Chapter 393: The Aroma Of Temptation

Stan stepped into the kitchen and set a few basic tools on the counter, cutting boards, a heavy pan, a small selection of spices. For a moment he simply stood there, considering.

’What should I call this new dish I’m inventing... something a vampire like Camilla might actually enjoy?’

He exhaled quietly. ’Let’s see. The ingredients are all parts of the polar bear I took down and stored in my inventory...’

A decision settled cleanly in his mind. ’Bloodless Crimson Feast.’

Liver, kidney, bone marrow, heart, and a modest cut of the denser muscle meat. It would have been better if some of the blood had remained, but the Blood Fang daggers had drained every drop the instant they opened the creature’s throat.

With a thought, the massive polar-bear carcass materialized on the open kitchen floor, cold and motionless. A second thought brought the paired Blood Fang daggers into his palms. The intricate red patterns along the blades glowed faintly as he knelt and began to work.

The newly gained Chef (Master) skill settled into his hands like instinct. Every motion was precise, almost elegant.

He opened the chest cavity with a single clean stroke, lifted free the deep-red liver, the dense heart, and a carefully measured portion of kidney. Bone marrow was scooped from the sliced long bones in neat, glossy segments.

A thin layer of the rich subcutaneous fat was set aside to render. Even the small amount of muscle meat came away without ragged edges. In barely six minutes the counter held exactly what he needed.

The floor remained spotless. The remainder of the carcass vanished back into his inventory as though it had never been there.

Stan straightened and rolled his shoulders once.

He was not cooking this solely for Camilla. He was curious himself. Polar-bear liver carried dangerous levels of vitamin A for ordinary humans, but his tempered body and cultivation base would handle it without issue. So he just wanted to know how this newly invented dish would taste.

His gaze moved over the prepared ingredients as the plan formed with quiet clarity.

The liver would be the foundation, rich, intensely mineral. The heart would add dense, meaty depth.

Only a small amount of kidney; its flavor was too aggressive in larger quantities. Bone marrow would lend a silky, luxurious texture, while the rendered fat would carry everything and keep the liver from turning dry. Black garlic for subtle sweetness and complexity. A few Arctic wild herbs to cut through the heaviness. Salt. The barest touch of spice.

Finally his eyes settled on the small vial of liquid Qi he had set aside.

Just a little.

That alone should be enough to lift the entire dish far beyond ordinary cuisine.

"With liquid Qi mixed into it," Stan murmured, almost to himself, "this should become proper Qi-rich food."

A faint smile touched his mouth. Even a modest amount of liquid Qi would multiply the flavor several times over, possibly turning an already exceptional meal into something that simply could not exist in the mundane world.

He stared at the array on the counter. Liver. Heart. Kidney. Marrow. Not a single drop of blood. His weapons had seen to that.

A brief pause, then the smile returned, sharper this time.

’Fine. If I don’t have blood, I’ll make something close enough.’

A soft shift of air told him he was no longer alone. Camilla had approached without sound and now stood a short distance away, arms loosely folded, crimson eyes fixed on the counter with carefully neutral interest. When she realized he had noticed her, she looked pointedly to the side, chin lifting a fraction.

Stan glanced at her, still wearing a faint smile. "Curious after all?"

"Hmph." She kept her gaze averted. "I’m merely making sure you don’t set the place on fire with whatever strange thing you’re attempting."

Her words were cool, almost dismissive, yet she made no move to leave.

Stan smiled.

He could tell she didn’t actually mean that. After all, since last night, she had been trying so hard to hide and suppress the feelings that had begun to bloom within her, the interest and favorability she had developed toward him, feelings that were becoming increasingly difficult for even her to ignore.

...

Sighing, Stan turned back to the counter without further comment and set to work.

He rendered the polar-bear fat first over medium heat until it turned clear and fragrant. Into the shimmering fat went the diced black garlic, followed moments later by the finely chopped Arctic herbs. The kitchen filled with a deep, savory scent that was already richer than ordinary cooking. Camilla’s nose twitched once before she caught herself and looked away, arms still folded.

Stan worked with quiet, unhurried precision. The liver was sliced into even, thick pieces and seared just long enough to develop a dark crust while remaining soft inside. The heart followed, cut into dense cubes and browned until the edges caramelized.

Only a small amount of the kidney went in; all minced almost to a paste so its aggressive flavor would season rather than dominate. Bone marrow was added last, melting into the mixture and giving everything a glossy, luxurious sheen.

Camilla watched from the corner of her eye despite herself. Every motion of his hands was clean, confident, almost elegant. There was none of the clumsy trial-and-error she expected from someone who had only just acquired the skill. He moved like someone who had cooked this dish a hundred times.

"Hmmph...’ she acted cold, yet she did not look away for long.

The aroma continued to deepen. Rich mineral notes from the liver, the deep meatiness of the heart, the silky undertone of marrow, all balanced by the subtle sweetness of black garlic and the sharp brightness of the herbs. Camilla’s mouth watered before she could stop it. She pressed her lips together and turned her face further toward the window, pretending interest in the morning sunlight.

Stan glanced at her once, a faint smile touching his mouth, but said nothing.