Ling Cage, pick up Lu Mingfei at the start.

The hut where the wine song is tucked away on the west side of the village, with dried herbs hanging under the eaves, releasing a bitter fragrance when you open the door.

The room was simply furnished, yet it exuded a woman's unique delicacy. A blue-dyed cloth was spread on the rough wooden table, and a few white wildflowers that were about to wither were inserted in the ceramic vase. The medicinal herbs drying on the windowsill floated with golden dust in the afternoon light.

Lu Mingfei was carefully placed by Amur in a sunny spot by the window, where he lay down on a rattan chair.

This rattan chair is so comfortable. Lu Mingfei lay down on it and rocked back and forth. It felt good, so he rocked back and forth a few more times.

"You'll have to pay for it if you break it." Jiu Ge heard the creaking sound, poked her head out of the kitchen, and saw Lu Mingfei lying on her wicker chair rocking back and forth like a child, and joked.

"Why don't you sell me the wine song? It's so comfortable!" Lu Mingfei lay comfortably on the rattan chair. Although the feeling of exhaustion was still overwhelming, he still felt that the chair was really comfortable, especially when he was leaning against the window, where the sunlight was shining on him and making him feel warm.

Before you know it, a quiet, peaceful feeling that makes you drowsy washes over you.

"Feels good, doesn't it? I'm not selling it to you, I'll keep it for myself. But I can find someone to make one for you." Jiu Ge's voice came from the kitchen, the sound of a cleaver hitting the cutting board was crisp and rhythmic.

"Lu Mingfei?" Not hearing a response, Jiu Ge called again, but still no response. She peeked out again, and at this moment Lu Mingfei had his eyes closed, his chest rising and falling slightly with his breathing.

With a knowing look, Amur tiptoed over and extended a finger to check Lu Mingfei's breath.

"Not dead, not dead," he reported in a low voice.

Jiuge glared at him, annoyed. "I wanted to ask if he was asleep!"

Amur then took a closer look. In the sunlight, Lu Mingfei's face was no longer so pale; some color had returned, and his breathing was long and steady.

He turned around, nodded affirmatively at Jiu Ge, and then, as if he had completed a major task, tiptoed into the kitchen and approached Jiu Ge.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" he asked solicitously.

Jiu Ge glanced at him: "You can cook?"

"My cooking skills aren't as good as yours, but I can definitely help out," Amur said, patting his chest.

Just then, Ertong burst through the door carrying large bags of groceries, breaking the tense silence with his boisterous voice: "The meat's here! The vegetables're here too! Jiuge, look how fresh these ribs are!"

"Keep your voice down." Jiu Ge and Amu'er both raised a finger to their lips at the same time.

Er Tong was completely bewildered until he looked in the direction Jiu Ge was pointing and saw Lu Mingfei sleeping peacefully in a rattan chair, sunlight shining on his handsome face.

"She's sleeping quite soundly," Er Tong whispered.

"Don't disturb him, let him rest. Also, bring the things in." Jiu Ge beckoned to Er Tong.

After Ertong went in, Jiuge took the vegetables from his hands and then handed them to Amuer, saying, "Wash these vegetables."

"Okay." Amur was very happy. The more she did, the longer she could stay in the kitchen and with the wine songs.

"Two of you, how many crystal coins? I'll give them to you in a bit." Jiu Ge kept his head down, processing the meat on the cutting board.

"It's not much. Besides, we're all eating together, so we're just waiting for your cooking skills." Er Tong waved his hand.

"Yes, yes," Amur chimed in.

Jiu Ge glanced at the two of them, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Alright, for this reason, I'll add a little of my secret recipe to the dishes today."

The kitchen suddenly filled with the aroma of cooking. The sizzling of oil hitting the hot pan, the bubbling of ingredients, and the white steam rising from the steamer... all intertwined to create a soothing symphony of everyday life.

"It smells so good!" Ertong and Amuer came over. At this moment, soup was simmering in the pot, and the aroma was spreading everywhere.

The aroma from the kitchen wafted towards Lu Mingfei. He twitched his nose, his tightly closed eyes half-closed, and through the blur, he saw Jiu Ge busy in the kitchen. In a daze, he seemed to have returned to his aunt's kitchen, which was filled with the smell of cooking oil. Only here, there were no sharp reprimands, and no one would ask him to help in the kitchen. All he could hear was the sound of thick soup boiling and bubbling.

He woke up, and his stomach began to rumble unconsciously. The rich aroma tugged at his pen, as if it could bewitch him. Lu Mingfei groggily walked toward the kitchen.

"You're awake?"

It sounded like someone was talking to him.

"Lu Mingfei?" The tone carried a hint of inquiry.

He remained unmoved.

"Lu Mingfei!" The voice grew louder.

