Chapter 25: Sharpening the Axe Does Not Delay the Cutting of Wood

Feng Xue very much wanted to remind Liu Yunxi that humans wear undergarments beneath their skirts, but after a moment’s thought, he decided he would just turn her into a ring whenever they went out in the future.

Well, if it were only for his own eyes, Feng Xue would give this fashion sense a very high score!

Yes, Liu Yunxi—that was the little white snake’s name, or rather, the name inscribed on the hem of her skirt.

"Yes, that’s right, it’s Liu Yunxi! I haven't used it since Grandma Fox Fairy left. Luckily, I was clever enough to have Grandma Fox Fairy write it on my magical artifact!"

Liu Yunxi nodded vigorously, seemingly delighted that her name finally had a proper use.

Feng Xue was happy to appreciate the sight, but then he realized a somewhat serious problem.

"You don't know how to read?"

"I'm a demon, why would I need to know how to read?" Liu Yunxi’s retort left Feng Xue speechless. Although he really wanted to ask Grandma Fox Fairy, he could tell just by looking at her that the old fox definitely hadn't taught her.

Thinking for a moment, he pointed a finger.

"You look like a snake!"

"You look like a perfect maid proficient in twelve languages and skilled in the eight major culinary cuisines!"

A series of nearly overlapping sounds erupted amidst a cloud of smoke. Looking at Liu Yunxi through the haze, Feng Xue didn't need to ask; one look at her "intelligent" expression told him it had failed.

"There are no extra languages in my head. And what exactly are the eight major culinary cuisines?" Although Liu Yunxi had transformed twice in rapid succession, her face didn't hold the smile it had the night before; instead, she wore a look of profound bitterness.

However, a closer observation would reveal that this bitterness was entirely different from the initial anger she felt at being humiliated by the constant shifting. If one had to describe it, it was like the feeling of suddenly realizing you forgot to fill out your answer sheet after finishing a college entrance exam—on the verge of a breakdown, yet frantically wondering if you had misremembered something.

Feng Xue, however, did not notice these details. He was currently feeling dejected that his plan to "teach the little white snake what salt and sugar are, then let her flip through a cookbook to learn how to cook" had gone bankrupt. The beautiful future of retirement-style cultivation no longer seemed so easily within reach.

In fact, he had considered trying his luck again by transmigrating into a modern cultivation world. But firstly, he wasn't sure if he would return to his original world or end up in a random new one, and finding a modern world was a bit difficult.

Secondly, although his cultivation system didn't rely on the external environment, judging by the "Humanity" mentioned by the little white snake and the scraps of information from Daoist Qian’s two disciples regarding the "Underworld," there was no guarantee this world didn't have hidden settings. If he went to another world where he couldn't cultivate and couldn't return, that would be true despair.

Therefore, even if he were to transmigrate again, it would have to be after he had learned some spells and mastered the ability to protect himself. Of course, if he could quickly achieve a Primordial Spirit and secure longevity, Feng Xue wouldn't mind waiting here for sixteen years to see the effects of the Imperial Flow.

Seeing that Liu Yunxi would be of no use in the short term, Feng Xue could only tie on his apron and head into the kitchen.

Today’s ingredients were bought by Yazi, and they were fresher and more abundant than Feng Xue had imagined. Not only was there a live sea bass and a basket of eggs, but there were also five or six types of vegetables like cabbage, bean sprouts, and green peppers, along with dried goods like seaweed and shiitake mushrooms. However, perhaps because Yazi was worried they wouldn't be fresh or it was too late to buy them, there was no meat.

Seeing Liu Yunxi standing outside like a wooden statue, Feng Xue turned and waved for her to come in. He didn't teach her how to cook directly but instead started scaling the fish and prepping the vegetables.

Although Liu Yunxi’s mental state was shattered, she held on and didn't turn to leave, remaining at the doorway like a wooden post. She watched Feng Xue busy himself for nearly an hour until he finally produced four dishes and a soup.

"Steamed sea bass, stir-fried bean sprouts, vinegar-glazed cabbage, and a seaweed egg drop soup. It’s a pity there are no tomatoes, so I had to settle for stir-fried eggs with green peppers."

Feng Xue muttered to himself as he watched Liu Yunxi self-consciously carry the dishes to the table. He nodded with satisfaction, served two bowls of rice, and beckoned to the dazed Liu Yunxi.

"Don't just stand there like a statue. Sit down and eat."

"Eh? But I have already reached the state of Inedia..." Liu Yunxi seemed completely uninterested in food, but Feng Xue said firmly, "If I tell you to eat, you eat. How are you supposed to learn how to cook if you don't know what tastes good and what tastes bad?"

"Oh..." Thinking of her current predicament, Liu Yunxi didn't say, "I never wanted to learn to cook." She just kept repeating, "This is my benefactor," in her heart, and clumsily scooped up a spoonful of stir-fried eggs with green peppers using the spoon Feng Xue had provided.

"Sigh, it's been too long since I've cooked; my skills have rusted." Seeing that Liu Yunxi was sensible, Feng Xue picked up a piece of steamed sea bass and put it in his mouth. Although his knife skills were lacking, the freshness of the fish made up for it. Just as he was reaching for his second bite, he heard Liu Yunxi’s muffled exclamation.

"What is this? Is this what you call delicious? Can humans eat so many different flavors every day?"

"Uh, that’s a bit hard to answer." Feng Xue looked at the sparkle in Liu Yunxi’s eyes and suddenly realized that the ancient trope of "using a roast to lure a divine beast, and a good dish to trick a beauty" had actually worked.

But then, he realized the problem.

Liu Yunxi, before this, was a snake!

As everyone knows, snakes have no sense of taste and do not chew. Their way of eating is to dislocate their jaws and swallow whole, and the digestion period after eating is when a snake is at its most vulnerable.

Thinking about it this way, snakes generally don't understand the joy of eating.

While he was thinking, he saw that Liu Yunxi couldn't pick up the bean sprouts with the ceramic spoon after a long time and was about to reach out with her hand. Feng Xue was quick-witted and immediately rapped her hand with his chopsticks.

However, even though she had just lost her cultivation, Liu Yunxi’s physical stats as a shapeshifted demon were far superior to Feng Xue’s. She easily dodged the attack, but didn't reach out again, suppressing her appetite as she said, "You were the one who told me to eat, and now you’re stingy about it?"

"Who’s being stingy! You just can't use your hands! You have to use cutlery, understand? Either learn to use chopsticks or take your time with the spoon. If I catch you grabbing food from the plate with your hands, I’ll turn you into a stone!"

As Feng Xue said this, he suddenly felt like a kindergarten teacher. But Liu Yunxi clearly didn't share that thought. She just nodded weakly, repeating "This is my benefactor" in her heart, and picked up the chopsticks placed to the side, clumsily attempting to pick up the food.

Fortunately, a shapeshifted demon’s control over their body is indeed remarkable. By the time Feng Xue was about to finish his meal, she had finally mastered the trick and began to sweep the now-lukewarm dishes into her bowl with whirlwind-like momentum.

Happily experiencing a "sense of taste" she had never felt before, Liu Yunxi’s brows and eyes relaxed. But at that moment, a voice reached her ears.

"After you finish eating, come to the study. We start learning Chinese characters today. I hope your brain is as capable as your body..."