"I think perhaps Rhode doesn't fit the Dragon Race's aesthetic standards?" Mira covered her mouth with one hand and laughed, while patting his back with the other, "It's okay, it's okay, at least I like you."
Looks like Mira can say such bold things without changing her expression. Or maybe in certain contexts, with a hint of teasing, saying this kind of thing isn't so embarrassing?
Anyway, Rhode felt comforted this time.
If Wendy and Carla weren't present, Rhode would have rewarded her with a kiss right there.
Wendy was pleasantly surprised, touching the cheek of the Mountain Sub-Dragon, which was hard as stone, not as soft as Grandeeney, but she liked this texture.
After seven years, she finally encountered someone of the same type as Grandeeney.
The wariness in Carla's eyes gradually disappeared, as she started to ponder whether this dragon was here to compete with her for Wendy's attention.
However, not long after interacting with Wendy, the Mountain Sub-Dragon squatted down again, gave Rhode a disdainful look, and its figure vanished.
Rhode understood the meaning of that look — probably despising him for being weak, grandly summoning it, yet unable to maintain it for long.
Rhode could only clench his fists, silently thinking about the saying "the wheel of fortune turns."
"Mr. Rhode, thank you for especially coming here today!" Although still a bit reluctant, Wendy was already very happy today.
Rhode waved a hand: "No need to be so polite, it was a pre-arranged matter after all."
Carla seemed more concerned about another issue: "If you get to interact with dragons anytime, does that mean you're also going to become a Dragon Slayer Mage?"
Rhode said: "Probably not? Although I can use a bit of magic from the Mountain Sub-Dragon, I can't eat dirt or rocks."
As for how he knows he can't eat them... that's a toothache story.
Carla pondered and nodded thoughtfully.
"It's getting late, should we head back?" Mira suggested, "I'll cook something delicious for you all."
Carla said: "Shouldn't it be us hosting you?"
"What's the difference, we're not exactly strangers," Rhode said, "Mira's cooking is especially delicious."
Wendy softly defended: "Carla's cooking is also very good."
"True that." Rhode, having tasted both, could speak with authority. He unilaterally declared Mira the winner, but also didn't want to undermine the cat.
On the way back, Rhode casually caught two mountain chickens.
However, he soon regretted it.
Mira was in charge of slaughtering the chickens, Carla was preparing other ingredients, while Rhode and Wendy watched Mira kill the chicken.
She tied her hair up neatly and put on the apron Rhode brought—the one Wendy usually used didn't fit well.
First, Mira used her right hand to grip the base of the chicken wings, hooked its left leg onto her little finger, and lifted the chicken's neck using her thumb and forefinger, easily subduing the chicken single-handedly.
Then with her left hand, she picked up a kitchen knife and cleanly slit the chicken's throat.
Wendy couldn't help but say: "So skilled."
Mira turned and smiled at the two of them...
"Eek—" Wendy jumped in fright, hiding behind Rhode and peeking fearfully at Mira.
Mira asked in confusion: "What's wrong, is Wendy afraid of killing chickens?"
"That's not the issue..." Rhode also found the scene a bit creepy, "Mira, lift the knife a little, yes, now smile, more gently."
Mira followed: "Like this?"
It was a shiny kitchen knife, stained with blood, with the blood running down the blade and dripping on the ground.
And a stunning woman with a mature charm holding it, giving you a gentle smile...
The image was unforgettable.
Wendy hid behind Rhode, too scared to come out: "I'm sorry, Miss Mira! I won't dare to disobey again! Wuwuwu..."
Mira quickly put down the knife: "I'm sorry, Wendy, I didn't mean to scare you."
She gave Rhode a glare, signaling him to quickly come up with a way to comfort her.
Rhode pulled out a piece of Poro Delicacies, and Warm trotted over to nuzzle Wendy.
Noticing Mira's gaze shift to him, Rhode raised a hand: "I swear, in this life, I'll only attend funerals, never cheat."
"Why are you suddenly saying this!?" Mira was a bit embarrassed and annoyed.
She asked Rhode to take Wendy and Warm away, then continued bleeding the other chicken.
While waiting for the water to boil, Mira used the knife as a mirror to make some expressions, finally pursing her lips: "Am I that scary?"
Today's main dish was wild chicken stewed with mushrooms; the chicken was freshly slaughtered, and the mushrooms freshly picked.
When the lid of the clay pot was lifted, it didn't exactly waft through ten miles, but the aroma filled the house, causing Warm, who couldn't reach the table or sit in a chair, to almost drool in hunger.
The chicken was tender and juicy, melting in the mouth, while the mushrooms were tender and smooth, soaked up with broth, bursting with flavor when bitten.
If a spoonful of golden broth was poured over rice, it would be the perfect match.
So delicious, Rhode painfully shared some with Warm, feeling like the best owner in the world.
After the meal, Rhode suddenly thought of the perks of being around Wendy, which included being able to eat mushrooms at will, as she'd remove any poisoning within minutes.
A boon for mushroom enthusiasts—though if there were ones that caused an instant collapse beyond saving, then one would just have to accept their fate.
But Mira didn't have that worry; as long as she inherited Satan's Soul, she could eat any poisonous mushroom, enviably.
Possibly to ease tensions, Mira was very attentive to Wendy at the dinner table, so by the end of the meal, 'Miss Mira' had turned into 'Sister Mira.'
Rhode benefited too, becoming 'Brother Rhode.'
Of course, the Mountain Sub-Dragon might also have played a part.
"How are we sleeping tonight?" Carla asked the important question, "Can you two share a room?"
"Share, share, share... Share a room! Sister Mira and Brother Rhode?" Wendy seemed to understand well, her cheeks turning red.
Rhode was quite straightforward: "I'll follow your arrangement, I don't mind."
"Then you sleep with Warm; I want to share a room with Wendy." Mira hugged Wendy from behind, "Is that okay, Wendy?"
Wendy was struck hard, almost knocked out: "Yes... Sister Mira, but we'll have to squeeze onto one bed."
Actually, Carla would join too, but how much space could a cat take up?
Mira was even a bit eager: "No problem, I used to sleep like this with my sister occasionally."
"Does Miss Mira have a sister?"
Mira reminisced: "Yes, she was as cute as Wendy when she was little... but..."
Rhode looked at her, and Mira gave him a reassuring glance.
Wendy asked in confusion: "What?"
"Nothing, let's wash up." Mira thought it unnecessary to make Wendy sad too.
Rhode was assigned to the room opposite the girls', having previously lodged here with Gray, and now sleeping with Warm.
"Women only slow down my cultivation," Rhode sat on the bed cross-legged, routinely meditating.
After finishing his practice, he lay down and tucked himself in: "Want to be affected for a change."
Warm licked Rhode's face.
Rhode pushed it away: "I wasn't talking about you."