The sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the kitchen as Empress Yu, still disguised as Ren, pushed back from the table. Her heart was heavy with a mixture of admiration and regret. She had to leave. She had a journey to complete.
"This was... extraordinary Senior ," she said, her voice soft, her eyes fixated on him. "The food, the conversation... I've never felt such a sense of peace ."
Lin Feng smiled, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "It was a pleasure to share it with you, Ren," he replied. "May your travels be filled with joy and success."
He watched her stand, her form, despite the disguise, radiating a quiet strength that belied her youth. There was something about her, an air of authority, a presence that drew his attention. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he knew she wasn't just a simple traveler.
"I have to go," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of urgency. "But thank you, Senior, for everthing."
He rose to his feet, his eyes meeting hers. "It was a pleasure to meet you," he said.
He watched her walk away, the sound of her footsteps echoing in the quiet cottage. She had left a strange feeling in his heart, a sense of longing, a flicker of something he couldn't quite name.
He returned to the stove, his gaze falling upon the remnants of the feast they had shared. He had a strange feeling that their paths would cross again, a feeling that wouldn't leave him, a feeling that was as mysterious and inexplicable as the system that had bestowed upon him his extraordinary gifts.