People in Jiangsu or Zhejiang wasn't very fond of roasted brains since they were into mild flavor, like a young girl singing about romance beating with red sandalwood clappers. But roasted brains were really popular in Sichuan province as Sichuan food was much rougher on the taste, more like strong tough guys roaring about the mighty waves with iron clappers.

Some porcine brain stirred and mixed with seasoning like mashed garlic and coriander would become a perfect dish in a Sichuan BBQ joint.

However...

... This brain in front of Su Bai was much larger, because it was not porcine but human brain.

And it wasn't cooked.

And it wasn't served with at least some mashed garlic.

And it had been kept in a culture dish for decades, probably had exceeded its edible time limit a long time ago.

And there were probably a lot of chemical substances in that culture dish that was much more harmful than preservatives.

But Su Bai was still drooling because he felt so hungry.

Such a hunger was not physical but spiritual, as if his soul was dried out and was craving for supplement.

You're what you eat, so... the best way of replenis.h.i.+ng was... to eat this brain up!

Honestly, even Su Bai couldn't stand this idea. But the old woman had tortured him so much that his spirit was extremely weak and hungry, and he had an impulsion inside him like a starving tiger craving for food.

It was the original instinct that was buried deep down in every human being's heart.

At last...

... with all security staff, researchers and Sophia watching from outside the gla.s.s room, Su Bai scooped the human brain up with both hands and ate it all up, bite after bite.

He was enjoying it as if he was just eating some delicious white ice cream.

The little fellow was watching TV while waving Su Bai's ID card babbling "daddy". Apparently he was very excited about the fact that he had finally leaned to talk, and was practicing so he could show Su Bai when he was back.

After babbling for some time, he felt a little thirsty and finally realized that the kitty didn't bring him any milk. He looked around with his little eyes and found Lucky huddled up on the balcony.

His mouth dropped open in surprise. Then he climbed down from the couch and crawled to the cat.

Lucky was so weak that he huddled there with his eyes closed tight.

Apparently, it had cost him enormous energy to simulate Litchi's scent. He was neither willing nor capable to do that for Su Bai, but seeing the baby babbling "daddy" waving Su Bai's ID card, he chose to do that for this little guy. Now he was so weak that even a street cat would take him down.

The little fellow touched Lucky's head with his chubby hand, then lowered his face and rubbed against his fur. Lucky was still lying there, half asleep. The little fellow climbed back into the bedroom, took out a box of milk, put it in front of him and pushed it forward as he crawled forward until he reached Lucky on the balcony.

Then he bit the milk box to open it and managed to put the hole beside Lucky's mouth.

Just then, the door slammed open. Su Bai staggered in like a drunkard, fell down onto the floor and went directly into deep sleep.

The little fellow had to crawl over and close the door. Then he pushed another box of milk to Su Bai and fed him with it.

Su Bai was feeling thirsty and immediately started sucking up the milk.

Just like this, the little guy kept checking on Lucky and Su Bai in turns.

Sophia didn't follow Su Bai into the room after she brought him back to the hotel. She went back to her car with her heart still pounding. In fact, she was scared that maybe she would find news concerning some city being wiped out when she read a newspaper the next day.

Actually, if she could work up all her courage to follow light-headed Su Bai into the room, she might see the almost dying cat and figure out everything.

But when Lucky simulated Litchi's scent, all British audiences were almost scared to death and didn't even dare to show up. At last, Sophia, who happened to be involved rather directly, had to clear this up and bring Su Bai back.

In the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhuge Liang's Empty Fort Strategy[1] worked because he had been well-known for his thorough plans, and his enemies didn't dare to take the risk. Just like that, Litchi had scared British audiences with her incredible power because she had been here, wiped out a city and survived Dreadful Radio's punishment.

After a long sleep, Su Bai was woken by a constant knock on the door. He opened his eyes but immediately felt sick. He got up, rushed to the toilet and started throwing up.

