Chapter 380 - the Cruel World
Chapter 380: the Cruel World
Ling Pingan picked up a piece of roast pork with his chopsticks.
He slowly put it into his mouth and chewed on it under Chiba Michiko’s anxious and expectant gaze.
The fragrance of the meat bloomed in his mouth, bringing with it a slight hint of charred flavour.
However, the meat was very tender, without any dryness. It tasted very delicious.
Pingan nodded. “Not bad! You’ve improved your skills!”
When Michiko heard this praise, she was extremely excited. She immediately felt that all the hard work she had put in these past few days had not been in vain!
Hence, she bowed deeply.
Pingan, on the other hand, thought for a moment before continuing, “But… there are still quite a few flaws…”
“To tell you the truth, Michiko…”
“And I only used 50% of my taste skill this time!”
As an outstanding gourmet, Pingan’s biggest problem since he was young was his sensitive tongue.
If he wanted, he could even tell the subtle difference between different cups of water.
This was both an advantage and a huge disadvantage!
Before he graduated from university, he had lived a hard life.
That was because the food in the school cafeteria was the most disgusting in the world, and it was known as the food from Hell.
The taste was so terrible that it made one’s hair stand on end!
Most people had to pinch their noses and force the food down their throat.
Pingan was even more tormented.
When he was in primary school, he often skipped lunch, or only ate one mouthful…
When he was in secondary school, he went straight to boarding school.
That was where the painful torture began.
In order not to starve to death, Pingan could only try his best.
Through some psychological effort, he allowed his taste buds to block out some of the taste.
In this way, although the food in the cafeteria was still terrible, he could finally swallow it.
He wouldn’t starve to death at school and die of malnutrition and severe hunger.
Now, he had freed half of his taste buds.
The sensitivity of his tongue had increased several times.
Naturally, he could easily taste the many flaws of Michiko’s dish.
Michiko, of course, had no doubt.
She bowed deeply. “Ling-san, please enlighten me!”
Pingan looked at her and nodded in satisfaction.
This was the good thing about the people of Fusang.
Whenever they encountered specific problems, they liked to strive for perfection.
This was also their national characteristic.
It was said that in the Fusang kingdom, some chefs even paid attention to how they kneaded a rice ball!
Pingan picked up another piece of meat and said to Michiko, “Michiko, look… the degree of maturity of this meat…”
“You can go further!”
Michiko looked at the piece of meat carefully.
Psionic power was twined around the fibers, and spices were faintly discernible in the gravy.
It was indeed because the psionic fire was not powerful enough.
As a result, psionic power was not able to be absorbed by the fibers and gravy of the meat.
She bowed deeply. “Yes! I’ll take note!”
She understood that she was still a little too weak in the end.
If she could break through to the next level, she could solve this problem.
Coincidentally, the Blackguard had already promised to provide all the resources she needed.
She only needed to train hard.
“Also…” Pingan put the meat into his mouth and said as he chewed, “Be careful when you marinate it…”
“It feels a little too much…”
“The meat has been marinated for too long!”
Michiko lowered her head in shame.
She naturally knew about this problem.
But she had no choice!
Her strength was too weak!
She could only rely on the seasoning she had requested from the Blackguard to marinate the meat, so as to reduce the psionic power required during the roasting and preparation.
As expected, this kind of trick could not be hidden from Ling-san’s sharp eyes!
She bowed deeply. “I’m sorry!”
Ling Pingan smiled and shook his head. “There’s no need to be so sad, Michiko!”
“Your culinary skills are already very good!”
Pingan still had high hopes for Michiko.
After all, it was really not easy to find a takeaway restaurant that suited one’s appetite!
What was even rarer was that this chef was willing to continue learning and improve her culinary skills!
It was truly rare and valuable!
Pingan was counting on her to provide a true feast for his stomach and taste buds after her culinary skills were perfected in the future!
Pingan had always hoped that he would be able to satisfy his appetite without having to do it himself!
Michiko bowed once again and said, “Right, Ling…”
“I’m going to the imperial capital next month…”
“The Fusang Gourmet Promotion Association of the Federal Empire has already recommended me to be Fusang’s chef representative to participate in and prepare for the Fellowship Party next month!”
“This is an honor!”
As she said this, her face was filled with pride!
To the people of Fusang, becoming famous in this land and receiving recognition would be a lifetime’s honor!
The envoy of the Tang Empire from a thousand years ago, Abe Zhong and Ma Lu, have had statues made in their honour, which remained standing in the capital and had become a part of the country’s memory.
Pingan’s eyes lit up. “That’s great!”
Yes!
He was worried that he would go hungry when he went to the capital!
Now it seemed that..
At least he wouldn’t go hungry!
… … … ..
