章 38: Chapter 38: Grilled Fish, Xu Sanshi, and Jiang Nan'nan (Part 1)

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"The Noodle Shop owner is quite an interesting person."

Han Ruoru, holding the Crystal Ball, smiled after reading it carefully.

"Quite different from the usual mindset."

Ling Bai also read the text and felt quite moved.

Shrek City, the headquarters of the continent's top academy, Shrek Academy, is mostly populated by Soul Masters who are Shrek students.

Shrek Academy has a strict elimination system, and everyone works day and night to cultivate their Soul Power. Even the slightest progress is valuable, yet this owner is telling the students that kindness and honesty are far more important than Soul Power.

Ling Bai noticed Han Ruoru's interest and said, "Senior Female Classmate, let's eat here."

"Mm."

Han Ruoru put down the Crystal Ball and walked into the Noodle Shop with Ling Bai.

The Noodle Shop was not very large but was very clean. As soon as they entered, they could see the kitchen behind the glass door, where a middle-aged auntie in an apron was busy. There were six long rectangular tables inside, capable of seating up to thirty people. Four tables were already occupied, with people slurping their noodles loudly.

The temperature outside was not high, but as they entered the shop, the warmth and the aroma of meat instantly enveloped them, making them feel comfortable.

"What a nice smell."

Han Ruoru took a deep breath of the aroma, confirming that they had made the right choice.

"Hello, please take a seat and rest for a moment."

Seeing the guests, the auntie hurried out from behind the glass door. She looked to be in her forties, plump, and very kind.

Ling Bai and Han Ruoru walked to an empty table, the one closest to the kitchen.

"What would you like to eat?" The auntie handed them two menus and asked with a smile.

Ling Bai glanced at the menu, which mainly featured noodles and rice bowls, along with some simple stir-fried dishes, all simple and home-style.

"A bowl of Beef Noodles and a plate of Soy Sauce Meat."

"I'll just have a bowl of Tonkotsu Ramen."

Ling Bai and Han Ruoru ordered their meals.

"Alright." The auntie nodded. "Beef Noodles and Tonkotsu Ramen are six copper soul coins each, and Soy Sauce Meat is five copper soul coins, making a total of seventeen copper soul coins."

Han Ruoru took out a gold soul coin to pay. In Shrek City, where every inch of land is precious, this Noodle Shop was one of the cheapest.

One gold soul coin equals ten silver soul coins, which equals one hundred copper soul coins. As the auntie looked for change, Han Ruoru asked:

"Auntie, are you a Soul Master?"

The auntie smiled and shook her head. "No, I'm just an ordinary person."

"Then why did you write those words next to the Soul Power testing ball at the entrance?"

Hearing Han Ruoru's question, Ling Bai also looked at her curiously.

"Because I feel you all are too tired." The auntie handed the change to Han Ruoru, her kind face softening even more.

"The food at the Shrek Academy's outer courtyard canteen is quite expensive, so some students come to my shop for a meal. They are always very anxious, rushing in and out.

The auntie knew the academy's strict elimination system, but cultivation has no limits. Soul Power doesn't represent your character, aspirations, or sense of responsibility. For us ordinary people, a kind and honest Soul Master is more admirable than one with deep Soul Power."

A hint of nostalgia appeared in Han Ruoru's eyes. She recalled the days in the outer courtyard, the freshmen competitions, running laps on the playground, and the promotion exams...

Those days were hectic, and under the teachers' urging, everyone seemed to be busy shuttling between classes, the canteen, and the dormitories, focusing solely on cultivating their Soul Power and forgetting that to become a qualified Soul Master, one must first become a qualified person.

Ling Bai hadn't studied in the outer courtyard, but he had a good idea. The inner courtyard of Shrek Academy was like a university in his previous life, where liberalism prevailed, while the outer courtyard used strict rules to spur students' growth, sometimes neglecting moral education, leading to the actions of people like Huo Yuhao and Dai Huabin being off-putting at times.

"Senior Female Classmate, if time could be reversed, would you go back to the outer courtyard to study again?" Ling Bai, resting his arm, asked casually while waiting for their food.

"No."

Han Ruoru firmly refused. She only missed the time she spent studying with Zhang Lexuan and Wu Ming. If she had to go back and study in the outer courtyard again...

No way, she couldn't bear it!

The beef and pork bones were already marinated. After a short while, the auntie brought out two steaming bowls of noodles, a plate of Soy Sauce Meat, and two small dishes of stir-fried vegetables. Each bowl of noodles also had a marinated egg.

