Chapter 42: Who Are You Cooking For?-This Stranger Story Is a Bit Chilly(A Modest Goal)

Not far from the grand mansion, at the window of another luxurious villa, Lady Berham held her son in her arms. Both of them stared coldly at the mansion whose windows had been completely sealed, a sinister smile creeping across their faces.

“Honey, they’re all about to die. You’ll have more toys to play with soon. Daring to bully my Honey, daring to slap me—let them all go to hell and face the demons’ punishment,” she shrieked, her laughter piercing and wild. The little boy grinned wickedly, clutching a bamboo stick, and stabbed it forcefully in the direction of the mansion.

...

The saying “cheap things are never good” was something Lin Xiao had come to understand thoroughly. He’d known from the start that this mansion was not normal, but he hadn’t expected it to be so bizarre. The moment they moved in, strange events began to occur.

While the group was still panic-stricken, a sudden clatter erupted from the kitchen. An unusual aroma drifted their way, reminiscent of roasting meat.

Cautiously, the four approached the kitchen, where they found it shrouded in smoke. Four servants—black men and women dressed in uniforms—were busily working inside. One was chopping vegetables, another was cooking, a third was washing dishes, and the last was preparing condiments. Each was frantically occupied.

Will and Number 11 stared wide-eyed, and Chief Hope’s mouth hung open in disbelief at the scene. They’d searched the kitchen earlier and found it empty; now it was bustling with activity—something was clearly amiss.

Seeing the three bewildered and lost, Lin Xiao, though frightened himself, managed to maintain his composure. His magic surged within him as he bravely stepped forward to ask, “Who are you, and for whom are you cooking?”

One of the black male servants came forward, bowed respectfully, and said, “Master, dinner will be ready soon. Please, guests, take your seats and enjoy the appetizer.”

He then led them to the adjacent dining room, where a long table stood ready, set for twelve. Knives, forks, and napkins were neatly arranged.

Chief Hope and the others looked to Lin Xiao, seeking his opinion—should they sit or not? Lin Xiao considered it, deciding to observe what these servants intended, so he had them all take their seats. He himself sat at the head of the table; with Joey absent, he assumed the role of master of the house.

Once they were seated, the servants went to the doorway and pressed the bell. Soon, two women and a man, all black servants, entered, each pushing a trolley and placing a covered dish before each guest.

The lead servant poured half a glass of red wine into each cup, the vivid wine resembling fresh blood.

“Master, this is the appetizer: delicately roasted smoked bream. Please enjoy.”

...

The four servants moved to each person’s side and simultaneously lifted the lids. Inside each dish lay a pitch-black, unidentifiable mass, revolting in appearance.

Faced with such fare, none dared touch their food. Will was on the verge of tears—were it not for Lin Xiao and Chief Hope, he would have bolted in terror.

“Why don’t you eat? Master, is the food not to your liking?” the lead servant asked. Lin Xiao, unsure how to respond, decided to play along. “It’s really not appealing—the color is horrible, you’ve overcooked it.”

Chief Hope was deeply impressed by Lin Xiao’s daring—he could still respond calmly at such a moment, showing no sign of panic.

Outwardly Lin Xiao was calm, but inside he was frantic. With his younger siblings and future stepfather present, and Joey missing, he couldn’t afford to lose his composure—who else would take charge?

“Very well, Master. Next time we’ll be more careful. Now please enjoy the main course: Mexican creamy roasted medley.”

The four servants brought out another set of silver platters, simultaneously lifting the covers. A crimson, viscous concoction mixed with thick, milky cream oozed forth—its grotesque shape resembling a human brain.

All four guests paled. Will, Number 11, and Chief Hope recoiled in disgust, turning away to vomit.

Lin Xiao suppressed his own urge to retch. Fortunately, he was accustomed to eating offal and had tried roasted brains before; his tolerance was higher, so he managed not to vomit on the spot.

“Master, does our food still not suit you? What do you want to eat? Would you prefer we rip out our hearts for you?”

The four servants tore open their shirts, plunged a hand into their chests, and pulled out a pulsating red organ—a heart.

They placed the hearts on the silver platters, smiling as they invited the guests to eat. Will broke into loud sobs, Number 11 cried uncontrollably, and Chief Hope trembled all over, trying to rise in resistance but finding himself unable to move.

“Eat! Why don’t you eat? Don’t you love our flesh, drink our blood, smash our bones, and use our skulls as ornaments? Eat! Feast! Enjoy this supreme delicacy!” the four servants screamed madly.

Will and the others, against their will, picked up knife and fork, reaching slowly toward the beating hearts. Will and Number 11 wailed, their spirits near collapse—the horror far exceeded their psychological endurance. Even Number 11, despite her superpowers, was just a little girl and no different from anyone else in that moment.

“Eat, my foot! I’ve had enough. Dare to scare my siblings? You’re asking for it. Sacred Light!”

...

Seeing his siblings on the verge of collapse, Lin Xiao was enraged. His magic surged, and he raised his hand high, unleashing the Sacred Light.

A brilliant, holy radiance flooded the dining room. Upgraded to LV2 mastery, the Sacred Light was like the descent of a holy spirit, spreading the divine brilliance across the world.

Divine grace like the sea, divine power like a prison, the glory of God drives all evil away.

The four servants, touched by the Sacred Light, let out agonized screams as their bodies melted like water. They struggled desperately to escape, but the holy light impeded their every movement. Eventually, they faded into nothing, vanishing without a trace.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, for slaying LV2 resentful spirits. Source power +10 points]

...

[Ding! Congratulations, host, for accumulating 50 points of source power. Upgrade condition met. Would you like to upgrade?]

Four notifications rang out, followed by an upgrade prompt. Yet Lin Xiao didn’t rush to upgrade. The situation was unclear, and he couldn’t spend all his source power recklessly; if more ghosts appeared, he might need to exchange for holy water or other items.

Besides, he’d just reached level 4 and wasn’t yet familiar with the new powers. Upgrading too quickly could destabilize his strength, possibly making him weaker.

He ceased the Sacred Light. The dining room returned to normal. The four platters were empty—no brains, no hearts. It had all been an illusion.

Were it not for the system prompts, Lin Xiao might have doubted whether they’d experienced anything at all.

But judging from the system, the mansion was clearly infested with powerful resentful spirits, which explained the frequent strange events. Joey’s disappearance was likely related to them.

The Sacred Light not only dispelled evil, but also calmed the mind, filling one with warmth and comfort.

Under its radiance, Will and Number 11 gradually recovered from the brink of collapse, running up to Lin Xiao and hugging him tightly.

“It’s alright now. As long as I’m here, no one can harm you.”