Chapter 5: Even Little Dragon Maiden Cannot Escape the Law of Scented Temptation

"Miss Long, are there any other provisions in the Ancient Tomb?" Yun Zhonghe asked.

Xiaolongnü, not understanding his intent, replied, "Of course there are, but Granny Sun has passed away, so there’s no one left to prepare the meals."

Yun Zhonghe chuckled. In his previous life, he had been an avid adventurer, well-versed in all manner of survival skills—cooking was a trivial matter for him. This was the perfect opportunity to showcase his culinary prowess before Xiaolongnü and win her favor through her stomach.

"Take me there at once. I can cook," he said.

Only half convinced, Xiaolongnü led Yun Zhonghe to the kitchen. There, the room was filled with all sorts of ingredients: eggs, peppers, garlic, rice, and more. Every kind of seasoning was also available.

Yun Zhonghe rolled up his sleeves, preparing for a grand display, but noticed Xiaolongnü still standing in place.

"I can manage on my own, Miss Long. Why don't you step outside and wait for something delicious?" he said, gently ushering her out. "It would be a pity if such a lovely face were to be blackened by the smoke."

With a bang, the stone door shut. Xiaolongnü stared in surprise at the closed entrance. Never before had she experienced such intimacy with any man; a faint blush flickered in her otherwise cool and clear eyes.

Yun Zhonghe set to work with swift, practiced movements. Before long, he emerged, left hand behind his back, right hand carrying a tray. With a graceful bow, he set the dishes before Xiaolongnü.

"Please sample my humble cooking, Miss Long."

She gazed at the tray: stir-fried tomatoes with eggs, spicy pork with peppers, and a plate of fresh vegetables. These were the most ordinary of homestyle dishes, yet their tantalizing aroma wafted gently to her, awakening her appetite.

They looked appealing enough, but how would they taste?

"No need, I can just drink honey nectar. You may enjoy these yourself—afterward, we can return to our practice," she replied with ladylike reserve, though her gaze never once strayed from the dishes.

Yun Zhonghe could not mask his disappointment. "So it’s true—beautiful women really don't need to eat."

"Well then, I’ll help myself." No sooner had he spoken than he eagerly seized his chopsticks, devouring the meal with such gusto that he resembled a starving soul reincarnated.

Watching Yun Zhonghe eat, oil glistening around his lips and an expression of utter bliss upon his face, Xiaolongnü wondered: was his cooking truly so delicious?

As she pondered this, the honey nectar in her hand suddenly seemed tasteless.

Looking up, Yun Zhonghe found her eyes fixed intently on him. He wiped his mouth and extended another invitation.

"Do try a little—it really is delicious."

After several invitations, Xiaolongnü, unable to resist the enticing aroma, finally relented. She nodded lightly, picked up her chopsticks, and placed a piece of meat into her mouth. Secretly, she reminded herself to eat only this one piece and then set her chopsticks down.

Yet, the moment her teeth sank into the crisp, golden-brown meat, savory juices burst forth without a trace of greasiness. The rich flavor spread through her mouth, tinged with a subtle spiciness that awakened every sense.

This was simply too delicious.

Savoring the taste, Xiaolongnü abandoned her earlier resolve and kept reaching for more. Her face could have been inscribed with two words: truly delectable.

Though her eating was far more elegant than Yun Zhonghe’s, her speed was no less. In no time, the two of them had swept the table clean.

"Ah!" Yun Zhonghe let out an unabashed belch, patting his slightly rounded belly. "Nothing is as satisfying as a full stomach."

Xiaolongnü glanced at the now-empty bowls, a hint of longing on her face. Her gaze fell on Yun Zhonghe, filled with wonder. This man possessed both extraordinary martial talent and culinary skill—just how many more secrets was he hiding?

After resting a while, Yun Zhonghe rose and began to practice his martial arts. Xiaolongnü, seeing this, quickly withdrew her gaze and, realizing he had not noticed, breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

Night fell.

Yun Zhonghe sat cross-legged on the bed of cold jade, eyes closed, palms upturned. Dense cold air swirled around him, and as time passed, a fine layer of frost formed on his body. He sat motionless, like a living statue of ice.

No one could say how long this lasted before a wisp of white vapor began to rise from his crown. His face flushed, body temperature climbing until he seemed as hot as a furnace. The accumulated frost melted away at a visible pace.

After half an hour, he parted his lips to expel a breath of turbid air, and his tightly shut eyes sprang open, a flash of brilliance within them. Sensing the changes within, he found the energy in his dantian had grown markedly stronger and more condensed.

This pace of cultivation was not slow, but for Yun Zhonghe, it was still far from enough.

Just as he was growing frustrated, the system’s voice sounded: "Ding! Congratulations, host, you have successfully checked in and received: Minor Rejuvenation Pill."

At the mention of the pill, his eyes lit up, his mood instantly brightening, turning on a dime.

He retrieved the Minor Rejuvenation Pill from the system space. The pill was the size of a longan, jet-black and glossy, exuding a rich medicinal fragrance.

Yun Zhonghe swallowed it in one gulp.

The pill melted instantly, releasing a surge of pure energy that flooded his meridians. The internal energy within him cried out hungrily. The potency was so overwhelming that it clogged his channels, sending waves of pain through his body.

Not daring to delay, for failure to refine the energy could at best cripple his martial arts and at worst, cause his body to explode, Yun Zhonghe focused his mind, guiding his energy through the ancient tomb’s internal method. As he absorbed the pure energy, his once-weak internal power grew at an astonishing rate.

Savoring the benefits, Yun Zhonghe felt his body fill with strength, driving him to refine the energy again and again.

He had no idea how many cycles he completed before his dantian felt utterly full, saturated to its limit. Continuing to absorb more would do him harm.

With a thought, he dispersed the surplus energy throughout his limbs and bones, every cell rejoicing. Under this nearly frenzied absorption, the remaining energy dwindled before his eyes, while his physical abilities increased, albeit slowly.

When at last he absorbed the final trace, Yun Zhonghe's eyes flew open, gleaming with light.

...

By the stone pool.

Xiaolongnü stood quietly, her stunning reflection mirrored on the water’s surface, motionless as a sculpture.

Suddenly, her expression shifted, as if detecting something amiss. She slowly drew from her sleeve a pair of translucent gloves woven from white silk, slipping them onto her fair hands.

The moment she finished, a cold gleam flashed without warning.