Lord of Rot

It took three days, but the small icehouse was finally complete.

The space was quite large, and inside was the huge pool Leech had requested.

"A job well done!"

Leech nodded in satisfaction after his inspection.

The cellar’s temperature was already low—cold, even. Ice would melt very slowly here.

He didn’t need the ice to last from winter all the way to summer, just for it to melt more slowly in the icehouse.

The masons left.

Leech directed the manservants to carry buckets of water into the icehouse. Running up and down with the water left the servants panting and exhausted.

At last, the pool was filled.

’Alright, let’s begin.’

Holding an iron rod, Leech focused his will.

Frost Enchantment!

The iron rod was instantly enveloped in a thick white mist.

He plunged it into the pool, and ice crystals formed in the water at a visible rate.

In three minutes, the pool was almost completely frozen!

Leech took out a sledgehammer he had prepared earlier and smashed it down hard on the ice. He had to shatter the block to finally free the iron rod.

’This method is wrong. I shouldn’t have stuck it straight in. Maybe just touching the rod to the surface would work.’

’Could I use ice to keep corpses fresh?’

After careful consideration, it seemed a Magic Antiseptic would be more reliable than chilling with ice. ’Magic is still the mainstream solution, after all.’

Leech arranged for men to come in and cut the ice.

The manservants couldn’t help but gasp when they saw the block of ice.

Magic!

This had to be Magic, right?!

No, wait. The Lord’s wisdom could create anything. Why would he even need Magic?

The Lord had created so many miracles that they were no longer sure if it was Magic or wisdom, but it was definitely something they themselves did not possess.

The manservants broke up the block of ice. Wearing thick gloves, they lifted the shattered pieces out of the pool and stacked them in the deepest part of the icehouse.

Seeing them struggling to break the ice, Leech said, "Go start a fire outside. Heat your knives in the flames, then come back and cut the ice."

"Yes!"

With hot knives to cut the ice, the work went much faster, and the blocks they cut were much squarer.

After the first batch was taken care of, the manservants went out again to fetch more water and refill the pool.

Leech continued making ice.

They repeated this cycle until all the designated storage space in the icehouse was finally full.

"Whew, it’s cold." Leech exhaled, his breath a white cloud.

Even he couldn’t stand it with his constitution. The manservants were shivering just standing outside the icehouse.

’We’ll be able to have ice in the summer.’

The mere thought made all of today’s hard work feel worthwhile to Leech.

’Making ice with saltpeter? Alchemy Materials are sold at the price of gold. It’s better to just put in a little effort myself. Besides, I’ll recover after a night’s sleep.’

’Maybe I can find a cavern full of rare ores someday? A gold mine would be fine. I’m not greedy.’

After having the icehouse door shut, the self-proclaimed "not at all greedy" Baron Leech left the cellar.

The searing heat of the sun washed over him, driving away the chill.

He just needed to go into the cellar periodically to make ice, ensuring there was always a supply ready for use.

The manservants, however, watched him with gazes full of admiration and awe.

「Lunchtime.」

Leech sat in his seat.

A fine sword rested beside him. After taking his seat, Gelan glanced at it several times, then looked over at the oblivious Quick-blade, a guess forming in his mind.

The century eggs, cut into crescent wedges, were drizzled with a special sauce mixed with garlic and spices.

He picked up a piece with his chopsticks and popped it into his mouth.

"Mm, that’s the flavor."

Tasting that familiar flavor strengthened Leech’s resolve to recreate Earth’s cuisine in this Otherworld.

"Did you make this?" Leech asked, looking at Oak Barrel, who stood in the distance dressed in a maid’s uniform.

"Yes, Lord," Oak Barrel replied with an obedient nod.

"You did a good job."

Mr. Wine Barrel usually never missed an opportunity to cook for the Baron; it was his way of declaring his status. Leech didn’t mind, as long as the food was delicious.

