Calm Before the Storm

"What is that!!"

"Who dares to attack Lord's mansion?!"

"Secure the perimeter! Don't let the enemy escape!!"

The explosion alert everyone in the mansion. Once peaceful morning turn into chaos and disorder.

Feng Xuan and several guards quickly approach the training ground where the explosion happens.

He looks at the huge hole on the ground and two women: One with a straight face as if nothing happens and one with a guilty face.

Of course, the first one was Snowy and the second one was Feng Xue.

Feng Xuan realized that they have misunderstood the situation and have a good guess of what really happened.

"Do you have something to say?" Feng Xuan said sternly.

"I'm sorry. I think I'm a bit overboard," Feng Xue replied, taking all the blame.

"It's not Xue's fault. It's my fault to fail to restrain my power."

Snowy, realized that she somehow has any part in this mess, quickly defended Feng Xue.

"Just tell me what happens." Feng Xuan let an exasperated sigh.

Feng Xue nodded and recounted the event from the start.

Feng Xuan quietly listened to the story, and then his expression turned solemn.

If what Feng Xue said was the truth, Snowy capabilities might be more exceptional than he thought. He began more curious about Snowy origin.

'Is she some heir of Ancient family?'

His conjecture hardened since he failed to get information about her background even with his extensive information network.

If she really came from the Ancient family, everything, from her elegant looks to her fighting prowess, made more sense.

Her became his daughter's close friend might be beneficial for his family.

He decided to treat her better from today forward.

Seeing her father's determined expression, Feng Xue is afraid that he will blame Snowy and kick her out of the home. Her brain quickly searched for an excuse and solution.

Her father's next words interrupt her thought.

"Just be more careful next time and try to not make a bigger mess." Feng Xuan said and left with the guards.

Feng Xue let out a small sigh, glad that her father did not make a fuss about this whole scene.

Snowy look at her and said with a small voice, "Am I making trouble for you?"

"Don't worry, it's fine. Anyway, how can you use Heaven Severing Slash, too?" asked Feng Xue to ease the mood.

"I just imitate what you did," Snowy replied simply.

"It takes me one year to learn this move, and you said you just imitate it in a minute?" Feng Xue doesn't know whether to laugh or cry. She felt like she was just wasting her time.

"Here." Snowy hand over a jade slip to Feng Xue.

"What is this?" Feng Xue asked while sending her spiritual sense into it. She gasped after finished reading its content.

She thought she won't be surprised anymore when it comes to Snowy's mind-blowing capability, but o boy, she couldn't be more wrong.

'Heaven-ranked technique again!'

'This is the improved version of my Heaven Severing Slash! Even our sect master couldn't do it, yet she did it during our fight?!'

'Just how ridiculous can you be, Snowy?'

'Am I worthy to stand beside you?'

Snowy look at Feng Xue's expression, which became more difficult. There was a mixture of gratitude and anxiety feels in Feng Xue's gaze.

'Doesn't she like my present?'

Snowy's body became restless, and her palm became sweaty due to Feng Xue's lack of response.

'Is this feeling what people called 'worry' or this is 'disappointed'?'

This was a new experience for Snowy, but she didn't like it at all.

"Is there something wrong?" Snowy asked.

"Ah, no. I am just thinking about something. Anyway, thank you for the technique. I don't think I can use this wantonly within the sect, but it will be handy elsewhere." Feng Xue answered with a smile.

Seeing Feng Xue's genuine smile, Snowy's heavy feeling suddenly lifted, and she was unconsciously smiling back.

"You look so much better when you're smiling." Feng Xue said.

"Un." Snowy curtly replied while touching her face to know how her face feels when she smiles.

"Do you want to continue your training or just end it now?" Feng Xue asked.

"I think I'll rest a bit."

"We should take a bath first and then go get our breakfast."

---

"Mom, we're here..!"

Feng Xue and Snowy come into the kitchen after they finished taking a bath.

"My, my. Look who is here? Little Xue, Little Snowy, the food will be finished soon."

It was actually uncommon in another big family to see a First Wife work in the kitchen.

However, because it was Madam Feng's hobby, the servants were slowly used to her antics.

