Ning Rongrong felt that the food was simply too terrible. Not only were the color, aroma, and taste far inferior to what she ate at home, but the six dishes on the table—two meat and four vegetable—were also quite lacking for Soul Masters who required higher energy intake, even if they were decent for an average family. Ning Rongrong felt it wasn't even half the standard of the servants' meals at her home, which made her already sour mood even worse.
As for Yun Ming, it was because the energy in this food was too low; it was fundamentally insufficient to satisfy his cultivation requirements.
Oscar, sitting nearby, noticed the dissatisfaction of the two and could only say helplessly.
"You've both seen the situation at the academy; there really isn't any money to spend on food. If you want to eat well, you'll have to go to Suotuo City and pay for it yourselves."
Yun Ming sighed inwardly. He had forgotten; given the financial state Shrek Academy displayed, how could they possibly invest so much in their diet?
Moreover, it was already getting late, and Yun Ming didn't want to make a trip to Suotuo City, so he could only have Oscar take him to the cafeteria kitchen and ask the villagers helping with the cooking to add a few dishes. As for the ingredients, they were naturally the Soul Beast meat stored in Yun Ming's Phoenix Cry Ring.
Upon exiting the cafeteria, the look in Oscar's eyes toward Yun Ming had changed; it was the look one gives a wealthy patron.
The raw ingredients Yun Ming had just taken out would cost several hundred Gold Soul Coins if sold directly at the market.
Seeing Yun Ming go to the kitchen to add dishes, Ma Hongjun and the others were naturally in no rush to start eating.
Half an hour later.
Ma Hongjun was swallowing his saliva while reciting the names of the dishes.
"Emerald Parrot Wings, Horned Rhinoceros Ham, Pearl Dragon Fish Soup, Four Soul Meatballs."
In his daily life, because of certain frivolous expenses, Ma Hongjun—despite being a foodie—never had the money to eat good things. Today, however, he saw several hearty dishes all at once, and he was nearly drooling.
Seeing that there were many people today, Yun Ming had specifically taken out a bit more Soul Beast meat.
Although his first impression of the other four was poor due to the earlier incident with Oscar, Yun Ming had originally intended to treat Oscar, so it didn't matter if he treated a few more people.
Yun Ming wasn't that petty, nor could he afford to lose face like that.
Seeing that a few dishes had already been served, Yun Ming casually gestured.
"Let's eat first. We can wait for the remaining dishes while we eat!"
Hearing Yun Ming invite them to pick up their chopsticks, the others—aside from Oscar—also wanted to eat but couldn't bring themselves to do so. Finally, seeing that Yun Ming had tacitly allowed the others to eat, and seeing Ma Hongjun drooling with desire, Oscar spoke to Ma Hongjun, as they were friends who had spent years together.
"Fatty, eat!"
Ma Hongjun gave Oscar a somewhat moved look, then glanced at the composed and indifferent Yun Ming, and whispered.
"Thanks!"
Then he started eating with gusto; he had been holding back for a long time.
Seeing Ma Hongjun start, and with Yun Ming saying nothing, Tang San and Xiao Wu also silently began to use their chopsticks. Tang San even added, "Many thanks, Brother Yun," while Xiao Wu gave Yun Ming another glare.
In the end, only Ning Rongrong didn't touch the dishes Yun Ming had added; how could the young miss of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect eat food offered in such a manner?
Ma Hongjun and Xiao Wu were purely greedy, but it was hard to say what Tang San was thinking.
As soon as a few bites of the food hit their stomachs, Xiao Wu and Tang San felt their lives had become blissful. They could rarely afford such things in their daily lives; Oscar and Ma Hongjun were slightly better off, occasionally able to go out and have a meat-heavy meal with the fallen prince, Dai Mubai.
But our great Tang God King had truly never seen such things. Before the age of six, let alone meat, Tang God King might not have even seen vegetables many times. It wasn't until he became a Soul Master and could receive a subsidy that he finally brought his standard of living up to the continent's average.
Before Wu Taijun transformed into human form, she likely ate raw food. After entering Notting Soul Master Academy, although her life was a bit better than Tang San's, it wasn't by much!
The meal soon drew to a close. Yun Ming used his Soul Power to condense his voice into a line, asking Oscar to send Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong away.
Oscar was stunned for a moment when he heard the transmission, but upon understanding the content, he caught on and said to Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong.
"We've eaten enough. Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, let me take you two back first!"
The two girls, having finished their meal, followed Oscar toward their dormitories. Inside the cafeteria, only Yun Ming and Tang San remained.
