Chapter 09: Charged Up

Translator: Krukist

The young and dashing Situ Deng was the direct descendant of the Situ family in Heavenly Cloud City. While the Situ family wasn’t as prestigious as the Southwestern Marquis Manor, they were still one of the wealthiest families in the city.

Situ Deng had been obsessed with cooking since childhood, showing no interest in cultivation. In the Heavenly Cloud Kingdom—and even the entire continent—he was considered an oddity.

Born into a wealthy family with innate cultivation talent, he had abandoned the bright path of cultivation to immerse himself in the kitchen, spending his days with knives and cutting boards. For Situ Deng, cooking wasn’t just a hobby—it was his true passion.

At twenty-five, he had recently been crowned the Culinary King of Heavenly Cloud City, a remarkable achievement. While martial arts and arcane arts dominated the continent, food remained a fundamental necessity for the people.

The ambitious young Situ Deng loved culinary challenges. When he heard about Lady Nalan’s anorexia, which had stumped all the chefs in the city, he secluded himself for three months to create a new dish. Confident in his abilities, he arrived at the Southwestern Marquis Manor, hoping to cure Lady Nalan’s condition and cement his reputation.

He had prepared a lavish feast, showcasing his finest skills. As he brought out his final dish—a lightly salted vegetarian chicken—he witnessed Lady Nalan retching at the sight of the food…

“It must be because the dishes on the table are too familiar. Please try my new creation—the Lightly Salted Vegetarian Chicken. Its unique feature lies in its simplicity and subtle flavors. While preserving the natural freshness of the chicken, I’ve added fragrant herbs, five-colored leaves, and green jade aroma…”

Situ Deng, undeterred, approached Lady Nalan with his new dish, his steps confident and graceful. Despite her notorious temper, Lady Nalan was also renowned for her beauty. It was said that her anger could shake Heavenly Cloud City, while her smile could captivate the entire Heavenly Sun Continent.

Curing Lady Nalan’s anorexia would not only make him famous but might also win the heart of this stunning beauty. Becoming the son-in-law of the Southwestern Marquis Manor would elevate him to unparalleled heights.

“Take… take it away!”

Lady Nalan clutched her chest, her voice strained as she looked at the bland, pale chicken. It not only failed to stimulate her appetite but made her stomach churn even more. She had enjoyed a full meal earlier and thought her anorexia might be cured, but now…

“Lady Nalan, please trust me. You’ll love this dish.”

“Please try it, Lady Nalan.”

“Lady Nalan?”

Ugh…

Lady Nalan vomited again, this time more violently than before.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Situ Deng stood frozen, his face twitching with disbelief. He had spent three months in seclusion, pouring his heart into this dish, only to face such a humiliating outcome.

“Ah, Marquis, Madam, Lady Nalan has vomited something!” A maid in red suddenly exclaimed, pointing at the mess on the ground.

“Drag her out and execute her!”

Nalan Zhan’s face darkened. His daughter’s anorexia was already a source of immense frustration, and now this maid dared to mock the situation? She was asking for death.

“Marquis, Madam, I’m innocent!” The maid was immediately seized by two armed guards and dragged away to be executed.

“Wait, my lord.”

Qin Caiyun, the marquis’s wife, called out, her eyes fixed on the vomit. Unlike the usual yellow bile or green medicinal fluids, this time, there were traces of actual food. Though unrecognizable, it was clear that Lady Nalan had eaten something.

Everyone’s gaze fell on the vomit, including Situ Deng’s. His initial despair turned into profound sorrow. He had once boasted that only he could cure Lady Nalan’s anorexia, but now, not only had he failed, but she had already eaten elsewhere…

The slap to his face was deafening.

---

While the Southwestern Marquis Manor celebrated Lady Nalan’s newfound appetite, Lin Yu sat meditating in the backyard of Lingzhi Hall.

How can I recharge the computer?

What’s the energy source?

After much contemplation, as the sun began to set, Lin Yu had a breakthrough. He deduced that the computer in his Sea of Consciousness had been activated by confidence, righteousness, and helping others.

In both his past and present life, he had always been timid and hesitant, never standing up for himself. But today, when no one dared to treat the Blue Bamboo Cat and the manor’s servants were threatening him, he had stepped forward with unprecedented confidence. That was when he heard the Ding and the computer appeared.

This was just a preliminary theory, but it gave him some peace of mind.

As night fell, Lin Yu prepared to return to his room. Just then, the side gate of the courtyard creaked open, and a young girl’s voice called out, “Brother…”

It was his sister, Lin Ling’er. Lin Yu immediately turned and walked toward the gate.

“Brother, did you miss me?”

Lin Ling’er wore a floral blouse, her fair face glowing with mischief. Her bright, sparkling eyes were full of life.

“Weren’t you supposed to come back tomorrow?” Lin Yu asked, puzzled. The Heavenly Cloud Academy wasn’t far, but it still took over an hour to travel home. The academy operated on a closed system, allowing students to return home for one day each month. Ling’er usually came back on the last day of the month, stayed for a day, and then returned to the academy.

“I missed you, so I came back early,” Ling’er said, holding a small cloth bag. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she called out, “Brother, I’m hungry. Can you make me something to eat?”

“Wait here.”

Lin Yu adored his sister. After merging with the memories of this body, he felt nothing but affection for her. Ling’er had always been smart and caring, often acting more like an older sister than a younger one.

The least he could do was cook her favorite dishes.

When their father was around, Lin Yu hadn’t needed to worry about anything. Now, with their father gone, Lin Yu had matured overnight. His priority was ensuring Ling’er had enough Spirit Stones to pay her tuition and graduate from the academy.

He slaughtered the last chicken in the coop and prepared the same three dishes as before: Kung Pao Chicken, Spicy Diced Chicken, and Chicken Stewed with Mushrooms.

Lin Yu finally realized why Aunt Liu hadn’t liked his Earth-style cooking before. He had used the wrong seasonings. While the ingredients in this world were different from Earth’s, their basic properties were similar.

As expected, Ling’er was amazed by the unfamiliar dishes and devoured them enthusiastically, exclaiming how delicious they were. Blacky also enjoyed a hearty meal.

“Brother, this is for you.” Ling’er tossed the small cloth bag to Lin Yu.

“What’s this?” Lin Yu smiled as he opened the bag. Inside was something long and snake-like, but it wasn’t a snake.

“It’s a Thunderworm, from the Eastern Sea. Its body can generate instant electricity…”

“Ah!”

Before Ling’er could finish, Lin Yu let out a cry as his hair stood on end like a porcupine’s. At the same time, he froze—the computer screen in his Sea of Consciousness had lit up…

query: [email protected]