# Chapter 1779: Finding Joy in Misery! Waiting for Dawn in the Deepest Darkness! (Bonus Chapter)
The night was thick, yet Kyoto remained brightly lit, with everyone diligently busy at their posts.
From the laboratory came Wu Liang's mournful wails from time to time. As it turned out, people's joys and sorrows truly were not shared!
In the temporary camp, Zhong Yingxue had tied up her hair and was holding a large spatula, stir-frying dishes.
For once, there was a rare trace of the aroma of home cooking in the air.
Mountain Cat tilted her head to look at the fragrant and delicious ribs on Zhong Yingxue's stove, then glanced down at the black, lumpy mess in her own pot, billowing thick black smoke...
Her face darkened too!
(̿▀̿̿Ĺ̯̿̿▀̿̿)̄...
Zhong Yingxue gave a gentle smile: (∗❛ั◡❛ั) "Sister Shanmiao, just wait and eat. Let me handle it!"
Mountain Cat blushed and nodded nonstop:
(⑉ԾกԾ⑉) "Oh~ Alright, alright!"
Platelet snickered: (•́.̫•̀) "Even Captain Shan has things she's not good at?"
Mountain Cat's face reddened even more. On normal days, she was always out on missions, eating compressed biscuits and instant food. When would she ever have learned to cook?
The table was already laden with a feast of delicious dishes. Although the situation was difficult, on New Year's Eve, no matter what, they had to eat a good meal!
After all, everyone had been working hard all the way here. Just for this one night, they could finally relax a little!
Zhong Yingxue wiped her nose with the back of her hand: "Where's Xiao Nan? This dish is almost done. Where did he run off to?"
Xia Yao poked half her head out from outside the tent, staring at the food on the table with drool, then frowned:
|•︠～•︡)୨ "I don't know where he went. I looked all around and couldn't find him!"
Just as everyone was puzzled, Jiangnan suddenly appeared beside the camp, dragging Liu Mang along!
His eyes were full of excitement!
(๑•̀ٹ•́) "Wow! You're cooking? Hehe~ Xuexue? Can I borrow some fire?"
With a snap of his fingers, over a dozen huge spiritual energy cauldrons, each over ten meters in diameter, formed—all transformed from spiritual energy pillars!
Seeing Jiangnan set up such huge pots, Zhong Yingxue was stunned!
"(ºДº*) "What's going on? What are you cooking? That angel's egg or something?"
Liu Mang grinned widely: ● "Nan Shen and I made a trip to the ruined city in the north, scrounged up some supplies, and raided a few food factories!"
"We brought back dozens of tons of frozen dumplings. The weather up north is cold, some of the dumplings in those factories were still perfectly preserved! Not spoiled, still edible!"
"Gotta say, Space System users are really something!"
Everyone's eyes lit up when they heard this. No way?
Jiangnan put his hands on his hips, opened his Alternate Dimension, and dumped a massive amount of dumplings into the pots!
(๑︶ٹ︶) "Hehe~ You have to eat dumplings during the New Year, right?"
Xia Yao excitedly threw an arm around Jiangnan's shoulder!
Xiao Nan was really too romantic!
People started adding water to the pots, and Zhong Yingxue generously sent out blazing flames, acting as a gas stove!
Flames leaped, water boiled, and the dumplings in the pots tumbled up and down, steaming with white vapor. The fragrance drifted far and wide!
Such a commotion naturally caught the attention of many in the city!
Yang Jian's eyes widened:
∑(°口°๑) "Damn? Where did you get so many dumplings?"
Jiangnan looked smug: "The north is a natural freezer. It's all ruins now. Supplies are just free for the taking!"
"If we don't eat them, they'll all go bad when spring comes. That'd be a waste. Call the brothers out to eat dumplings! Later, send some to the soldiers on duty and the people in the two Spirit Ruins!"
"I've still got plenty more!"
Yang Jian swallowed hard. Damn, he went all the way north in that short time?
You're really something else!
Excitement showed in Yang Jian's eyes: "I'll arrange it right away!"
Before long, plates of freshly cooked dumplings were delivered to the soldiers on duty!
As the soldiers ate the steaming hot dumplings, the world before their eyes blurred a little!
Their hearts felt warmer than the bonfire. No doubt, at that moment, their thoughts were of their families and loved ones!
Being able to eat dumplings in the midst of ruins and spirit calamities was nothing short of a luxury!
Watching Jiangnan busy himself in front of the giant pots, acting as a delivery guy, everyone felt a lump in their throats.
This was the Nan Shen whom everyone respected...
From outside the city came a sound like a waterfall. Xing Cheng's massive body had drool flowing like a river.
All her eyes were fixed on the pots, filled with longing!
"Cheng Bao'er wants to eat too!"
Jiangnan's mouth twitched, but he still brought ten plates to Xing Cheng and dumped them all into her mouth!
"Eat this for now. If you really open up, there won't be anything left for anyone else!"
Xing Cheng pouted. This little bit wouldn't even fill the gaps between her teeth...
But the problem was, her teeth gaps were really too big, damn it!
In front of the bonfire, everyone sat on the ground. The firewood crackled.
Firelight flickered on everyone's faces. Jiangnan gnawed on ribs in one hand and held a plate of dumplings in the other, eating with grease dripping from his lips!
Xuexue's braised ribs were really the best!
Wang Zong, Old Man Wang, held a plate of dumplings, his face full of emotion:
(◞ᵔㅂᵔ) "Being able to eat dumplings in times like these... Jiangnan boy, you've got heart, ah~"
With that, he grabbed a dumpling and stuffed it into his mouth!
But his expression froze instantly, sweat pouring from his forehead:
(꒪ㅂ꒪‧̣̥̇) "You didn't wrap diamonds in these dumplings, did you? I don't have many teeth left!"
