Sara's Shield

While waiting for Sara to finish cooking, Zhen is sitting at a table and Kuro is at the corner shedding another tear.

'Master is an evil, despicable scum, I did my best in guarding your reconciliation but you punish me for your ridiculous reason.'

Kuro is sulking in the corner while cursing his master inwardly.

'Sara didn't learn to tease from me but from you, Master and now you blame it on me. How heartless of you to even use the contract to order me to watch you eat Sara's food but can't touch.'

Zhen looked at Kuro with a facial expression saying, 'This is just a small punishment for tainting my Sara and so what if I'm unreasonable, I'm the Master here. Bite me!'

Kuro clenches his teeth harder seeing that look. Never in his life did he feel how unfair this world is, not even when he was thrash to rot alone by his own species.

Kuro thought they were a family but Zhen's definition of family is pushing all the blame on him.

At this time, Sara walked out from the kitchen with five plates of food, the people could already smell the aroma from afar.

'It's decided, Sara will be the chef while I'll be the food critic from now on.'

Zhen said inwardly since he is too lazy to cook for himself.

Sara who didn't know Zhen's hidden thought placed the plate gently otherwise, she would've flipped out again and slapped him for his rude remark.

Females are not born to cook for males, they can also be strong and dominant. Sara will definitely say this to Zhen if she ever learns about his motive.

Placing all the plates down on the table, Sara discovered Kuro in a corner with a depressed expression.

In a frowning expression, Sara stared at Zhen and asked, "Did you bully Kuro when I'm not around?"

Zhen who tried to eat the food went pale at Sara's question but his face remained indifferent and simply said, "Kuro didn't feel like eating at night time. He said it's better to use mana to fill his hunger which can increase his cultivation."

Kuro who heard this wants to smack his Master back to his original world.

'I don't feel like eating??? That is the biggest lie ever! Once you taste Sara's food, you can never go back to mana-filling hunger.'

Too bad, Kuro didn't have the guts to scream all his vent-up emotion because he knew more injustice would come to him if he misbehaved again after the stunt he pulled.

Sara looked suspiciously at Zhen as she recalled Kuro enjoying her food so much that he spoke and stole from his own Master.

'There's no way he would refuse to eat my food again.'

Sara has her own pride too, and her skills in cooking are only below her mother.

Sara took a plate from the table and walked toward Kuro to place down the plate.

She said slowly, "Kuro, do you hate my cooking that you refuse to eat my cooking?"

Kuro hurriedly shook his head and replied, "No, your cooking is superb!"

"Then why do you prefer to use mana to fill your hunger instead."

Facing this question, Kuro starts to sweat but his eyesight betrays him when he has an instinct reaction, by moving his eye to Zhen.

Sara didn't miss that split second of Kuro staring at Zhen and Zhen was looking at the whole scene cursed in his mind.

'This Kuro truly wants to die huh, even if it's a natural reaction, you have pushed me into a pit again.'

Kuro started sweating even more when he seemed to notice his fate is going to get even worse.

Sara who figured out the situation now said, "Don't worry Kuro, if your Master dares to make things difficult for you then I shall make things even more difficult for him."

Zhen choked on his food when he heard Sara's comment on his punishment and wanted to cry.

'Kuro, good good good, you decided to use Sara as a shield against me.'

Meanwhile, Sara turned around to look at Zhen when she noticed Kuro's sweat was becoming more intense.

Sara's chilled look at Zhen scared the hell out of him especially when she said, "Do you dare to get revenge on Kuro with me here? I want to see you try to punish my poor Kuro again."

This time, it was Zhen who was shedding tears because Sara took 2 more of the plate from the table to Kuro and told him to eat well.

Kuro stared at Sara with a grateful look and started munching on the food as fast as possible.

'My food, Kuro, I treat you like family and now you use Sara's shield to steal my food and take 3/5 of it. Dammit and Sara even warned me now'

Gritting his teeth harshly without letting Sara know, Zhen said with a smile hanging on his face, "Who dares to harm Kuro with my lovely Sara around?"

Knowing how painful Zhen might feel with his food being gone, Sara walked back to the table after patting Kuro's head and said, "Let me feed you a bite."

Sara took a fork to her hand before picking a piece of boar meat to Zhen's mouth.

Zhen happily opened his mouth to welcome this beautiful moment.

'Mhmm, it was still the same boar meats but Sara feeding this one to me, the savory and umami are at least 20 times better than before. Fine, Kuro you are forgiven because I don't think I will get this chance if you didn't take my 3 plates of food.'

Kuro simply didn't know his Master's feelings and continued munching this delicacy made by Sara and knowing he won't be punished, changed his mood to very happy from gloomy.

Taking this opportunity, Zhen said, "Sara, I don't think I can live anymore if I don't taste your cooking at all. You will cook for me forever right?"

Sara nodded without knowing the hidden meaning behind his words. She was still that naive and kind girl who has a lively environment around her.

She was too pure which is why this wolf in sheep's clothing Zhen was able to take multiple advantages off of her since he's been in a polar opposite environment from her.

After finishing up the food, Sara picked up the plate and placed it back in the kitchen, and started helping out the staff with her parents.

Since this is a popular inn, nighttime was always crowded with people, and Zhen is already blessed to be able to have Sara as a company.

Knowing how Sara didn't charge him for food as she probably knows, that he's broke until Uncle Davis finishes butchering by tomorrow evening.

Zhen decided to help out with Sara too. That way, he can help and tease her, making her giggle throughout the night.

Sara's parents, John and Sandy were delighted to see their daughter having this much fun and smiling.

This was their first time witnessing their daughter being so happy because she was usually annoyed by those youth belonging to the mid-high family.

They didn't go overboard though since John has a high reputation and influence in the town due to his multiple deeds in life as an adventurer.

Therefore, they couldn't interfere much but with Zhen appearing now and Kuro scaring those youth, Sara was able to enjoy a calm day, except that low intelligence Situ Sheng.

They didn't stop Situ Sheng from getting beat up because his behaviors compared to other youth were obnoxious and relying on his father's influence, he coerced many young women but unsuccessfully due to his father's involvement.

As the diner finished their food and was all going to their room or back to their house as some came simply for the food and beer.

The inn didn't restrict only those renting a room could order food. Zhen took this time to talk to Sara about if he can go to her room and sleep on the floor.

Sara blushed before pinching his waist as he went back to his flirty behavior as soon as her mood turned normal.

Zhen cannot be saved but she didn't mind his cheeky behavior because she can see respect in his eyes, unlike others who only showed lust and possession towards her.

While the night in the Grotto's Inn was lively, in another place, Situ Sheng is now being harshly scolded by his father, Arlo Sheng for his outrageous deed.

The scolding continues throughout the night and despite all this, Situ Sheng swears in his mind to get his revenge for the humiliations he suffered today.