Announcement

'Junior Sister?'

Xueyu was lost in a realm of cultivation when a voice jerked her back to reality.

She raised her head and saw a figure standing in the entrance of her room.

She was a petite girl with stunning features. Her raven black hair was tied back in a braid that pulled at her shapely eyebrows.

Her aura was welcoming and so soothing that anyone would want to talk to her or befriend her. That was the point of it. Underneath the serene smile was an alluringly sinister expression. To get on Xi Xi's bad side was like enduring hell itself.

'Mmhhm?'

Xueyu kept her eyes on Xi Xi while her facial expression formed the question she had in her mind.

'Dinner is ready. Are you coming now?'

She nodded her head at Xi Xi then answered, 'En, I'm coming now.'

Xi Xi turned and walked out of the room leaving a trace of her Jasmine scent behind. She was the only one who could be said to be a girl. While all the other females were doused in the musk of sweat, Xi Xi actually took the time to dress herself exquisitely.

Xueyu eased herself off of her bed and paused her musings. As she walked to the courtyard where they normally took meals, she tried to remember who was supposed to cook dinner for the day.

It couldn't possibly be...

_____

'What is this!?'

A shout came from the table after Xi Xi placed a spoonful of the stew into her mouth.

Her face went from its healthy glow to a purple that faded into a dark green. She clapped her hand over her mouth and rushed over to a bush to empty the contents of her stomach.

'What was that!?'

After everyone had seen her reaction they wisely left their bowls untouched.

Slowly, the heads of six youths turned towards another.

'Jiao!'

The one in question ducked his head but his smile gave away his shamelessness.

'It's not my fault you keep putting me on the roster,' he said with a shrug of his shoulders and an amused smile.

Of course it had to be Jiao.

Everyone knew that he was absolutely horrible at anything to do with a flame and a pot yet they still forgot to take him off of the roster.

Xueyu shook her head. One day their forgetfulness would inevitably kill them. Jiao was the type of cook that experimented. Although he was leaning on the side of disastrous mad scientist.

Around the large table, sat seven people, all with different expressions except for two... the twins.

Sheng and Feng were quite taciturn and it was rare to have them pop a smile or speak more than a sentence.

They kept to themselves for the most part and had only a soft spot for Master.

The sound of a sigh was heard and Daiyu , the eldest, got up with her bowl and cleared the table then trudged away.

The banging of pots and pans was heard and everyone breathed in relief, even Jiao.

Once again elder sis Daiyu had saved the day.

Qui Yang, sitting at the head of the table, clasped his hands.

He opened his mouth then closed it, then opened it again.

'I have an announcement to make,' he said taking the time to make eye contact with all of them.

They all eagerly waited but their faces quickly changed when he spoke again.

'I will wait until Daiyu comes back to tell you all,' he added.

The six at the table, even Sheng and Feng, glanced around at each other before jumping up from the table and dashing towards the kitchen.

Daiyu was a good cook but she took eons to finish just one meal. She would need a few helping hands.

Everyone dashed inside but Xueyu stood at the threshold, stopping Jiao from entering.

He pouted at her with eyes that was pleading with her.

'Xueyu,' he whined.

Xueyu tried not to scoff.

'You ruined dinner in the first place, do you really think we'll let you anywhere near the kitchen now?'

Jiao scrunched up his face and huffed at her. He glared before turning around and stomping back to the table.

Xueyu simply looked on with an indifferent face, hidden was a twinkle of amusement in her eye.

She walked in to find everyone crowded around Daiyu, asking questions.

She searched around the kitchen and found some green vegetables and beef. After grabbing a cutting board and a knife, she chopped up the vegetables and placed them into a container.

Then she got some flour to make the dough for her dumplings. There was of course a whole heap poured in since everyone together ate quite a lot.

In less that five minutes the dough was done and she had torn of small portion sized to roll out into thin layers.

She was so busy that she didn't even realise when Daiyu sent the rest back to the courtyard and took up the slab of beef. It was only after she finished and was searching frantically that she saw her already mixing it in with the vegetables and seasoning.

The pair worked quietly together since neither of them really talked much anyways. The silence in the kitchen wasn't uncomfortable. It was actually harmonious and peaceful.

It was no doubt that the same question ran through both their minds though.

What was the grand announcement going to be about?