Chapter 282: The Warmth of a Villain! A Feast Before the Slaughter!
Yang Luoluo sat on the high stool at the kitchen island, swinging her legs nervously. Her hands gripped the edge of the marble counter.
She had made up her mind: no matter how unpalatable her Master Shen Anyu's cooking was—even if it tasted like charcoal, raw flour, or was so salty it killed her taste buds—she absolutely couldn't waste it. She would swallow it with a smile, praise it to the heavens, and lick the plate clean.
"Yang Luoluo, you are so clever! This is how you show respect to your Master and maintain the harmony of the sect!"
She praised herself in her heart, steeling herself for a culinary disaster.
However, as she watched Shen Anyu work, her doubts began to evaporate like steam rising from a kettle.
Shen Anyu skillfully tied on a simple black apron over his expensive cashmere sweater. The contrast between the domestic attire and his noble, untouchable aura was stark, yet strangely harmonious.
Chop-chop-chop-chop!
The sound of the knife hitting the cutting board was rhythmic and incredibly fast, like a machine gun.
His knife skills were terrifyingly precise. In his hand, the kitchen knife became an extension of his will, flashing like a silver dragon. A block of pork belly was transformed into uniform, translucent slices in mere seconds. Each slice was exactly the same thickness, down to the millimeter. This was not just cooking; this was the supreme control of a [Martial Dao Grandmaster] applied to ingredients.
Sizzle!
He heated the wok, the oil dancing and popping. With a fluid flick of his wrist, he tossed the ingredients into the air. The fire roared up from the stove, engulfing the pan in a controlled burst of flames—the "Breath of the Wok."
The firelight illuminated his focused, jade-like face, casting shadows that accentuated his sharp jawline.
Yang Luoluo stared, mesmerized. She found the scene incredibly incongruous, yet inexplicably pleasing to the eye.
Her Master, who usually had the temperament of an aloof Immortal looking down on the mortal world, was now tinged with the smoke and fire of worldly life. This didn't make him seem greasy or vulgar; instead, it grounded him. It gave off a warm, cozy feeling—like a safe haven, a true Family.
Yang Luoluo, who was originally a bit unaccustomed and awkward staying in this massive, intimidating manor filled with strangers, immediately felt at ease watching this scene. Her tense shoulders relaxed.
Just then, her delicate nose twitched.
A rich, savory aroma wafted from the pan—a complex mix of caramelized rock sugar, premium soy sauce, star anise, and the meaty scent of high-quality pork. It drilled straight into her soul.
Her clear black and white eyes lit up instantly, shining like stars.
"It smells so good! Master Brother, I didn't expect you could really cook! It smells even better than the Five-Star Chef at my home!"
"Master Brother?"
Hearing this slightly strange, intimate address, Shen Anyu turned his head. He looked at Yang Luoluo with a gentle smile, the spatula still in his hand.
Yang Luoluo's small face flushed pink. She realized she might have overstepped the boundary between Master and Disciple. She fiddled with the hem of her shirt, looking down at her toes.
"I... I think the address 'Master' is too old and stiff. You are so young and handsome, not like those old fogies with white beards! So I called you Master Brother... is that okay?"
She peeked up at him through her lashes, acting spoiled in a way she never did with anyone else.
"Of course," Shen Anyu responded with a laugh, his eyes curving warmly. "You can call me whatever makes you comfortable. The food will be ready in a moment."
Seeing Ruan Lingshan helping nearby—washing greens and setting plates with practiced ease—Yang Luoluo felt a bit useless sitting there. She jumped off the stool.
"I'll help too!"
Actually, at home, Yang Luoluo was a pampered little princess who had never been in the kitchen. She didn't even know which button turned on the stove or how to distinguish salt from sugar.
So, she was immediately flustered. She reached for a stack of ceramic bowls but fumbled.
"Ah!"
The bowls tipped.
Swish!
But as a newly promoted [Martial Arts Grandmaster], her reflexes were god-tier. Her hand moved as a blur, catching the falling bowls in mid-air before they could crash.
"Phew..." She let out a sigh of relief, patting her chest.
Watching Shen Anyu cook and flip the wok with fluid grace, Yang Luoluo was still a bit incredulous.
