Unforgettable Gift

Lei Mingxing asked Jing Jiang to withdraw his Qi from the Spirit Core so the cauldron would return to its original appearance, before she hid it deep within the storage room again.

With that, Lei Mingxing joined Jing Jiang in ascending the stairs and the moment they set foot on the corridor they both immediately aimed for the kitchen.

A tantalizing smell of roasted meat and spices had already filled the corridor, which the practically famished Jing Jiang and Lei Mingxing acknowledged with a loud stomach growl.

They quickly entered the living room.

Chang Liuyun was already setting up the dinner table with several steaming hot dishes in hand.

He looked over after hearing them enter.

"You're later than usual," Chang Liuyun greeted with a curious expression, "Did something happen?"

On most days, Jing Jiang and Lei Mingxing would have returned over half an hour ago, it was only on rare occasions that there a lot of customers came right before they closed shop or that they still had to finish off a large private order that couldn't be delayed.

Hearing Chang Liuyun's question, Jing Jiang glanced at Lei Mingxing to see whether she would answer, but the latter just shook her head.

So he also only said with a cough: "Ahem, no, it was just rather busy..."

A doubtful look appeared in Chang Liuyun's eyes but he didn't ask any further, continuing to set the table with Lei Mingxing's help.

After a while, Jing Hai also returned, him being the latest out of them all today.

"I'm back!", he greeted enthusiastically.

But instead of a response, he was instantly met with three dissatisfied gazes.

They were all already sitting around the table, the food in front of them, only waiting for Jing Hai to return, so they could finally start eating.

Jing Hai laughed awkwardly for a bit, but also obediently sat down on his seat.

With his arrival the table became very crammed but they were already used to that.

Originally, this table was only meant to comfortably fit the Jing father and son who both had a rather tall built, especially Jing Jiang who also sported the characteristically hulking muscles of an artificer. But now, two more people had joined, both taller than the Jing duo, although they were also pretty slim.

Still, the table situation could only be described as 'cuddily'.

They began to eat in silence, quietly and contently enjoying the food Chang Liuyun had cooked.

After three weeks of household chores, he had gotten used to it, he even enjoyed doing them to a certain extend. The mundane, unchanging domestic tasks stood in stark contrast to his prior lifestyle, and Chang Liuyun wouldn't say that he missed the latter in the slightest.

And the task he most enjoyed, was cooking. He would also say that he was quite good at it, despite having never really prepared anything more than some simple stew or grilled meat the last few years, he quickly adjusted.

It was like he had an inherent talent for preparing and combining ingredients.

The whole process was almost meditative in a way.

He compiled and measured which ingredients to use to achive the taste he wanted inside his mind and it mostly worked without any issues.

Although every time he did, he was reminded of that time Suan Bian let him refine pills and felt an overwhelming yearning to try it again.

Unfortunately, he didn't have the nessescary equipment or herbs, it would also take a long time to save up enough money to buy a cauldron, as they were famously expensive, even the cheapest ones.

And then there was still the problem of getting out of Dark Spirit Town.

It would take at least a week of continous travel by carriage before they arrived in Sprouting Lily Town. Also, if they weren't able to at least rent one horse and had to instead walk the entire way, not to mention the risks that posed, it would also take them an entire month.

All in all, their escape from Dark Spirit Town, a town so close to a part of the Chaotic Expanse, would be incredibly difficult and dangerous.

So, they had to prepare as best as they could.

However much money Lei Mingxing and him would be able to save, was however much they would have to spend.

Chang Liuyun almost ended up sighing at this thought.

But he was interrupted by Jing Hai's loud voice before that.

"So, how is it, Xiao XingXing, did my son finally ask you to particiapte in the Bi-Yearly Competition?"

"Father!", Jing Jiang exclaimed in protest, a slight blush of shame on his cheeks.

Why did his father have to mention that matter again? It was already embarrassing enough that he had only asked his apprentice today!

Jing Hai just ignored his son's protests, waiting for the person in question to answer.

Xiao Xingxing or, rather, Lei Mingxing nodded in response.

"Yes, in three days, right?", she said with a motivated sparkle in her dark eyes.

"Oh, so you know already," satisfied with Lei Mingxing's answer, Jing Hai also nodded happily with an amused grin on his face.

Chang Liuyun stared in disbelief at Jing Jiang, this was the first time anyone had mentioned the Bi-Yearly Competition to him. He had never expected it to take place this week, not to mention in only three days.

