CFSMS -Chapter 49 As for Ice Jelly, It Made a Stunning Comeback

“It does look quite pretty.”

It resembled a translucent dumpling. The kind of thing that made people want to pick it up and squeeze it. Very stress-relieving.

Old Li couldn’t help but praise it.

Although it didn’t initially look particularly delicious, Old Li regained confidence thanks to Lu Wu’s unwavering assurance.

While Old Li continued waiting, Lu Wu cut the ice jelly into evenly sized cubes.

As the container moved, the pieces bounced against one another, their springy texture finally catching Old Li’s attention.

As for the toppings, Lu Wu had already planned everything out.

Ice jelly was naturally beautiful, and to showcase it better, she had specifically prepared a collection of transparent bowls.

She placed some ice jelly into a bowl and poured in milk. There was no need to stir; a slight shake was enough for the milk to seep into the gaps between the jelly pieces.

A thick layer of mango chunks was spread over the top, then crushed nuts were sprinkled as decoration.

A bowl of mango milk ice jelly was complete.

“Grandpa, give it a try.”

Lu Wu handed Old Li a spoon while continuing her work.

She repeated the process, this time replacing the mango with peaches. The milk became coconut milk, and the nuts were swapped for different varieties.

Thus was born the simple yet elegant coconut peach ice jelly.

The final version was brown sugar watermelon ice jelly.

Specially prepared brown sugar syrup was poured over the crystal-clear jelly, dyeing it a sweet amber-brown.

The jelly naturally mellowed the sweetness of the brown sugar, while the refreshing watermelon balanced everything perfectly.

This was Lu Wu’s personal favorite.

By the time she finished, she looked up and found Old Li slurping away with a spoon.

“How is it?”

Lu Wu asked as she picked up a bowl for herself.

Though the preparation looked simple, there was actually plenty of finesse involved.

The ratio between jelly and water, as well as the sugar added beforehand, ensured that the jelly itself wouldn’t taste bland.

The sweetness from the milk, coconut milk, and brown sugar elevated the flavor even further. For dessert lovers, it was impossible to resist.

The fruit added another layer of complexity.

The fruit-filled ice jelly was smooth and delicate, yet upon careful chewing revealed a satisfying springiness.

It was also incredibly bouncy. If one wasn’t careful, a piece might leap off the spoon and splash milk everywhere.

Lu Wu was eating the watermelon brown sugar version.

The mellow sweetness of the brown sugar had been absorbed into the jelly itself. As it lingered in her mouth, it instantly lifted her mood.

The crisp watermelon burst apart with every bite.

The sweetness of the fruit differed from the sweetness of the brown sugar, yet together they created perfect harmony.

The rich, crunchy nuts collided with her teeth in satisfying crackles. The more she chewed, the more fragrant they became, leaving a lingering aftertaste.

“Pretty good.”

Old Li had already finished an entire bowl.

He wiped the milk from the corner of his mouth and offered what sounded like a casual compliment.

However, the way he stared at the next bowl revealed his true greed.

As for the disdain he had shown earlier?

Old Li firmly declared that wasn’t him.

That had merely been an ignorant inner demon masquerading as him.

“The rest are all yours.”

Lu Wu gestured generously.

She had made a large batch this time. If Old Li rationed them carefully, they would last him seven days.

“I knew my girl was the most filial.”

Old Li grinned happily and, without the slightest hesitation, swept every prepared bowl of ice jelly into his storage space.

Instantly, he felt wealthy.

Then he grabbed another bowl and squatted by the doorway, eating while sharing tips about exploring secret realms.

“If danger shows up, let those two boys handle it first.”

“If even they can’t win, run. Let them cover your retreat.”

“If someone provokes you, don’t worry—fight back immediately.”

“If anyone tries to kill you and steal your treasures, use those two boys as weapons and kill them first.”

For good things, she should go.

For bad things, they should go.

Share blessings together, shoulder hardships separately.

That was exactly why he had found those two tools for her.

This was called making full use of available resources.

If two grown men couldn’t protect a little girl, he would laugh at them for the rest of their lives.

“As long as you return safely, I guarantee that no matter what happens inside, no one will be able to trouble you afterward.”

With a big shot like him around, if someone still dared to harass the girl under his watch, then all his years of experience would have been for nothing.

As he passed on his wisdom, Old Li radiated confidence and vigor.

The sharpness in his eyes was enough to intimidate anyone.

Yet whenever he looked at Lu Wu, those same eyes became gentle and caring.

“Little girl, work hard and grow stronger. This world is very large.”

Little River Town was merely a tiny corner of the Qingyuan Realm.

Although Lu Wu’s cultivation path was somewhat unconventional, that very uniqueness guaranteed that such a small place could never contain her.

That day, Old Li told her countless stories.

The world of cultivation contained more than the temptation of immortality and limitless power.

It also held danger and darkness.

The world had never been simply black and white.

Danger and opportunity had always existed side by side.

Understanding this deeply, Lu Wu felt fortunate to have met such a careful and dedicated teacher.

She engraved every lesson firmly in her heart.

The gains were immeasurable.

She also learned that awakenings for all towns under Hong’an City would be held in the main city itself. Xiao Hua and the others would be leaving for the city tomorrow, and Old Li suggested that Lu Wu hitch a ride on their flying vessel.

That night, Lu Wu slept uneasily.

She dreamed many dreams.

Sometimes she became a legendary figure renowned throughout the Qingyuan Realm, capable of deciding life and death with a single sentence.

Other times she was a weakling trapped in the mud, struggling endlessly yet never able to rise, as insignificant as an ant whose life and death were controlled by others.

When she awoke from the chaotic dreams, Lu Wu exhaled softly and pushed aside her tangled thoughts.

Her luggage had already been packed.

With a storage bag, traveling was effortless.

She set off lightly.

After she left, the free-range Dog Aotian emerged from the alley and sat guard at the entrance.

The first day without his master.

He missed her.

Fortunately, she had left behind plenty of pork knuckles and that dessert called ice jelly.

His meals for the next few days were secured.

He would protect his master’s home and wait faithfully for her return.

He, Dog Aotian, was the greatest watchdog under heaven!

The flying vessel was docked in the center of Little River Town.

When Lu Wu arrived, she immediately spotted Qin Zhan and Lou Xiaotian waving at her.

With two powerful protectors accompanying her, she felt much more at ease.

Yet as soon as she approached, she noticed the dark circles beneath both of their eyes.

It looked as though neither had slept all night.

Could they possibly be even more nervous than she was?

And more importantly… were these two reliable?

As someone who had entered numerous secret realms before, Qin Zhan insisted that he normally wasn’t nervous.

The problem was that Old Li had dragged him aside the previous night and spent hours giving instructions.

After listening to one cautionary tale after another—and an endless series of bedtime horror stories about betrayal—Qin Zhan had become convinced that everyone in the world might secretly be a bad person.

The whole world was his enemy.

Lou Xiaotian, who had endured the exact same experience, exchanged a look with Qin Zhan.

The two fellow sufferers embraced, seeking comfort from one another.

The moment they separated, they noticed Lu Wu staring at them with an odd expression.

It was the sort of look that seemed to say something…while simultaneously saying nothing at all.

Silently, she took one step backward.

Then another.

Creating some space.

After all, being a third wheel was the last thing she wanted.