C14 Old Master's Enjoyment!

Every time Zhao Zhe visited the world of ice and snow, he made it a point to bring along some supplies. He couldn't teleport indefinitely, so he had to maximize each opportunity, bringing as much as he could with him.

This time, in addition to Xiaoxue's clothing, he packed some snacks that girls typically enjoy, a new quilt, a tablet, and two power banks. These were for Xiaoxue's entertainment during her stay in the world of ice and snow. Clearly, Zhao Zhe was an exceptionally thoughtful young man.

Teleportation was instantaneous. One moment he was here, and the next, he was in the world of ice and snow. He had left the previous afternoon, and now it was noon the following day. The sky remained a dull gray, with snowflakes gently falling, though the biting wind had subsided since yesterday.

Zhao Zhe pulled his collar tighter against the chill. The stark contrast between the 27 or 28-degree warmth he had just left and the sub-zero temperatures here would be unbearable for most. The snow cave was still there, freshly swept, with a trail of small footprints leading into the distance—evidence that someone had recently been scouting the area.

With high spirits, Zhao Zhe descended into the cave. His acquaintance with Xiaoxue was new, but having rescued her the day before, they shared a bond of mutual respect and understanding in this frigid realm. He treasured this budding friendship, so much so that he was willing to risk his reputation to procure a bra and quilt for her.

As Zhao Zhe peeked through the window, a weapon clattered to the ground, followed by a delicate figure rushing into his embrace.

"Master... Wuuu... I thought you had abandoned me. You said it would only be a few hours, but it's been almost a day. I've been out looking for you so many times... Wuuu..."

It was Xiaoxue, who had been standing guard with her weapon. Recognizing Zhao Zhe, she dropped her weapon and flung herself into his arms. Zhao Zhe, unaccustomed to such a dramatic display, was completely overwhelmed.

"Xiaoxue, what's the matter? Come on, stand up and let's talk," Zhao Zhe urged as he helped Xiaoxue to her feet. Holding a girl in his arms was certainly pleasant, but Zhao Zhe prided himself on being a gentleman and would never exploit someone's vulnerability.

"Master, where have you been for so long? I was worried something terrible had happened to you. I went out searching for you but couldn't find any trace. Where did you go?"

Zhao Zhe was at a loss for words. As a time warrior, he found himself in a frustrating predicament. Back on Earth, no one would believe his story, yet here, he couldn't disclose the truth.

"Uh... Master went to a very mysterious place for some training. Why worry? There's plenty of food, drink, and a warm fire here. Even if I hadn't returned, you could have lived comfortably. Hehe, did you ever consider claiming this place for yourself?" Zhao Zhe asked with a hint of mischief.

Xiaoxue was taken aback by the question. She quickly straightened up and bowed respectfully to Zhao Zhe. "Master, I wouldn't dare. Please rest assured, I am utterly devoted to serving you. You've built a sanctuary in this world and provided such wondrous food and supplies. It's clear you're no ordinary man. To serve someone as capable as you, Xiaoxue must have accumulated good fortune over many lifetimes. How could I even entertain the thought of betrayal? To betray you would mean giving up the secure life I have here..."

Zhao Zhe pondered Xiaoxue's words and found them logical. Indeed, there were many treasures here, but they were finite. Eventually, they would run out. Without him, who would bring more supplies? A visionary wouldn't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. Oops, that's not quite right—Zhao Zhe was no goose; he was more akin to a warrior.

Despite being pleased with Xiaoxue's conduct the day before, Zhao Zhe still felt the need to test her loyalty. Her recent assurances, however, had put his mind at ease. As long as he held the secret to traveling back to Earth, he needn't fear any insurrection in this world of ice and snow.

Zhao Zhe surveyed the shelter he had left nearly a day ago. Yesterday's battle had left its mark, and although the aftermath had been tidied up, today's cleanliness was in a league of its own. It might be an exaggeration to say the floor was so polished you could see your reflection, but Zhao Zhe was genuinely concerned about slipping on the gleaming surface. The previously toppled shelves had been righted, albeit with items haphazardly arranged. Now, they were neatly pushed against the wall, their contents organized in a way that was truly pleasing to the eye.

"Why didn't you light a fire?" Zhao Zhe inquired, noting the chill in the air. The fire had gone out.

In a soft voice, Xiaoxue replied, "Master wasn't here, and I didn't want to waste the wood, so I put the fire out. Please wait, Master, I'll start the fire and cook right away."

Zhao Zhe was taken aback. Such a girl existed, one who would rather endure the cold than waste wood. He had told her not to conserve wood because Chen Xiaomeng would soon be bringing coal, which they could use liberally. She truly was a considerate young lady. It seemed he had been too harsh in testing her before.

