Under the sky now dyed in shades of orange, with the sun dipping gently below the distant hills, Hong Wei, with Shan Mei at his side, finally stepped out of the Black Dog Gang's hold.
He could already feel how tired he was… it had been a day filled with happenings, after all.
Even then, when he remembered how he seemed to have achieved everything he set his mind to, and how his pockets were now heavy with money, he felt invigorated.
But just then… he suddenly sensed something was off.
It was too quiet.
Despite all that had happened, the fight, the massacre, the noise, it was far too quiet.
Looking to the side, at a beggar sitting against a wall, he noticed the man cast a single surprised glance at him… as if simply wondering how Hong Wei came back unscathed. But nothing more than that. No alarm. No fear. No reaction.
That's when Seren's voice suddenly echoed directly into his ears.
"Master, I cast a barrier during your venture to kill those people… was that a wrong move?"
Hong Wei was pleasantly surprised by what he heard. He immediately waved his hand and, in a low voice, replied, "Of course it was a nice move. Good job."
'Having competent subordinates really makes the situation different.'
With the thought that there was now one less thing to worry about, Hong Wei turned and walked toward the street market.
The amount of gossip and whispers he heard from the townspeople this time was even more than when he went out earlier… but he didn't bother with them. He just focused on his business.
He bought the best meat, the freshest vegetables, and the finest ingredients available, surprising the shop owner with how freely he spent his money, before making his way back to his house.
The first thing he did upon returning was to check on his mother.
And when he saw her sleeping peacefully, he didn't wake her up. He simply let her continue resting and walked quietly out of the room.
Then, his eyes fell on Shan Mei and Seren, both now back inside the house with him.
His gaze shifted between the two before settling on Shan Mei as he asked, "You know how to cook, right?"
Even if she was a battle maid… a maid was still a maid, right?
"Yes. Should I make a meal for you, Master?" she replied.
Not quite liking the wording, he corrected her with a small grin, "Make a huge meal for all of us. We need to celebrate, after all."
Shan Mei just smiled and nodded, then immediately went to prepare the meal. But Seren, who stood quietly at the side, couldn't help but say, "Master, we as cultivators don't need to eat. A little meditation is enough to restore us to peak condition."
Against her calm reasoning, Hong Wei simply smiled and said, "I don't like eating alone, though… so, can't you eat with me?"
For the first time, Seren's expression wavered ever so slightly, as if she were momentarily troubled. But after a short pause, she nodded.
Hong Wei felt as though he had seen something precious just then, and couldn't help but start thinking of more ways to happily trouble her in the future.
And with that, he moved to the shabby kitchen to help Shan Mei prepare the meal.
She didn't seem to need his help at all, with how elegant and efficient she was, handling every task with the ease of someone who had done it countless times. But he still lent a hand here and there, if only to feel included.
And maybe because he was already too hungry, the scent of the food only made it worse. He found himself stealing bites here and there.
Shan Mei looked as if she wanted to scold him for his improper manners, but in the end, she held herself back.
Like that, with Hong Wei laughing lightly at her reaction, and Shan Mei frowning and then relaxing her brows again and again, time passed.
Before long, the sumptuous meal was ready.
Hong Wei didn't dig in immediately.
Instead, he went to his mother's room and gently woke her.
When she came out and saw the meal… no, the feast, laid across a newly set table, Xue Yiran's eyes widened in surprise.
"Who made all this?" she asked, truly stunned.
And Hong Wei, speaking with a proud tone as if he had done it all, pointed toward Shan Mei and said, "It's naturally Shan Mei."
Xue Yiran's gaze softened even more than usual as she turned to Shan Mei and smiled warmly.
"You really are a wonderful girl. Look at this! I haven't seen such a feast in my life ever before."
Then she added with sincerity, "Not only beautiful and well-mannered… but you can cook like this too? Hong'er, you really brought back a treasure."
She hadn't even tasted the food yet, but just the scent alone was enough to make her eyes glimmer with anticipation.
She had already taken a liking to Shan Mei, but now that affection deepened.
After all, who wouldn't admire an obedient, graceful daughter in law who even helped with the house shore?
They sat around the table, one that Seren had casually made, from the wood around the house.
Steam rose gently from the dishes.
There was tender braised pork belly, glazed in dark sauce and glistening under the lamplight; stir-fried greens with garlic and sesame oil; a clear chicken soup that warmed the soul just by scent; delicate dumplings arranged neatly in a circle; even a pot of soft rice that shimmered faintly… and more.
Xue Yiran sat like a gourmet, picking a little from each dish and tasting with thoughtful slowness.
And then, she began showering Shan Mei with compliments once again.
Hong Wei sat back and watched it all.
He glanced at Shan Mei, who now seemed embarrassed by the constant praise. Her cheeks had turned pink, and she tried to hide her expression by burying her face in her bowl of rice.
Then his gaze drifted to Seren.
Despite what she had said earlier about not needing food, she was taking small, quiet bites. Her expression didn't change much, but there was a certain peacefulness about her now… a silent satisfaction.
Hong Wei took in all of it. The warm light. The scent of home-cooked food. His mother smiling. Shan Mei blushing. Seren eating quietly.
And then, finally, he lowered his head and began to eat.
The very first bite…
He felt his throat tighten.
It wasn't the taste that moved him, though the food was incredible, it was the moment itself.
The warmth, and peace… and the people around him.
After annihilating a gang right after transmigrating, and experiencing, how light life was in a cultivation world… this, this simple act of sharing a meal with people he cared about, struck deeper than ever.
His eyes reddened slightly, but he kept his head down.
He didn't want them to see.
He simply took another bite, pretending it was the food making him react.
At that moment, he realized how precious such moments truly were.
And how fortunate he was.