After returning home, Michiko continued to think about Ling-san’s guidance and encouragement.
She knew that she was lucky.
Otherwise, how could she have been taught and corrected by such a sage?
“I have to work harder…” she thought. “Only then will I not let Ling-san down!”
She was about to walk into the house.
But her mother stopped her. “Michiko… Michiko!”
Michiko looked up and saw her mother calling her name in the courtyard.
“What’s the matter?” Michiko walked over and asked, “Mother, what’s the matter?”
Her mother, Chiba Gengo, was a typical Fusang woman. She always wore traditional Fusang clothes and didn’t usually speak much.
But today, she was very excited.
“Michiko…”she held onto Michiko’s hand. “My daughter…”
“When you went out, the Palace Hall called…”
“They said that they hope that you can register yourself on the Federal Empire’s invitation list under the title of ‘Imperial Attendant of the Princess Reikyuu Gishi’!”
For every Fusang person, if they had the chance to become an imperial attendant, it was simply a wonderful gift from the heavens.
This did not only mean honor.
It also meant a leap in status.
Imperial attendants could be considered as Chinese.
And the Princess Reikyuu Gishi was the only daughter of the current king of Fusang.
She had been doted on since she was young.
This could be seen from her royal name, which meant rite and justice.
She was treated like the crown prince.
And this princess was indeed very close to becoming the queen of Fusang — if it wasn’t for the fact that the King of Fusang gave birth to a baby boy.
Michiko was stunned.
The royal family was looking for her at this time?
She lowered her head and thought, “Will the Blackguard agree?”
After thinking for a while, she knew the answer would be yes!
The Blackguard and the federal empire had always strongly encouraged foreigners and transcendent beings to come to the empire to build their own country.
Especially immigrants in the world.
And the immigrants could have dual nationality.
This was a historical tradition.
It was also a fact that this country could not deny!
It was also its duty and responsibility.
The son of the Emperor was the son of all the people in the world!
Although the Federal Empire had smashed the tributary system, the tributary system could not be eradicated from people’s hearts.
Instead, as time passed, it became more and more intense.
Michiko only gave it a simple thought before she said to her mother, “If Her Highness is really willing…”
“I have no objections!”
Sooner or later, she would return to Fusang with the skills she had learned. She would use delicious food to heal the hearts of the people and resolve the conflicts between races.
This was her wish, her ideal, and also her promise to Ling-san and the sages.
Just like the diplomats to Tang from a thousand years ago and the ones to Xia now.
Their hearts and souls belonged to their homeland!
“Great!” Michiko’s mother was delighted. “I’m going to call the Palace Hall Right Now!”
Michiko nodded.
Half an hour later, Michiko received a call from the capital.
“Michiko!” On the other end of the phone was a quiet female voice. “I’m the Princess Reikyuu Gishi!”
“Your Highness!” Michiko quickly used honorifics.
“Michiko… can I call you that?” The princess on the phone spoke softly and gently.
“It’s my honor!” Michiko replied. “Your Highness!”
“Ha! You are indeed a hero among the women of Fu Sang!” The princess said happily. “Then I’ll count on you for this meeting with the King and the eldest princess!”
Michiko did not understand.
The King?
The eldest princess?
Would I have the chance to meet such prominent figures?
She heard the princess say on the phone, “Tomorrow, there will be someone from the Palace Hall personally coming to report to you…”
“I hope you can give me some pointers!”
“Please!”
Michiko put down the phone. Her beautiful eyes flashed and she felt a little flustered.
She was merely an immigrant who had moved to this city.
At most, she had a little talent as a chef and received pointers from a reclusive ‘sage’.
The Princess actually noticed her.
What’s more, she actually asked Michiko for help so solemnly and humbly?
She felt that it was a little hard to understand.
Fortunately, she could go and ask for help.
So, filled with doubts, Michiko went to Jiangcheng University and found her cousin, Chiho Fujiwara, who was reading in the library.
She told Chiho Fujiwara about her experience today and the confusion in her heart.
Then, Michiko looked at her cousin and asked, “Fujiwara… What’s going on?”
Chiho Fujiwara blinked after hearing this.
As the granddaughter of the former prime minister, her sensitivity was naturally not something that Michiko could compare to.
She looked at her cousin, the fox girl who had been adopted.
She smiled. “Michiko… You’re so lucky!”
Michiko didn’t understand and looked at Chiho Fujiwara in puzzlement.
“There must be something she wants from you,” Chiho Fujiwara looked at her silly cousin and said, “as the Princess has given you this mission in such a solemn manner…”
“Michiko… the person you met… I’m afraid his background is even greater than I imagined!”
“Perhaps, his status in this country far exceeds what you and I know!”
At this point, Chiho Fujiwara couldn’t help but feel envious of her cousin.