As Xiaoxue busied herself with starting the fire and cooking, Zhao Zhe didn't bother to ask what she was preparing, as he wasn't hungry. He began to sort through the supplies he had brought back, setting aside the snacks for Xiaoxue. Anything he wanted could be found in the Earth realm. The quilts he had brought were, of course, for Xiaoxue, as well as a bag full of feminine products for her to put away later.

The bedding on the bed was immaculate, untouched, suggesting that Xiaoxue hadn't slept in it for nearly a day. She either didn't dare sleep in her master's bed or was concerned about disturbing her own bedding.

Zhao Zhe resolved to set up a separate bed for Xiaoxue. It was not right to sleep while she stood by. Inviting her to share his bed was out of the question, both for her willingness and his pride. Moreover, the bed would need to be in the main hall, the only room with a fire, as the other rooms were far too cold.

In the room downstairs, there was a bed that was simply too large; Zhao Zhe had dismantled and burned several just to keep warm. After much deliberation, he decided to haul a sizable mattress upstairs. It was no small feat to get an entire bed to the top floor, especially since the mattress was over a foot thick. However, once in place, it would serve perfectly for sleeping.

Zhao Zhe had just finished setting up a curtain around the mattress when Xiaoxue announced that the food was ready. The meal was straightforward: she had cooked some instant noodles and opened a couple of cans. Zhao Zhe's stockpile consisted mainly of ready-to-eat meals, with no staples like rice or cooking oil on hand.

He marveled at how quickly Xiaoxue had mastered the preparation of Earth's food. It made sense, though; she had likely explored every inch of the shelter over the past day, with little else to occupy her time.

As Zhao Zhe slurped a mouthful of noodles, he noticed Xiaoxue standing still beside him. Confused, he asked, "Why aren't you sitting down to eat?" He wasn't particularly hungry, but he was sure Xiaoxue must be famished, especially since she hadn't even had the chance to cook earlier.

Xiaoxue replied timidly, "Master, please go ahead and eat. I'll have my meal shortly. Once you're done, I'll tidy up the table and then eat."

Zhao Zhe had only ever heard tales of the indulgent lives of feudal lords, but now he was experiencing it firsthand. The women didn't join the table for meals and certainly didn't share the same food as the master.

It was then that Zhao Zhe noticed something else simmering over the fire, which wasn't instant noodles. On closer inspection, it appeared to be a meat soup, with traces of noodle remnants.

When Xiaoxue saw Zhao Zhe eyeing her food, she quickly explained, "Master, that's the leftover broth from your noodles. It seemed wasteful to throw it away. You don't mind, do you?"

Zhao Zhe wasn't concerned about the abundance of instant noodles; his heart went out to Xiaoxue for making do with leftovers. Yet, he remained silent. He knew he had to maintain a certain distance with the girl who saw herself as a servant, or else their cohabitation would become burdensome. Curious, he inquired, "Is that meat I see? The aroma is quite appealing. I don't recall storing any meat here. We have some canned goods, but none that smell like this."

Xiaoxue explained, "Master, that is snow rat meat..."

Zhao Zhe was about to savor a mouthful of noodles when the mention of rat meat made his stomach churn. He simply couldn't bring himself to eat! While some in Africa might consider mouse meat a delicacy, for a true son of Spuydal, such fare was certainly not a common indulgence.

Seeing Zhao Zhe's distress, Xiaoxue rushed over and tenderly patted his back. "Master, are you okay? Is the meal not to your liking? Please tell me what I did wrong, and I'll make it right..."

"...What about the snow rat meat?" Zhao Zhe managed to ask, fighting back his nausea.

Xiaoxue replied, "Yesterday, I noticed how frightened and disgusted you were by the snow rat, so I threw it outside to freeze in the snow. But snow rat meat is actually quite nutritious. Even though you, Master, have access to much finer foods, I wouldn't presume to partake in them. For me, having snow rat meat is already an immense kindness..."

Zhao Zhe slid the instant noodles towards Xiaoxue, saying, "Let's do this: I'll take the kindness, and you eat the noodles. Sit down. That's an order. Now, I'll trade these noodles for your snow rat meat."

Upon hearing it was an order from the Master, Xiaoxue reluctantly sat down. Yet, she was hesitant to eat Zhao Zhe's noodles. Only under the weight of his stern gaze did she begin to nibble timidly. As she continued, her smile grew; clearly, the noodles were a more enjoyable meal than the rat meat.

Zhao Zhe intended to swap the noodles for the rat meat and then dispose of the rat meat broth. Unexpectedly, the aroma of the broth was peculiarly enticing. The more he smelled it, the harder it became to resist the urge to try it. It's worth noting that the people of Spuydal generally find the idea of eating rat meat unappealing, but this scent was so bewitching that it transformed Zhao Zhe's initial revulsion into a genuine curiosity to taste it. The allure of that fragrance was indeed powerful!