In fact, he didn't throw up anything. But the disgust has been haunting him since he ate up that brain. Extremely disgusting. But he had no choice but to eat it all up despite the sickness.

Su Bai sat on his knees on the washroom floor. He felt as if his spirit was separated from his body and his senses towards the surroundings had adapted a pattern that he was not familiar with.

Everything around him seemed to become clearer and finer and every movement seemed to be traceable, like a near-sighted person who wore gla.s.ses for the first time would feel dizzy because the world had become too clear for him.

The knock was going on and getting louder and louder. Su Bai got up and staggered to the door, but didn't succeed in finding the keyboard to open it until the third attempt.

The door opened. It was Aroma standing outside, looking worried.

"Su Bai, where have you been for the past three days? I called you yesterday but your phone was turned off. I came and knocked the door but you didn't answer... I had to ask someone in the emba.s.sy to check the CCTV record, then I learned that you haven't left the room since you went back that day... You know what? If you didn't open that door just now, I would call the security and force my way in!"

Aroma was anxious and talking fast.

Su Bai felt his forehead. "I wasn't feeling well."

"What's wrong? Let's get you to a hospital."

"No need, I just need some more sleep."

Then Su Bai staggered back to the bedroom and fell onto the bed.

Aroma was relieved to see Su Bai was fine. She looked around and saw Lucky and the little fellow on the couch. The kid put his arms around Lucky's head and fondled him. Like Su Bai, Lucky was now unconscious. From time to time, it would wake up for a second, but immediately fall asleep.

"What have you be eating?" Aroma went to the little fellow and asked with pity.

She was thinking that Su Bai was a lousy father and wasn't responsible at all. He was sleeping like a hangover and this kid was left alone like this?

The little fellow stared at Aroma with his bright dark eyes, then climbed down the couch, crawled to the fridge, took out some food and pushed them to Aroma.

"Ah, oh, yi ya yi ya."

The little fellow pointed to his mouth, telling Aroma to help herself if she was hungry.

Aroma couldn't help smiling. Was he really Su Bai's son? That very smart for his age.

When Su Bai felt his soul and body had merged into one again after another long sleep, he slowly opened his eyes and stretched himself.

Cozy. So Cozy. As if the world was closer to him. Even the air he breathed in seemed to be much fresher.

That was the benefit of eating that brain, though he did suffer for a long time. Even in the initial stage he could feel his reaction and spiritual power were enhanced greatly.

However, he then realized that his clothes were changed. He was wearing pajamas.

He got off the bed and found the little fellow sitting on the couch watching a cartoon movie. Lucky was downhearted but was sitting on the little fellow's laps.

From the kitchen came the fragrance of food. Several delicious-looking dishes were already placed on the table.

Of course, Su Bai wouldn't treat himself shabbily even though this hotel couldn't offer a presidential suite. It was located in the central downtown in London, and had large suites that each contained a living room, two bedrooms and a study. Even the tablewares in the kitchen were new and the seasonings were fresh. After all, money was never a problem for Su Bai.

Aroma walked out from the kitchen with a large bowl of soup. She was wearing an ap.r.o.n like an ordinary housewife.

"You're finally awake. Let's sit down and have some decent food. I've been feeding you with liquid food."

"That's how you treat Gu Fan?" Su Bai asked, breaking the intimate atmosphere, although he could be smarter than that.

"Ha ha." Aroma just smiled and ignored that question. "Come on, have some food. I've prepared something special for you. You used to love it and enjoy it in front of us, but we were scared and didn't dare to taste even a tiniest piece."

Aroma went back into the kitchen. Su Bai picked up the little fellow, put him on the table and teased him.

Soon, Aroma returned with another bowl.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Empty Fort Strategy: Zhuge Liang was a famous military counselor during the Three Kingdoms Period(220-265 A.D.) and was known for his wisdom and accurate plans. He once scared away his suspicious enemy by the Empty Fort Strategy, which meant to present a bold front to conceal a weak defense.