As for Ma Hongjun, because the meal was too nourishing and he couldn't handle the impending side effects of his Martial Soul, he went off to find his girlfriend.
Seeing that everyone else had left, Yun Ming began to chat with Tang San. Of course, it was a chat with a purpose.
"Tang San, where are you from?"
Although Tang San was a bit surprised that Yun Ming had taken the initiative to speak, the man had just treated him to a meal, and chatting for a bit was nothing, so he began to converse with Yun Ming.
"I am from Notting City on the border of the Heaven Dou Empire."
Seeing that the situation was favorable, Yun Ming continued to ask.
"Since you are from Notting City, how did you end up at this Shrek Academy? Even if you wanted to pursue a better academy, your family should have sent you to Heaven Dou City, not here in Suotuo City!"
Tang San replied calmly.
"My coming to Shrek Academy was arranged by my teacher. As for my family..."
"My father disappeared five years ago, and I have never seen my mother."
At this point, Tang San's emotions became somewhat sorrowful.
In the original timeline, although the Tang God King didn't treat his own children very well—his only daughter's soul was split, and his only son was sent to Douluo to toil away for a ten-thousand-year plan—he was certainly devoted to his parents.
When Yun Ming heard that Tang Hao had only left Tang San five years ago, his hand under the table clenched into a fist. He lowered his head, his medium-length hair covering the complex expression on his face, where joy, resentment, and other emotions were intertwined.
However, Yun Ming then recalled the matter of Tang San's Twin Martial Souls from his memories; Tang Hao might be nearby, protecting Tang San even now, so he quickly calmed his emotions and composed himself.
Seeing Yun Ming lower his head and remain silent, Tang San thought he felt guilty for bringing up his sad past and spoke to comfort him.
"It's alright, Brother Yun, there's no need to feel guilty."
"I'm already used to it, and I believe that my father and I will have a day to meet again."
Yun Ming heard Tang San's words and realized he had misunderstood. However, that was perfect, as Yun Ming also needed a suitable reason to explain his earlier abnormality.
Yun Ming raised his head and offered a heartfelt wish.
"I also hope that you and your father will be reunited soon..."
And then, I can follow the vine to find him!!! And then... Yun Ming silently finished the second half of the sentence in his heart.
Seeing Yun Ming's sincere blessing, Tang San replied.
"Thank you!"
Once he finished speaking, Yun Ming stood up and walked toward the kitchen door.
Just as Tang San was pondering the true meaning behind Yun Ming's sudden conversation, he heard Yun Ming's voice from behind him.
"Catch!"
Hearing Yun Ming, Tang San used the Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon technique with a backhand motion, catching the item Yun Ming had tossed over. Looking at the golden-brown roasted rabbit leg in his hand and catching a whiff of the mouth-watering aroma, Tang San asked.
"What is this?"
Yun Ming curled his lips, smiling at Tang San like a devil, tempting him.
"Charcoal Grilled Soft Bone Rabbit Leg. It's my personal favorite after eating so many types of Soul Beast meat; the taste is absolutely the finest delicacy in the Human World!"
While speaking, Yun Ming even utilized the Mental Suggestion Secret Method. As for where this technique came from, it was naturally learned from the memories of Yun Ming's past life. As an organization that had produced a master with maxed-out Spiritual Power like Huo Yuhao, it was not strange for Shrek Academy to possess such a secret method.
As for why he gave him the rabbit leg, it was, of course, due to Yun Ming's own wicked sense of humor! Yun Ming wanted to disgust that loose-lipped Xiao Wu, but since he couldn't go too far, helping Tang San develop a habit of eating Soft Bone Rabbit meat was simple and efficient.
This was specially marinated by the chef in Yun Ming's household. Since Yun Ming couldn't go home for now, every one he ate was one less available. To disgust Xiao Wu, Yun Ming was truly pulling out all the stops.
However, what Yun Ming did not know was that Xiao Wu really was a Soft Bone Rabbit! The Sea God's secret records from twenty thousand years later only documented major events; they did not record the bizarre fact that the Sea God Tang San's mother and wife were both Soul Beasts!
But that was normal. In this world where humans and Soul Beasts were absolutely opposed, if news spread that the Sea God's relatives were Soul Beasts, it would deal a devastating blow to the prestige of the Sea God, Shrek Academy, the Tang Sect, and all forces related to Sea God Tang San. Neither Tang San himself nor any subsequent Sea God Pavilion Master would ever allow such information to spread! And the best way to ensure it didn't spread was to destroy every trace!!!
ps: Seeking monthly tickets and recommendations.
One hundred thousand words reached, just a little commemoration. Also, thank you to all the readers for your continued support!!!
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader