Lovia returned to her tiny shack in a secluded corner of Liyue Harbor in a cheerful mood.
Having shed her psychological burden, she felt the air was much fresher; even the mud she accidentally stepped on along the way looked somewhat pleasing to the eye.
"Safe at last, safe at last~" She hummed a tuneless melody as she pushed open the creaking wooden door. The first thing she saw was that fat Crab still flailing its claws in the water basin, attempting a prison break.
"Hey, little guy, you're quite energetic." Lovia squatted down and poked at its waving large pincers through the air. "Perfect. I'm in a good mood today, so I'll use you as a sacrifice for my stomach. Should I steam you or make you into a 'Perfect Tonic Soup'..."
She chose the latter almost without hesitation.
Steaming? Too monotonous. It was far less satisfying than a piping hot pot of stew! Plus, she hadn't cooked in a while, so a stew was just right.
After taking off her hooded cloak, Lovia began to light the fire and prepare the cookware, her mind already picturing the steaming, green Crab Tonic Soup.
[The "green" part is only from the perspective of the readers and others. Because a Melusine's vision is different from a human's, the colors in this chapter appear perfectly normal and within the "food" category to Lovia. However, having once been human, Lovia knows the original colors of these things; she just doesn't want to overthink it.]
[Additionally, since I don't quite know how to describe Melusine vision and there aren't many descriptions in the game, this text simply uses a normal human perspective. (It's a small bug, my apologies.)]
Then, humming a song, she deftly prepared the energetic Crab.
Afterward, she placed her beloved pot over the fire. The inner walls of the pot had long since been stained with a layer of variegated and brilliant colors from cooking various minerals and delicacies.
"Base broth..." Lovia murmured to herself.
She first poured in clear mountain spring water and then began to add her "treasures."
A few pieces of crushed Zhongli; this would give the broth a unique, crunchy texture.
Next was a small handful of aquatic Mushroom-like plants with wondrous blue-purple veins, and a few sprigs of Seagrass emitting a cool aura.
As these ingredients were added, the clear water in the pot quickly began to change.
It didn't become cloudy; instead, it took on an extremely clear yet deep indigo-blue color that seemed to contain the starry sky, with countless points of light slowly drifting within.
The Mushroom plants were like unfolding blue-purple clouds, while the Seagrass swayed gracefully among them.
"And now for the main star!"
Once the water boiled, Lovia skillfully placed the prepared Crabs into the pot. Watching the hard shells gradually take on even more vibrant colors in the boiling, eerie purple broth, she nodded in satisfaction.
But this was only the beginning.
"The finishing touch is here!" She rubbed her hands excitedly and took out her treasured Noctilucent Jade powder, which Melusines consider the ultimate delicacy.
She waited patiently, occasionally stirring gently with a long-handled spoon, feeling the harmonious fusion of the ingredients in the pot.
About half an hour later, she added the final garnishes: silk flowers, jueyun chili, Berries, and a few crystal cores.
Success!
Lovia put out the fire, carefully carried the pot, and placed it on the low table in the center of the small shack.
The "Perfect Tonic Crab Soup" before her was a veritable work of art.
The color of the broth was a dreamlike starry indigo, crystal clear, with countless tiny golden specks of light suspended within like a galaxy of stars.
The once-flailing Crabs were now clad in colorful attire, their shells shimmering with beautiful colors like Noctilucent Jade, while their claws and joints revealed an enticing warm orange.
The blue-purple cloud-like Mushrooms unfurled leisurely, silk flower petals dotted the broth like gossamer, jueyun chili and Berries bobbed up and down, and occasional tiny rainbows refracted from the crystal cores could be seen.
The entire pot emitted a strange and complex aroma. The many ingredients blended together marvelously; far from being pungent, it was mouth-watering and refreshing.
This soup might seem bizarre or even terrifying to a human, but in Lovia's eyes, the color, aroma, and element power contained within had reached a state of ultimate harmony and perfection, filled with unparalleled temptation.
"Perfect!" Lovia was beyond satisfied with her masterpiece and couldn't wait to serve herself a large, full bowl.
She blew on it and carefully took a sip of the broth.
Instantly, an indescribable explosion of umami erupted on the tip of her tongue! The layers of flavor were rich beyond imagination!
