it's not just tasty—have your mom drink a little every day. It's good for her body."
"I will! Thanks, Xiangling!"
Yoimiya was honestly touched.
She hadn't even asked for help, yet Xiangling had already arranged everything.
Having a friend like this… was incredible.
But she wasn't someone who could just accept gifts without giving something in return.
She had to come up with something meaningful for Xiangling.
The problem was… Xiangling didn't really lack anything.
As a chef, the best gift would be cooking tools—but even if she asked the master craftsman at the forge, no utensil they made could compare to the Eternal Spirit Knife or the Dragon-Turning Pot.
Yoimiya sighed internally.
Then she saw Xiangling poke Guoba's round little head.
"Guoba! I told you not to eat that much instant noodles! We're having Gods' Temptation for lunch!"
"Wu wu!"
Watching Guoba's adorable, innocent expression, Yoimiya's eyes lit up.
Got it!
She'd make a giant Guoba-shaped firework.
Something she could unveil during the Summer Festival.
A surprise for Xiangling and everyone.
---
Xia Zhi worked smoothly through the steps of Gods' Temptation.
Ei stood beside him, watching every detail.
The recipe required dozens of supernatural ingredients, each needing a unique preparation technique, followed by several different cooking methods.
Only someone at a grandmaster level could handle a dish like this from start to finish.
Without Xia Zhi giving her cheat-level accelerated learning, Ei had no chance of mastering it in a short time.
When they reached the final simmering stage, Xia Zhi closed the lid and looked back at her. "Ei, did you memorize the process?"
Ei's expression tightened. "I… remember most of it…"
Her knife skills were flawless. With her martial prowess, she could cut ingredients into any shape she wanted.
But controlling heat… that was where she struggled. Without countless attempts and hours of practice, she couldn't grasp the tiny nuances.
Xia Zhi smiled. "It's fine. Nobody learns this in just one or two tries."
Ei nodded. "I understand."
He added, "But… I do have a shortcut. Want it?"
Originally, he'd thought it'd be fun to teach Ei the long way. But now that she was officially his sister-in-law, he naturally wanted to take extra care of her.
Ei blinked, then shook her head hard. "Cooking is like swordsmanship. There are no shortcuts. I'll train properly."
"You really don't want it?"
"No. I trust myself."
"…Alright."
Stubborn girl.
It was honestly kind of cute.
Xia Zhi didn't push it. Besides, having a meticulous assistant in the kitchen wasn't a bad thing.
---
Because of the rain, the girls returned early from Araumi.
Most of them were drenched. The worst was Charlotte—she'd stood in the downpour just to take aesthetic photos.
She really did have the dedication of a true reporter.
Thankfully Qiqi and Yaoyao were there; a quick cast of Warmth dried everyone instantly.
Even so, the girls still went into the Serenitea Pot to take a bath and change into fresh clothes.
By the time the old-timers returned—Dragon King, Venti, and the other elder adepti—they were completely dry.
Urakusai watched the group sprint straight into the kitchen. Even Mountain Shaper and Mooncarver followed behind.
Puzzled, he grabbed Mountain Shaper's sleeve. "What's going on?"
"Hurry and help bring out dishes! Didn't you read the group chat? We're having Gods' Temptation today!"
"I've eaten Adeptus' Temptation before…"
"It doesn't even compare!"
"That exaggerated?"
"You'll understand in a moment!"
Urakusai followed obediently.
When the lid was finally lifted off Gods' Temptation, he understood instantly why it had that name.
No monster, no scholar, no elegant immortal could resist the urge to leap straight into the pot for a taste.
Urakusai opened his eyes wide, overwhelmed. He looked around at the others.
The Dragon King and Venti looked utterly blissful.
Then his gaze drifted further—
Huh?
He froze.
That girl…
He was staring at Rii.
She'd only recently transformed, so the aura of a youkai still clung to her. She could fool humans, but not an ancient monster like him.
But that wasn't the problem.
The problem was the bowl in front of her.
Why was her bowl bigger than his?
He was a great youkai! She was a tiny one!
They were both eating Gods' Temptation for the first time!
His gaze drifted to Yoimiya.
Her bowl was also noticeably bigger.
His ears twitched. He overheard Xiangling whispering to Yoimiya, "If you finish that and want more, I'll give you another serving."
!!!
Urakusai whispered to Mountain Shaper, "Can you get seconds of Gods' Temptation?"
Mountain Shaper shook her head. "Of course not."
Urakusai pointed weakly toward Yoimiya. "Then that girl…"
Mountain Shaper shot him a look that said are you stupid? "She's a girl. Obviously."
Urakusai fell silent.
…The old monster cried inside…
----
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