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“Enjoy your meal,” Caelus greeted through the little puppet himself worn on his right hand while seated under the booth table with a small omni-synthesizer beside him.
All in a day’s work of March’s adventurous attempt to open a small eatery booth in the corner of Exalting Sanctum Plaza, promoting the delicious delicacy of Cosmic Fried Rice to Xianzhou natives. Although he enjoyed hearing their customers, such as the mysterious merchant Luocha and the frosty Helm Master Yukong liking their food…
Caelus couldn’t understand why a need for him was there to be shoved under the table, using a miniature puppet doll version of him she made at some point to interact with them. It would be cute and attractive to passing natives, which March told him with a wink.
The Trailblazer sighed exasperatedly as he thought to himself. “The way of Trailblazing, she says… And she’s still not back when we will close the shop soon.”
Halfway through running the Express Eatery, March had to return to the express after receiving Pom-pom’s call for some errands. The gray-haired man wouldn’t be surprised if she detoured to try Xianzhou’s delicacies elsewhere. He remembered how her pinkish-blue eyes sparkled and constantly gushed on which food vendor to stop by for photo taking and eating.
Caelus shook his head; he should close up the eatery and find her, lest she had forgotten the job that Pom-pom had given to her. Before he lowered his sore, raised arm, an unexpected warm chuckle was heard from the front.
The Trailblazer turned his attention towards the source of the chuckle, his eyebrows furrowing in curiosity. Standing in front of the booth was a familiar figure dressed in a simple yet remarkable attire of his white and gold armor. None other than Xianzhou Luofu General Jing Yuan himself dropped by their shop.
Jing Yuan’s yellow eyes twinkled with amusement as he observed the mini-Caelus puppet. “It seems you’ve taken up a new role, my dear Trailblazer. Running an eatery booth, I see. Quite a change from your everyday adventures.”
Caelus couldn’t help but grin widely at his beloved General’s unexpected appearance. He moved his mini puppet to put its arms in front and its head to nod. “Yes, General, it’s March’s idea of the way of trailblazing. She wanted to share Cosmic Fried Rice with the people of Xianzhou. But she had to leave unexpectedly, and I was left in charge.”
“I must say, you’re quite the multitasker, Caelus. Protecting the realms as a Trailblazer and now managing an eatery booth. Is there anything you can’t do?” Jing Yuan’s smile widened, and one hand stroked the puppet’s head. As though the General was actually petting his dear Caelus’s own head.
Thankfully hidden under the table, Caelus could hide the growing blush that colored his cheeks. He chuckled, feeling a mix of bashfulness and amusement. “I’m still learning, General. But I’ll do my best to satisfy the taste buds of the people here.”
“I see. What would you personally recommend from the menu?” Jing Yuan nodded approvingly. His eyes observed the little puppet move with its arms fluttering slightly, grabbing the scroll on the table.
Caelus’s grin widened at the General’s question. He moved his puppet to lean forward slightly, to push the scroll towards the other. “Well, General, if you’re looking for a truly cosmic experience, I highly recommend Cosmic Fried Rice. It may look simple on the outside, but the taste from its golden brown infused with a touch of exotic ingredients from other planets for that extra celestial flavor. It’s one of our specialties, and I’m sure it will leave a lasting impression.”
Jing Yuan raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. “Cosmic Fried rice, you say? It sounds intriguing. I’ll take your recommendation, Caelus.”
Golden eyes sparkled with excitement, and the young Trailblazer answered. “Excellent choice, General. I’ll prepare it for you right away.”
He reached for the ingredients, started assembling the dish with practiced skill, and then placed them into the synthesizer. While waiting, Jing Yuan engaged with Caelus in a casual chat. “You must have been busy, doubtlessly. While I’m honored on behalf of my people that you have shared cuisine of other cultures, I have hoped you have tried some of ours too.”
