Noticing Huai Shi's suspicious gaze, Guo ShouQue seemed helpless.
"I'm not some kind of Demon, so why am I being regarded as a beast?"
After reverting to his middle-aged appearance, Guo ShouQue no longer seemed as gloomy and lifeless as before, but rather appeared suave and refined, leaving a favorable impression.
But even with just a bit of thought... this guy clearly isn't a good person, right?
"Come now, the essence of good food lies in sharing, just like eating hotpot—eating alone never quite feels satisfying."
Like performing magic, Guo ShouQue pulled two exquisite blue and white porcelain bowls from his sleeve and handed them over, saying with a half-smile, "Even if you don't drink, that little girl could use some.
She's just become a Sublimator and has experienced a great change. Ignoring it could result in a serious illness... You wouldn't want her to have lingering health issues during her developmental years, right?
If you're not feeling well, drinking more hot water is always the principle."
He lifted a ladle, overflowing with clear broth, and poured it into the bowl. With the rise and fall of a jade-like leaf, a fresh vegetable aroma spread amidst the rich fragrance.
Though Huai Shi trusted Guo ShouQue's level enough to not resort to poisoning a newly-sublimated girl, he tentatively took a sip.
And then, he froze in place.
It felt like he swallowed a wisp of thick fragrance that had solidified.
A gentle stream spread within the warmth, permeating his organs, causing him to relax involuntarily, feeling an inner peace and tranquility.
Soon after, Huai Shi sensed his energy and Source Substance expended in battle quickly replenishing.
Even the Raven on the ground had its grievous wounds swiftly closing after Guo ShouQue sprinkled a few drops of broth, returning to bouncing around energetically within moments.
The iron-clad body healed by this dish, it seemed anything but scientific.
In less than half a minute, Huai Shi was back in peak condition.
No more, no less.
No anomalies beyond Huai Shi's control, nor any weakening compared to his previous standards.
It wasn't the result of skilled portion control, but a natural recovery. It wasn't an Alchemy Potion, as there were no signs of artificial enhancement or stimulation, so there were no harmful side effects.
The only effect was from the first sip; subsequent drinks only offered the delicious taste of the rich broth, with no peculiar effects.
As Zhenxi, who was resting, received a small serving from Huai Shi, her pale complexion quickly regained its rosy hue, and her Source Substance fluctuations stabilized further.
Old Guo's broth saved her millions in developmental Potion costs.
According to Huai Shi's assessment, within a mere minute, she subtly grew about two centimeters taller. However, due to her Hybrid nature, the right side of her forehead's bone proliferated slightly, showing signs of mutation.
In the future, as she passes her developmental phase, these traits should stabilize. With her soul under the protection of Stigmata, there would be no worry about the body easily deforming...
Suddenly, his emotions were mixed.
Plans can never keep up with changes. Originally, the idea was to use the Eight Rooms for blessings, but she just naturally learned on her own... even better than he anticipated.
Could he have misjudged her character, assuming an extraordinarily rare talent?
But still, in every way, she seemed easy to deceive...
Unable to help himself, he sighed, finished the broth, and set down the bowl.
"Another bowl?"
"No need." Huai Shi waved off the offer: "If I drink further, I might not be able to stop..."
"Is that so, what a pity."
Guo ShouQue refilled a bowl for himself, savoring it. Meanwhile, Huai Shi's eyelid twitched, and only then did he realize... maybe, having just one bowl was fine, but having too much might be troublesome!
"Where's Amber?"
Looking around, he noticed the absence of that mischievous little sister's presence: "Didn't she come with you?"
"She has her work."
Guo ShouQue calmly said, "No need to worry, I'm confident she'll handle matters with the Eight Rooms well..."
"What on earth?" Huai Shi became flustered, "You sent her to face the Eight Rooms?"
By now, even his gut feeling told him that the changes here were not unrelated to the Eight Rooms. If Guo ShouQue, being old and accustomed to crushing weaker opponents is one thing, then how could sending Amber as fodder be appropriate?
Instinctively, he stood, intending to head towards the source of the distant rumbling.
Yet, a subtle malice rose behind him, causing him to stiffen in his place.
"I already said, she'll handle it well."
Guo ShouQue slurped his broth, speaking seriously: "This is her job; only by solving it herself will it hold meaning. Neither you nor I have any room to intervene."
Huai Shi snapped, "Doesn't she have to be able to solve it?"
"..."
In the silence, Guo ShouQue gazed at him, his expression becoming increasingly peculiar: "Miss Huaizhi, did you really think the Dongxia Genealogy sent her back to Yingzhou unprepared?"
In that instant, a radiant brilliance soared from his blood-colored aura.
Like a torrent of gathered light ascending skyward, it dispelled all pervasive malice, forming a vast square outline in the sky dome, covering the entire horizon.
Reflecting upon the world.