"Mr. Ji, why don't you pinch my cheek?"
Lan Rou recalled the scene of Ji Mo pinching her cheek with a gentle expression and couldn't help but speak.
She raised her head, her almost perfect features becoming more three-dimensional, her amber eyes incredibly pure, exuding an indescribable, adorable cuteness, and her words were even more captivating.
"Shameless," Lin Zihan cursed inwardly.
Lin Zhan looked at Qiao Surong with a knowing gaze, secretly becoming more vigilant. Xuan Shui Pavilion was even resorting to a honey trap; their schemes were truly deep.
Qiao Surong wore an expression of comforting pride. Outsiders always said her beloved disciple was too heroic and lacked femininity, but now, with these small gestures and expressions, wasn't she captivating enough?
Lan Rou's thoughts were actually very simple; this was just her way of pleasing Ji Mo and expressing her apology.
All four pairs of eyes were fixed on Ji Mo, waiting to see what he would do.
At this moment, Ji Mo was truly in a predicament: should he pinch or not?
If he didn't, it would seem as if he was guilty; if he did, would he expose himself?
"There, there, good girl!"
Ji Mo thought of a compromise. He ruffled Lan Rou's slightly curly short hair and praised her, deliberately putting on the demeanor of praising a junior.
Then, he quickly withdrew his hand, fearing any slip-up.
To divert everyone's attention, he said, "My chickens have laid a lot of free-range eggs recently, and they taste very good. I'll cook some for everyone to try."
"Isn't Tianpeng male? Can it lay eggs?"
Lin Zhan and Qiao Surong exchanged glances. To please the esteemed master, the dignified Demon Emperor had made such a great sacrifice, changing his gender?
When Ji Mo brought out those demon beast eggs, they realized they had overthought things.
"Mr. Ji, you're eating this?"
Noticing the demonic king aura emanating from the so-called eggs, they were all speechless.
It was too brutal, treating demon king eggs as food; it was simply unheard of.
However, upon reflection, given Mr. Ji's status and position, it didn't seem like much.
"Mr. Ji, can we not cook these eggs?"
Lan Rou couldn't help but speak. Each egg was a young demon king; she truly couldn't bear to.
"Alright, we won't cook them, as you wish."
Ji Mo readily agreed, then noticed the deep affection in Lan Rou's eyes. He handed her a few eggs, "You like them? Take these few to play with."
Lan Rou's eyes widened in disbelief as she received several priceless demon king eggs.
This scene felt very familiar to Lin Zihan; weren't her spirit pearls obtained in the same way?
"Is that enough?"
Ji Mo continued to stuff several more into her hands.
If for no other reason, he wanted to see Lan Rou's adorably blank expression as she held the eggs.
Lin Zhan secretly slapped his thigh. It was true that the squeaky wheel gets the grease; Lan Rou had only acted a little cute, and she had gained so much.
He secretly kicked his daughter.
Lin Zihan was bewildered, wanting to ask her father why he kicked her, but under Lin Zhan's winking hints, she suddenly understood. She raised her head, cupped her face with both hands, and said, "Mr. Ji, why don't you pinch my cheek too?"
Ji Mo's forehead broke out in black lines. Men and women should not touch; so many people were watching. What did this tigress want?
He couldn't possibly pinch her. He threw an egg to Lin Zihan, dismissing her.
In comparison, the disparity was evident.
Lan Rou had a full embrace of eggs, over ten of them, while Lin Zihan only received one.
This made the originally anxious Qiao Surong, who was anxious about being rejected by Ji Mo, beam with joy, while Lin Zhan wore a distressed expression.
Each egg, once hatched, would become a demon king. In a few years, Xuan Shui Pavilion would have over a dozen demon king battle pets, and its overall strength would undoubtedly skyrocket severalfold.
Lin Zihan was somewhat displeased and glared fiercely at Lan Rou. Then, she quietly asked her father, "Dad, do you think my hair would look better if I cut it short? Or maybe dye it blue?"
Lin Zhan couldn't be bothered with his daughter anymore. Was this a matter of hair? You were always so boisterous and uninhibited; who would like that?
Ji Mo began preparing the meal again. Hospitality was an inherent glorious tradition of the Yanhuang descendants, but it left the four of them feeling overwhelmed.
For a reclusive master to cook for them, how could they be so fortunate?
Lin Zihan and Lan Rou vied to assist Ji Mo, but both young ladies had never been in a kitchen before and could only watch helplessly.
Lin Zhan and Qiao Surong had already gathered together, the two who were like fire and water appearing in a harmonious scene.
"Pavilion Master Qiao, I apologize for seizing some of your pavilion's territory a while ago. I will return it immediately upon my return." Lin Zhan clasped his fist in apology.
Qiao Surong was not to be outdone and said, "If your sect previously took some of our spirit veins, Sect Master Lin can send people to reclaim them."
"From now on, we are family," Lin Zhan said with emotion.
"Who is family with you?" Qiao Surong glared at Lin Zhan. "We are all Mr. Ji's people."
"Heh heh..."
Lin Zhan chuckled sheepishly, never expecting the usually decisive Pavilion Master Qiao to have such a girlish side.
The two forces, with grievances accumulating for hundreds of years, resolved their differences at this very moment.
In the world, there were no unsolvable grievances; everything was driven by profit.
Soon, a table full of vegetarian dishes was served.
It wasn't that Ji Mo was stingy; none of them dared to eat the chickens, fish, or eggs from his home.
Thousand Threads Tofu Soup, Five-Spice Garlic Eggplant, Candied Sweet Potatoes...
Each dish was a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate. Not only were they exquisitely presented and fragrant, but they also exuded a rich spiritual essence.
These were not mere dishes; they were clearly spiritual foods!
When the golden rice was served, it further astonished everyone.
"Shen Nong Rice!"
The four of them, forgetting all etiquette, began to devour the food ravenously.
Even Qiao Surong, who paid the most attention to her demeanor, abandoned her solemnity and began to snatch dishes with Lin Zhan.
"Pavilion Master Qiao, I'm willing to return so much territory to you; can you let me have some of this dish?" Lin Zhan said.
"Sect Master Lin, are you even a man? Arguing over food with a woman like me?" Qiao Surong retorted, leaving Lin Zhan speechless.
These dishes not only contained immense spiritual energy but were also filled with vital essence of life, capable of improving cultivation and strengthening the physical body, with wondrous effects.
Every bite could significantly boost their strength, equivalent to months of arduous cultivation. How could they not quarrel over it?
Ji Mo felt something was amiss. As Lin Zhan and Qiao Surong argued, it somehow felt like playful banter.
The group ate the entire table of food as if they hadn't eaten for days, not even leaving a drop of soup.
And the benefits soon became apparent.
Lin Zihan and Lan Rou consecutively broke through, entering the Spirit Sect realm. Among the younger generation, such strength could be considered prodigious.
Lin Zhan had completely entered the Spirit Emperor realm, while Qiao Surong was just a step away, but with a period of secluded cultivation, becoming a Spirit Emperor would be no problem.
Both felt fortunate for their choices and secretly vowed: Mr. Ji, from now on, we will never have any second thoughts and will obey your every command.
Rumble...
Thunder rumbled from the heavens. This oath had actually triggered a heavenly response!