Chapter 48: A Simple, Brief Tea Gathering

“Oh, it looks quite impressive.” While Xiaoyuan Zhuang and Hui Wen whispered to each other on one side, on the other, Jing Hua and the others had already opened the cake box that Xiaoyuan and her friend had brought. The desserts inside were now exposed to their curious gazes.

As soon as the cake box was opened, an intense aroma of almonds, mingling with a faint hint of lemon, wafted out. The sweet and refreshing scent of almond and lemon filled the air before the group finally laid eyes on the cake itself.

Rectangular pieces of cake were neatly arranged inside the box. A golden glaze coated their surfaces, with a few slices of lemon standing quietly atop each cake, as if infusing the dessert with even more citrus fragrance. Beneath the golden sheen was a layer of white ice cream frosting, and at the very bottom lay the source of the almond aroma: the almond cake base.

“Xiao Zhuang, does this almond lemon cake have a name?” After slicing and distributing the cakes onto their respective plates, Jing Hua examined her portion carefully and asked.

“This is an Italian-style frozen lemon cake that I recreated from some recipes,” Xiaoyuan explained, pointing at the cake, whose three distinct layers were clearly visible from the side.

“Italian frozen lemon cake, you say? That sounds exactly like my aesthetic. I wonder how it tastes—I’m really looking forward to it.” Duying Du, already recovered from her earlier disappointment, gazed at the dessert before her like it was a work of art, lifting her fork and reaching out for a piece.

“This… the refreshing flavor of lemon, the rich aroma of almond, the cool, sweet cream, and that gentle taste of sugar…” The moment she took a bite, the three distinct layers each released their individual flavors, blending completely yet remaining unique, endlessly tantalizing her palate.

In that instant, it felt as if she had returned to the innocence of her very first love—that sweet, heart-fluttering sensation, as if she were a lovestruck girl waiting for her beloved to step out from within the cake.

“Ah, just as Hui said, it really is delicious.” Coming back from what seemed like a dreamlike culinary experience, Jing Hua placed her fork and knife on her now-empty plate, her expression full of longing. Few things tempt a young woman more than a good dessert.

“It truly is wonderful. Even someone like me, who’s never cared much for sweets, has grown fond of this one,” Ze Hua added. Though she had already set her utensils down, her face still wore a look of lingering delight.

“Oh, Miss Zhuang! Please, marry me. Having tasted such exceptional cuisine, I wouldn’t mind even if you were a boy,” Duying Du declared, dropping to one knee beside Xiaoyuan with a look of heartfelt devotion, her right hand extended.

“Absolutely not. Please keep a distance of at least thirty meters, you hopeless romantic.” Xiaoyuan refused without hesitation, a cold shiver running down her spine at the dramatic display.

“All right, we’ve finally enjoyed the long-awaited cake. Now, off you go—no need for everyone to crowd here any longer.” With everyone finished and still savoring the memory, Jing Hua began clearing the empty plates and gently ushered the group out.

She had intended to introduce Xiaoyuan to all the members of the Guardian Squad, and now, having taken advantage of this opportunity, there was no need for everyone to stick together. Though the Guardians of Maple City were usually quite free, they each had their own affairs to attend to.

“Well then, after being so cruelly rejected by Miss Zhuang, I must go find a few lost kittens to soothe my wounded heart.” Duying Du clutched her chest dramatically, casting Xiaoyuan a plaintive look as she became the first to leave.

Despite her words, she was actually heading off to resume her daily patrols. As the God-armed Warrior of the Cavalry, she boasted the highest speed and stamina among the squad and made several circuits around the city each day, sometimes even venturing a bit into the wilderness to scout for signs of demonic activity.

“Haha, well then, I’ll get back to having a little heart-to-heart with that captured evil god,” Ze Hua said with a hearty smile, rising to her feet. The evil god caught yesterday was a rare opportunity to gain insight into the enemy’s ranks—such direct captures, especially of a king-class figure, were uncommon. Who knew what valuable information could be extracted?

When Xiaoyuan finally turned her gaze from their departing forms, she realized that Mingyue Wang, who had been sitting with the group, had vanished without a sound.

“Don’t worry about it. Senior Mingyue is always this elusive,” Hui Wen explained, noticing Xiaoyuan’s surprised expression.

“…” After Mingyue’s disappearance, Yutong Man also rose, nodded to Xiaoyuan, left the wooden frame, and with a few light steps on the ground and a push against the wall, leaped up onto the roof.

In the span of a few moments, only Jing Hua, Xiaoyuan, and Hui Wen remained at the round table that had just been bustling with people.

Jing Hua set the collected plates aside on a small table, then let her gaze sweep over Xiaoyuan and Hui Wen. “I’ve already reviewed the reports from the soldiers present yesterday. That incident was dangerous, but I imagine your gains from it were even greater.”

Noticing the empty teacups before them, she paused, picked up the teapot, and refilled both cups before continuing, “I already know about Hui’s progress—she broke through yesterday from Upper Prayer to Divine Descent, so there’s no need to keep her as a reserve; she’s now a full God-armed Warrior and a member of the Guardian Squad. And as for you… after yesterday’s ordeal, you must have made some remarkable progress yourself.”

“Thank you, Sister Jing. Before the incident, I was still at the Mid Faith level, but now I’ve reached Lower Prayer, and I’m not far from breaking through to the next rank,” Xiaoyuan replied, nodding and thanking Jing Hua for refilling her tea.

“I see—so you really have reached Prayer. Do you know the difference between Prayer and Faith levels?” Hearing this, Jing Hua was even more astonished by Xiaoyuan’s unique transformation abilities. To have displayed Divine Descent-level power capable of defeating a war-machine-class demon while still at Faith level—genius hardly seemed enough to describe her. Though filled with wonder, Jing Hua maintained her calm, gentle demeanor.

“I’ve heard a little from Hui—once you reach Prayer, you can no longer quickly advance by earning others’ recognition the way you could at Faith level, is that right?” Xiaoyuan replied after a brief hesitation, sharing the only detail she knew.