Ling Bai and Han Ruoru were both surprised. They hadn't ordered the vegetables or the marinated eggs!

"Auntie?"

The auntie understood their confusion, looked at their red school uniforms, and explained, "You're Shrek Academy students, right? My son also started at Shrek Academy this year. You're all classmates, so consider this my treat, no charge!"

"This..."

Ling Bai and Han Ruoru felt a bit embarrassed. The Noodle Shop's prices were already low, and now with the extra marinated eggs and vegetables, the auntie might be losing money.

"Enjoy your meal while it's hot. If you need more, Auntie will add it for you!"

The auntie turned and walked back into the kitchen, continuing her work.

Ling Bai didn't like owing people, even for simple vegetables and eggs, but he felt he owed her. Han Ruoru felt the same and decided to ask about the auntie's son, thinking she could help him out later.

The noodles exuded a rich beef aroma, and the broth was golden. Ling Bai could see the diced beef, which was tender and fell apart with a light touch of his chopsticks.

The rich beef flavor, combined with the savory broth, was perfectly balanced by the noodles. Eating it made them feel warm and comfortable. The noodles were chewy and elastic, and the light, fresh side dishes made the meal even more delicious.

Han Ruoru took a bite and was also impressed. She even thought that in terms of taste, the auntie's skills were not inferior to Uncle Mo's, who used soul beast meat and rare ingredients from all over!

Just as the two were seriously considering whether to order another bowl, a figure pushed open the shop door, shouting:

"Mom, I'm back for dinner!"

The loud voice echoed in the small Noodle Shop, and everyone instinctively looked up, gasping in amazement.

Ling Bai and Han Ruoru immediately stopped their chopsticks, both looking at the... lump of a person entering the door.

Yes, a lump.

The newcomer was 1.7 meters tall and 1.7 meters wide, a white, plump mountain of flesh, struggling to squeeze through the door with a simple, honest smile.

"Huan Yue is back! Find a place to sit, and I'll cook you a bowl of noodles!" The auntie's face was filled with a happy smile.

Huan Yue... Xie Huan Yue?

Ling Bai observed the newcomer's physique and, recalling the Noodle Shop's name, Xiao Xiang Noodle Shop, and the Pipi Elephant soul beast, he was almost certain.

The auntie skillfully cooked the noodles, added beef, vegetables, eggs, and meat broth, and ten minutes later, placed a bowl of noodles in front of Xie Huan Yue.

"Huan Yue, your favorite Beef Noodles."

Han Ruoru couldn't help but laugh at Xie Huan Yue's bowl of Beef Noodles. It was too generous, with beef, pork bones, large ribs, meatballs... steaming and fragrant.

Ling Bai looked at his remaining two pieces of beef and suddenly found his Beef Noodles less appealing.

"Junior Brother, you're not getting the same treatment!" Han Ruoru whispered, her eyes curving into a beautiful crescent moon.

Ling Bai said with a hint of jealousy, "Can I compare to a son?"

"It's okay, you have a senior sister."

Han Ruoru transferred the untouched marinated egg from her bowl to Ling Bai's as a consolation.

Xie Huan Yue saw the two bantering but didn't dare to speak up because the people in front of him were wearing the red school uniforms of the Shrek Academy's inner courtyard!

Forget about them, just eat the noodles!

Oh, it's so delicious!

Half an hour later, Ling Bai and Han Ruoru left Xie Huan Yue's Xiao Xiang Noodle Shop, chatting as they slowly walked back to Shrek Academy. As they passed the East City Gate, a tempting, rich aroma wafted into their nostrils.

"Hey, what is that?"

Han Ruoru's nostrils twitched, searching for the source of the aroma.

"Xiao Huo's Grilled Fish?"

Han Ruoru locked onto the target but hesitated when she thought about trying it.

Ling Bai saw the familiar figure working hard at the grilled fish stall and smiled. "If you want to eat, let's go."

"I've already eaten a lot today. Isn't it bad to eat grilled fish..."

Hearing Han Ruoru's words, Ling Bai asked seriously, "Senior Female Classmate, do you know what will appear on your face if you eat grilled fish often?"

Han Ruoru thought carefully. "Acne?"

"Wrong, it will bring a happy smile."

With that, Ling Bai, without hesitation, pulled Han Ruoru's white wrist and headed straight for Xiao Huo's Grilled Fish, standing behind a girl in a Shrek Academy purple school uniform, with a well-proportioned figure and a rabbit ear headband...

(End of Chapter)