Master Brother's status was even more prominent than hers. He was the Crown Prince of the Yanxia Shen Family and the Yanxia An Family! He stood at the apex of wealth and power. Yet he was actually skilled in cooking?
Even she, a girl, couldn't do it.
Thinking of this, Yang Luoluo became a bit troubled. A sudden wave of insecurity hit her. She looked at her hands—there were calluses on her palms from gripping swords and lifting weights. They weren't soft and delicate like Ruan Lingshan's.
"Master Brother..." she asked softly, her voice losing some of its usual energy.
"I'm a girl, but I only know how to practice martial arts and fight. I don't know how to cook, arrange flowers, play the piano, or do embroidery like other noble ladies. Am I... am I a failure as a woman?"
Shen Anyu paused. He turned down the heat on the stove to a simmer and looked at her seriously.
"Of course not."
"Luo Luo, listen to me. If you are good at something, you are already very impressive. Society has many standards, but strength is the only universal truth."
"And you? You are not even twenty yet, but you have become a [Martial Arts Grandmaster]. Do you know how many people—men and women—dream of reaching that height but fail?"
"You are a favored daughter of heaven! A genius among geniuses. A phoenix soaring in the nine heavens doesn't need to know how to weave a nest like a sparrow."
"Otherwise," Shen Anyu added with a wink, "I wouldn't easily accept you as a disciple."
Hearing Shen Anyu's affirmation, the dark clouds in Yang Luoluo's heart vanished instantly. She beamed with joy, a brilliant smile returning to her cute and pretty doll-like face.
[Ding! Detected a +1 increase in Destined Heroine Yang Luoluo's favorability. Reward: Plundered +3,000 Destiny Value!]
...
Shen Anyu raised an eyebrow. An unexpected bonus.
In reality, he cooked mainly to reward himself and settle his own nerves. Cooking was a form of meditation for him—a way to organize his thoughts before the chaos.
Tonight, a major battle would unfold. A life-and-death struggle with a top expert at the [Heavenly Human Unity] level.
Even Shen Anyu, the Villain with the System, felt the pressure weighing on his shoulders.
He analyzed the odds in his mind as he plated the dish, his expression calm but his mind sharp as a blade.
"With my [God-Level Steel Body], [God-Level Telekinesis], and other trump cards, along with my [Martial Dao Grandmaster] cultivation, my raw combat power crushes any [Grandmaster Peak]. I can remain undefeated against a [Heavenly Human] expert in a direct clash."
"However... killing Tian Yunzi is a different beast entirely."
"[Heavenly Human] experts can mobilize the power of heaven and earth. They can temporarily walk on air, create sonic booms, and possess varied, esoteric escape arts. Defeating him is 100% certain with my traps. But killing him... preventing him from escaping... the probability is only 60-70%."
If Tian Yunzi escaped, the trouble would be significant. Catastrophic, even.
A vengeful [Heavenly Human] lurking in the shadows? It would be a nightmare. He could assassinate Shen Anyu's business partners, kidnap his women when they were alone, or destroy his factories from miles away.
"A thief is easy to catch, but guarding against a thief for a thousand days is impossible."
Originally, Shen Anyu had planned to ask his paternal grandfather—a [Heavenly Human] of the Shen Family—to come and assist.
He wasn't stupid. He wouldn't do the "Calabash Brothers saving their grandpa" trope, sending subordinates one by one to die or fighting fairly 1v1 when he had the advantage of numbers. He believed in overwhelming force. Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit.
But the [Protagonist Halo] was still at work.
Tian Yunzi came down the mountain too quickly. And coincidentally, Shen Anyu's grandfather was on a top-secret inspection tour at a hidden nuclear base, completely unreachable by phone or satellite.
His Aunt An Zhiyue could be notified, but her strength was only at [Great Grandmaster]. Facing a desperate Tian Yunzi would be very dangerous for her. Shen Anyu wouldn't risk his family.
"This is the last lingering glow of Ye Yan's luck," Shen Anyu sneered inwardly, arranging the garnish on the pork. "Trying to isolate me? Trying to force a fair duel?"
"Fine. But Ye Yan... and Tian Yunzi... you have misunderstood one thing."