Ever since this silly fox girl was adopted, she had been avoiding cultivation.
It was only recently that she finally began to cultivate her powers seriously.
With her personality, if she were in Fusang, she probably wouldn’t be able to survive for even a day.
The priests and Yin Yang Masters would be very happy to extract her soul and nurture it as a spirit-branded retainer.
As for the fiendish demons, they wouldn’t mind eating a little fox demon to increase their cultivation levels.
However, she was lucky enough to follow her adoptive parents and obtain refugee status. She came to the safest place in the world.
This allowed her to grow up safely and still retain her naivety.
However, this good fortune was only the beginning.
In this country, she actually met a hermit who lived in seclusion. It was even possible that he was a sage.
He taught her the mystical spirit food technique and taught her a precious cultivation method.
Even the law enforcement agencies of this country were very cooperative.
They practically had everything they wanted, as if they were afraid that she didn’t have enough.
Chiho Fujiwara was extremely envious when she saw such treatment.
Yet, Michiko didn’t know her good fortune and was still muddle-headed.
Michiko widened her eyes. “Is that so? Ling-san’s status is very high?”
Chiho Fujiwara looked at the silly girl and shook her head. “The great are hidden in the city… since ancient times, the real sages hid in the city, and which one of them is not famous?”
“Moreover, now is the era of transcendent beings!”
“Strength is truth, and magic art is the benevolence and righteousness of the era!”
“Do you know what kind of world lies outside this country?”
Michiko shook her head.
Chiho Fujiwara stood up and said seriously, “In the temple, rotten men serve as officials. In the hall, animals eat money, and those who have the heart of a wolf serve justice!”
“Powerful extraordinaires and foreign species control everything behind the scenes…”
“All the wail and sufferings of millions of people… Just so those powerhouses would be a little stronger!”
“Even for Fusang!”
“This is why we wholeheartedly want to merge with the Empire!”
Michiko was dumbfounded. “How come I’ve never seen it on the news…”
“Hehe…” Chiho Fujiwara laughed. “News… only what you want to see will appear on the news!”
“What you don’t want to see will never appear on the news!”
“News control and official secrecy laws are the best means to cover up everything!”
“Back then, during the chaos of the feathered fox, such a huge incident could be turned into a natural disaster!”
“Other things… aren’t they simpler?”
Michiko felt that her thoughts were a little chaotic.
Was this world really that dangerous?
She didn’t know.
Chiho Fujiwara smiled as she cupped’s chin. She looked at the delicate skin and face of the little fox demon and said solemnly, “Michiko!”
“Fusang, hundreds of millions of people…”
“I’m afraid we’ll have to rely on you!”
“Ah!” Michiko didn’t understand.
“If that Ling-san really has a very high status…”
“Your relationship with him may decide our life and death!”
As she said this, Chiho Fujiwara’s expression became meaningful.
Looking at Michiko, Chiho Fujiwara recalled a line from a famous poem, “a gold hair-pin adorning her tresses, behind the warm lotus-flower curtain”.
If it was possible…
To use a little fox girl in exchange for a country’s peace and prosperity.
It was truly a worthwhile trade!
Thinking of this, Chiho Fujiwara understood that she had to protect this secret to the death.
Because only rare goods could be hoarded!
… … … ..
Pingan crossed his legs, drank the sweet tea, and watched a variety show on TV.
The male celebrity who was shouting deliberately exaggerated his performance, which was a little awkward.
The female celebrity who was working with him was also very awkward.
“Now, I can’t even watch a good variety show…” he lamented, “What else can I watch in the future?”
In recent years, the television industry had really lost its way.
TV dramas, variety shows, all of them.
Not even one single watchable show in a whole year.
Exaggerated acting and embarrassing variety shows were everywhere.
This made Pingan very uncomfortable!
After all, other people might still be able to nourish their eyes with the sight of beautiful girls and handsome youths.
However, it was already very difficult for people like him with face blindness to even recognize the actors on the screen.
How could he even appreciate beauty and ugliness?
At most, he would sometimes feel that a certain celebrity was ‘cute’.
That was why he only took a few more glances.
Thinking of cute ‘female celebrity’, Pingan sighed again.
He had seen some of them when he was young.
But now, they were gone.
In his eyes, the female celebrities on TV were like mannequins carved out of a mold, mannequins in a shopping mall.
The bookstore owner, who felt really bored, picked up his phone.
He looked at the icon of legend of Nightmare on his phone, thought for a moment, and clicked on it.
In the end…
The screen turned black, and then it flashed.
A notification appeared on the screen: dear player, the server of Legend of Nightmare is undergoing maintenance and upgrading…
Pingan stuck out his tongue. “I can’t even play the game anymore!”
I can only write!