Chapter 684: So Delicious It Brings a Tear to Your Eye

Celeste Grant paused, taken aback.

“A place like that still exists?”

‘That’s not something I would have expected.’

“Of course! Why wouldn’t there be?”

On the screen, Aaron Sinclair glanced at her and explained, “I’m in a deep valley in Austerfell, the southernmost region of the Demon Realm. This place is extremely remote and narrow. Demonic Qi storms rage overhead, and the outer areas on the ground where a road could be built are filled with poisonous miasma. Everywhere else is just sheer cliffs and precipices. It’s impossible to even build a road in here.”

Celeste Grant frowned slightly. “Demonic Qi storms… Even an advanced Magic Ship would be instantly torn to shreds there. How can anyone live in a place like that?”

Aaron Sinclair nodded slightly.

“People do live here. In fact, the area is rich in honey—the cliffs are full of it. It might be due to the local environment, but the honey here has an incredibly dense concentration of Demonic Essence, making it a priceless treasure for Cultivation. The only problem is they have no way to trade with the outside world, so they’re very poor.”

“Mom, do you know where they live? There are no buildings, and certainly no Defensive Arrays. Just ordinary caves. Over ten thousand families of the Demon Realm live here, and they’re all still in caves. The kind that get damp and musty as soon as it rains.”

Hearing this, Celeste Grant sighed.

‘It seems there are poor places everywhere, no matter where you go,’ she thought. ‘The Demon Realm is no exception. Even back on Earth, there were remote, undeveloped mountain villages where people couldn’t afford enough food or warm clothing.’

With this in mind, Celeste Grant said, “Son, plan this out properly. Build a road in. If a land route isn’t feasible, establish an air route. If even that won’t work, then relocate all of them. Find them a new place to settle.”

He replied, “I know, Mom. But these people have lived here for generations; they’ve already adapted to this environment. Moving them somewhere else doesn’t guarantee they’ll thrive. So my plan is to map out a route, build the road, and establish an aerial station.”

Celeste Grant nodded slightly.

‘My son has grown up,’ she thought. ‘He’s become so responsible.’

“Alright, you handle it as you see fit.” At this, she picked up a fresh little bok choy and waved it at the screen. “This is a little bok choy I grew myself. Looks tender, doesn’t it? We’re having hot pot for dinner. Son, are you coming home for it?”

Aaron Sinclair’s eyes lit up. “Wow, yes! Definitely! That looks like it’ll taste amazing. Mom, wait for me. I’ll head back as soon as I finish planning the route. I’m definitely not missing hot pot.”

“Okay, then hurry up.”

“I’m hanging up now. You get back to work.”

“Bye, Mom! See you tonight.”

“Okay, see you tonight.” Celeste Grant added a reminder, “And your sister, keep an eye on her.”

“I know, Mom. Don’t worry, she’s with me.”

“Mm.”

After ending the video call, Celeste Grant put her phone away.

She started to get things ready.

Nerida and her husband were the first to arrive, bringing lots of fresh meat. The two of them helped Celeste Grant with the prep work.

「Time slowly passed.」

On the table in the courtyard, various cuts of sliced meat were neatly arranged. In the center sat a large, divided hot pot, its broth BUBBLING and sending fragrant steam wafting through the yard.

「As evening fell.」

More people arrived—it was Elder Lawson and his group. Elder Sawyer and his family were the first to appear, followed by Elder Lawson and the others. Her own son and daughter had come with them as well.

Elder Sawyer called out a greeting.

“Ma’am, we’re here.”

“Ma’am, Nerida, we’re here too.”

Seeing Elder Lawson and the others, Celeste Grant smiled. “Welcome, welcome.”

Everyone bowed to her in greeting.

“Greetings, Ma’am.”

“We hope we’re not intruding, Ma’am.”

“Not at all. I’m glad you could make it. Find a seat for yourselves. We’re eating out here in the courtyard tonight.”

“Mom, what about me?”

Just then, her son, who had been away, returned, arriving at the same time as Elder Lawson’s group. He waved with a smile. “Mom, to get back here sooner, I brought my sister straight through the void. Glad we didn’t miss it.”

Hearing this, Celeste Grant chuckled. “Haha, you were just that eager to eat.”

Aaron Sinclair said, “You’re cooking yourself, Mom, and it’s my favorite—hot pot! How could I possibly miss out?”

The little girl beside him, Elise Sinclair, came bounding over cheerfully. She stretched out her arms, like a joyful little pixie.

“Mommy, I missed you so much!”

“I want hot pot too! I want meat, I want meat!”

“Okay, we’ll have lots of meat, you little glutton.” Celeste Grant looked up, a smile gracing her lips as she watched the little girl run toward her. “Ellie, slow down.”

The words had barely left her mouth when her daughter was upon her, leaping up and clinging to her like a little octopus.

“Hahaha, Mommy, I’ve got you! I missed you so, so much! Did you miss me, Mommy?” As she spoke, the little girl planted a loud SMOOCH on her mother’s cheek, clinging to her affectionately.

Celeste Grant laughed. She cupped her daughter’s bottom with her hands and gave it a gentle pat. “Elise Sinclair, so you remembered to come home. I was starting to think you’d forgotten all about me.”

The little girl hugged her tight and mumbled, “No way! I’ve been thinking about you this whole time, Mommy!”

Celeste Grant stroked her head. “Did you have fun traveling with your brother? Did you listen to what he said? You didn’t get into any trouble, did you?”

At the mention of this, the little girl nodded excitedly. “Uh-huh, it was super fun! I want to go with my brother again next time. Mommy, I listened to him the whole trip, and I even made lots of yummy food for him.”

Hearing this, Celeste Grant raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, really? You made yummy food for your brother?”

‘My daughter made him lots of yummy food? Was she sure that stuff was even edible?’ Her gaze shifted to her son. The moment she saw his completely numb expression, she knew. The “yummy food” her daughter had made was not fit for human consumption.

Aaron Sinclair threw up his hands, a look of utter helplessness on his face.

‘This time, my sister really did make me a lot of food. Things like stir-fried centipede with bitter melon, green peppers with poisonous scorpions, and rat stew with poisonous mushrooms. Then there was that dish, “Stargazy Salted Fish in Black Water.” And stir-fried Demonic Beast eyeballs. Heavens, why does my sister have so many ideas?’

‘Faced with his sister’s expectant gaze, he had choked it all down, a single, crystal-clear tear rolling down his cheek.’

‘Meanwhile, his sister had stood there with her hands on her hips, beaming. “I knew it! My idea was right! Eating these things can improve your Cultivation. See? My brother was so happy he cried tears of joy! Don’t be too moved, Brother. I’ll make you something even better next time.”‘

Aaron Sinclair’s face turned a shade of green.

His thoughts snapped back to the present just in time to hear his sister say, “Brother, I’ll make you something even tastier next time. How about stir-fried demonic ants? With lots of extra chili peppers.”

At her words, Aaron Sinclair sucked in a sharp, horrified breath.