"I am not some righteous hero who adheres to martial arts codes. I don't need a fair fight. I am a Villain."
"Martial ethics? Honor? Those are shackles for the stupid."
"Poisons. Hidden weapons. Lime powder. High-explosive C4 planted in the garden. Sniper rifles with armor-piercing incendiary rounds positioned on the rooftops. Nanometer Monitoring Robots. Psychological warfare using your own disciple's voice."
"I have prepared a feast of modern warfare for you, Old Man."
"Tian Yunzi... you represent the old ways of the Jianghu, believing that personal strength conquers all. I represent the efficiency of modern villainy, where the end justifies the means."
"With a [Nanometer Monitoring Robot] stuck to your robe broadcasting your location, and Ye Yan as my hostage to disrupt your mind... can you really escape?"
"Can you escape once? Twice? Three times?"
"Besides, Ye Yan is still in my hands. Don't you want your precious disciple anymore?"
As long as Tian Yunzi didn't flee immediately and abandon Ye Yan, Shen Anyu was absolutely confident he could kill him. He would grind the old master down bit by bit.
As Shen Anyu finalized his tactical plan in his mind, the killing intent in his eyes vanished, replaced instantly by a gentle, cordial smile.
He carried the steaming dishes to the dining table.
"Alright, let's get ready to eat. Don't let it get cold."
"Okay, okay! Master Brother, you go sit down! Luo Luo will bring the dishes and serve the rice!"
Yang Luoluo said energetically, grabbing the rice paddle. She wanted to prove she could be useful too.
Ruan Lingshan was a bit flattered and tried to take the bowl.
"Miss Luo Luo, please sit down. You are a guest. I can do these small things."
However, Yang Luoluo didn't look down on Ruan Lingshan just because she was a maid. She giggled, dodging Lingshan's hand playfully.
"Sister Lingshan, it's fine! I'm not some pampered young lady with broken hands. Master Brother just praised me, I have to earn my keep!"
Soon, the table was set.
The centerpiece was the [Pagoda Pork]—a pyramid of thinly sliced, braised pork belly, glistening with a rich, reddish-brown glaze, served over a bed of preserved vegetables. It wobbled slightly, showing how tender it was.
Shen Anyu smiled as he looked at Yang Luoluo. He picked up a piece of the pork with his chopsticks, ensuring it had the perfect ratio of fat to lean meat, and placed it in Yang Luoluo's bowl.
"Try Master Brother's cooking. See if you like it?"
Yang Luoluo looked at the meat. The glaze reflected the light like amber. The scent was intoxicating.
She picked it up and put the whole piece in her mouth.
Chew.
Her eyes went wide instantly.
"Mmm!!"
"It's so fragrant!"
The fat melted instantly upon contact with her tongue, releasing a burst of savory sweetness that coated her mouth. It wasn't greasy at all; it was creamy. The lean meat was tender and juicy, soaking up the complex sauce. The preserved vegetables underneath added a perfect salty crunch to balance the richness.
"Delicious! So delicious... I think I'm going to cry!"
Yang Luoluo felt as if she were Pigsy eating a magical ginseng fruit. She quickly devoured the piece, not caring about her image, and reached for another.
The Yang Family of Jiangnan was a prominent family, and they hired Michelin-star chefs. She had eaten this dish a hundred times. But she swore on her martial arts honor that the Master Chef's skill couldn't compare to Master Brother's. It lacked... soul.
[Ding! Detected a +3 increase in Destined Heroine Yang Luoluo's favorability. Reward: Plundered +9,000 Destiny Value!]
[Ding! Destined Heroine Yang Luoluo is filled with happiness. Reward: Plundered +2,333 Destiny Value!]
...
"If it's good, then eat more. You need energy for your cultivation."
Shen Anyu smiled, his eyes warm, and put more food into Yang Luoluo's bowl, piling it high like a mountain.
Yang Luoluo ate with oil all over her mouth, her cheeks stuffed like a hamster, her eyes happily narrowed into slits.
"Master Brother is too good. Handsome, strong, rich, and can cook! I never want to leave!"
She was so happy here. She didn't miss home at all. Sorry, Grandpa!
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