"Here!" Lu Mingfei suddenly shuddered. Through long-term basic training in returning to the origin, he had developed an unconscious response to the loud sound of someone calling his name.

"Pfft, you're still half asleep," Jiu Ge chuckled, waving a slender white hand in front of Lu Mingfei. "Are you awake now?"

"You're awake, you're awake. What's this? It smells so good." Lu Mingfei scratched his head sheepishly and changed the subject.

Amur walked over, put his arm around Lu Mingfei's neck, and led him toward the pork rib soup simmering on the stove.

"This is it. It contains a secret recipe for wine songs," Amur said.

Lu Mingfei leaned closer, took a deep breath, and the fragrance entered his nose like mist.

"This smells amazing! Jiu Ge, your cooking skills are truly impressive."

"It smells delicious, that's all. This is my secret recipe, even Boss Bai raves about it." There was a hint of pride in Jiu Ge's tone as she gently stirred the milky white broth in the pot with a spoon. The rich aroma rose with the steam, filling the entire small house.

Lu Mingfei's stomach rumbled again, the sound particularly clear in the quiet kitchen. Ertong and Amuer laughed without restraint, and even Jiuge's lips curved into a gentle smile.

"Are you feeling better?" Jiu Ge asked with concern, noticing that Lu Mingfei's face was no longer so pale.

"I'm alright." After taking a nap, Lu Mingfei felt much better. Although the feeling of exhaustion hadn't left, at least he didn't need anyone to help him walk.

"That's good. You can wait in the living room. The food will be ready soon." Jiu Ge nodded.

"Is there anything I can help with?" Lu Mingfei asked. He often helped out at Boss Bai's house.

"No need, no need, you should rest well. Now..." Jiu Ge paused, revealing a meaningful smile, "Now you are the hope of our village."

Lu Mingfei blushed immediately, while Jiu Ge laughed heartily. In her eyes, Lu Mingfei was like a shy girl who would blush at the slightest teasing.

After more than an hour of busy work, all the dishes were finally prepared and served one by one to the rough wooden table covered with indigo-dyed cloth.

The small table was crammed full. In the center was a pot of steaming, fragrant pork rib soup, its milky white broth containing tender pork ribs, golden corn pieces, and carrot chunks.

Next to it was a plate of steamed fish, topped with shredded ginger and scallions, drizzled with hot oil and soy sauce, its aroma irresistible. There was also a plate of glistening braised pork, a bowl of stir-fried, jade-green wild vegetables, a dish of crisp and refreshing cold salad prepared by Amur, and the pot of potatoes that Ertong had contributed—peeled unevenly but ultimately successfully—which Jiuge had turned into pan-fried potato chunks, crispy on the outside and soft and tender on the inside.

"Wow! This is so delicious!" Er Tong rubbed his hands together, his eyes shining, and his mouth was practically watering.

Amur helped set out the bowls and chopsticks with light, quick movements and a satisfied smile on his face.

Jiu Ge took off his apron, wiped his hands, and looked at the table full of dishes and the three people gathered around the table, eagerly waiting to start eating. A genuine and warm smile appeared on his face.

"Please sit down, what are you waiting for?"

"Come on, Lu Mingfei, have a bowl of soup to warm your stomach first." Jiu Ge personally served him a bowl of soup, and specially added two extra pieces of pork ribs and a piece of corn to the soup.

"Thank you, Sister Jiuge." Lu Mingfei took the bowl, carefully blew on it to cool it down, and then took a small sip.

Instantly, an indescribable delicious flavor exploded in my mouth. The broth was rich and mellow, with the aroma of pork ribs and the sweetness of corn, as well as a subtle, unique umami flavor similar to mushrooms. The layers were complex, and the warm feeling spread from my throat to my stomach, and then flowed to every part of my body.

"It's so delicious!" Lu Mingfei exclaimed sincerely, almost with tears in his eyes. It was more delicious than anything he had ever eaten, not just in terms of taste, but also in the feeling of being well taken care of.

"If you like it, drink more. There's more in the pot." Jiu Ge said with a smile, and then served Er Tong and A Mu'er as well.

No one stood on ceremony anymore and started eating. Er Tong, with a clear target in mind, picked up a large piece of braised pork and stuffed it into his mouth, his mouth dripping with oil. He mumbled a praise, "Mmm...fat but not greasy, lean but not dry...Jiuge, your cooking is amazing!"

After trying all the dishes, Lu Mingfei felt that Jiu Ge's cooking skills were actually comparable to Boss Bai's.

He buried himself in his work and ate with great relish. In Longgu Village, Bai Yuekui was a very good cook, but since it was usually just the two of them eating, the meals were mostly simple and quick. Such a carefully prepared "feast" full of the warmth of home cooking was a rare sight.