The red on Jing Jiang's cheeks worsened and he lowered his head.

"That means you should use the next few days to think about your strategy and practice a bit," Jing Hai continued, " But I'm sure you will do decently even without practice."

The contendly quiet dinner resumed after that.

And despite feeling deeply embarrassed, even Jing Jiang kept enjoying his food wholeheartedly.

After enduring his father's teasing all his life, something like this wasn't enough shake him.

With the efforts of four very healthy and very hungry people the dishes on the table were soon devoured with not a single bite left.

Chang Liuyun and Lei Mingxing began to clear the table and do the dishes.

In the meantime, Jing Jiang grabbed his father who would usually stay behind and converse with the other two a bit before going to bed, and hurriedly dragged him away. Leaving Lei Mingxing and Chang Liuyun alone in the living room.

This had been a request from his apprentice.

And what kind of boss would he be if didn't even respect his apprentices wish to spent some private time with her partner, especially since he knew about her plans.

He actually felt kind of giddy thinking about it.

After all, how cute was it that Lei Mingxing planned on surprising Chang Liuyun with an artifact she had created herself? It had even took her three weeks to complete it, if that wasn't dedication than Jing Jiang didn't know what was.

Even though he had some doubts about the artifact itself, he still felt like a proud mother watching the blossoming of her daughter's love, despite being neither Lei Mingxing's parent nor a woman.

Meanwhile, Chang Liuyun and Lei Mingxing were quietly doing the dishes, neither of them feeling the need to fill the silence, just enjoying each other's company.

There was a certain, inexplicable trust between the two of them.

It may be the fact that were both owners, or more accuratedly victims, of a Chaos Physique, or that they had both saved each other's life before, but it was still a bit strange how comfortable they felt with each other.

They unhurriedly finished and dried their hands on a towel, just when Chang Liuyun was about to leave the living room, Lei Mingxing stopped him.

"Wait here for a moment, I'll be right back, " saying this, Lei Mingxing already took off, leaving Chang Liuyun standing with a confused expression.

Just as she had promised, Lei Mingxing soon returned and stepped right in front of Chang Liuyun.

The latter raised his brow under his mask. Judging from the look in her eyes, Lei Mingxing seemed to be smiling slightly, but he was clueless as to why.

Lei Mingxing raised her arm abruptly, her sleeve slipping down and revealing an unknown bracelet around her slender wrist.

Chang Liuyun was even more confused now and stared at Lei Mingxing with a questioning gaze.

But the smiling look in her eyes just grew deeper.

Suddenly the gem inside the bracelet began to glow and from one second to the next bracelet had vanished, leaving something else in its stead.

Chang Liuyun's eyes widened at the sight and he blinked unbelievingly, his mouth slightly agape in shock.

Was that really what he thought it was?

How did Lei Mingxing get a cauldron?

Weren't they incredibly expensive?

Instantly a bit of worry surfaced in Chang Liuyun's eyes, tainting the joy he felt.

But Lei Mingxing didn't wait for Chang Liuyun to voice his concerns, simply pushing the cauldron into his arms.

"I made it," Lei Mingxing explained matter-of-factly.

Chang Liuyun was even more surprised after hearing Lei Mingxing's words,

His gaze alternated between Lei Mingxing's clear eyes and the artifact in his arms.

Gradually, he began to tighten his hug around the cauldron.

"Thank you..."

Lei Mingxing was very satisfied with Chang Liuyun's reaction, she gave a small happy laugh in response.

"Hehe, you're welcome."

With a proud tone, Lei Mingxing explained what special ability the cauldron had to the silent Chang Liuyun who only nodded in response while continuing to stare at the artifact in his arms.

Lei Mingxing watched as Chang Liuyun transferred some of his Qi into the Spirit Core and the cauldron subsequently transformed into a bracelet again.

With that she let out one more small laugh and cheerfully announced that she would go sleep now, leaving the kitchen.

Chang Liuyun remained in the kitchen for a few more minutes, motionless.

It took him quite some time to look up from his wrist.

As he did, he quietly took of the mask on his face and wiped his eyes with his sleeve before putting the mask on again and finally leaving the kitchen as well.

Small theater:

Jing Jiang: Nothing should get in the way of my apprentice's lovey-dovey couple time!

Jing Hai: Oh, why didn't you say so, silly son! I also like watching this cute couple!

Jing Jiang: Exactly.