Chapter 263: An Interlude at the Small Building
The next day, after a brief stay at the Duanmu Family’s private base, Zhou Ming returned to Qinghui Base by airship together with the Scorpion-Lion.
Because the Scorpion-Lion still had matters to attend to, he did not choose to remain at Qinghui Base. The two parted ways once again.
Having gained significant rewards from the Secret Realm Tower, Zhou Ming returned to the camp at the first opportunity.
Although his hypothesis had already been verified within the Secret Realm Tower, how to improve the Ritual Altar and perfect the Class Advancement Ritual still required careful study.
When Zhou Ming returned to the camp, Su Mei, serving as the Camp General Manager, immediately came to receive him and gave a detailed report on the camp’s recent development, as well as the construction of a defensive fortress wall within the underground cavern.
“Su Mei, you can decide these matters yourself. You may freely mobilize whatever materials and manpower are needed.”
“I have important matters to attend to recently. Unless it is something especially major, there is no need to report to me.”
Compared to his advancement to Transcendent Master, the affairs within the camp were negligible.
As long as he possessed strength, even if the camp were destroyed, he could still establish a new one.
Therefore, Zhou Ming did not wish to be disturbed by such trivial matters. After listening to Su Mei’s report, he immediately instructed her accordingly.
“Yes, please rest assured, my lord. I will certainly fulfill your instructions.”
Although Su Mei was somewhat curious about what had happened during the month her lord had been away, as a subordinate she naturally would not pry and instead focused on carrying out the tasks entrusted to her.
Afterward, Zhou Ming summoned Su Ningfeng. After understanding the latter’s progress and giving further instructions, he finally returned to the Lake-center Small Building.
“My lord, you’ve returned.”
In the living room of the small building, Catwoman Aina was sitting on the sofa holding Tianqiong, watching a romantic film. The movie disc had been specially delivered by Su Mei so that Aina could pass the time.
For such a novel entertainment, this Catwoman had unexpectedly become addicted to those melodramatic romance plots—even dragging Tianqiong along to watch with her.
When she sensed Zhou Ming’s sudden return, Catwoman hurriedly turned off the romantic film.
“Have you completed the task I gave you?”
Seeing Catwoman Aina being so leisurely while he himself had been working hard outside, Zhou Ming immediately put on a stern face and questioned her.
“Yes, it’s done.”
Catwoman’s heart trembled. She quickly handed over the prepared experimental archives to Zhou Ming.
Beside her, Tianqiong’s lips pouted slightly, as if dissatisfied with Zhou Ming’s attitude toward Catwoman Aina.
Scenes from the films he had watched recently instantly surfaced in his mind—overbearing CEOs rescuing bullied young girls. He was already thinking about how to rescue Catwoman sister.
It seemed that having Catwoman Aina take care of Tianqiong might have been a mistaken decision.
One could only say that romance dramas truly harmed people.
Flipping through the data and confirming that no logical errors appeared, Zhou Ming immediately went to the second-floor laboratory to inspect the Petri Dish No. 2.
After repeated cross-verification proved everything correct, he finally chose to let Catwoman Aina off.
Aina was perceptive. Upon learning that Zhou Ming had not yet eaten, she immediately expressed her intention to prepare a table full of dishes to welcome his return.
In the first-floor living room, Tianqiong watched his Catwoman sister bustling about, and a trace of jealousy rose in his heart.
Usually he only got two dishes and one soup. Why was it that once the great villain returned, there were suddenly so many delicious dishes?
In terms of cooking, Catwoman Aina’s talent was astonishing. Tianqiong’s cold heart had been warmed precisely by Aina’s meals.
However, as for him—a child—neither Zhou Ming, who was sorting through his gains, nor Catwoman Aina, who was busy in the kitchen, paid him much attention.
In the second-floor laboratory, thinking that he would soon be eating, Zhou Ming did not immediately devote himself to research. Instead, he began flipping through the meditation method left behind by the Tower’s Master.
Compared to the meditation methods of Blue Star, those of Tamu World differed somewhat.
They primarily relied on Spiritual Power to outline various different runes, thereby absorbing Energy Particles to strengthen Spiritual Power.
As for the Spellcaster System, it generally used Spiritual Power to pry Energy Particles, forming spell models within the Spiritual Sea to achieve casting effects.
Of course, there were also alternative spellcasting systems such as Bloodline Warlocks or Rune Mages.
Although the two worlds differed in how they enhanced Spiritual Power, their core objective was the same. Thus, Zhou Ming intended to study and draw lessons from it carefully.
After all, using stones from other mountains to polish one’s own jade had always been a means of self-improvement.
“My lord, the meal is ready. Shall we dine now?”
Just as Zhou Ming was immersed in the meditation method of Tamu World, Catwoman Aina, dressed in a maid outfit with a white apron tied around her waist, came to the entrance of the second-floor laboratory and softly inquired about his preference.
“It’s been a while since I’ve eaten your cooking. Let me see whether your skills have improved.”
Ever since Zhou Ming deliberately intended to cultivate Catwoman Aina into his little cook, he had grown increasingly satisfied with her. After all, once one had tasted truly exquisite cuisine, ordinary food became difficult to swallow.
This could also be considered an opportunity Aina had seized for her own survival.
Arriving at the first-floor dining room, a table of dishes emitting an enticing aroma entered Zhou Ming’s sight.
“Call Tianqiong. Let’s eat together.”
Tianqiong’s Psychic Power originated from a Spiritual Power Mutation caused by experiments conducted by the Dark Card Organization. Zhou Ming had yet to fully understand the underlying principles.
This kind of abnormal change could not be thoroughly studied through normal means. Therefore, Zhou Ming intended to properly nurture Tianqiong and, incidentally, establish a decent relationship.
Once the boy could cultivate on his own initiative, he would record the more detailed changes involved.
However, he did not know that under Catwoman Aina’s guidance, Tianqiong had already been deeply poisoned by romance films. In the short term, it would be impossible for him to establish a good relationship with Tianqiong.
“My lord, this is my specially prepared Honey Bear Paw.”
Catwoman Aina led Tianqiong to the table and began introducing the dishes to her lord.
Because the camp’s Department of External Affairs went hunting daily, fresh ingredients were delivered by the Snake Guards nearly every two days.
As for unused ingredients, they were naturally taken away for processing.
Bear paws from Ferocious Beasts posed no difficulty for Catwoman Aina, who wielded Transcendent power.
“You used my Blood Jade Royal Jelly?”
Seeing a faint blood-hued glow within the honey coating the bear paw, Zhou Ming immediately guessed the ingredient she had used.
“I see my lord drinking Honey Water every day, so I deliberately changed the way it’s eaten.”
Catwoman Aina’s expression froze slightly, and she quickly came up with a considerate explanation.
Yet her cat tail behind her kept swaying, revealing her inner nervousness.
“Not bad.”
Cutting off a piece of bear paw meat and tasting it, Zhou Ming immediately felt a lingering fragrance in his mouth. The honey aroma blended with the tender, soft texture of the meat, while still preserving the energy contained within Ferocious Beast flesh.
Seeing her lord satisfied, Catwoman Aina’s face lit up with joy as she continued introducing the other dishes.
As for Tianqiong at the side, watching Catwoman sister serve the great villain so attentively, the food in his mouth seemed to transform into Zhou Ming himself, which he chewed through gritted teeth.
After enjoying the meal, Zhou Ming finally devoted his energy to research.