One of Madam Feng's motto is "Happy family starts from happy stomach," so she takes everyday food very seriously.

Madam Feng suddenly remembered how Snowy criticized her food at the dinner yesterday.

"Because you already here, why don't you try cooking some food for breakfast?" She said to Snowy. Expectation can be seen in her eyes.

Snowy nodded and began searching for a simple food recipe in her memory.

Although she never cooked before, Snowy confident that she can make decent food on her first try. She decided to make a stir-fry vegetable with chicken meat.

Snowy took the kitchen knife and began cutting the vegetable.

At first, she was slow and awkward. After a few times, she was gradually cutting with more speed and precision. Her knife handling skill became more refine and flawless.

She took one whole piece of cabbage, and she started chopping down rapidly with her knife with a clear rhythm. Don, don, don… Within a single breath, a single cabbage was evenly sliced into pieces. After finishing the cabbage, she continued to take other vegetables to the chopping board.

After all the vegetables had been cut, Snowy take the chicken breast. Her gaze became sharp, and the kitchen knife she was holding instantly came slicing out. The kitchen knife continuously whirled in the air, producing the sound of something being sliced up.

Snowy's kitchen knife made a final horizontal cut with a loud tearing noise and firmly stopped in front of her.

Her performance was so breath-taking that everyone in the room turned quiet. Only gasping and gulping sounds could be heard.

Snowy heat her skillet and added one spoon of cooking oil to it. And then, she places the chicken breast and seasoned it with some salt and pepper. She used her spiritual sense to control the heat so that all the pieces are cooked equally.

After precisely 3 minutes, the chicken turned slightly whiteish and emitting a delicious fragrant. Snowy take out the chicken and put the vegetable and sauce on the skillet.

She channeled some of her qi into the skillet and began stirring the vegetable slowly. Then, She added 100-years ginseng and 3-colored garlic make the dish brimming with vitality.

When the vegetable turned slightly brownish and crisp, she put back the kitchen and stir it again. A flash of fire appeared as she shook the skillet; the dish inside it spun around in the air.

After the dish finish, Snowy serve it on a plate and added some sesame seed and celery as a garnish.

Ding!

[Host successfully learn "Cooking Mastery" skill]

[Increase skill proficiency 0 -> 1]

Ignoring the notification, Snowy offered the dish to Madam Feng and Feng Xue.

The duo hurriedly took a chopstick and began to taste the food.

"Ist shoo delishouss…"

"moaarr… i cand staahp.."

As Feng Xue picked up a piece of chicken meat with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth, a mix of sweet and salty flavor instantly burst out.

The rich flavor of the meat violently surged and enveloped her taste buds while meat juice assaulting her mouth.

She could not help but moaning and let out words that sound really ambiguous.

Madam Feng picked some pieces of vegetable, instead, and make a crunchy sound as she bit it. She couldn't help but praised Snowy's cooking skill in her heart.

The vegetable is perfectly cooked; the texture is crispy but still retained its original flavor and freshness. Madam Feng could not stop eating and rapidly pick up other pieces.

The servants start to drool when they saw a blissful face appear on their master's beautiful face. They could not wait to taste the delicacy too.

"Little Snowy, don't you want to consider staying forever in the mansion? I am willing to give you anything: wealth, honor, prestige? I'll even give you little Xue as a bonus. How about it?" said Madam Feng. No one can be certain whether she was kidding or not.

"Yeessh..!!"

The intense pleasure coming from her mouth made Feng Xue's head a bit muddled. She only heard a part of her mother's invitation.

'If she stays at the mansion, doesn't it mean that I can taste this blissful feeling every day?'

Feng Xue stared intensely at Snowy with moist eyes and a blushing cheek. Her delicate lips became even more enticing as a layer of glistening oil covered her lips.

"I'll consider it?" Snowy tilting her head, unsure whether her answer is adequate.

"Good, good." Madam Feng smile and pick other pieces of vegetable to fill her bowl.

Meanwhile, Feng Xue was still lost in the world of pleasure.

Seeing that the food slowly disappear, Snowy cooking a few portion more dish so all of the people in the kitchen can have breakfast together.