The Powerful Mysterious Intruder

"A mysterious man?" Little Pink asked while tilting its head cutely to the side. It seemed to be recalling the events from the previous evening. "Are you talking about the one you were kissing?"

"..."

Xiang Ling couldn't reply even if she wanted to. She just stared at the spirit beast with her lips forming a thin line. She was trying to not think about the... kiss.

"I did see him. After carrying you inside and leaving you in my care, that man with the hood disappeared in the sealed section of your space." Little Pink provided what it recalled about that mysterious man.

"He disappeared where?" Xiang Ling stared at Little Pink with a confused expression on her face. Since the rest of her space was sealed by the powers of the Heavenly Empress, no one should be able to trespass. Yet, that mysterious man not only entered her space but even trespassed into the sealed area. Just who he was?

"Did you... try to find his identity?" She asked Little Pink, knowing that there was not much chance of a positive response. And as Little Pink shook its head, it confirmed Xiang Ling's disappointment.

"Though I did try, that person was really powerful. I am not sure if I should say this... but he seemed even more powerful than the Heavenly Empress." Little Pink had a serious tone as it said these words out loud.

Xiang Ling was shocked by the revelation. Usually, she shouldn't have believed Little Pink's words but considering the facts that not only that man could enter her space but could even enter the sealed area, there was no denying that he was extremely powerful, powerful enough to handle the Heavenly Empress' spell like it was nothing.

There were very few people who were equally or more powerful than the Heavenly Empress. What Xiang Ling couldn't understand was - why such a powerful person was hiding inside her space.

Letting out a small sigh, she decided to return to the outside world. Since she had been inside the space for only a night, barely half an hour had passed in the outside world. One day inside her space was equal to an hour in the outside world.

After materializing in the dark alley, she headed toward the vegetable market. She bought fresh vegetables, meat, and dairy products and paid the shopkeepers to deliver the products to Chen Manor.

This scene was captured by the eyes of several passersby and everyone was stunned to see Chen Xiang Ling buying vegetables and other rations for the kitchen. Never in their wildest dreams had they ever thought of seeing such a sight.

Just what happened to Chen Xiang Ling? How come she appeared so different from her past self? - Everyone seemed to be asking the same questions.

----

After finishing her business in the market, Xiang Ling returned to the Chen Manor and was greeted by Fu Xiao at the entrance who was directing the errand boys toward the kitchen.

The moment she noticed Xiang Ling, Fu Xiao hurriedly approached her. "My Lady, did you really buy all these?" The girl asked while turning her head to glance at three carts full of kitchen rations. Her eyes could hardly believe what they were seeing. It had been months since she last saw such fresh and good quality food rations in the manor.

"Didn't you say we have no rations? So I bought them. Let's have healthy and proper meals from now on. Okay?" Xiang Ling answered with a soft smile before she stepped inside the Manor and headed toward the kitchen.

Most of the wishes of the previous owner of the body needed long-term planning and work to be fulfilled. However, there was a particular wish that Xiang Ling found quite easy to fulfill - the wish to eat good and tasty food.

During her ten thousand years of lifetime, Xiang Ling had learned almost everything that was out there to be learned including cooking. Adding the fact that the Immortal of Cooking was one of her close friends, Xiang Ling was quite good when it came to cooking.

Entering the kitchen, she decided to start cleaning the entire place. Though she could have taken care of that with a simple spell, Fu Xiao's presence there stopped her from using her powers.

"My Lady, what are you doing? Please let me handle these." Fu Xiao seemed panicked as she hurried to stop Xiang Ling who had started emptying the cabinets to clean them thoroughly.

"This place needs deep cleaning. You alone won't be able to do it even in days. Let's work together and get this work done. You can start by cleaning the dining area. Go ahead." Xiang Ling told the girl as she moved toward the wooden shelves.

"But-"

Fu Xiao was in a dilemma. Her Lady's behavior was getting weirder with time. After debating for a moment or two, she decided to follow her lady's order and went to clean the dining area.

As soon as Fu Xiao left, Xiang Ling made sure that she was completely alone before she cast the cleaning spell. It took barely a minute before the entire kitchen was shining and everything was arranged properly in the cabinets and shelves.

Not wanting to be questioned about how quickly she completed her work, Xiang Ling decided to store the freshly bought rations manually. It took her over fifteen minutes to arrange everything and by the time Fu Xiao returned half an hour later, the usual gloomy and empty kitchen of Chen Manor was barely recognizable.

"My Lady?" The girl couldn't help but look at Xiang Ling as if the latter was an unknown person.

Xiang Ling smiled warmly at the girl before speaking, "I'm planning to make us a delicious lunch. Come and help me."

Fu Xiao was too stunned to speak for a while. Did her lady ever learn cooking? She was confused, to say the least, but when she saw Xiang Ling starting to work, she shook away all the thoughts and hurried over to help.