Soul Land V: Rebirth of Tang San

Once the Golden Tree broke through to the divine-ranked level, its burst of Life Aura would be something that the Formation he had laid out in this area definitely couldn't hide. By then, the Peacock Demon Clan would be able to sense it, and even the whole Jiali Mountain Range would be affected. The Golden Tree itself didn't have much combat ability, at least not at the divine-ranked level, but its Life Aura was extremely strong. Once its evolution was complete, it would reach another level, making it difficult to keep Golden Valley concealed.

In light of the numerous challenges that Tang San and Pretty Girl were now facing, it wasn't the right time for it to break through. Everything would have to wait until Tang San ascended to the God Rank.

Besides the vegetables, the seafood was the freshest, just brought back by Tang San himself from the Endless Blue Ocean, as a tribute from the Sea Clan.

The crystal-clear flesh of the lobster was sliced into thin pieces, fresh Golden Clams with their meat an orange-yellow color and their shells golden, the huge segmented prawn tails still moving, vivid as a rainbow, full of life. Then there were the cut portions of gigantic long-legged crabs, the slashed flower-patterned squid slices; it was indeed a feast for the eyes that whetted one's appetite with just one glance.

Pretty Girl, looking at this table full of rich ingredients, couldn't help but be slightly amazed, and then a bit surprised as she looked across the table at Tang San. Her beautiful eyes revealed a hint of inquiry.

Tang San smiled and said, "Ever since you became the City Lord, you've been in a constant state of tension, busy with work and cultivation. As we're getting closer to reporting back to Ancestral Court, we've pretty much finished all the preparations that need to be done. It's time to relax properly and have a good meal. Today you should forget about everything else and just enjoy the food. I also bought some good wine, a special brew from Jiali City, produced from eight kinds of fruit rich in Life Aura, which needs to be aged in Jiali-grown Water Citrus Wooden Barrels for eighteen months to be ready for drinking. The fruit aroma is rich, give it a try."

While talking, Tang San brought out an exquisitely crafted Crystal Wine Carafe. Through the decanter, one could see the wine inside had the color of rubies. Pouring two glasses, the fruity fragrance instantly enveloped them, stimulating their appetites.

Pretty Girl silently watched Tang San pour the wine, her eyes gradually softening, and she said in a soft voice, "Thank you."

"You're thanking me?" Tang San chuckled. "You indeed carry many responsibilities, but what I bear is you. Not only do I need to help you fulfill those responsibilities, accompany you as you grow, but also care for your well-being!"

As he spoke, he lifted the wine glass, handed one to Pretty Girl, and held the other in his hand. Their glasses gently clinked against each other, a tender ringing sound bringing a charming rhythm to the tranquility of Golden Valley.

"Give it a taste," Tang San said with a smile.

Pretty Girl took a sip and her beautiful eyes lit up. There was no hint of the alcohol taste she expected, only the pure and refreshing scent of fruit overflowing in her mouth, the light aroma even seemed to rise to her nose, making it feel as if her whole body was emitting the fragrance.

As Tang San brought his glass to his lips, intending to take a sip, Pretty Girl's pale, slender palm covered it, stopping him at the rim.

Tang San was slightly taken aback, "What's wrong?"

With a teasing smile, Pretty Girl looked at him and said, "Someone here seems to be under eighteen and not of legal drinking age. As your beautiful sister, how could I let you make such a low-level mistake?"

Taken by surprise, Tang San then remembered that in this world, he indeed wasn't yet eighteen!

Seeing the crafty look in Pretty Girl's eyes, he couldn't help but be a tad exasperated, yet he placed the wine glass down, saying, "I do have the mental age of someone who has lived twice."

Laughing, Pretty Girl replied, "That's just your side of the story. Go outside and see who believes you've been reborn."

Tang San also laughed, "I don't care whether others believe it or not, as long as you believe it, isn't that enough?"

Pretty Girl snorted, "I don't believe it either. You need to behave."

"All right then," Tang San conceded, placing the wine glass down. Pretty Girl quickly snatched it away, pouring the contents into her own glass, and took another sip. A faint blush appeared on her charming face as she giggled, "It's really good."

Annoyed, Tang San said, "Let's eat, let's eat."

While speaking, he picked up some vegetables and dipped them into the boiling pot to cook.

"Why not start with the seafood? Shouldn't we prioritize it since it's so fresh?" Pretty Girl asked curiously as she sipped her fruit wine.

Tang San smiled and said, "There are always some impurities in seafood, no matter how much you clean it, you can't remove all of them from the meat. However, when you cook it, the impurities come out and melt into the soup, making it more delicious. But the impurities still remain. If you were to blanch vegetables afterward, wouldn't you just be absorbing all those impurities into the vegetables? On the contrary, vegetables are pure and during the blanching process, they retain a strong life aura and fragrance. Then, when you cook the seafood, it's actually enhanced."

Pretty Girl was taken aback and said, "I thought you only knew how to cultivate, but it turns out you also know how to enjoy life, huh?"

Tang San placed the blanched vegetables onto the plate in front of her and drizzled a bit of sauce on them, smiling as he said, "I had a friend who was known as the God of Food, and another who was called the Ice and Fire Demon Chef. Both are very skilled at cooking. They taught me a few things. If you'd like, when we have some free time, I can cook especially for you. Next time we can try seafood barbecue, that has a unique flavor too."

"Sure!" Pretty Girl's eyes twinkled as she looked at him and ate the vegetables he had prepared for her, seeming to really relax a bit.

Tang San kept blanching a variety of ingredients for her, placing them in her plate and pairing them with sauce. Occasionally, he'd pick up a clean napkin to wipe the corners of her mouth, and Pretty Girl, feeling his care, looked at him with ever more tenderness in her eyes.

"You should eat too."

"Hmm, okay."
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By the end of the meal, the only reflection in their eyes was each other. Eventually, she was sitting on his lap, possibly a bit drunk from the fruit wine, leaning lightly against his shoulder with a faint blush on her beautiful face, wrapping her arms around his neck, her fingers lightly playing on his chest.

With one hand supporting her waist, Tang San occasionally brought food to her lips with the other.

"This is the first time I've realized you can eat quite a lot," Tang San said with a soft chuckle.

"Stop it," Pretty Girl said with a mock hit on his shoulder.

Tang San couldn't resist and planted a kiss on her cheek, to which Pretty Girl looked up into his eyes, her gaze as beautiful as ever.

His heart suddenly felt scorching hot, and he couldn't help but move closer to her lips. But in the midst of a flash of silver light, the beauty in his arms vanished.

"You're trying to do bad things!" Pretty Girl appeared on the other side of the table.

Tang San said with a laugh, "Who made you so delectable? I haven't had my fill yet."

Pretty Girl's gaze suddenly grew intense as she said softly, "You must succeed, okay?"

Feeling the deep emotions in her eyes, Tang San understood what she meant. These days, she had constantly been worried about whether he would succeed in his tribulation. Although she never voiced it, she kept herself very busy, not wanting to put pressure on herself, yet being extremely concerned.

"Yes. I definitely will," Tang San nodded seriously.

In a flutter of silver light, Pretty Girl was back in his arms. Tang San only felt a brief touch of warmth on his lips, and even though it was fleeting, in that moment, his soul felt as if it had been electrified.

With her head lowered and buried in his chest, Pretty Girl murmured, "You, you... just come back alive, and I'll be, be your girlfriend. The official kind."

"The kind that can kiss?" Tang San's lips curled upwards.

"Mhm."