"Waaah! This is way too delicious!" Lovia's eyes sparkled, and she was almost moved to tears. Ignoring the heat, she immediately began to tackle the colorful large Crabs in her bowl.
The Crab shells had become crispy after being stewed, cracking open with a gentle bite.
The exposed Crab meat wasn't simply white; it was soaked in the essence of the broth, exhibiting a faint pinkish-blue luster, plump and succulent. Its unique sweet aroma perfectly merged with the fragrant and deep flavors of the broth's ingredients, wafting toward her.
Lovia couldn't wait to suck a piece of meat from a Crab claw, her eyes narrowing in happiness.
The texture was incredibly wondrous. It went without saying that the Crab meat inside was sweet and springy, but more importantly, it had absorbed the essence of that dreamlike broth, making the taste exceptionally savory.
The flavors of the various ingredients in the broth permeated it, blending with the Crab meat's own sweetness to create an indescribable complex flavor in her mouth.
The layers were so rich that every one of her taste buds was cheering in joy.
Lovia feasted heartily, eating to her heart's content.
Not only that, visually, the pinkish-blue Crab shells intertwined with the starry sky-like broth looked stunning, doubling her happiness during the meal.
"Awoo! So good! As expected of ingredients and seasonings that cost a fortune!" She ate with smacking sounds, completely immersed in the top-tier delicacy exclusive to Melusines.
Her previous little worries about the Adepti had long been cast to the back of her mind by the immense satisfaction brought by this brilliantly colorful "Perfect Tonic Soup."
As for the specific taste of this soup?
Perhaps only fellow Melusines could understand and appreciate this ultimate delicacy.
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Having eaten and drunk her fill, Lovia leaned back comfortably in her simple wooden chair and let out a satisfied and happy sigh.
The strange and enticing aroma lingered in the small shack, refusing to dissipate.
Outside, the lights of Liyue Harbor gradually lit up, reflecting the returning ships and the bustling sounds of people.
"As expected, gourmet food is the best medicine for everything..." she murmured to herself, her fingers unconsciously tapping the table as her gaze fell on the small half-pot of soup that remained.
Looking at the pot on the table that still shimmered with starlight, a thought suddenly popped up without warning, making even her startle for a moment.
"Tsk." She smacked her lips and said to herself in a low, somewhat incredulous and teasing voice, "Lovia, oh Lovia, back in the day you were someone who thought even Century Eggs were dark cuisine. Now, you're actually moved to tears by a pot of stewed stones, glowing Mushrooms, and random fruits, thinking it's a supreme delicacy..."
Lovia couldn't help but chuckle and shook her head.
The contrast was a bit too great.
Actually, when she discovered that she instinctively had a strong interest in various "ingredients" that humans found "unthinkable," she had truly gone through a complex mental journey.
But... enjoyment is king! Who cares what you're eating? As long as it's delicious!
Lovia reached out and looked at her fingertips, as if she could see the Melusine blood slowly flowing inside through her skin.
From resistance to acceptance, from acceptance to appreciation, and from appreciation to her current obsession—the process was so fast that she couldn't help but tease herself: Human adaptability (or Melusine assimilation power) is truly terrifying.
Even the rice that used to be her staple food now tasted somewhat bland.
However, perhaps it wasn't all assimilation.
She carefully savored the enjoyment brought by that pot of soup just now; it was a satisfaction and joy from the depths of her soul that couldn't be faked.
Her taste buds, her body, and her soul were all honestly telling her: this was a top-tier delicacy, beyond reproach.
"So, it's not that my aesthetics have become twisted," Lovia nodded solemnly to herself, her eyes full of mirth. "Rather, I have been sublimated, evolved! I've opened the door to a new world and experienced a higher dimension of gourmet art!"
"From today on, please call me Gourmet Lovia, the pioneer of ingredient research and development on the continent of Teyvat!" she announced to the empty shack, then couldn't help but burst into laughter herself.
After the laughter, there was a strange sense of relief.
That's right. Since she couldn't go back, and since this body and this world had given her a brand-new perspective and experience, why not accept it frankly and enjoy it to the fullest?
It was just a different way of enjoying life.
And she could meet many people she wanted to see, write some interesting books (and get beaten up for it)—how interesting!
Lovia gave a light laugh, stood up, and gracefully cleaned the pot and bowl.
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