Free Web NovelChapter 26: Chapter 26 Beast Heart Pendant
Xue Yao’s mouth fell open in disbelief. She was eating as if she were a machine. At this point, she realized she would have nothing left to eat.
"Tian Lan, stop." She warned, her eyes narrowing.
[But you are the one who started it. Why blame me?] She shrugged her shoulders before wiping her mouth, then she let out a belch.
Xue Yao closed her eyes. ’Bear with her, bear with her. Think about it, you still need her to get out of this wolves’ den. If you offend her or end up roasting her like a stuffed pig, she will never have a chance to save Honghong, go home, or even tame those big bad wolves.’
She let out a sigh. "Let’s eat slowly, there is more to go around."
[Hmm okay.] Tian Lan belched again, this time louder than before. Xue Yao had to scrunch her nose from disgust.
[Are you still making another soup later in the evening?] Tian Lan’s excited voice sounded nothing more than an annoying mosquito noise in Xue Yao’s ears.
"I don’t know." Xue Yao replied calmly.
Tian Lan floated to her side before calmly sitting on Xue Yao’s shoulder, and even had the liberty to cross her legs like a little boss.
’Just bear it... Xue Yao, bear it for the greater good.’ She cried inwardly.
[If you make another soup tonight, not only would we get something nice to eat, but it can help you to tame those guards. Think about it, the more they perceive the heavenly aroma of your food, the more they get tempted and the more likely they are to give in to you. This is a good plan, Xue Yao.] Tian Lan paused, gauging her reaction.
When she noticed no significant changes, she continued. [If you are able to win the guards to your side, maybe you can help Honghong out...]
There was still no reaction from Xue Yao.
Tian Lan puffed her cheeks in annoyance. [Okay, then I will make sure nothing happens to Honghong while you are in prison.]
Xue Yao, who was pretending to keep her composure all this while, suddenly turned around with wide eyes. "Are you serious?"
[Hundred percent.] Tian Lan wriggled her brows at Xue Yao.
Xue Yao observed Tian Lan. Something about this system had never sat well with her. But hearing that she was going to help Honghong, she couldn’t help but want to trust and believe her.
’This is better than nothing.’ She thought inwardly.
[And not just that, you have gotten a couple of rewards earlier from taming those rock rabbit beasts. And one of them is the Beast Heart Pendant. It can help you to read and understand a beast’s mind better. If you use it now, it can really help you to get along with the beasts.]
Xue Yao’s brows furrowed. "Can I see it?"
Tian Lan nodded her head, and with a swipe of her hand over the air, a blue screen unfolded in front of them.
[Bonus Reward: Beast Heart Pendant
Origin:
{Forged from the crystalized heart essence of a Thousand-Year Emotion Fox.}
Ability:
{Allows the host to sense the emotional fluctuations of beasts.}
Effects:
{Detect hostility.}
{Detect fear.}
{Detect affection.}
{Detect deception.}
{Can occasionally hear surface thoughts when the target experiences intense emotions.}
Weakness:
{Cannot read the minds of beasts stronger than the host by several major realms.}
{Consumes spiritual energy when activated for long periods.}
{Strong-willed beasts can resist its effects.}]
Xue Yao’s eyes widened. She didn’t even realise she had gotten something so useful. ’God of Futune, thank you! Not only can I use this to win the guards, but I can also use it to detect the emotions of those S-level beasts, which would really help me to win their hearts.’ She wiped away her invisible tears.
"This is amazing, Tian Lan, so amazing." She cried out excitedly.
Tian Lan rubbed her palms together with sparkling eyes. [So what do you say about cooking?]
"Consider it approved." Xue Yao winked at her.
Tian Lan smiled with obvious satisfaction before disappearing into a wisp of pale blue light.
Xue Yao blinked. "...She left just like that?"
There was no answer except for the faint cackling of woods.
"She really is unreliable." Xue Yao muttered before shaking her head. Even so, she felt noticeably lighter. Whether Tian Lan was shameless or not, she had never lied to her before. If she said she would protect Honghong, then there was a good chance the bird would remain alive until she could think of a way to rescue her.
"I’ll hold you to your word."
...
At the same time, the kitchen inside the White Moon Wolf Clan was unusually busy.
Several wolf chefs hurried around enormous iron cauldrons while others butchered freshly hunted beasts. The smell of blood mixed with smoke drifted through the air as knives repeatedly struck thick wooden chopping blocks.
Honghong remained trapped inside the iron cage in one corner of the kitchen. Her golden eyes had completely lost their former spirit.
She watched another wolf sharpen a massive butcher knife against a whetstone.
Scrape. Scrape. Scrape.
Each sound made her feathers stand on end. ’Master... where are you?’
She curled herself into the smallest ball she could manage. ’I promise I won’t complain anymore. I won’t eat your food, I won’t even ask for your blood anymore. Just... hurry up.’
A large wolf carrying the freshly sharpened knife walked toward her cage. "The Clan Elder wants fresh ingredients tonight."
Another chef nodded. "The bird should be suitable."
Honghong’s heart nearly stopped. She immediately threw herself against the bars.
"I’m too skinny!" she cried. "There’s barely any meat on me! If you wait another month, I’ll definitely become fatter!"
Several wolf chefs paused before looking at her.
One of them scratched his head. "...Can spirit birds talk this much?"
"I’ve never seen one."
The wolf with the butcher knife unlocked the cage. "Come out."
Honghong’s legs instantly turned weak. ’It’s over...’ She squeezed her eyes shut. ’Master... save me...’
Two wolf chefs dragged her out by the rope tied around her. Then they placed her head on the board where the other beasts’ necks were severed from their body.
Honghong closed her eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks. ’It’s over!’
Just as the butcher raised his knife up...
Boom!
A deafening explosion suddenly echoed from the far side of the kitchen. The entire room shook violently.
"What happened?!" The butcher asked with a snarl.
"My cauldron!"
Before anyone could react, a second explosion rang out.
Bang!
This time, several sacks of flour burst open, sending white powder flying through the air until the entire kitchen resembled a snowstorm.
The wolves erupted into chaos. "I can’t see!"
"Who kicked over the oil?"
"My eyes!"
Another loud crash echoed as shelves stacked with bowls collapsed onto the floor.
Smash!
Honghong cautiously peeled one eye open. The kitchen had descended into complete disorder.
Wolf chefs bumped into one another, coughing and sneezing through the clouds of flour.
The wolf holding the butcher knife stumbled after slipping on spilled oil.
Clang!
The knife flew from his hand and embedded itself in a wooden pillar.
"..." Honghong stared blankly.
’Did... the Kitchen God answer my prayer?’
High above the smoky kitchen, completely hidden from everyone’s sight, Tian Lan floated with her arms folded across her chest.
A smug smile spread across her tiny face. [Since I promised Xue Yao that nothing would happen to Honghong, naturally nothing will happen.]
She flicked a finger, humming while swaying beautifully in the air. Another basket tipped over by itself. Several pumpkins rolled across the floor, knocking two more wolves onto their backs.
The kitchen became even more chaotic.
After a while, Tian Lan nodded to herself with obvious satisfaction. [Good. This should keep them occupied for a while.]
