64 - Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’

### Chapter 64: Discussing Swordsmanship, Ying Bing: "Did I Underestimate Him Before?" For the first time, Bing Tuozi was earnestly cooking a meal. Adhering strictly to the principle of not wasting food, the dishes were eventually plated and set on the table. On the table, several mounds of substances sat on plates, giving the illusion of emanating a demonic aura. "So... what exactly is this supposed to be?" It was well-known that Little Li had remarkable culinary skills. However, the dishes Bing Tuozi prepared seemed to be quite beyond his expertise. "Scrambled eggs with tomatoes," Ying Bing said calmly, wiping her face with a handkerchief, her demeanor cool and collected. "...And what about this?" Li Mo asked after a moment of silence. "Stir-fried pork with chilies," Ying Bing replied, causing Li Mo to look at her in astonishment. She could actually recognize it? "And this..." "Spicy intestines," she quickly answered. Li Mo took a sharp breath. Was she doing this intentionally or just accidentally? Unable to continue looking directly at the dishes, he turned his gaze away. "Alright, so you're now capable of cooking yourself... impressive. Have you been eating like this these past few days?" "I only cooked today," Ying Bing replied softly. Li Mo: "?" So, she didn’t cook early or late, but chose today, of all days, when I came back? It’s confirmed—she did it on purpose. Indeed, for Bing Tuozi to voluntarily cook was as unlikely as the sun rising from the west. "One shouldn't judge things solely by their appearance. Perhaps the presentation is lacking, but the taste might just be unexpectedly delightful," Ying Bing insisted with sincere composure. Let's not get too philosophical at a time like this! Li Mo finally understood why Bing Tuozi went to the trouble of cooking this elaborate spread. Despite her outwardly indifferent demeanor, she harbored a streak of pride. She never vocalized it, but her every gesture betrayed it. Bing Tuozi was not someone who would willingly settle for mediocrity. She aimed for perfection in everything, including cooking. Then again, when the gods open a door for you, they might just weld a window shut with cement in return. For someone as breathtakingly beautiful as her, her culinary attempts were nothing short of astounding and terrifying. "If you don't eat soon, it'll get cold," Ying Bing said softly, cutting off Little Li's freshly concocted excuses. This could be as lethal as being told, "Time to take your medicine." "Alright!" Li Mo said resolutely, his tone valiant as he reached for a pair of chopsticks. His hand, which reached for the food, trembled slightly. But perhaps Ying Bing was displeased with his slow pace; she swiftly picked up a piece of the spicy intestines and placed it on his plate before he could get to the scrambled eggs with tomatoes. As soon as he tasted it, a burst of flamboyant flavors exploded in his mouth, akin to his past life's experiences—sour, bitter, and awkward, fleeting all the way to his soul. The taste was the kind of nightmare-triggering flavor that could wake you in the wee hours of the night. "Why are you... are you crying?" Ying Bing asked, frowning slightly. "Grandma...," Li Mo began. "Did it remind you of your grandmother’s cooking?" "No, I saw her." Witnessing a tear rolling down Li Mo's cheek, Ying Bing was taken aback. She decided to cook herself for two reasons. First, she couldn't believe herself incapable of mastering something. Second, she felt indebted to Li Mo for his help, and wished to repay him in some way. Over the past few days, she earnestly studied cooking. For example, when a recipe mentioned that stir-fried pork with chilies should be spicy, bursting with aroma upon entry, she went to Dan Ding Peak and acquired several bottles of black ash wood oil from Elder Xue. Typically used in alchemical procedures requiring instantaneous combustion to burn away impurities, Elder Xue assured her it was safe to consume, so she liberally used it in her dish. When the recipe instructed to "add a spoonful," she was perplexed—after all, the recipe didn’t specify how large the spoon should be. Thus, she added for ten seconds straight. After half an hour, a new set of dishes were brought to the table. As he looked at Bing Tuozi's already rosy lips, which had turned even redder, Li Mo sighed, "I didn't really help you that much. You didn’t have to trouble yourself with cooking." "Alright." "Let’s enjoy our meal," Li Mo said, rinsing his mouth and quickly eating several mouthfuls of his own stir-fried vegetables, feeling life return to him. Ying Bing’s eyes flickered slightly as she asked, "How is she doing?" "I left some healing supplements for Chu Long and bought the house where she stays. Her daily needs are ensured, and I instructed the Murong family to deliver supplies regularly." "Hmm?" Ying Bing’s face showed a hint of surprise. Knowing Jiang Chu Long’s withdrawn nature, speaking few words, Ying Bing was surprised she had even shared her name with Li Mo, indicating their rapport wasn’t bad. Watching Li Mo eat heartily, Ying Bing's gaze softened. If it were him, it wasn’t too surprising. "Thank you." "No trouble at all." With a light cough, Li Mo solemnly said, "We’re so familiar with one another; don’t treat small matters with such gravity." Having understood Bing Tuozi's mindset after witnessing her culinary adventure, Li Mo thought... It’s good to take things seriously, but sometimes it’s unnecessary to stress too much. Considering Bing Tuozi's character, Li Mo added, "If you really want to repay me, perhaps you could help me with something." "How can I help?" "For instance... discuss swordsmanship with me?" Li Mo had no one else to turn to. After weighing his options, Bing Tuozi seemed to be the only choice. There was no helping it—he simply had no idea how to resolve Jiang Chu Long's puzzles. Who knew what thoughts swirled inside that girl's head? "Discuss swordsmanship with me?" Ying Bing lifted her gaze, her brows arching gently. Teaching and discussing were two different things. Throughout the nine heavens and ten earths, those qualified to discuss swordsmanship with her were few and far between. She herself once mastered a prominent sword path, which meant her understanding of the sword touched upon its very essence, standing at the pinnacle of the nine heavens and ten earths. Previously, Li Mo's swordsmanship did not qualify him to discuss matters with her—such a deep delve would’ve done him more harm than good. "Let me hear your questions first." "I made a list," Li Mo grinned, retrieving a paper from his pocket. Afraid he’d forget, he’d written the questions down. As Ying Bing glanced at the paper, her usually calm eyes froze briefly, then narrowed slowly. These questions... seemed to faintly touch upon the core of swordsmanship? Certainly, she could provide answers. But for Li Mo to ask such questions? Formulating questions requires skill too. The questions posed by a genius and those by an average person differ vastly. It's akin to when someone's head gets hit by an apple: an ordinary person might wonder why they’re having such a bad day, while a genius questions why the apple falls downwards instead of upwards. Ying Bing studied Li Mo, her glass-like eyes reflecting the young man. It seemed she was trying to discern something from his face. His previous talent had been peculiar at best, far from genius. His oddity lay in occasional bouts of dullness punctuated by moments of sudden clarity—making him "easily enlightened" rather than inherently gifted in swordsmanship. Had she underestimated him before? As for the exact reasons, Ying Bing couldn't yet ascertain. "Is that all?" she queried. Li Mo subconsciously scratched his cheek and nodded, "For now, yes."