Chapter 49: Breakthrough

Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Breakthrough

Xi Yunxui remained beside the table, her eyes fixed on Madam Shen.

She still couldn’t figure out what had caused the strange reaction.

Madam Shen wasn’t showing any obvious signs of a severe allergy. Her breathing remained steady, but there was an unusual flush across her face, and she occasionally pressed her fingers against her neck as though something felt different.

Su Meilan was becoming increasingly worried.

"Yunxui, are you sure there wasn’t anything unusual in the food?"

Xi Yunxui shook her head.

"I checked all the ingredients carefully, Madam. Everything I used was fresh, and I didn’t add anything that wasn’t listed."

She glanced at Madam Shen.

"And Madam Shen said she isn’t allergic to any of them."

Su Meilan frowned.

"Then what could it be?"

Xi Yunxui didn’t answer.

Her mind went through every possibility she could think of.

She had prepared the dishes carefully.

She had checked the ingredients.

She had even followed the knowledge she had received from the cooking manual.

Yet something was clearly happening.

Just when she felt she was running out of possibilities, Xi Yunxui suddenly remembered the System.

System.

[Yes, Host?]

Do you know what’s happening to Madam Shen?

The System became silent.

Xi Yunxui waited.

A few seconds passed.

Then—

[Please wait.]

Xi Yunxui’s eyebrows rose.

Wait?

She looked at Madam Shen again.

The woman seemed uncomfortable, but she wasn’t getting worse.

Xi Yunxui waited patiently.

After a short while, the System finally spoke.

[The System has completed its analysis.]

So?

There was a brief pause.

[Madam Shen is currently experiencing the early signs of a cultivation breakthrough.]

Xi Yunxui froze.

...A breakthrough?

[Yes.]

Xi Yunxui stared at Madam Shen.

You mean a cultivation breakthrough?

[Correct.]

Xi Yunxui’s eyes widened.

She had almost forgotten that cultivation wasn’t simply something she was learning through the System.

There were actually cultivators living in this world.

And apparently, Madam Shen was one of them.

But why does she look like she’s having an allergic reaction?

The System calmly explained.

[Madam Shen has remained at her current cultivation bottleneck for a considerable period of time.]

[Her body has accumulated sufficient spiritual energy, but her cultivation has been stagnant.]

[The meal consumed by Madam Shen contained ingredients capable of nourishing the body and assisting spiritual-energy circulation.]

Xi Yunxui’s eyes slowly widened.

My food did that?

[The meal acted as a catalyst.]

[The stagnation in Madam Shen’s cultivation has begun to loosen.]

Xi Yunxui swallowed.

So she’s about to break through?

[Yes.]

Then what should I do?

[Nothing.]

Xi Yunxui blinked.

Nothing?

[Advise her to remain calm. Her body will naturally adjust.]

Xi Yunxui nodded slowly.

That was a relief.

At least she didn’t need to do anything complicated.

But another problem immediately appeared.

Wait.

She frowned.

How am I supposed to tell her to remain calm without explaining how I know what’s happening?

The System fell silent.

Xi Yunxui sighed.

She couldn’t simply walk up to Madam Shen and say:

Madam, congratulations. You’re about to break through because my cooking contains spiritual energy.

They would immediately ask how she knew.

What would she say then?

The voice inside my head told me?

Absolutely not.

Xi Yunxui’s head began hurting.

How troublesome.

She was still trying to figure out what to do when Madam Shen suddenly straightened.

Her expression changed.

She quietly leaned toward Su Meilan and whispered something into her ear.

Xi Yunxui couldn’t hear what she said.

But Su Meilan’s expression immediately changed.

She looked surprised for a moment before nodding.

"Alright."

She turned toward Madam Shen.

"Come with me."

The two women quickly entered the villa.

Xi Yunxui watched them disappear through the door.

She remained where she was.

She didn’t follow.

There was nothing she could do except wait.

