Chapter 8
1088 Words
The stout cook froze in bewilderment.
So she’d held back at first, then suddenly stepped in purely because he’d mentioned making City M rice noodles before being swallowed by the owl? He’d thought his savior was a selfless hero, but it turned out she’d acted all for a bowl of local delicacy.
"Hmm?" Ye Hanshuang frowned slightly. That subtle frown sent a chill through everyone nearby—after all, the fearsome Owl King remained bound just a short distance away.
The cook trembled and stammered, "W-We don’t have enough ingredients… no meat left."
Ye Hanshuang’s gaze drifted toward the giant owl.
Colonel Deng Chuan panicked and spoke up at once. "We have beef at the base! We’ll use beef for the noodles!"
No one dared imagine using such a colossal beast for meat. In the harsh apocalypse, simply getting enough to eat was a struggle. Freshly made City M rice noodles, a common breakfast dish in the old days, had long become a luxury.
Yet everyone in the temporary base rushed to prepare the meal without hesitation. This young lady had saved all their lives; how could they deny such a small request?
The cook set up his stall quickly. Soon, thin rice noodles were blanched in boiling water, topped with rich broth, spicy sauce, kelp soup, braised beef cubes, chopped scallions, coriander, pickled mustard greens and wild herbs. An inviting aroma filled the air.
Deng Chuan personally carried the full bowl over to Ye Hanshuang with a warm smile. "Your Highness, please enjoy."
Ye Baolin handed her a pair of chopsticks instinctively. Ye Hanshuang nodded regally and began to eat with elegant poise. Dressed in her refined gown, she carried herself like a noble lady sampling street food, utterly graceful.
She savored the tender, flavorful noodles and nodded. "Not bad."
For the first time in countless lifetimes traveling across realms, she ate purely for enjoyment, with no missions weighing on her mind.
Puffing out his chest proudly, the cook said, "I’m Yuan Kai! Back in the day, no one made better rice noodles than me. I ran dozens of branches!"
An ability user nearby chimed in, "Right! A bowl of authentic noodles plus spicy rabbit heads was the perfect morning treat."
"Those weren’t half bad," Yuan Kai scoffed. "The real master is Cheng Yue in Shuangliu. His family’s secret recipe for rabbit heads is unbeatable."
The mood darkened instantly. What was once a short ride away now felt like an impossible journey in the apocalypse.
"Quiet now, don’t disturb Her Highness," Deng Chuan reminded everyone, then turned back to Ye Hanshuang. "How do you like it?"
Ye Hanshuang nodded again. Deng Chuan rubbed his hands, his plan forming. "Your Highness, why not stay with us? Yuan Kai will cook for you full-time. Whatever you desire to eat, we’ll do our best to provide it."
"No way!" Li Li jumped up abruptly. "We’re heading for Sichuan Base. Your Highness is Miss Baolin’s sister, and this owl will pull her carriage!"
"The journey is full of dangers," Deng Chuan argued. "You’re from City M after all. Why not stay home where it’s safe?"
"Staying here is risky too!" Li Li shot back.
All eyes turned to Ye Hanshuang, anxious over her choice. With her immense strength, whichever side she joined would gain a powerful protector. Despite her spoiled temperament, no one wanted to part with her.
Ye Hanshuang said nothing and finished her meal slowly and gracefully. She held out her hand.
Deng Chuan quickly offered tissues, which she pushed away with a look of distaste. Ye Baolin pulled a clean handkerchief from her spatial storage and handed it over.
Ye Hanshuang wiped her mouth, then tossed the handkerchief to Zhang Siqin. "Clean this up."
Zhang Siqin’s eyes widened in outrage. Before she could snap, Zong Ling clamped a hand over her mouth. Now was not the time to anger Ye Hanshuang.
Still ignoring the debate over her next move, Ye Hanshuang turned to Yuan Kai. "Where does Cheng Yue live?"
"Shuangliu," Yuan Kai answered reflexively before clamping his mouth shut under Deng Chuan’s sharp glare.
Ye Baolin brightened. "Shuangliu falls under Sichuan Base. All survivors there must have gathered at the main base. We can find Master Cheng and ask him to make spicy rabbit heads for you!"
Ye Hanshuang nodded, making her intention clear—she intended to leave for Sichuan Base, all for a plate of rabbit heads.
Desperate to change her mind, Deng Chuan urged, "We have cooks here who can make rabbit heads too. I’ll send people to find them right away."
"I’m leaving for Sichuan Base now," Ye Hanshuang stated firmly and stood up.
Shao Chenyan and the others rose to their feet as well.
Deng Chuan refused to give up. "You wanted a carriage, didn’t you? We can build one for you here."
"The carriages at Sichuan Base are finer," she replied, repeating what Li Li had told her.
Deng Chuan ran out of arguments and gestured toward the bound owl. "This beast is far too large to pull a carriage, and it’s clearly disobedient. Why not stay a while longer and tame it properly?"
Shao Chenyan’s group fell silent.
Ye Hanshuang walked straight toward the Owl King, who glared at her fiercely and thrashed violently. She tapped the vine binding its beak with her fan, loosening it slightly.
"Sakura, will you be my carriage steed?" she asked in a calm, even tone.
The owl let out an enraged screech, its sonic attack making everyone clutch their ears in discomfort. Ye Hanshuang’s expression did not shift. The vines hoisted the beast up, and she struck down hard with her fan.
*Boom!* The giant owl crashed into the ground, creating a deep crater. It let out a pained cry.
"Sakura, will you be my carriage steed?"
Another blow landed. Again and again, she repeated the question after every strike. The onlookers winced in sympathy for the battered owl, as the ground shook relentlessly with each impact.
Eventually, the owl foamed at the mouth, utterly exhausted. When Ye Hanshuang raised her fan once more, it hung its head weakly and let out a subdued hoot, submitting completely. It could not endure any more punishment.
A faint satisfied smile tugged at Ye Hanshuang’s lips. "Good girl, Sakura."
The crowd stared in stunned silence.
Ye Hanshuang turned back to Deng Chuan, still smiling gently. "What were you saying just now?"
Deng Chuan swallowed hard, all his persuasion fading away.
"…Wishing you a safe journey, Your Highness."
- Writer
