79: The two sisters' feelings

Aphrodite was waiting in the medical area. Seeing Shen Xiaochuan arrive, she hurried forward and carefully took the warming pouch, softly promising to take good care of the Tiger Cubs. Two Believers carrying milk bottles followed silently behind.

At that moment, an urgent report came from outside the city, stating that an unknown enemy was approaching Skydome City. Shen Xiaochuan frowned, and the atmosphere suddenly grew tense.

Yang Lie remained where he was, rooted to the flagstones like a nail. He wore no armor, his lapels were open, and a dark red mark on his chest moved slowly across his skin as if it were alive—the mark left by the Evil God Altar.

“You're still here?” Shen Xiaochuan walked over and asked.

Yang Lie looked up. “This is my post.”

“I want to give you a different way to live.” Shen Xiaochuan took a talisman from the Faith Mall. The paper was dull and cracked at the edges, with twisted patterns drawn in the center. “This is a Bond Weakening Talisman. After using it, you can still use the power of the altar, but you won't have to guard it every step of the way. You can sleep, you can go far away, and live like a normal person.”

Yang Lie sneered. “This scrap of paper can actually be useful?”

Shen Xiaochuan’s tone darkened. “Stop talking nonsense. You'll know once you use it.”

Yang Lie stared at the talisman, motionless.

“You don't believe me?”

“I've been here for three years. Away from here, I am nothing.”

Before he finished speaking, his fingers trembled slightly. The sound of shouting and killing came from the distance; the enemy seemed to be making another move.

Shen Xiaochuan said no more and turned to leave.

On his way back to the main hall, he passed the kitchen. The door was wide open, and it was quiet inside. The stove was cold, and the pots and bowls were neatly arranged; no one was cooking.

He pushed the door open and entered.

Lilith sat on a small stool sewing an apron, while Lilia mechanically wiped the tabletop over and over again.

“What are we having for dinner?” he asked.

Both of them stopped their movements at the same time.

Lilith stood up. “I boiled some porridge and set out some pickles.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes,” Lilia said in a low voice. “There are good ingredients in the warehouse, but we didn't touch them.”

“Why?”

“Those are for the wounded and the warriors,” Lilith said. “We are just cooks; we shouldn't touch the good stuff.”

Shen Xiaochuan looked at them. One kept her head down in silence, the other's hands were trembling slightly. They were in charge of the entire city's food, yet they didn't even dare to eat a decent meal.

His heart tightened.

“Listen,” he said. “From today on, you can use anything in the kitchen as you please. Cook whatever you want to eat. Those Materials aren't meant to be enshrined; they are for people to eat.”

“But...”

“No buts.” He interrupted. “You aren't servants; you are people of Skydome City, people I trust. If I hear you're only eating pickles again, I'll smash the pots.”

“They deserve it!” His voice suddenly rose, his gaze sweeping toward several handymen eavesdropping outside the door. “From now on, anyone who dares to look down on them will be dealt with by military law!”

As his voice fell, a System prompt sounded: [Skydome City population loyalty increased by 10, gained incense value +100]. The Believers cheered one after another, looking at Shen Xiaochuan with eyes full of admiration.

Lilith fell to her knees with a thud.

He pulled her up at once. “No kneeling. How many times have I said that this isn't allowed here?”

“We... we just...” Lilith choked up. “No one has ever let us choose our own food.”

“You can from now on,” he said firmly. “You've looked after others for so long, it's time you were looked after too.”

Lilia stood where she was, the rag slipping silently from her hand.

She suddenly rushed forward and hugged him tightly, the force of it almost knocking him back.

She didn't speak, just held him, her shoulders twitching slightly.

Shen Xiaochuan didn't push her away. After a moment, he gently patted her back.

“Go on,” he said. “Make something warm. I want to eat meat.”

The two nodded, their tear tracks not yet dry, and turned to get busy. They opened the cabinets for meat and poured oil to start the fire. The pot heated up, and the oil crackled and popped.

Just after comforting the two sisters, a Believer hurried over to report that something had happened at the training grounds.

Shen Xiaochuan stood for a moment, then left.

By the time he returned to the main hall, it was pitch black. The lights were bright, and the desk was piled with documents. He sat down and began to flip through battle reports, Mine Lake records, and the register of Believers.

Footsteps came from outside the door.

It was Lilia, bringing in a tray. On it was a bowl of stewed meat, steaming hot, accompanied by two steamed buns.

“You haven't eaten yet,” she said.

“Put it down.”

She didn't leave, whispering, “My sister and I made it; we added medicinal herbs.”

Shen Xiaochuan glanced up at her.

He picked up a spoon and took a mouthful.

The meat was tender and melted in his mouth; the soup was a bit salty, but exceptionally fragrant and rich.

“It's delicious,” he said.

Lilia smiled and turned to leave. At the door, she stopped again. “Big Brother Shen.”

“Hmm?”

“We'll work hard.”

The door closed softly.

He finished eating and set the bowl aside. He reached into his sleeve; that greenish-gray scale was still there. He didn't take it out, just gave it a gentle squeeze.

The sound of a child's laughter came from outside.

It was Aphrodite. She walked past the corridor holding the warming pouch, humming a song. The Tiger Cubs moved in the bag, letting out a tiny cry.

She stopped, lifted a corner to look, then closed it and continued on her way.

Shen Xiaochuan walked to the window.

The city was dotted with lights. The lights were on in the medical area, the kitchen chimney was smoking, and the training grounds were empty, though footprints still remained on the ground. Tomorrow, people would come.

He opened the faith points panel.

+3 per second, steady growth.

In the skill bar, 'Thunderous Overlord Slash: Advanced' was still grayed out; the proficiency hadn't yet reached the standard. He still needed to slay several powerful enemies to unlock it.

But he was in no hurry.

Now the city was stable, and the people's hearts were won over. What needed to be repaired was repaired, what needed to be nurtured was being nurtured, and everything that should be put to use had been activated.

He walked to the desk, picked up a pen, and wrote down tomorrow's schedule:

Item 1: Check on the Tiger Cubs's condition and confirm if the feeding is adequate.

Item 2: Wait for Yang Lie to show up and arrange an induction assessment.

Item 3: Retrieve information on the Southeast Forbidden Land and prepare for the next step.

The tip of his pen paused slightly.

He added another line: Have Aphrodite bring the Tiger Cubs to the main hall tomorrow.

The wind began to pick up, making the window rattle slightly.

Shen Xiaochuan didn't look back and continued writing.

Just as he was about to finish his writing, a mysterious Believer quietly delivered a scroll with four words written on it: 'Southeast Forbidden Land, Perilous.' Shen Xiaochuan's gaze narrowed—what secrets were hidden in that place?

The tip of the pen glided across the paper with a rustling sound.