Hu Tao Is Monetizing My Existence. [186]

Jueyun Karst, within the Adepti’s private realm.

Carrying a food box, Shenhe stepped through the adepti’s barrier and entered the hidden domain.

From the outside, it looked like an unremarkable cave—narrow and unassuming—but beyond the wards lay an entirely different world.

A veil of mist, soft and ephemeral like drifting clouds, spread across the entire realm. Walking through it felt like stepping into the heavens, though her feet still touched solid ground—no illusion beneath her soles.

High above, a crimson sun hung suspended in the air, glowing warmly. It wasn’t quite the same as the sun outside—more like a projection, skillfully embedded into the domain through some celestial method.

An immense, ancient tree flourished atop the sea of clouds, its branches stretching freely toward the false sun. The contrast between sun and tree created a beauty both otherworldly and wild.

Cloud Retainer, in her original form as a great crane, stood beneath the tree alongside Moon Carver, who appeared as a majestic stag. The two were deep in quiet conversation.

“Master. Moon Carver,” Shenhe called as she approached.

“Shenhe? You’ve finished cultivating?” Cloud Retainer’s eyes turned toward the food box in her hands.

She knew her disciple well. Shenhe usually dined on wild herbs and mountain flowers. She had little interest in worldly things and rarely, if ever, brought anything like this.

Now, out of nowhere, she had come bearing a food box—clearly, something had changed.

“I met some companions in Jueyun Karst. They asked me to bring this back for my masters to taste.”

“Oh?”

The moment Shenhe said she’d made friends, Cloud Retainer felt a strange rush of excitement—like her reclusive, introverted disciple had finally learned to make social connections. But at the same time, she was instantly on guard.

Still, being who she was, Cloud Retainer didn’t voice this directly. Instead, she asked with a rather critical tone:

“What sort of friends? What are their characters like? How did you meet them? Are they trustworthy?”

She knew Shenhe better than anyone. Though her body had matured, Shenhe had lived nearly her whole life on the mountain, far removed from the mortal world. She had no real experience dealing with others, nor any understanding of people’s true natures.

The red string that sealed her soul had long dulled her emotions, and her solitary training only deepened that emotional distance.

So when Shenhe said she had made friends, Cloud Retainer felt both joy and unease.

She was happy her disciple might no longer be so lonely—but oh, there were so many things to worry about.

What if these people were after something? What if they befriended her just because she was an adepti disciple?

“Yes, how exactly did you meet them?” Moon Carver asked, equally concerned.

They had all helped raise Shenhe. How could they not worry?

Understanding their concerns, Shenhe set down the food box and began explaining the events leading up to her visit.

“I was cultivating as usual when I heard a commotion nearby. I went to investigate and saw a group of people trying to capture a large wild boar. They were planning to make a dish called… charcoal-crisp roast boar.”

She recalled that Xiangling had called it that.

“One of them was Hu Tao, the Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor—I’ve encountered her a few times before in the mountains. I saw they were struggling, so I dropped a talisman and froze the boar for them.”

At the mention of Wangsheng Parlor, the tension in both adepti visibly eased.

As a descendant of a once-renowned mortal organization that had long worked alongside the adepti to battle evil spirits, Wangsheng’s lineage was trustworthy.

Even so, they were curious.

“And then?” Cloud Retainer prompted.

“Then someone from my ancestral family recognized me and called me ‘aunt.’ They invited me to join them for a meal.”

There wasn’t much more to tell—just some friendly banter, food preparation, and idle chatter.

“He asked me if I was doing well on the mountain, and if my master treated me kindly. I didn’t answer right away, and he got all worked up, saying we should go confront my master and demand justice.”

As Shenhe recounted this with a small, rare smile on her lips, it was clear that—even if it was their first meeting—she’d felt his concern.

That boy had a heart pure as snow.

“Impudent!” Cloud Retainer huffed. “As if this adepti would ever mistreat her own disciple!”

Despite her words, her tone lacked true anger.

From Shenhe’s brief account, Cloud Retainer could tell these people bore no ill will. Their concern for her was genuine, and she saw no harm in it.

Still, an adeptus had to maintain appearances.

“Pfft—Cloud Retainer, you’ve been called out!” Moon Carver burst into laughter.

“You’re her master too, you know. That accusation wasn’t just for me.”

“Ah, but Shenhe officially paid you the rites of apprenticeship. So the ‘justice’ they wanted was clearly from your hand.”

Accustomed to her masters’ playful bickering, Shenhe quietly opened the food box and began setting the dishes out on the stone table.

“I tried the charcoal-crisp roast boar already. The flavor is excellent, though quite spicy. They said it wouldn’t taste the same once it cooled down—so while it’s still warm, you should try some.”

As soon as the box was opened, the rich aroma wafted into the air. Cloud Retainer’s eyes drifted unconsciously toward the food.

When Shenhe had finished arranging the dishes and set out chopsticks and bowls, Cloud Retainer assumed human form and said with rare restraint, “Then I shall… sample it modestly.”

“I haven’t tasted mortal cooking in a long time myself,” Moon Carver added, taking a seat on the opposite side of the table with a nostalgic sigh.

Looking at the table, full to the brim, he nodded approvingly.

“They put a lot of heart into this.”

There was no doubt the food had been thoughtfully prepared. If it were just leftovers, there wouldn’t be so much—and in such variety.

Moon Carver brought out a jar of aged wine from deep within the domain. They sipped and ate together.

Seeing that her masters were enjoying the meal, Shenhe quietly excused herself and left the cave.

…

There was no need to praise Xiangling’s culinary skills—they spoke for themselves. Her variety, flavor balance, and execution were all top-tier.

“Mmm… not bad, not bad…”

With her disciple gone, Cloud Retainer let down her guard and revealed her gluttonous side, barely stopping to breathe as she chewed.

Moon Carver ate more slowly, alternating bites with sips of wine.

“It’s been so long since I last tasted the flavors of the mortal world…”

“Indeed. I still remember back when the Stove God was with us—every gathering, he cooked. Now, all we have left are these fleeting memories.”

“Those were good days…”

The two adepti lingered at the stone table, chatting and reminiscing as they finished every last bite. Even then, they felt they could eat a little more.

Of course, fullness was irrelevant to adepti—they could control such things at will. A sip of water could be satisfying, or they could devour a banquet and still feel hungry.

“Moon Carver,” Cloud Retainer said, eyes gleaming with intent, “shall we go meet these new ‘friends’ of Shenhe’s?”

Under the pretense of vetting them, but really to sneak a few more bites…

“A fine idea. It wouldn’t hurt to see if they’re worthy of her company,” Moon Carver agreed with a knowing smile.

Without further ado, both transformed into their original forms—a graceful crane and a regal stag—and departed the domain.

—

(Cloud Retainer is secretly a foodie with tsundere tendencies. She’s also fond of offerings and kitchen gadgets—remember all the food Traveler has offered her? And the Auto-Cooker too!)

This is a fan translation of 胡桃拿我冲业绩 by 余溯. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!