The atmosphere at the table was lively, with everyone eating and chatting. Ertong recounted the amusing incidents he encountered during his patrol that day, with Amuer adding details, and Jiuge occasionally chiming in with his own comments. Lu Mingfei mostly listened, enjoying the relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

"Speaking of which, Lu Mingfei," Ertong swallowed the food in his mouth and asked curiously, "what exactly happened in District C3 yesterday? It's all over the village, saying you encountered something big and even used spiritual manipulation?"

The atmosphere at the table became slightly tense upon hearing this topic. Amur put down his chopsticks and looked at Lu Mingfei. Although Jiu Ge didn't speak, his eyes also showed concern.

Lu Mingfei slowed his chewing, and the harrowing scenes from yesterday flashed through his mind: Fang Yuan's sacrifice, Mai Duo's serious injury, Bai Yuekui vomiting blood, and the desperate deal he made with Lu Mingze...

Although no deal was ultimately made, according to Lu Mingze, they no longer needed to exchange lives. He didn't understand what it all meant, but he managed to save everyone on his own.

He took a deep breath, swallowed the food in his mouth, and sorted out his thoughts before calmly recounting his experiences from the previous day.

He omitted specific details about Lu Mingze and the "Don't Die" incantation, only saying that in the critical moment he seemed to have unleashed his potential, saving Maiduo, and that Bai Yuekui forcibly activated his power to defeat the giant Devouring Beast.

Even with such simplification, the danger within still kept Er Tong and Amur on the edge of their seats.

"My God... Fang Yuan, she..." Er Tong's voice lowered, and a look of sorrow appeared on his face. Fang Yuan was very popular in the village, and it was heartbreaking to hear that she had almost died. Hearing about Fang Yuan's pregnancy and how she almost had her life essence drained was even more painful.

Jiuge sighed softly and poured some of her homemade herbal tea, which had a sweet floral fragrance, into everyone's cup.

"They're all back now, aren't they?" she said softly, as if to comfort everyone. "Thank goodness for Lu Mingfei, thank goodness for Boss Bai taking him in back then."

"You're something else, kid!" Er Tong patted Lu Mingfei's shoulder forcefully to break the somewhat dull atmosphere. Although he controlled the force, Lu Mingfei still grinned. "Potential unleashed? Looks like our Dragon Bone Village is about to gain another powerful warrior!"

Amur laughed and chimed in, "Yeah, I never would have guessed before. From now on, we'll be counting on you to look after us on missions!"

"No, no, to be honest, after that incident, when I woke up I felt that my strength was a bit weaker, not as strong as it was back then." Lu Mingfei was a little embarrassed by what they said, and quickly waved his hand.

"Potential needs to be explored and honed," Jiuge said gently. "You've only been here for a little over a month, and you've already done a great job. To be honest, I think you're almost a monster. The important thing is that you protected your companions."

These words warmed Lu Mingfei's heart. They protected their companions... Yes, although it was exhausting, Mai Duo survived, Fang Yuan saved the child, and Boss Bai's health was improving.

"Knock knock." Two knocks came from the doorway.

"Am I late?" A tall figure appeared in the doorway against the light, the silver hair on her head shimmering in the sunlight.

"Boss Bai!" Apart from Lu Mingfei, the other three quickly stood up. Lu Mingfei was a step slower and was about to stand up when Bai Yuekui pressed him down.

"I'm here for a free meal too. I just finished dealing with some things at the medical center." Bai Yuekui took the chair that Amuer hurriedly handed over and sat down next to Lu Mingfei.

Jiu Ge took another set of bowls and chopsticks from the kitchen and gently placed them in front of Bai Yue Kui.

Bai Yuekui ate with relish, his eyes shining.

"The food at Jiuge Restaurant is quite good! Do you have any secret recipes?"

"Yes, I have some of my specially made Chinese herbal powder. Boss Bai, you can take some with you after dinner," Jiu Ge said with a smile.

"Okay, when we get back, no one should say that my cooking doesn't taste as good as it did today." As he spoke, Bai Yuekui picked up another piece of food with his chopsticks.

Lu Mingfei felt like he'd been tricked. Could he really be that kind of person? Although Jiu Ge's cooking was delicious, and the Chinese medicine powder she mentioned made it even more unforgettable, well... never mind, Boss Bai, you should take some back with you.

Lu Mingfei had already admitted in his heart that this meal was better than what Bai Yuekui usually made, but he wondered how it would compare without the secret recipe.

"A new round of artificial awakening will begin in a while," Bai Yuekui suddenly said.

Lu Mingfei remembered that Boss Bai had been mentioning that there would be another round of artificial potential awakening, and now it was finally coming soon.

What could it be?