“Oh, I... I have yet to try them, General...,” Caelus answered sheepishly, his little puppet moved to the back of its head to rub. “The General’s recommendation sweets in the teahouse were all delicious, of course. But I guess I had been too busy running around to help the people here. Luocha and the other customers advised me on the best cuisines on the Luofu ship, General. I will try them immediately once I have closed the shop today.”
As Jing Yuan was about to reply after humming to himself, the synthesizer beeped, indicating that the Cosmic Fried Rice was ready. Caelus brought his puppet down, removing it so that both his hands carefully plated the dish, ensuring it looked visually appealing.
His puppet hand moved to grab the bowl and placed it in front of Jing Yuan on the booth table. Both puppet arms were thrown to the side to where the bowl was. “Here you go, General. I hope you enjoy it.”
Jing Yuan took a moment to appreciate the presentation before picking up wooden chopsticks from the holder, bringing up the bowl, and taking a bite. His eyes widened in surprise, and a pleased smile curved his lips. “This is truly exceptional, Caelus. The flavors are exquisite, and the combination of ingredients is remarkable. You have a talent for this.”
Caelus’s heart swelled with pride at the General’s praise. “Thank you, General. I’m glad you like it. It means a lot to me.”
The Trailblazer couldn’t help but feel a sense of fulfillment. Seeing the General enjoying his creation and acknowledging his skills was a reward. However, the concerned tone in the General’s voice spoke next caught him off-guard. “But, as delicious as it is... The dish is clearly lacking an ingredient itself.”
What? Was there something missing in the dish? That was a troubling comment especially coming from the Xianzhou Luofu General himself. Caelus moved from beneath the table to stand next to Jing Yuan, his eyes filled with curiosity and worry. “What do you mean, General? What ingredient is it missing?”
Once Caelus was close, Jing Yuan pulled one of Caelus’s arms to him and wrapped it behind his back. His other hand gently grabbed the shorter man’s chin to press into his lips. The unexpected warmth made the Trailblazer moan in surprise, his lips parted slightly to allow the wet appendage to enter his mouth.
The buttery and nutty taste blended with the familiar smell of herbal tea, which Caelus recognized from times he shared with Jing Yuan in the teahouse whenever the latter invited him. Another soft moan escaped him, enjoying the General’s tongue mapping his orifice and tongue to entangle with his hungrily to taste more of him.
Eventually, Caelus had to pull away from the lack of oxygen, his cheeks flushed red, and his arms held onto the General. Jing Yuan looked at Caelus with a thoughtful yet smug expression, his gaze piercing yet gentle, and leaned closer to whisper. “There... Now the Cosmic Fried Rice tastes much more delicious. It was missing you, my dear Trailblazer. You who put love and passion into your dish. That’s what truly makes it special.”
Caelus’s heart skipped a beat at those words, and his face combusted in a completely bright red shade. He hadn’t expected such a profound and, rather, cheesy response. His voice trembled slightly as he spoke. “I... Um... I never realized that... That makes me really happy to hear it, General....”
Watching Caelus burying his head into his chest to hide his embarrassment, the General chuckled warmly at the sight and lowered his head to whisper into his ear again. “If you have the time, please allow me to invite you to dinner tonight. I would like to bring you to one of my favorite restaurants to enjoy the cuisines and scenery. Would you be interested?”
Caelus lifted his head, his eyes meeting Jing Yuan’s with surprise and delight. His blush persisted, but a shy smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “I would be honored, General. It would be my pleasure to join you for dinner.”
He’d be certain March would be fine by herself to run Pom-pom’s errands anyway. The lazy smile on Jing Yuan’s widened, his fingers lightly brushing against Caelus’s cheek. “Excellent. I will make the necessary arrangements.”
The young Trailblazer nodded eagerly before removing himself from the General to close the shop for the day. As he tidied up and prepared to leave, Caelus couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement and gratitude. The unexpected invitation from Jing Yuan had turned an ordinary day into something special, and he couldn’t wait to spend more time with the one who captured his stomach in his own way.