Great Hero

Sizzle!

The moment Xǔ Tiānlí slid the seasoned fish fillets into the hot oil, the fragrance of sizzling meat soon filled the small rental apartment.

He picked up the bowl of seasonings, glancing subconsciously toward the bedroom.

The door was still closed. He had no idea what Qín Yuè was doing inside.

“Good thing Master didn’t press the issue.”

If an accident like that had caused a rift in their mentor-disciple relationship, Xǔ Tiānlí wouldn’t know how to mend it… Maybe if he cooked her a delicious meal every day, it would improve her mood?

At first, he found the idea ridiculous. Qín Yuè wasn’t someone who constantly thought about food. But then he reconsidered—she had indeed calmed down after seeing the bass he was carrying.

Could this method actually work?

Xǔ Tiānlí felt like he had opened Pandora’s box. He refocused on the wok in front of him just in time to prevent the fish fillets from overcooking.

Meanwhile, Mù Qīngyǔ was lying on the bed in her bedroom, idly scrolling through her phone.

Though she now had a female body, that didn’t stop her from lying around lazily, just like in her previous life. She felt as if she had returned to those days when work completely drained her.

One hand held the phone, thumb gently swiping the screen; the other rested on her stomach beneath her lifted shirt, occasionally scratching near her navel.

If Xǔ Tiānlí walked in and saw her like this, he would definitely think: ‘Where did this slob come from?’

She knew she was taking a risk, but she just couldn’t muster the energy to care. Here she was, the heiress to a wealthy and powerful family, shouldn’t she be able to laze around as she pleased?

Whenever such thoughts arose, she repeatedly reminded herself: at most, she’d endure five years, maybe even just three.

After settling the three-year agreement, she would break free from her perverted father’s control. The rest of her life would be hers. At twenty-one, she would still have plenty of happy times ahead.

Catching the familiar aroma of boiled fish, Mù Qīngyǔ decided it was time. She got up and, before opening the door, forcefully slapped her cheeks twice.

Outside the bedroom, Xǔ Tiānlí had just turned off the stove. He poured the boiled fish from the wok into a large bowl prepared earlier and carried it to the table.

As soon as Mù Qīngyǔ sat down, the enticing smell hit her. The spicy, numbing fragrance of hot oil assailed her nose; the delicate aroma of the fish, mingling with the strong scents of Sichuan peppercorns and chili, made her mouth water.

Xǔ Tiānlí placed the washed bowls and chopsticks in front of her. He sat down but didn’t start eating, waiting instead for her to try first.

Mù Qīngyǔ picked up her chopsticks, took a thin slice of fish, blew on it gently, and put it in her mouth.

“Well? Is it better than last time?” Xǔ Tiānlí asked, nervous.

“Mm… not bad.”

Truth be told, Mù Qīngyǔ wanted to praise him loudly, but that wouldn’t suit Qín Yuè’s persona, so she chose this understated response.

‘Not bad’? It was a huge improvement! Mù Qīngyǔ remembered that last time he made boiled fish, the fillets hadn’t been prepared properly, and she had even tasted a hint of fishiness.

Now, the fish was tender yet firm, soaked with the spicy broth. The first taste was fresh and savory, then the numbness slowly spread, the heat was rich but not harsh, with a salty sweetness that lingered.

Mù Qīngyǔ ate several pieces without detecting any fishiness.

She scooped up a bit of the broth, sipped it carefully, and her golden eyes lit up.

The soup was both numbing and spicy, with an intense savory flavor. The saltiness was just right, carrying the numbing fragrance of Sichuan peppercorns and the spicy heat of chili. It was rich and perfect with rice.

Speaking of rice, Mù Qīngyǔ turned to Xǔ Tiānlí. “Did you cook any rice?”

“Yes.” Xǔ Tiānlí had anticipated that. How could such a rice-friendly dish as boiled fish be served without rice?

He had also gone downstairs to buy some chilled drinks. Originally, he wanted to buy alcohol, but after thinking it over, he decided against it.

“You did well this time. Keep it up next time.”

“I will, Master.”

During Xǔ Tiānlí’s absence, Mù Qīngyǔ had been surviving on instant noodles and fast food. This was a rare homemade meal.

Oh no, she felt like she was getting addicted. Wasn’t it supposed to be the other way around—Xǔ Tiānlí getting addicted to her?

To avoid running out of rice, Xǔ Tiānlí had cooked a large pot. But in the end, it was all finished. He only managed two bowls before he couldn’t eat anymore, while his master—

He roughly calculated: Qín Yuè had eaten at least four bowls of rice, most of the fish meat, the bean sprouts and other vegetables, and a good portion of the spicy broth.

Wait, wasn’t her appetite a bit terrifying?

Xǔ Tiānlí recalled that when he used to eat with his father, even after a tiring day at work, his father never had such a big appetite.

Still, it was good that his master enjoyed it. Xǔ Tiānlí was happy to see this sight.

They quickly finished the leftovers. Full and content, Xǔ Tiānlí suddenly heard a sound from his master’s phone. It was a news report. He couldn’t make out the details, but he caught the name “Yan Xingke.”

After a moment of thought, he couldn’t help but ask, “Master, are you also interested in the auction house matter?”

“Ah, yeah, a little.”

“Could it be that Master is interested in Yan Xingke?”

“What about it? Is that not allowed?” Mù Qīngyǔ picked up her cup and took a small sip of her drink. “What do you think?”

“Me? …I think she’s a good person who did a good deed. That’s all.”

“Mm.”

Mù Qīngyǔ nodded nonchalantly, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief.

At least Xǔ Tiānlí hadn’t grown suspicious of Yan Xingke’s identity.

To be honest, even she hadn’t expected things to turn out like this. Causing a scene at the auction was just to reclaim what was rightfully hers, and exposing the auction’s dark secrets was only to retaliate for their targeting her.

She never thought that the rumors would turn her into a hero who rid the people of evil. People even gave her a chuunibyou name like “Yan Xingke.”

Mù Qīngyǔ had nervously monitored online forums for days. Fortunately, no one connected Yan Xingke to the heiress of the Four Sacred Courts. Otherwise, it would have been trouble.

Her disguise had effectively concealed her features. As long as there were no accidents, no one would recognize her.

No one had come to seek revenge, and she had smoothly absorbed the power of the Purple Lightning Thunder Pearl. Next, she needed to discard the disguise somewhere remote, making Yan Xingke’s identity a perpetual mystery.

But…

“Being seen as a hero?”

While Xǔ Tiānlí washed the dishes, Mù Qīngyǔ muttered to herself.

‘It does feel pretty good.’

Her fingers tapped lightly on the table as she pondered Yan Xingke and her real identity. Suddenly, a clever idea struck her.