Lu Mingfei looked at his hand holding the chopsticks. His strength gradually recovered as he ate, and that invincible power slowly returned. He wondered if he would awaken a new Word Spirit.

The aroma still lingered on the table as Bai Yuekui slowly picked up some food, while the others fell silent.

Finally, Jiu Ge broke the silence, tentatively asking, "Is Lu Mingfei still going to participate in the new round of awakening?"

Bai Yuekui nodded, still eating.

Jiu Ge couldn't help but gasp, recalling the almost lifeless ability to heal the dead that morning, and his eyes were filled with even more shock as he looked at Lu Mingfei.

"And what about him this morning...?"

"Well, we guess," Bai Yuekui said, taking out a tissue to wipe his mouth, "this power comes from Lu Mingfei's world, and it's a completely different power from our potential."

"Lu Mingfei's world!" Jiu Ge and the other two exclaimed in unison.

"His world doesn't seem so simple either," Amur murmured.

"You could say this power comes from Lu Mingfei himself, or from his bloodline? Oh no, it would be more accurate to say it comes from his genes," Bai Yuekui said.

"Isn't ours the same?" Er Tong asked.

"Same, yet different," Bai Yuekui said. "I don't quite understand Lu Mingfei's power either, but it definitely comes from within himself, barring any unforeseen circumstances..."

Bai Yuekui paused, then uttered the guess that astonished everyone: "Our potential needs to be awakened. Although it's related to the activation of certain gene fragments, this power cannot be stably inherited. After all, it's activation, not mutation. As for Lu Mingfei's power, in my guess, it may also need some kind of stimulus to awaken. However, since it's at the genetic level, this power can almost be said to be... stably inherited!"

"Wow, stable genetics! If Lu Mingfei were on the Lighthouse, he would definitely be the breeding champion mentioned above!" Er Tong exclaimed in surprise.

"What the hell is this?" Lu Mingfei wanted to cover Er Tong's mouth. What breeding champion? He, Lu Mingfei, was a staunch warrior of pure love.

"How about you find a wife in the village, have a few children, and pass on your power?" Bai Yuekui teased with a smile.

"I...I'm only 18..." His voice trailed off as he spoke, Lu Mingfei hadn't thought about his future yet.

"Yeah, how about I help you find a few? If all else fails, I can do it myself." Jiu Ge suddenly moved closer to Lu Mingfei, joining the teasing, and gently tapped his shoulder with her finger.

"That won't do!" Amur's voice suddenly rose.

Everyone turned to look at him.

Amur was extremely anxious. How could this be explained? Lu Mingfei was only eighteen years old... That's right! Eighteen years old!

His eyes lit up, and he said to Jiu Ge, "Lu Mingfei is only eighteen! You...you're an old cow eating young grass!"

Jiu Ge, however, didn't care at all. Instead, he walked behind Lu Mingfei, gently pinched his face, which could indeed be described as divine, and looked at Amuer with a mocking gaze: "Look at this appearance, and think about his power. The child can also be stably inherited. This kind of tender grass is a perfect bargain to eat, okay?"

Lu Mingfei had never experienced anything like this before. He kept talking about "children" and "heredity," and his face, which had just regained its color, immediately turned as red as a boiled shrimp.

"Anyway, anyway..." Amur stammered for a long time, unable to come up with a coherent explanation. Lu Mingfei was indeed outstanding, and what right did he have to interfere with who Jiu Ge wanted to be with?

"Alright, I'm not teasing you anymore," Jiu Ge said, opening up Lu Mingfei's room. "Actually, I still prefer girls a little more."

Lu Mingfei immediately perked up, his gaze towards Jiu Ge filled with surprise and inquiry, as if to say: Sister, you are actually...

Amur breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he didn't fall for another man, he still had a chance.

"Thank you for the hospitality," Bai Yuekui said, pulling Lu Mingfei along. "I have something to tell Lu Mingfei, so we'll be leaving now."

"Goodbye, Boss Bai." Everyone said their goodbyes.

After Bai Yuekui and Lu Mingfei left.

"Jiuge, you don't actually have a crush on Lu Mingfei, do you?" Amuer suppressed her anxiety.

Jiuge glanced at him, chuckled, and didn't answer. Ertong walked over, patted Amuer on the shoulder, and gave him a look that said, "You'll figure it out yourself."

Amur then realized he had been tricked; the drinking song had been a joke all along. A huge sense of relief and joy welled up inside him; he still had a chance.

"Let's go, let's go." Bai Yuekui and Lu Mingfei were actually still standing at the door. She told Lu Mingfei that there was going to be a good show later.

Lu Mingfei glanced at Bai Yuekui, surprised that Boss Bai had such a gossipy side.

After the show was over, the two left.