Chapter 65 — ILK Chapter 65

Sukiyaki The crisis was resolved.

On Black Tower, aside from a few high-ranking officials, no one knew the true identity of the bestialized Sentinel. The Sentinels returned to their posts, and the Tide Sea Clan retreated into the depths.

After the narrow escape, Sayin dived back into the ocean and gave Sireno a stern lecture. Sireno was indignant: "What did I do wrong? Those two aren't even together! That man tried to beat me to a pulp the moment he saw me. Why?!"

Sayin knew he was technically right, but of all the people to provoke, Sireno had chosen the one human equivalent of a lit fuse. Thinking of the near-extinction of their race, she shuddered and twisted his ear hard. "You stay in the underwater palace. No going to the surface! And absolutely no seeing that Guide."

Sireno didn't dare defy his mother's authority, especially since no one else in the family would take his side. His beautiful eyes drooped with a look of extreme grievance. "So I can't even see Sang Ye? She still has seafood growing in my house."

Sayin, soft-hearted toward his pouting, softened her tone but remained firm: "Does she want to see you as much as you want to see her?"

Sireno fell silent.

…

Meanwhile, Sang Ye was still on the artificial island. Lin Changli showed no intention of leaving; instead, he leisurely inspected the lushly greened island before heading toward the central villa.

"Aren't we going back?" Sang Ye followed him. The island was isolated, far from the main base and the Tide Sea residential zones. She couldn't swim back, and the warships on the island required clearance she didn't have.

Above them, the Alpha Fortress had already begun its return flight. Neither Wu Jinyue nor Lin Shuangxu intended to stay for a reunion; they both had official duties. The silver-gray wings of the fortress vanished into the atmosphere, leaving a hole in the clouds.

"I want to go back! Take me back!" Sang Ye followed him, grumbling. "My Master is waiting for me. Just give me a small warship and I'll fly myself."

Lin Changli ignored her. Having emerged from his mental landscape, he had regained his stubborn composure. Once Lin Shuangxu was gone, the little Phoenix boldly popped out.

"You said you'd make Sukiyaki," the Phoenix's tiny bead-like eyes stared at her. "I'm not sharing with anyone else."

They entered the villa. This place was nothing like the West Building; it was filled with the warmth and floral beauty of the Capital Star—magnificent, dazzling, decorated with cold but beautiful gemstones and porcelains. It was a palace between two worlds.

"Mother came specifically to decorate this," the Phoenix chirped happily, perching on Sang Ye’s shoulder. "It’s been years, but it’s still pretty, right? I love it here."

The bird then led Sang Ye on a tour of their "spoils of war": the core of a Space Fortress from an aunt's legion, a sulfur ring from a distant galaxy, and the core of a former Zerg Emperor.

"Kitchen. Where is it?" Sang Ye asked, cutting the history lesson short.

…

Sukiyaki originated as a way to enhance flavor when ingredients were scarce, but the actual preparation was simple. Sang Ye mixed a sauce of cooking wine, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar, and salt, simmering it into a concentrated base.

She selected a rectangular electric griddle. First, they would do the "griddle style," followed by a soup pot. As she prepped the ingredients, Lin Changli walked in, drying his hair. "I’ll do it. You go shower first."

It seemed his germaphobia had kicked in. Sang Ye didn't argue. By the time she finished showering and came out, Lin Changli had laid out the spread: neatly sliced beef, shiitake mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, and aged tofu, along with vermicelli and noodles for the staple.

"Watch," Sang Ye instructed. "Melt the butter first, then sauté the onion slices. Add the Sukiyaki sauce—just a thin layer at the bottom. Don't add water yet. Now, sear the beef."

Lin Changli followed her instructions carefully. Sang Ye sat nearby, drying her hair while the Phoenix acted as a manual blow-dryer. The aroma of searing beef mixed with the sweet-salty sauce was intoxicating.

Sang Ye cracked eggs into three bowls and whisked them. Lin Changli intuitively placed the seared beef into the bowls. The meat was so tender it barely needed chewing. Lin Changli sat across from her, searing and eating, occasionally adding vegetables.

As the sauce reduced and became sweeter, Sang Ye made a savory dipping sauce with cilantro, scallions, chili oil, and garlic to cut the richness. She offered some to the Phoenix and Lin Changli, but after one bite, they both returned to the sweet embrace of the Sukiyaki sauce. Their love for sweets was truly extraordinary.

Once they had their fill of seared meat, they added water and more sauce to turn it into a hot pot. Through the warm steam, Sang Ye and Lin Changli looked at each other again.

Suddenly, the Phoenix let out a violent cough—he had eaten too fast and choked. The atmosphere was broken. The bird instantly grew in size to widen his throat, and the stuck beef slid down. He looked at the two of them innocently before bowing his head to eat again.

Then it was Sang Ye's turn. A slippery strand of vermicelli with a chili flake stuck to it slid down the wrong way, triggering a massive coughing fit. She coughed until the world turned blurry. Imagine being a master chef killed by a chili flake, she thought.

Lin Changli rushed to her side, looking panicked, and began patting her back. When she finally caught her breath, she realized she was gripping his arm tightly, leaning against his shoulder.

Lin Changli leaned in. "You..." He reached out and brushed a stray chili flake from the corner of her mouth. His warm fingertip lingered on her cheek as he stared at her lips, reddened by the spice.

Sang Ye’s brain went numb. She had never been in a relationship, nor had she ever been moved by any cultivators in her past life; her only loves were recipes and the Shifang Grotto.

When Lin Changli leaned down and pressed his lips gently against hers, she didn't know how to react. But Lin Changli was clearly a novice too; after the initial press, he didn't know how to proceed. Their shared breath turned their ears crimson.

The Phoenix, having finished his bowl, looked up to ask for more, only to see what was happening. He let out a short, sharp shriek of surprise, snapping the two apart.

Sang Ye pushed Lin Changli away, her face flushing. "You two! Out! Get out now!"

Standing outside the door in the warm ocean breeze, Lin Changli was still smiling.

"Still smiling?" the Phoenix looked at him worriedly. "Is your brain broken? Where are we sleeping tonight? Do we have to sleep in the mecha? I don't want to sleep in a mecha, it’s too small. Say something!"

Lin Changli didn't respond. He simply reached out and pinched the Phoenix's beak shut, rendering him a silent bird.