---

About ten minutes later, the door opened again.

Xi Yunxui looked up.

Su Meilan and Madam Shen stepped outside.

Both women looked noticeably more relaxed.

Madam Shen’s earlier discomfort had completely disappeared.

Her complexion had returned to normal, and there was even a faint smile on her face.

Xi Yunxui quietly released the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

So she’s alright.

Madam Shen walked toward her.

"Yunxui."

Xi Yunxui immediately stepped forward.

"Yes, Madam?"

Madam Shen took her hand warmly.

"Thank you."

Xi Yunxui blinked.

"Madam?"

"The meal was wonderful."

Madam Shen smiled sincerely.

"I haven’t felt this refreshed in a very long time."

Xi Yunxui smiled politely.

"I’m glad you enjoyed it."

"I truly did."

Madam Shen glanced toward the table.

"Everything was delicious. Even the drinks were excellent."

She gave Xi Yunxui’s hand another gentle squeeze.

"You’re very talented."

Xi Yunxui scratched her cheek slightly.

"Thank you, Madam."

Madam Shen suddenly laughed.

"You should come and work for me."

Xi Yunxui blinked.

"Work for you?"

"Yes."

Madam Shen’s eyes sparkled with amusement.

"I’ll make sure you receive excellent treatment."

Xi Yunxui immediately shook her head.

"I’m sorry, Madam Shen."

She smiled apologetically.

"I’m currently employed by the Huo family."

She glanced respectfully toward Su Meilan.

"Today’s gathering was my responsibility, and I’m happy that I was able to prepare something everyone enjoyed."

Madam Shen looked at her for a moment.

Then she laughed softly.

"Loyal too."

She turned toward Su Meilan.

"You’ve really found yourself a good employee."

Su Meilan smiled.

"I think so too."

Xi Yunxui lowered her head slightly.

"Thank you, Madam."

Then—

[Ding!]

Xi Yunxui’s eyes widened slightly.

The familiar System notification sounded in her mind.

[Congratulations, Host!]

[Mission: Impress Madam Huo’s Guests With Your Culinary Skills — COMPLETED.]

Xi Yunxui’s heart jumped.

Finally!

[Mission Reward: +15% System Progress.]

Xi Yunxui almost smiled openly.

Fifteen percent!

Her System Progress had increased by another 15%.

But before she could fully celebrate—

[Positive feelings detected.]

Xi Yunxui froze.

[Positive feelings from Madam Huo’s guests detected.]

She blinked.

How many?

The System answered immediately.

[Total Affection Points gained: 10.]

Xi Yunxui’s eyes brightened.

Ten!

That was much better than she expected.

She quickly calculated everything in her head.

So that’s another ten Affection Points...

Her mood instantly improved.

Then the System gave her another surprise.

[Bonus Reward has been triggered.]

Xi Yunxui’s expression changed.

Bonus reward?

[Lucky Draw opportunity acquired.]

Xi Yunxui’s eyes widened.

A lucky draw?!

For a moment, she almost forgot that she was standing in front of Madam Shen and the others.

She quickly lowered her head to hide her excitement.

Her fingers curled slightly.

System...

She could barely contain herself.

Open the lucky draw.

The System didn’t immediately respond.

Instead, a familiar mechanical voice slowly sounded inside her mind.

[Lucky Draw function preparing to activate.]

Xi Yunxui’s heart began beating faster.

She had absolutely no idea what she might receive.

But judging from the System’s previous rewards...

It could be anything.

And for the first time since the gathering began, Xi Yunxui felt genuinely excited about what would come next.

Unfortunately, she had no idea that her lucky draw might bring her something far more troublesome than useful.

And beside her—

King C was nowhere to be seen.

Xi Yunxui’s smile slowly disappeared.

She suddenly remembered something.

Wait...

Her eyes narrowed.

Where did that little creature go?

Suddenly, she had a very bad feeling about the next few minutes.