Chapter 562: Chapter 285: Adeline, Abi, and Sulfur
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Without the need for any equipment assistance, the sticky surface rippled with silk-like waves, stirring as a small vortex emerged inside.
Carrying fine mushroom flecks, warm steam rose from the milky white broth—it’s the sweet aroma of cream and butter fusing together, the mushroom flavor ignited by heat, with the fresh, woody scent unique to parsley.
A half spoonful scooped up, the creamy white soup clung wrapped around the belly of the spoon, trembling with flecks of black pepper mushroom pieces, sent into the mouth.
The upper palate gently pressed, as if laying a velvet layer on the tip of the tongue, with delicacy and sweetness filling the mouth, the smoothness of cream and the grainy texture of mushroom crumbs creating a wonderful contrast.
Miscellaneous thoughts and turmoil were scattered by an indescribable sense of satisfaction, the mind went blank, leaving only the purest, most essential, simplest—
Happiness.
Adeline sat across the dining table, looking at the black-haired youth in front as if he was the most severe Magic Power addict consuming magic, as if his soul had been separated from his body in an instant.
The expression on her face was extremely peculiar.
“Is it really that tasty?”
She mumbled, likewise scooping a spoonful into her mouth.
Contrary to her usual manner of wolfing things down, this woman, more manly than a man, with muscles on her arms able to directly strangle a goblin, a senior adventurer, even purposely pursed her lips, savoring the creamy mushroom soup on her tongue for several seconds before slowly swallowing.
“The taste is indeed good.” She smacked her lips, her expression appearing quite puzzled, “But not exaggerated, right…”
“Just a bowl of mushroom soup, anyone unaware might think you’re drinking some Dragon Blood elixir.”
“You don’t understand.”
To this, Xia Nan simply enjoyed it, squinting his eyes gently nodding his head.
Goblin or creamy mushroom soup, he naturally realized these small quirks gradually developed as he traveled farther on his adventurer path.
Yet he didn’t intend to control or intervene.
With such great pressure, there must always be a release outlet.
Drinking several bowls of creamy mushroom soup, tearing apart several green-skinned goblins, is much better than wasting energy at card tables, in alcohol.
At the dining table, Xia Nan didn’t say much.
However, in front of Adeline, with an immensely enjoyable stance of happiness, he emptied the wooden bowl of creamy mushroom soup, swallowing the last lingering mouthful of soup.
Only then did he gradually regain consciousness, his eyes looking forward to “Green Blood” Adeline, who had long ended the “battle,” and cleaned her food off the plate in front.
“By the way you look, have you achieved a Professional Level?”
Compared to before, Adeline’s appearance hadn’t changed much.
Still wearing that blood-stained Scale Armor that appears “battle tested,” her hairstyle remained like a butchered pelt, messy, unruly crew-cut short hair.
But under the armor, the obvious enlargement, the strong muscles bulging the lining, a solid aura all around, distinctly different from ordinary adventurers.
Let Xia Nan, with his keen Perception, just by seeing her, discern the qualitative change happening to this longtime acquaintance.
Recalling many days ago, before receiving the escort mission, she mentioned being only a step away from becoming a “professional.”
The reason for Adeline’s transformation thus became apparent.
Sure enough, without any concealment, she earnestly nodded:
“Not long ago, just a few days ago during my training in the suburb outside the town, I somewhat realized it for two seconds.”
“That step, I crossed it.”
Based on adventurers’ tacit rules, Xia Nan never intended to pry into her professional information, only roughly guessing, perhaps “warrior” or “barbarian,” and took the initiative to speak:
“Haven’t completed the promotion mission yet, need a hand?”
As former teammates, even after separating post-“Hunting Day,” their relationship remained very good, often dining and chatting when free.
Adeline was also one of Xia Nan’s few friends in this world.
Encountering any difficulty, assisting within the possible scope was completely routine.
Even long ago, he already agreed with her, when achieving Professional Level and needing to perform Association promotion missions, she could come directly to him for help, without overthinking, directly voicing out.
At that time, Adeline also agreed loudly, saying she “won’t waste the relationship with ‘Gray Sword.'”
Yet surprisingly, now when facing the need for promotion missions, she hesitated instead.
Holding the weapon grip long, her fingers at the knuckles retained thick calluses, gripping the soup spoon for a long time, then she slowly opened her mouth:
“You should also know, I’m not greedy to demand out of friend relationships.”
“With you just back in town after so many days on task, haven’t rested for two days, being pulled out again…we aren’t in the same small team anymore, doesn’t fit well.”
“On the other hand, I also reviewed the task content assigned by the Association, nothing too difficult. Ordinary adventurers can complete it, and it must be done in a temporary team organized by the Association…”
“I understand you.”
Xia Nan waved a hand, gesturing to her no need to continue speaking.
He understood the thoughts Adeline wanted to express.
Relationships between people cannot always remain unchanged.
Last year, before achieving professional status, he might have had higher combat ability than her, but their overall was relatively balanced, she might even take more the core position due to “captain” and “senior adventurer” status.