"Feng Yi, from the moment I was born, my fate was one of solitary ill omen, prone to harming those around me. Master cautioned me to bind my soul with a red string to curb my killing intent... I thought my life would continue as it always had, in solitude.
But fortunately, I met you—Feng Yi. You possess a power that seems to suppress my solitary ill-omened fate, reawakening emotions I had long buried. When I'm with you, it is my happiest, most joyful time..."
Shenhe donned a high-slit qipao, embraced Feng Yi, and confessed with deep emotion.
She had previously believed that life consisted of daily training, eating, and sleeping.
Now, Shenhe felt that a truly happy life was about daily training, eating, and sleeping with Feng Yi!
Regarding Shenhe's heartfelt confession, Feng Yi needed no words; he proved with actions how much he loved her.
"The passage is extremely narrow, barely wide enough for one person. After walking dozens of steps further, it suddenly opens up into a vast, bright space!
—Tao Yuanming"
Half an hour later, Feng Yi and Shenhe, carrying the desserts for everyone, walked towards the hot springs.
A faint blush lingered on Shenhe's face after being "nourished," making her even more alluring.
If not for the concern of delaying too much, Feng Yi could have engaged Shenhe in another three hundred rounds.
"Keqing, why aren't you soaking with everyone else?"
As Feng Yi approached the hot springs, he saw Keqing standing alone outside.
"Feng Yi, I have something to discuss with you!"
Keqing glanced at Shenhe beside Feng Yi. The faint blush on Shenhe's face made her frown slightly. That scoundrel, she had already made a move on Feng Yi before her!
"Then Shenhe, could you please help me distribute these desserts to the ladies in the women's bath?"
Feng Yi nodded to Shenhe, then turned towards Keqing.
"Feng Yi, that..."
After Shenhe left, Keqing whispered into Feng Yi's ear.
"Then wait for me for a moment, I'll go and distribute these desserts to Zhongli and the others first..."
Keqing wanted him to play poker, and Feng Yi couldn't refuse. However, before that, he had to deliver the desserts in his hands to Zhongli and the others.
"Mmm hmm!"
Seeing Feng Yi agree, Keqing was quite pleased and urged him to hurry.
"Guoba, this is your reward, top-tier ice cream!"
Feng Yi brought the desserts to the hot springs and handed over Guoba's reward.
"Zhongli, Xiao, this is your share!"
Feng Yi gave the other ice creams to Zhongli and Xiao. Although these ice creams weren't made with Green Feather Swan eggs as the main ingredient, their quality was still superior to those made with ordinary ingredients from Wanmin Restaurant.
As he handed the ice cream to Zhongli, Feng Yi leaned in and whispered in his ear, asking him to prevent Guoba from going berserk.
"Feng Yi, is there something wrong with Guoba's ice cream?"
Zhongli looked at Guoba, who was spinning around holding the top-tier ice cream, with confusion.
"The ingredients themselves are fine, but the ice cream made from them can cause side effects depending on the consumer's physical condition, such as mental confusion. I can't guarantee Guoba won't experience any side effects, but it's best to prepare for the worst. Don't worry, I have a solution; I just need you to help me control Guoba..."
Feng Yi had prepared for the worst. Of course, if Guoba wasn't affected by the side effects, that would be even better.
"Rest assured!"
Zhongli nodded in agreement. He savored the exquisite taste of the ice cream while keeping an eye on Guoba's condition.
Guoba held the top-tier ice cream, his eyes sparkling. He gently scooped a small spoonful into his mouth, then wore an expression of pure bliss.
The texture and taste of this top-tier ice cream truly lived up to his expectations.
In terms of smoothness, it surpassed all the food he had ever eaten before.
The rich, mellow, and lingering milky fragrance made Guoba reluctant to finish it quickly. He had to savor it slowly to truly appreciate the exquisite taste of the top-tier ice cream.
"Zhongli, I was overthinking it. Guoba doesn't seem to be affected by the ice cream's side effects..."
After Guoba finished the ice cream and Feng Yi waited for a while without anything happening, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed things hadn't developed into the worst-case scenario. He had been worrying unnecessarily.
Indeed, Guoba was a Archon; how could an Archon be affected by the side effects of food?
With the alert lifted, Feng Yi prepared to go and meet Keqing.
However, he suddenly thought of something and temporarily handed the golden bell to Xiao for safekeeping.
Feng Yi worried that the side effects of ice cream on Archons might be delayed. If Guoba went berserk after he left, and Zhongli and Xiao didn't have a means to purify his chaotic state, it would be a miscalculation.
Therefore, he left the golden bell with Xiao as a backup.
Xiao had been healed by the golden bell from his karmic burden burns and knew how to use it.
With all arrangements made, he went out to find Keqing and join her for poker in the secret room.
...
On the women's bath side, the moment Shenhe brought the ice cream into the hot springs, all eyes were drawn to her.
Among them, Cloud Retainer was the most excited.
Cloud Retainer: It's good that I doted on Shenhe. I just mentioned it casually, and now she's brought me top-tier ice cream.
Look, to spare others' feelings, she's even learned to use ordinary ice cream as a cover!
It seems she's learned a lot from being around Feng Yi during her time down the mountain.
At least in terms of dealing with people, she's learned a great deal.
As her master, Cloud Retainer felt very gratified!
Shenhe: Uh... Master, listen to me, it's not what you think...
Cloud Retainer: No need to say more, your master understands everything!
Shenhe: ...
Unseen, the most fatal of assumptions.
"Wow oh~ Wow! It's ice cream! Yuanbao's favorite dessert is ice cream!"
"Qiqi also likes ice cream!"
Yuanbao and Qiqi happily ran over, took their portions, and started eating with joy.
"Mmmmm... Although it's not as delicious as what Daddy made that day, it still tastes pretty good!"
Yuanbao commented objectively after taking a bite.
"So this is what ice cream tastes like. Delicious~"
Qiqi's eyes narrowed with delight. This was the first time she had truly tasted ice cream, and she felt so happy!
Everyone sequentially received their ice cream from Shenhe and began to taste it.
Cloud Retainer took a small sip of the ice cream in her hand. The delicate, cool texture instantly captured her taste buds.
To think there was such a delicious dessert in the world. She had lived so many years and only just discovered it.
Doesn't this mean she's missed out on many years of ice cream?
Cloud Retainer immediately felt she had been at a great loss and decided to eat more today to compensate for her past regrets.