At the kitchen entrance, her jade-like skin illuminated the snowy scene. The black feathered skirt stood out starkly against the white, embroidered with silver threads forming moon patterns—exuding nobility and mystery while accentuating the breathtaking curves of her waist.
Ying Bing didn’t even need to scan the area before locking onto a certain someone.
She stepped inside.
"Brother Li, Miss Ying is here to see you... Huh?"
Huang Donglai suddenly noticed.
Brother Li’s expression was unusually tense and serious.
And despite the freezing cold, why was Brother Li sweating? Was his inner fire that strong?
"You’re here," Li Mo set down the barbecue sauce.
"What brings you to the kitchen?"
"You know I have some authority when it comes to culinary skills."
"But you’re not fully recovered yet."
Ying Bing’s delicate brows arched slightly as her gaze drifted toward the dumpling filling and wrappers nearby, a faint trace of... curiosity? flickering in her eyes.
When she had left Jiawei Tavern earlier, the landlady was making dumplings for her husband.
The boss had watched with a blissful smile, the couple radiating happiness.
At that moment, an unfamiliar yet peculiar emotion surged in Ying Bing’s heart.
Was it longing?
Either way, the boss lady had pulled her aside to teach her a thing or two. The icy immortal silently followed along, experiencing something akin to an "epiphany at Dragon Field."
Had Li Mo known about this, he would’ve had a serious chat with the boss lady.
"Ice Block!"
Seeing Ying Bing reach for the dumpling wrappers, Li Mo gritted his teeth.
After surviving countless battles with his brothers, he couldn’t let the victory banquet be his downfall!
"What’s wrong?"
Ice Block’s confusion.
"......Your outfit today is stunning. This isn’t just an ordinary dress, is it?"
Li Mo asked with utmost sincerity.
Rumor had it that complimenting a girl’s appearance could divert her attention.
Ying Bing’s lashes fluttered lightly as she nodded.
"Mn. This feathered skirt has some special uses. It’s quite suitable for training."
"Training even during the festival?"
"Not today."
"??"
Li Mo cleared his throat, noticing her gaze drifting back to the dumpling wrappers. He pressed on more earnestly:
"Then where did you get such a fine piece? I’d like to buy one too."
The youth’s eyes sparkled with genuine interest, as if he truly coveted a matching set.
"......I won’t tell you."
Ying Bing averted her gaze.
As everyone knows,
when flustered, people tend to busy themselves with something. Ying Bing had just learned a trick or two about dumpling-making.
And conveniently, there were dumpling fillings and wrappers right in front of her.
Li Mo: "!??"
Staring dumbfounded at the now hands-on Ice Block, Young Li racked his brains but couldn’t figure out where things had gone wrong.
Kitchen Defense Operation—failed!
Hm?
A dumpling rested on her pristine palm, surprisingly well-shaped and even somewhat refined?
Looking up, Li Mo saw Ying Bing’s usual aloof face, her stubborn lips now curled in a faint, triumphant smirk...
"No way. You made this? How?"
Chef Li was floored.
Had Ice Block awakened memories of a past life? Was this cheating?!
"Just a few dumplings."
Ying Bing’s expression was calm and self-assured, exuding icy confidence.
She casually picked up another wrapper and finished folding it in a blur—so fast the naked eye could barely follow!
She’d even channeled her inner energy!
Pork-and-scallion dumpling—complete!!
Young Li sucked in a sharp breath, leaning back in tactical retreat. He felt like the villain in a novel, utterly crushed by the protagonist’s flawless display.
"Well?"
"Li Mo bows in admiration."
The sky darkened, but the overcast clouds stubbornly refused to release any snow.
Outside, the snowy landscape was no longer just white—it was now dotted with towering piles of dumplings.
Rows of massive cauldrons bubbled with boiling water, while countless barbecue grills sizzled over charcoal flames.
Such earthly revelry could probably choke the heavens themselves—no wonder it wasn’t snowing today.
"Start cooking the dumplings!"
At Qu Sheng’s command,
heaps of pristine dumplings plunged into the pots. Moments later, they were flung into bowls via formidable inner energy fields, then delivered in waves to various battalions.
"Commander Qu, you’ve been at it all day. Have some too."
Huang Donglai handed him a freshly cooked bowl.
"Alright, let’s see how these taste."
Qu Sheng lifted a dumpling, his brow relaxing as he murmured:
"It really does have a bit of... a homely flavor?"
He took another bite, as if trying to confirm whether this was the nostalgic taste he’d vaguely remembered for decades.
Suddenly, Qu Sheng froze.
Huang Donglai nudged his chin toward a spot nearby.
Following his gaze, Qu Sheng saw Li Mo perched on a weapon rack with a bowl of dumplings, smiling at him as if mouthing:
"Happy Winter Solstice, Commander Qu."
"Happy Winter Solstice."
Qu Sheng nodded—then vanished on the spot.
Li Mo exhaled in relief as a crisp, pleasant chime echoed in his ears.
[Congratulations, Host. Successful investment in Qu Sheng: +60 years lifespan.]
[Investment reward: Void-illuminated Myriad Colors Pagoda.]
[Void-illuminated Myriad Colors Pagoda]: "Thirty-six tiers, each representing a hue. Capable of absorbing the power of mortal souls, refining it to purify worldly attachments, storing only the clearest essence."
"Note: Highly inefficient. Only 10% of refined power remains usable."
"!"
Talk about perfect timing!
Li Mo grew even more convinced that Commander Qu was a saint.
Even the investment rewards were this considerate.
Now he just needed to figure out how to gather mortal soul energy—though that required careful planning.
"What’s the matter?"
"Commander Qu... truly virtuous."
Before long, Ice Block’s dumplings were ready too. Li Mo stared into his bowl.
A murky soup of dough scraps and meat.
Charred black.
Young Li blinked. Picking up an uncooked "masterpiece," he finally noticed—the edges of the wrapper were sealed with a thin layer of ice.
So Ice Block had simply frozen the seams with her inner energy?
No wonder she was so fast!
Facepalming, Li Mo conceded that since this was her first attempt, and the bowl did contain both wrappers and filling, calling it "dumpling soup" wasn’t entirely wrong.
"But this broth......"
"Didn’t you say dumplings require vinegar?"
"How much vinegar did you add?"
"You need broth too?"
Ying Bing tilted her head slightly. Her deep eyes, veiled by the kitchen’s steam, seemed almost misty.
As if saying:
‘I made this especially for you. Aren’t you going to try it?’
She seemed eager to see Li Mo’s delighted reaction after tasting her creation.
Yet Li Mo remembered her last attempt—a pepper-fried pork and tomato-egg stir-fry—prepared with grave seriousness and the unshakable confidence of someone who refused to accept failure.
Now, there was an extra layer of... hopeful anticipation?
"Can I at least get a sweet preview first..."
"No."
Ying Bing scoffed, "Wishful thinking. Do you really think sweet rewards come so easily?"
But as she glanced down at her own Moonlit Immortal Dress, her voice softened:
"There's something else though..."
"What is it?"
"Happy Winter Solstice."
"Huh?"
Pursing her lips, Ying Bing scooped up a spoonful of vinegar-soaked dumpling filling soup and swiftly fed it into the confused Xiao Li's open mouth.
The return of the Tormented Piggy Hero.