Chapter 40: Angels and the Golden Recipe

The car was quiet.

Yun Xuan gazed out the window while Jiang Yue drove, his usual taciturn self. The five passengers in the back were exhausted and silent.

“We’re here,” Jiang Yue announced as he stopped the car. He was very familiar with the place where Yun Xuan and his companions were staying.

“Thank you. Please let Dongfang Aoxue know the matter of the eight-treasure porridge can wait until after tomorrow’s competition,” Yun Xuan said calmly as he stepped out.

“Alright,” Jiang Yue replied with a nod, saying nothing more.

“Xue’er’s asleep,” Yun Xun’er remarked, opening the rear door.

Yun Xuan smiled and gently lifted Yun Xue, who was covered with a jacket.

Qin Yue and Nangong Xiaomeng remained silent as the five quietly got out.

“Thank you for your trouble,” Yun Xun’er said to Jiang Yue.

“You’re too polite. I’ll be off now,” Jiang Yue replied, then drove away.

“Brother?” Yun Xue opened her eyes and looked at Yun Xuan.

“Awake? Go back to sleep once we’re inside,” Yun Xuan said, setting her down.

Yun Xue straightened up, her cheeks flushed, but said nothing.

Yun Xuan made his way into the hotel, phone in hand, reading the notification that his contract application had been approved.

This contract could be signed anonymously, requiring only a signature and fingerprint instead of a photograph.

Many well-known light novelists in this world remained anonymous, submitting manuscripts periodically. Not everyone sought fame; the publication and animation of their novels could be entrusted to the contract management bureau.

The bureau maintained strict confidentiality for these writers and comic artists—as long as the price was right.

Yun Xuan, using his new account, added the editor’s account sent from the backend and mentioned the anonymous contract, obtaining the agreement.

He printed, signed, and fingerprinted the contract before scanning it into a file. It could then be faxed or sent directly—the entire process could be completed in the hotel.

“Xun’er, you all go up first. I have a small matter to tend to,” Yun Xuan said, putting away his phone.

“Alright, don’t stay up too late. Don’t overwork yourself,” Yun Xun’er replied softly, not prying further. Yun Xuan was already an adult; he didn’t need more supervision.

The others went upstairs without delay.

Yun Xuan approached the front desk. “Could you help me print something and scan it into a file?”

“Please print it yourself,” the attendant replied with a smile, gesturing to a nearby room.

“Thank you.” Yun Xuan appreciated this arrangement; he recalled the discomfort of printing contract documents in his previous life under the watchful eyes of strangers.

Printing, signing, faxing—all done in one smooth motion.

By the time Yun Xuan left the room, it was already half past ten at night.

He bought a can of coffee from a vending machine and returned to his room.

As soon as he sat down at his computer, his phone beeped.

“So it’s my mentor from QQ?” Yun Xuan noted the message, from a user named “Loli Is Justice.”

Loli Is Justice: My disciple, I gazed at the stars tonight and sense a coming disturbance. Are you in the island nation?

Yun Xuan nearly spat out his coffee at the message.

Loli Is Justice: I suppose you’re quite surprised? Hmph, there’s nothing in this world I do not know.

Wiping his mouth, Yun Xuan realized he’d left his location sharing on.

Yun Xuan: Master, your insight is truly divine. May I ask what disturbance you foresee?

Loli Is Justice: Last night, I gazed into the kaleidoscope mirror and saw a witch above the sky. She bore a dark halo over her head and pure white wings on her back. It was but a fleeting glimpse, yet the image remains vivid in my memory—I’ve already sketched it out for you. (attachment)

Yun Xuan opened the image, mouth agape at the sight of the witch.

“Do you like it?” a voice sounded behind him.

“Uh…” Yun Xuan turned to see who was there.

A girl with a face of flawless beauty, crowned with a black halo, wore pink bear pajamas, nibbled on potato chips, and sat on the edge of the bed, smiling.

“Hey, long time no see,” she greeted with a gentle smile.

“Death?” Yun Xuan stammered.

“Do I look like Death to you? Last time I was just tricking you. This is my real form—don’t be fooled by appearances. I am, in fact, a great angel,” she said proudly, pointing at the black circle above her head.

Yun Xuan could hardly believe his eyes.

“Never mind, I won’t scare you. I’m actually just here to have some fun. After all, that place is so dark—sometimes, as a modern angel, I have to patrol the mortal realm and show some concern for its people,” she mumbled, mouth full of chips.

“So, what are you here for?” Yun Xuan asked, regaining his composure as a strange thought crossed his mind—could she be a fallen angel?

“Each time you level up, you can summon me and exchange your points for a random item. This time, it’s 1,000 points. Well, boy, do you want to exchange?” A golden little box appeared in the girl’s hand.

“One thousand points? Any kind of item is possible?” Yun Xuan hesitated, feeling as if he’d stepped into one of those mysterious post-dungeon shops from online games.

“Yes, you might get a divine skill, an advanced skill, or a rare one.” The girl smiled.

“Exchange.” Yun Xuan spent one million yuan to make up the 1,000 points.

The points vanished and the girl handed the golden box to Yun Xuan.

“Until next time. Let’s hope you don’t turn into a cute girl,” she teased, waving as white wings unfurled behind her. She soared upward, passing through the wall as if it were air.

Yun Xuan stared at the golden box in his hand. On the virtual screen, a prompt appeared to open it.

He confirmed and watched intently.

“Congratulations, host! You have obtained the Golden Recipe! Includes one hundred dishes,” the cat-eared assistant announced.

“Golden Recipe?” Yun Xuan looked bewildered, reading the description carefully.

Only after finishing did he understand its significance.

One hundred original dishes!

“Not bad, but I can’t publish them all at once. With just five, I can fetch a great price—the rest I’ll keep to myself.” Yun Xuan knew well the greed of mankind. Fewer than ten could be explained by genius, but more would arouse suspicion.

Recipes could be lost to time, and those that were lost were priceless. Becoming a billionaire was effortless with such recipes, but Yun Xuan had no desire to attract undue attention.

The cold noodles, lamb stew, and eight-treasure porridge—these could all be considered Huaxia cuisine, closely linked to him.

“Keeping the Golden Recipe is asking for trouble. I’ll only study the ones I need; the rest can gather dust in my inventory,” Yun Xuan decided, storing the recipe away.

“Actually, you could access the digital version of the Golden Recipe from me,” the cat-eared assistant reminded him.

Yun Xuan simply fell silent.

(P.S. Guess the angel’s name! And please vote for recommendations—without them, I’ll be so pitiful…)