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Chapter 20 - The Immortal Chef-Chapter20

🌫️ Chapter 20: The Hunger That Remains

(The mist has slightly receded, but a heavy silence still lingers over the valley. Xiao Feng is panting, wiping the sweat from his forehead. The demon has disappeared, yet a feeling of danger still remains.)

💭 Xiao Feng (thinking):

"It's over, right? I fed the demon, so why do I still feel like someone is watching me?"

(Xilià approaches from behind, her fiery red hair dancing in the wind, arms crossed.)

🔊 Xilià (with a teasing tone):

— "Chef, you fed the valley, but what about yourself? Have you fed yourself?"

🔊 Xiao Feng (confused):

— "What? Now's the time for riddles? A demon almost ate me!"

(Gu Tāng suddenly looks toward a glowing stone rising from the ground — a stone pulsing gently like a beating heart.)

🔊 Gu Tāng (in a serious voice):

— "That is the Soul Flame. A rare gift... but it's not without cost."

💭 Xiao Feng:

"A gift? I didn't ask for one—"

(The stone slowly flies toward Xiao Feng, surrounded by whispering voices from the valley.)

🔊 Voice of the Valley (softly):

— "The taste of truth… was delicious… In exchange, we grant you… a seed of power… but the price… is a part of yourself…"

(Xiao Feng's eyes widen as the stone approaches with a warm glow.)

🌀 System Alert:

"Cursed Item Detected: Gluttonous Memory Soul Flame

Grants: +Cooking Ability, +Inner Flame Control, +Demonic Resistance

Warning: Cost = Loss of one memory fragment"

💭 Xiao Feng:

"It wants a piece of my memory…?"

🔊 Xilià (with a mischievous smile):

— "If you won't take it, I will. I'm always hungry for power."

🔊 Gu Tāng (calmly):

— "Be careful. Some memories… shape who you are."

(Xiao Feng hesitates, then firmly steps forward.)

🔊 Xiao Feng (serious):

— "Fine. Take one… but I choose which one."

(He touches the stone. White flames crawl into his body, twisting around his heart.)

⚡ FLASH!

(A memory begins to fade — him as a child standing in the rain outside the closed gates of the Feng clan.)

💭 Xiao Feng (in pain):

"No… that's the day I realized they had no place for me anymore."

(The flame sinks deeper inside, the pain fades, and the memory vanishes.)

🌀 System Update:

"New Skill Acquired: Soul Flame Control Lv.1

Passive: Inner Flame now resists demonic influence

Memory Fragment Lost: "Day of Exile""

(Xiao Feng stumbles back, his eyes briefly glowing like embers.)

🔊 Xilià (smirking):

— "Now you're even more… delicious."

🔊 Xiao Feng (annoyed):

— "Stop saying that!"

🔊 Gu Tāng:

— "Let's move. The valley gave you power… but it remembers your taste. Next time, it might want more."

(They walk away from the valley. Deep in the mist, a shadow with antlers moves silently, whispering in an ancient tongue.)

🔊 Unknown Voice:

— "He carries the flame… The hunger has only just begun."

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🔥 End of Chapter 20

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