["Paimon's output is too fierce"]
["Such disrespect toward an Adeptus!"]
["You have to admit, the question does make some sense"]
["After all, it's related to food—intelligence has reclaimed the high ground"]
Lumine facepalmed. "Paimon..."
Cloud Retainer also looked slightly awkward. "Ahem, well..."
"This humble one's research has only just begun, so for now... the issue of how the pot can automatically navigate rugged mountain paths remains unresolved."
Xiangling, however, directly praised the feature.
She said she wished she had such an ability too.
After all, when Xiangling goes out to train, she usually travels through the wilderness.
She rarely visits big cities or towns.
The wilderness is where you're most likely to encounter ingredients that make your eyes go dark—
No, ingredients that make your eyes light up.
If she had this ingredient-searching function, she wouldn't have to worry anymore!
She wondered if her master knew this technique. She'd have to ask her someday.
Now that the ingredient-searching topic was covered, the next step was naturally cooking.
"As for the cooking process, this humble one has installed countless intricate mechanisms within the device. Simply add the ingredients, and it will automatically process them properly."
Lumine found this unbelievable.
This so-called "Supreme Cuisine Machine" looked just like a big pot.
Even if it had intricate mechanisms inside, how would it know what dish the person adding the ingredients wanted to make?
Moreover, some dishes share the same raw ingredients.
Could it really make eighteen different dishes from a single Black-Back Perch if you tossed one in?
She asked, "How does it know how to process the ingredients?"
"Well... naturally, you must configure the parameters according to the corresponding recipe. Set the required processing method for each ingredient."
The adeptal bird began to speak vaguely.
"The intricacies are difficult to explain in just a few words. This humble one will not elaborate further. You need only understand that it's quite troublesome."
[Got it. So it's like this and like that.]
[Let's just say, those who understand will understand. For those who don't, I won't say more.]
Mu Yang now understood how to fob people off.
First, you had to position yourself as profound and unfathomable.
Then, shift the responsibility onto others by saying they wouldn't understand even if you explained.
Honestly, he had learned a trick each from Granny Ping and Cloud Retainer.
But the most unbeatable one had to be Moon Carver's "It cannot be spoken."
Divination involved heavenly secrets and karma.
If you said "it cannot be spoken," then it couldn't be spoken—the great karmic consequences were something you couldn't bear.
Cloud Retainer moved on to the final function.
"Based on this humble one's observations, the most tedious chore during cooking that irritates chefs is... 'cleaning the pot and stove.'"
As a chef at Wanmin Restaurant, Xiangling felt this deeply.
It was a tedious task, but it had to be done—and done properly.
Otherwise, it would betray the trust of the customers.
The kitchen had to be kept clean and hygienic to be worthy of the diners.
After this introduction, Lumine was thoroughly convinced.
With this Supreme Cuisine Machine and the Serenitea Pot from Granny Ping, she wouldn't have to worry about anything on her future travels.
"Honored Adeptus, is this pot for sale?"
[This monkey ain't for sale.]
[I'd love to get one of these too. Wouldn't even need takeout anymore.]
[Just toss the ingredients in, throw in some scallions, ginger, garlic, mush it all up, dried gourd, masala...]
[Wait, bro, why'd you go Indian all of a sudden? This is Liyue!]
Cloud Retainer laughed. "Hahaha, I'm afraid you cannot afford this humble one's ingenious device."
Mu Yang explained to Lumine, "This mechanism requires Cloud Retainer's adeptal energy to function. Even if she gave it to you, it would be useless."
"I see..."
Lumine was a little disappointed. Having something like this would've been very convenient.
At the very least, she could use it to make whatever Paimon wanted to eat.
It might even help cut down on expenses.
With the introduction complete, Cloud Retainer said the three mechanisms corresponded to three delicacies.
The reason she had invited Lumine over was, first, to showcase her "culinary skills,"
and second, to ask for her help in testing the functions.
[Ah, the classic fetch quest!]
[Just give Primogems and I'll run all the errands you want!]
Xiangling also said she could help.
Cloud Retainer nodded and took out the ingredients Ganyu had prepared for her.
"The first dish, named by this humble one: 'Literary Heart Tofu.'"
"To make this dish, the tofu must be sliced into fine threads... perfect for testing the device's knife skills."
"As for the ingredients... tofu, ham, bamboo shoots, and fowl are required. This humble one has asked Ganyu to prepare them, and they're right here..."
Lumine glanced over and noticed the bamboo shoots were missing.
Cloud Retainer explained, "Now we may begin. First, let's test the ingredient-searching function."
Turns out, the bamboo shoots weren't forgotten—they were meant to be gathered fresh on the spot.
Cloud Retainer channeled her adeptal energy. "Supreme Cuisine Machine... activate!"
As soon as she spoke, the lid of the pot flew open, and wisps of adeptal mist drifted out.
"This humble one has activated the mechanism. Follow the aura and retrieve some bamboo shoots."
With that, Cloud Retainer gave Lumine a Speed Talisman and a Leap Talisman.
Combined with Mu Yang's assistance, the ingredient hunt became an experience of an Adeptus's daily life—
nimbly running and leaping through the mountains. ()
Mu Yang didn't directly help with the search.
He wanted Lumine to encounter as many interesting experiences as possible during her journey.
Before long, Lumine returned with the bamboo shoots.
"I brought some extra. Xiangling, you'd definitely want to compete with this machine, right?"
Honestly, Lumine was Lumine—she was really sharp about these things.
Cloud Retainer handed the recipe to Xiangling. "Go ahead, young one."
Xiangling was overjoyed. "Come on, Guoba!"
"♪～"
Mu Yang took Xiangling to Cloud Retainer's adeptal kitchen.
Lumine and Paimon stayed behind to test the "Supreme Cuisine Machine."
Lumine placed all the ingredients into the pot. Based on the earlier explanation, the manual part should be complete by now. What else did she need to help with?
Couldn't Cloud Retainer have done this test herself?
"The rest can be left to the machine. However, you must still monitor the heat."
"The machine can't adjust the heat automatically?"
The answer was no.
Cloud Retainer had tried many methods but couldn't solve the issue, so this was the last resort.
Since she had to channel her adeptal energy to control the flames, she needed someone else to assist.
"I'm ready."
"Good. Supreme Cuisine Machine... activate!"
...
The next two dishes—Braised Beast Meat and Rice Pudding—didn't involve ingredient gathering.
Lumine and Cloud Retainer quickly finished all three dishes.
With Mu Yang's guidance, Xiangling also completed three dishes, though she was slightly slower.
During the meal, as Mu Yang had predicted, Xiangling and Cloud Retainer got into a debate—
whether machine-made dishes could truly be considered cooking.
Paimon didn't care about any of that. All she knew was that tonight's dinner was double the usual amount—time to feast!
Lumine and Mu Yang ate a little before stepping away from the noise to admire the moon.
"Thank you, Mu Yang, for inviting us to celebrate the Moonchase Festival together." Lumine leaned against a large rock. "The moon is beautiful tonight."
Mu Yang sat beside her and nodded in agreement.
The moon was beautiful.