Su Nian stared at the information before her.
It’s over.
This time, she had to perform on the Floating Fortress.
Surely her crow’s mouth wouldn’t jinx things again… would it?
Wait a second.
She still didn’t know—the so-called “punishment” and “training” for seven months that that bastard Horned Demon mentioned—wouldn’t mean she’d be completely imprisoned in this manor, not allowed to take a single step out, right?
If that happened, she’d have no way of participating in the performance.
Seven months… If she had to face this perverted Horned Demon every day, locked up in Shadowmoon Manor, utterly cut off from the outside world…
She would really… break.
Just imagining such a possibility made her feel suffocated.
What would happen to her idol career?
What about her identity as a mentor?
If others found out, especially the Partners of Magic Feather Fantasy and her own fans…
If they learned their idol Su Nian had actually been taken over by the Horned Demon, she’d rather die.
She needed to think of a way…
Talk it over properly with the Horned Demon, at least so she could go out as she wished, and still keep up appearances in front of others…
To achieve this, as for what happened in private… whatever, let him be.
While Su Nian mulled this over, she’d unknowingly arrived at the gates of Shadowmoon Manor.
Two rows of maids stood respectfully on either side of the grand entrance.
“Welcome home, Mr. Mo Yuan, Miss Su Nian.” All the maids greeted in unison.
‘Ugh…’
Just as that bastard Horned Demon had said, the maids only needed to call him “Sir,” but she had to call him Master.
‘So annoying!’
Forget it.
The most important thing right now was how to explain to this bastard Horned Demon about Magic Feather Fantasy being invited to perform on the Floating Fortress for the Winter Festival, as well as her need to go out during the day.
Hugging the obedient Little Violet in her arms, Su Nian followed behind the Horned Demon, deep in thought.
The familiar luxury of the manor unfolded before her eyes once more; every exquisitely carved detail and lavish ornament had once been a symbol of power and wealth in her eyes.
Her heart felt heavy, and Little Violet seemed to sense her mood, nuzzling gently against her and letting out a few soft whimpers.
‘Oh, right.’
She remembered—the bastard Horned Demon had mentioned “Witch’s Soup” before.
Clearly, he hadn’t forgotten that so-called “Affection Witch’s Soup.”
She’d already promised, so there was no way to avoid it.
Maybe she could make the Witch’s Soup first and present it to the Horned Demon before making her requests.
Perhaps it would make it easier to negotiate going out during the day and continuing to be an idol and magical mentor?
That’s it.
The Witch’s Soup she’d bragged about before—today, she’d have to cook it for that bastard Horned Demon!
And it had to be so delicious that even ghosts would weep!
She had to prepare carefully.
If she messed it up and he nitpicked or made an issue of it, she’d be in for it.
Maybe others would worry about this but who was she?
She was Su Nian—the one with the System!
With this Saint-Level Cooking skill, things would be completely different!
Su Nian took a deep breath, her elegant brows knitting slightly as her sapphire-like eyes spun with quick calculation.
With a thought, a pale blue System Shop interface appeared before her eyes.
A dazzling array of products nearly overwhelmed her, but she had a clear goal in mind.
With a tap of her fingertip, she found the Life Skills category.
— [Saint-Level Cooking], price: 100,000 Humiliation Value.
Su Nian’s gaze lingered on those few words.
Compared to the combat-oriented Shengji Professional Skills, which often cost millions or even tens of millions of Humiliation Value, this sort of life skill was practically a steal.
Besides, the System had already explained that the 100 million Humiliation Value required to become a deity referred to the total accumulated in history, not the current balance.
Spending this 100,000 wouldn’t affect her ultimate path to godhood, and it could solve her current crisis.
“Redeem!”
Without hesitation, Su Nian chose to buy.
100,000 Humiliation Value vanished instantly, but she didn’t feel the slightest pain.
In that moment, countless culinary techniques, ingredient insights, mastery over heat, and flavor pairings surged into her mind like a tidal wave, perfectly merging with her already master-level cooking foundation.
The aromas of various spices seemed to swirl around her nose, the texture changes of different ingredients under different preparations vividly clear, even the subtlest changes in flame and their impact on taste became obvious in her mind.
She felt as if she’d been immersed in the way of the kitchen for a hundred years—her every gesture radiated the presence of a top chef.
A confident, subtle smile curled Su Nian’s lips, her sky-blue eyes sparkling with calculation.
‘Bastard Horned Demon, just wait to taste the “Affection” Witch’s Soup this lady has prepared for you—I guarantee you’ll want more after the first sip, it’ll be so good you’ll question your entire life!’
With the [Saint-Level Cooking] skill backing her up, she not only felt confident in passing the Witch’s Soup test, but could also use this chance to put the Horned Demon Lord in a good mood.
And once he’s in a good mood, everything would be open to negotiation, right?
Hugging Little Violet, she walked briskly toward the kitchen, already planning out a unique “Witch’s Soup” recipe in her mind.
A moment later.
***
It was done!
Su Nian carried an exquisite white porcelain soup bowl, her graceful steps light as she glided into the Horned Demon’s main residence.
She intentionally slowed her pace, each step radiating a carefully calculated gentleness and grace; even Little Violet lay quietly in her arms, as if sensing the somewhat tense atmosphere.
Within the bowl, the milky-white soup was thick and rich, its surface shimmering with an alluring hint of pale oil, far beyond what any ordinary meat soup could compare to.
The intoxicating aroma seemed almost tangible, wisping into her nose and stirring a greedy hunger within.
A few finely chopped green scallions were scattered atop, like emeralds set in jade, adding color and an extra touch of elegance.
“Mas… Master~❤.”
Su Nian gently placed the bowl on the purple sandalwood table, making a soft clink.
She deliberately pitched her voice sweet and soft, the ending note rising ever so slightly, with a hint of honeyed flattery that could melt bones.
“This… this is the Witch’s Soup that your servant has lovingly stewed for you. It’s filled with your servant’s… ‘affection’ for Master~❤.”
She added, her sky-blue eyes blinking, striving to appear sincere and innocent, as if this bowl truly carried some grand, unspoken feeling.
“It’s… specially made for my most beloved Master…” Su Nian lowered her head slightly, a shy blush spreading across her cheeks as her voice dropped, carrying the shyness of a maiden.
In truth, this so-called “Witch’s Soup” was simply made using her newly acquired [Saint-Level Cooking]—a careful blend of several common mushrooms and top-grade magical beast meat.
But under the transcendence of her saint-level skills, the taste was absolutely unparalleled, enough to challenge even the most discerning palate.
She thought to herself, that bastard Horned Demon had better be satisfied this time.
If he could still find fault with this, he truly wasn’t human.
The taste was indeed superb.
As for the affection… yeah, right, as if!
Chu Tian lounged at an angle in his broad fur chair, the potent and exotic aroma of the dish wafting straight at him.
He glanced at the girl in front of him and thought, ‘A dish personally made by Little Nian? Could it be poisoned? Forget it!’
Even if it was, he had to try it—cooked by Little Nian’s own hand.
Su Nian’s heart tightened under his gaze, but she kept up her sweet, docile smile, only her fluttering eyelashes betraying a hint of inner nervousness.
Finally, Chu Tian stretched out his long fingers, picked up the white jade spoon on the table, and unhurriedly scooped up a spoonful of the milky broth.
He first brought it to his nose, inhaling.
The complex layers of fragrance were clear—fresh, savory, mellow, rich—each one refined to perfection.
Only then did he bring the spoon to his mouth.
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