I Build a Shelter in the Eternal Night

Ever since arriving in this world, he hadn’t had a single decent meal.

To say nothing of the rainy season.

It was dry biscuits all day long.

Back then, he had no mind for food; survival was the only thing on his mind.

He hadn’t eaten anything good after the rainy season either, aside from a single meal at a restaurant in Jiangbei City.

Now, as he smelled the aroma wafting from the beggar’s chicken before him, his throat began to bob uncontrollably.

...

Zhao Shengping took hold of a drumstick and applied a bit of pressure.

With a faint CRACK, the sound wasn’t of bone breaking, but the perfect, crisp snap of flesh separating and a joint dislocating cleanly.

An entire drumstick was removed, perfectly intact and dripping with juice. Not a single shred of meat was left messily on the bone.

Chen Fan took it, cleared his throat, and bit down with a calm expression.

The subtle, bittersweet aftertaste of the lotus leaf and the fragrant aroma of fruitwood smoke instantly melted on his tongue. He chewed slowly, and after a long silence, he couldn’t help but say in a daze, "You truly live up to the name Guanxi Master of Braised Food. This craftsmanship... it’s second to none."

"..."

Zhao Shengping, whose face had been wreathed in smiles as he eagerly awaited the Domain Lord’s verdict, was stunned by the sudden mention of his old moniker, "Guanxi Master of Braised Food." A flash of panic crossed his eyes.

"D-Domain Lord, how did you know my old nickname..."

Meanwhile—

Lame Monkey and the others, who had been gathered around, could no longer hold back. They strode forward and began to carve up the food. With only two beggar’s chickens, there certainly wasn’t enough to go around; one piece per person and it would all be gone.

Hey Hey got a piece as well.

But a lot of the time, food just tastes better when everyone gathers around to grab a piece.

If you were to hide in a corner and eat alone, it would somehow lose some of its flavor.

The moment the chicken entered their mouths,

everyone’s gaze toward Zhao Shengping changed.

’It’s... it’s so damn good!’

The flavor was simply indescribable.

"Hah!"

Zhou Mo quickly finished his piece of chicken and licked his fingers, wanting more. Since Jiangbei is colder than Jiangnan, its people prefer spicy food. He had actually been a little disappointed when he saw the beggar’s chicken had no chili peppers at all.

’What flavor could this possibly have?’

But the moment it actually touched his tongue,

he realized what garbage he’d been eating his whole life.

The sensation of the juices bursting in his mouth was absolutely mind-blowing.

’It would be even better if we had some wine right now.’

’And it would be best if something great happened for the Mortal Realm.’

’At the victory banquet, everyone would be happy, and the Domain Lord especially so. We’d all eat beggar’s chicken, drink wine, and feel the peace of the moment in the eternal night, regardless of what the future holds or how long we have left to live.’

’Just focus on the now.’

’A scene like this is enough to make a life worthwhile.’

Since joining the Mortal Realm, his greatest realization was this:

it felt like a real group of people had come together to get things done. It inspired a feeling of devotion. That feeling of everyone gathering together, striving for a single cause—he was captivated by it.

His sense of identity, accomplishment, and security all came from the Mortal Realm.

"Not bad, it’s incredible!"

Zhou Mo gave his approval. "Can we have some of this every now and then?"

"Er..."

Zhao Shengping looked at them tentatively. "If I do that, the whole camp will smell like braised meat. Won’t that affect the Mortal Realm’s public image...?"

The others all turned to look at Chen Fan.

"It’s no problem."

Chen Fan laughed. "This area is out in the open, so what smell could there be? Besides, this is the Mortal Realm’s core camp. Very few people can even get here."

"Alright then."

Zhao Shengping grew excited too. "As long as you all like it, I’ll cook for you every day! I guarantee 365 days of different dishes for every meal. You’ll eat to your heart’s content!"

"For real?" Lame Monkey was skeptical. "Are there really that many kinds of braised food?"

"Heh!"

Zhao Shengping began to tick them off on his fingers, rattling off the list as if showing off his personal treasures.

"Braised foods are divided into many categories."

"For example—"

"Braised poultry, which includes braised duck neck, braised duck wings, braised chicken feet, braised duck gizzards, and so on."

"Then there’s braised livestock, like braised pig trotters, braised pig ears, braised beef, braised pork tongue, etc."

"Braised seafood, like braised fish, braised shrimp, etc."

"Braised soy products, such as braised tofu, braised dried tofu, etc."

"Braised vegetables, like braised edamame, braised lotus root slices, etc."

"Braised eggs, braised..."

"Alright, alright," Lame Monkey hurriedly cut him off, sounding a bit exasperated. "Say no more. I get it, you could probably make 365 different kinds, maybe even more. Ordinary people only know how to braise a few things. Why do you know how to make all of them?"

"Well..."

Zhao Shengping was at a loss, unsure how to explain. He wanted to say it was just natural talent, but he worried that would make him seem unprofessional as an Artifact Refiner. After all, he had joined the Mortal Realm as an Artifact Refiner, not a Braised Master.

’I got a little too excited today.’

’I said a lot of things I shouldn’t have.’

He timidly snuck a glance at Chen Fan. He breathed a sigh of relief only after seeing no impatience or other negative emotions in Chen Fan’s eyes. In his former Sect, he had been despised by all the Elders precisely because he made braised food every day.

So, he had resolved back then that if he ever joined another power, he would make braised food as little as possible.

Giving it up completely was impossible.

That would be the death of him.

But...

He had to do it as little as possible.

But today, in his excitement, he had lost control again.

...

"Hmm..."

Chen Fan pondered for a moment, lost in thought. Then, he looked at Zhao Shengping with a smile. "Make a lot more braised food tonight. At the auction tomorrow, let’s have all the major powers have a taste. Let’s show them what they’re missing."

"Huh?"

Zhao Shengping was stunned for a moment, but then quickly became excited. "No problem, Domain Lord!"

But he still felt a little apprehensive.

"Domain Lord, since you know my old nickname, you must also know about my past. I was kicked out of my old Sect for making braised food all day. Don’t you think this is an unworthy craft that will hurt the Mortal Realm’s image?"