This evening, the Earth Dragon academy was in a state of turmoil. An emergency meeting was held with the royal family and nobles due to Singh's matter and the discussion of how to deal with users of the dark law.
The last time this law appeared was over thirty years ago and caused great destruction to the Star Heaven kingdom.
At that time, the Endless River Kingdom had taken advantage of this accident to seize the Sun Gate City, located on the sea border. Until now, the Star Heaven kingdom had not been able to get it back.
Fearing from attacking them again and the danger that threatened them from the neighboring kingdoms, they immediately gathered everyone for an emergency meeting, especially since Singh's was the only thread they had.
Away from matters of politics and royalty, in the academy's cafeteria, Li Chui and Lian, who were tired of waiting in the yard, entered looking for Jin and Du Bai.
"What's your problem? How much time do you need to finish eating..."
Li Chui didn't finish her words and kept staring amazed at the mountain of dishes in front of her, but the strangest thing was that Jin's hair color turned black and another student was standing next to Jin staring at the dishes while counting on his fingers with teary eyes.
Lian let out a chuckle. She understood what was going on.
The hunting of newcomers was still going on, and of course, no one would dare to harass the white-haired demon.
From Jin's black hair and the swollen face of the student who was counting the plates, anyone can easily figure out what had happened and that the prey became the hunter.
Li Chui sighed, getting used to Jin's scam. An hour ago, Jin had been negotiating with Jiao Ti Yi for the position of the Great Mage's disciple even though he didn't want it in the first place.
"Should we go to the library, or do you intend to sleep here?"
After Singh's incident, they obtained a permit to enter the library's upper floor. Li Chui was the most excited one, especially since there was a magic book that she had wanted for a long time.
Jin, who was eating everything in front of him, as if he hadn't eaten in years, replied lazily.
"Wait a minute. This is the last dish. The food here isn't that great."
The student who was going to pay for all these dishes broke out in tears and became happy and felt relief. However, he wondered what would have happened if Jin had liked the food.
"Brother, let me go pay for your lunch."
The senior student said and quickly disappeared before Jin could change his mind and ask for more food.
Jin, who had regained his original appearance, gave a paper to Du Bai, who immediately took the paper from him and said.
"Before we go to the library's upper floor, we have to get some books from the lower floors first. I have already made a list of what you should look for. If you have any other particular books you want, tell me to add them to the list."
Du Bai opened the paper curiously and read it aloud.
"First of all, the meat is not well marinated, not tasty enough, and the side dishes are not that good and… what is that?"
Du Bai looked at Jin puzzled, not understanding what the paper meant.
"Sorry, it's the wrong paper. I was thinking of filing a complaint about this restaurant. They should improve their cooking."
Lian nodded in agreement and spoke seriously, pointing to the menu.
"The dishes are inconsistent and less than ordinary, it's not like we're asking them to be at the level of the Sun Gate Restaurant, but they have to improve their cooking."
* Bam *
Du Bai hit his head with the palm of his hand and sighed, realizing that an accident would happen now.
"Damn it. He will start talking about the Sun Gate again.
On the journey of Jin and Du Bai to enroll in the academy, their ship docked at the Sun Gate City port. Du Bai was suffering from seasickness and stayed in the port to rest.
While Jin took advantage of that opportunity to see the city's sights occupied by the Endless River Kingdom, which was impossible to enter without a permit, Jin returned to the ship, but he was completely different by then.
Li Chui turned to Du Bai and then to Jin, shocked by what was happening in front of her.
"Impossible... Jin is crying??????"
The white-haired devil, who became famous in the academy on the first day of the exam, everyone knew him because of his tricks, cruelty, and tyranny, now he was sitting in front of her with tears flowing from his eyes, and sadness overwhelmed him.
"Sun Gate, when will we get you back?"
Losing part of the kingdom to the enemy would leave grief and pain in the hearts of all the inhabitants of the kingdom. Still, they didn't expect such an emotional attitude from a young man as ruthless as Jin.
Lian asked sympathetically, touched by Jin's tears.
"Did you lose something dear to you there?"
Jin replied with a sigh.
"Yes, we lost the most important thing… We lost the Sun Gate Restaurant and its legendary mountain ox meat. The meat is seasoned using 23 kinds of herbs and cooked over two days, which we can't go there now to taste without a permit."
Li Chui was shocked by Jin's words, turned toward Du Bai, who was imitating Jin and moving his lips. He knew every word that would come out of his friend's mouth. He heard it over and over again throughout the journey.
"Its fragrant smell alone opens the appetite and stimulates new taste cells on the tongue, without forgetting the beautiful feeling of freshness as you see the meat being scooped and cut with your spoon instead of a knife. Finally, when it reaches your mouth and melts inside it, leaving its juices flowing on your tongue, that feeling was irresistible."
Jin stopped describing the legendary ox meat and sighed sadly as he wiped his tears, unable to say anything more.
Lian was nodding her head the whole time, confirming every word he said.
"You are absolutely right. Nothing beats mountain ox meat cooked with the recipe of the legendary guardian Ashtria."
In the city of the Sun Gate, there was a legend that the guardian and savior Ashtria was the first to prepare this dish. The region's people inherited his recipe as a father from a grandfather.
Jin hearing this story made him laugh, saying.
"Did the legendary warrior and venerable guard, shackle breaker became a cook too? Your fictional hero is truly capable of doing wonders."
Lian hit the ground with her foot and replied in an angry tone.
"A fictional hero… How dare you say that the protector of humans and the great Dao master of the spirits forms is a figment of the imagination."
"Huh, warrior, cook, and Dao Master, why don't you say that he can transform into a dragon too?" Jin said sarcastically.
Lian clenched her fist and hit the ground with her foot again, Jin's words angered her to the extreme, but after a few seconds, she took a deep breath, eased her fist, and spoke softly.
"Mountain ox meat is not the only dish that the Sun Gate is famous for. There are also other dishes that I happen to be good at making all...of...them (she spelled the whole word)."
Jin's eyes widened, he knew what dishes she was talking about, but before he could say anything, he could sense that under the hood which was covering Lian's face, there was a wide smile with a hint of gloater and said.
"Of course, whoever thinks that Ashtria is a figment of the imagination, has no right to ask about his recipes."
Lian turned around to leave the place to be followed by Jin, trying to please her as he shouted.
"Lian, wait a minute, let's discuss it. It's an old tale. It doesn't matter if it's a fact or fiction... Lian, wait..."
Du Bai and Li Chui stared at each other. All they could do was laugh at everything that happened and catch up with them.