Chapter 14 - I Have a Little Chef!

The next day, in Zhou Ming's small courtyard, a pond that was neither too big nor too small had appeared. 

This was dug out by Zhou Ming's Ghost Hound and was specially used to grow Five-Colored Lotuses! 

The Flower Fairy stood at the side and chanted. 

There were already green tendons on the surface of the water, spreading out. 

"As expected of a Mirage Beast blessed by nature. I didn't expect that the Five-Colored Lotus flower would have an effect as soon as it was planted." Zhou Ming looked at the Flower Fairy and praised her. 

Then, the system notification sounded in his mind. 

[Ding! A Fire Dragon that can swallow magma has appeared in the Fire Spirit Mountain. The success rate is extremely difficult. Do you want to plan a route?] 

…. 

[Ding! A Sea-Devouring Crocodile has appeared in the Tianhai Lake. The success rate is extremely difficult. Do you want to draft a route?] 

... 

[Ding! In the Foggy Ice Plains, there is a Snow Ganoderma about to mature. There are already several Mirage Beasts prepared to fight over it. The success rate is extremely difficult. Do you wish to plan a route?] 

... 

After Xiao Ling swallowed two platinum spirit cores, Zhou Ming's Familiar level rose to Platinum-Rank 1! 

The range of the system's predictions also suddenly expanded. 

The system's predictions were either of extremely powerful Mirage Beasts or of spirit herbs and spirit cores guarded by a powerful Mirage Beast. 

Facing an extremely difficult mission ahead, currently Zhou Ming would not be able to complete it easily, he might even encounter danger that he could not escape from.

Therefore, for missions that were too difficult, Zhou Ming did not plan to take the risk. 

Moreover, these places were all very far away. 

According to Zhou Ming's estimation, even if he used Xiao Ling's six-winged soaring Kirin, it would still take a few days, and this was without rest!

In this regard, Zhou Ming chose to give up decisively! 

He stood up and stretched for a while, touching his rumbling stomach. 

"Little Chef, stir-fry a few dishes!" Zhou Ming said to a Little Chef dressed in a maid's uniform. 

[Little Chef] 

[Bloodline level: Elite.] 

[Level: Gold-Rank 2!] 

[Type: Humanoid Chef] 

[Innate skills: Top-tier ingredients cultivation, top-tier cooking, top-tier frying.] 

[Description: A Mirage Beast that takes human form. Extremely rare. It has innate cooking talent and can create all kinds of new dishes. The dishes it makes also contain a lot of nutrients. If you eat the meals it makes frequently, you can also increase the resistance of your body!] 

He was a Beast, Zhou Ming met by chance. 

Because the dishes it cooked could increase resistance, Zhou Ming contracted him. 

The Little Chef cooked in a different way every day, never repeating the same thing! 

Even the dishes that Zhou Ming liked in his previous life could be made. 

This made Zhou Ming very satisfied. 

Of course, there were many functional Mirage Beasts like the Little Chef. 

For example, the Scarecrow that could help the Flower Fairy grow spirit herbs and the Cleaning Snake that was in charge of cleaning the small courtyard, not to mention the Phantom Parrot that was in charge of keeping watch. 

A moment later, the fragrance of the dishes assaulted his nostrils. 

The Little Chef carried two plates of dishes and gently placed them in front of Zhou Ming. 

Then, he prepared the bowls and chopsticks. 

He asked softly, "Master, do you need anything else?" 

As a humanoid Mirage Beast, the Little Chef had the ability to talk to humans. 

Zhou Ming looked at the delicious dishes in front of him. 

He nodded with satisfaction, "Thank you, there's nothing else." 

"It's my great honor to be able to serve Master! I hope Master doesn't say thank you anymore." 

The Little Chef quickly waved his small hand and said. 

"Okay." Zhou Ming smiled dotingly. 

Then, the Little Chef started to play with Xiao Ling in the courtyard. 

Zhou Ming watched them making a scene while eating delicious food. He was very satisfied! 

... 

After eating, Zhou Ming lay down on the rocking chair in satisfaction. 

At this moment, the Phantom Parrot cried out, "Qing Ya is here, Qing Ya is here!" 

"Qing Ya? Could it be that she is here to borrow books again? This girl is really studious." Zhou Ming muttered. 

He was still thinking about what books to lend to Qing Ya this time when the girl herself rushed in.

Seeing Zhou Ming lying on the rocking chair, Qing Ya hurriedly said, "Zhou Ming, I'm sorry to disturb your rest." 

"It's fine, it's fine. Did something happen?" Zhou Ming asked in puzzlement. 

After all, this girl was a little abnormal in her fluster. 

"Zhou Ming, my Da Bai disappeared yesterday and hasn't been found yet." 

"Isn't it just a sheep? I'll catch a few for you some other day." Zhou Ming comforted her. 

After all, this girl, Qing Ya, often gave him things, for example, the wild vegetables that she picked, the fragrant buns that she worked hard to make, and so on. 

Zhou Ming felt that catching a few sheep for her would also be a small favor. 

Hearing that...Qing Ya's heart warmed. 

She immediately said, "It's not just our family. The farmers in the surrounding area have all experienced such a situation.

"Aunt Zhang's cow is gone, and Aunt Li's pig is missing as well!

"We suspect that someone stole it!

"So, I'd like to ask you to help me investigate." Qing Ya looked at Zhou Ming expectantly. 

After all, Zhou Ming was the only Beastmaster she knew, and the only Beastmaster in eastern suburbs. 

As a Beastmaster, he naturally had extraordinary abilities, maybe he could find out something. 

"Someone stole it?" Zhou Ming was a little puzzled. 

The few types of Mirage Beasts that Qing Ya mentioned were docile and were found in almost every household, moreover, there were many such Mirage Beasts living around Yulan town. 

Their strength was almost no higher than Iron-Rank 3. 

As long as a few young men joined forces, they could catch several of them in a day! 

Who would have nothing to do and take the risk of being beaten to death just to steal? 

Looking at Zhou Ming who was in disbelief, Qing Ya said again, "Uncle Zhang's house, the reins of the horse seem to have been torn off!" 

"I keep feeling strange." 

Hearing that, Zhou Ming recalled the eastern suburbs, wild sheep and cattle Mirage Beasts could often be seen in the fields. 

However, it was indeed a little rare recently! 

Sometimes, they couldn't even be seen, thinking carefully, Zhou Ming felt that there was something fishy about the matter. 

"Zhou Ming, can you spend some time to help take a look? The villagers have been investigating the reason for the matter today, and they are still looking around." Qing Ya asked softly again. 

"Let's go. Take me to have a look." Zhou Ming replied.

Whether it was in his past memories or the current Zhou Ming, the villagers nearby were not very familiar with him. 

They would only greet him occasionally and they would not interact with each other normally. 

But now it was Qing Ya who asked for his help so Zhou Ming agreed.