Jiangnan had wrapped diamonds in dumplings before. Several of Old Man Wang's teeth had fallen in battle at that time!
Jiangnan gave a dry laugh: (乛ㅂ乛‧̣̥̇) "Don... don't worry, this batch of dumpling filling isn't hard. If you like, I could add a few more for you!"
Wang Zong shuddered hard. Forget it, pal. I still want to keep my teeth!
Mi Ye's face had already melted into a look of bliss. Chinese cuisine was truly irresistible!
In no time, she had already finished one plate. Jiangnan thoughtfully ladled out another plate for her:
(･᷄ὢ･᷅) "Eat your fill, there's more!"
Mi Ye felt a little shy, her cheeks reddening and warm—whether from the bonfire or something else.
Meanwhile, Odin was eating happily too:
(͡°͜ʖ͡°) "As the saying goes, nothing beats dumplings for taste, and nothing beats..."
Before he could finish, his expression stiffened. Jiangnan had appeared behind him without warning!
One arm locked around Odin's neck in a chokehold, while the other hand held a Small Stool high in the air, a benevolent smile on his face!
╧╧٩(ꐦ°᷄◡°᷅)ŏ﹏ŏ)…
"What did you say?"
The moment he saw the Small Stool, Odin shuddered. He couldn't help it—"pfft"—spraying half-chewed dumpling bits everywhere!
*⁂～(˃᷄ε˂᷅*) "N... nothing... I..."
Before he could finish, Xiao Chuihuo across from him had veins bulging on his forehead, dumpling bits stuck all over his face!
(ꐦ҉°᷄҉益°᷅҉ꐦ҉) "You're pretty bold, huh? Want to step outside and have a go?"
Odin shuddered again and quickly shook his head: "No no no... better not!"
Just then, a sharp "whoosh" whistle sound came, drawing everyone's attention to Xiong Er!
Xiong Er pointed one hand at the sky, and An Xiaoqi beside him was also drawn by his gaze, looking up!
咻～(ㅇ꒪ͦ3꒪ͦ)۶(꒪ͦᴗ̵̍꒪ͦ)
But Xiong Er pursed his lips and planted a kiss on An Xiaoqi's cheek!
(っ˘з(˃᷄ꇴ˂᷅⑉)
An Xiaoqi: !!!
(ﾉ)ꇴ(ヾ) "Ah~ You're so annoying!"
Xiong Er chuckled goofily, drawing a wave of scornful remarks from the crowd!
(￢益￢ꐦ) "Look at that bear's sorry ass! Shameless!"
(≖_≖) "Xiong Er might not be human, but he's really a bear! Playing his little tricks pretty smooth, huh?"
Xia Yao pouted: (•̆₃•̆) "Look at him! Can't you learn something?"
Jiangnan: ???
Liu Mang stood up and waved his hand grandly: ● "That's nothing? Just setting off sparklers? Let big brother show you something real. Since it's New Year's, we need some atmosphere!"
Liu Mang tilted his head back and downed a bottle of Green Stick. Countless rainbow lights burst from his mind!
Everyone looked up. Under the pitch-black night sky, the Blue Moon hung high. With a roar, one dazzling firework after another bloomed, colorful and brilliant!
One after another, until the entire night sky was filled with blooming fireworks, decorating the darkness. The scene was breathtaking!
Everyone's eyes nearly got blinded!
∑(*口*๑)
This works too?
Liu Mang's ability could be used like this? How convenient was that, for crying out loud!
Fireworks shot into the sky, their brilliant light reflecting on everyone's faces. Each person wore a smile, more or less.
In their eyes were either memories or hopeful expectations for the future.
This dumpling meal wasn't strictly necessary. What they ate were dumplings, but what they planted were seeds of hope!
It was also the stubbornness of human civilization. No matter how dire the circumstances, traditions continued and would never be cut off!
Jiang Ning held Jiang Jing, watching the resplendent fireworks in the night sky, her eyes full of satisfaction!
She was growing to like humans more and more.
No matter the environment, they never gave up hope, striving to pursue a better tomorrow!
Finding joy in misery! Waiting for dawn in the deepest darkness!
Perhaps this was the unique charm of humanity!
The light of the fireworks was extremely conspicuous. From the distant sky came angry beast roars!
Nighttime was precisely when spirit beasts were most active!
Clearly, the fireworks had drawn the attention of a large number of beast packs!
Liu Mang sweated profusely: "I... I think I caused trouble!"
The soldiers on duty immediately set down their tasks and prepared to go repel the enemies. Even Jiangnan hurriedly stuffed a dumpling into his mouth and was about to pull out the Blood-Drinking Halberd!
But Odin burst out laughing: "No need! Keep setting them off! Tell the brothers to stay put!"
"Since it's New Year's, let's make the night sky even more brilliant!"
"Aurora Sky!"
In an instant, multicolored aurora burst from Odin's body, spreading across the entire night sky!
Under the aurora's wash, countless spirit beasts silently dissolved, unable to approach Kyoto at all!
This made the night sky extremely dazzling!
Under the cascading aurora, brilliant fireworks bloomed. In front of the bonfire, people ate dumplings, their laughter echoing!
This... was humanity's first New Year in the era of the global spirit calamity—and it would certainly not be the last!
Jiangnan packed a box of dumplings, stood up, and stretched lazily!
"You all go ahead and eat. I'm going out for a bit!"
Zhong Yingxue asked, puzzled: (๑•̌.•̑)ˀ̣ˀ̣ "So late? Where are you going?"
Jiangnan grinned, and his figure vanished into the night, leaving only his voice echoing in the air!
"To see someone..."