But Wine Barrel was too overweight and unhealthy. With the weather growing warmer, he couldn’t bear to spend long hours in the kitchen. So recently, a few dishes at the dinner table were being prepared by Oak Barrel, the most skilled among the cooks.

"I have a new task for you," Leech said. "A new dish I’d like you to create."

"Yes, Lord!" Oak Barrel nodded excitedly.

Every time the Lord presented a new idea, it meant a new exquisite dish was on the way, the kind that made you think, ’Food can be made like this?’

So far, only Mr. Wine Barrel had been given recipes by the Lord.

She took a deep breath and focused, trying not to miss any key details.

"It seems the castle’s manservants and maids should learn to read and write along with the squires," Leech remarked. "You can only remember so much just by listening."

"Listen carefully," he said, clearing his throat. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Quick-blade and Gelan also put down their chopsticks, curious about the new delicacy their lord was about to create.

"First, I’ll tell you what it is to give you an idea. It’s a type of noodle sheet made by steaming rice slurry in a pan. I call it ’changfen.’ You can fill it with pork, shrimp, vegetables, and so on. The texture is smooth, it looks translucent, and most importantly... the sauce!"

"You’ll need a kind of iron tray—you can have Black Ears custom-make one—that you can place over a pot to steam." Leech gestured as he explained. "Pour the rice slurry into the tray, make sure it spreads evenly but not too thick. It will cook very quickly."

"And the sauce. This is a good opportunity to teach you how to make a new condiment. Remember the oysters?"

"Mhm!" Oak Barrel nodded earnestly.

"Take out the oyster meat, put it in a pot, and simmer it continuously until it reduces into a thick paste. That is oyster sauce. A very delicious and savory condiment."

"Yes!"

"Alright, go back and give it a try. If there’s anything you don’t understand, come and ask me," Leech said.

’I’m just an armchair general; I don’t actually know how to make it myself. Thankfully, a lord’s job is to delegate.’

Gelan said, "Lord, this ’changfen’ you speak of has made me very curious."

"I’m sure you’ve never eaten a delicacy like this," Leech said with a smile. "The texture is something you won’t forget."

"I can’t wait," said Gelan.

Quick-blade nodded eagerly as well. He’d been drinking less since he returned—there was too much good food, and drinking would just take up stomach space.

’Is this enough?’

Leech shook his head. His mind was filled with countless delicacies.

When it came to chicken, there was sand ginger chicken, scallion oil chicken, white-cut chicken, salt-baked chicken, spicy chicken, beggar’s chicken, Sichuan pepper chicken, pork stomach and chicken soup, crispy skin chicken...

And then there were fish, duck, and pork.

’There are so many. I could have a different dish for every meal.’

But the conditions in Porcupine Territory weren’t great, so for now, they’d have to make do with whatever spices were available. ’Yes, keep it simple for now!’

"Uncle Quick-blade."

Leech looked over at Quick-blade, who was single-mindedly focused on figuring out how to use his chopsticks but still couldn’t pick up any food.

"What do you think of Porcupine Territory’s development?"

Gelan’s ears twitched. ’It’s starting,’ he thought. He glanced at Quick-blade and put down his chopsticks.

Quick-blade replied, "Forgive me for being presumptuous, my Lord, but I’ve watched you grow up. The development of Porcupine Territory recently has been beyond my wildest imagination. You are more suited to be a lord than Lord Lieder was! No, more suited than any noble on the Lu Leiyi Continent!"

He knew how poor Porcupine Territory had been before, and he knew it still wasn’t perfect now. But this transformation was brought about by a young man with his bare hands, without resorting to plunder or war.

It was a display of infinite wisdom!

"Then, Quick-blade," Leech cleared his throat. "Are you willing to pledge your loyalty to me? To devote yourself to this land?"

"Huh?" Quick-blade was confused.

Across from them, Gelan said urgently, "Master Quick-blade, kneel! Quickly!"

"Yes!" Quick-blade realized what was happening and immediately dropped to one knee.

’A knighting ceremony!’

His breathing grew ragged.

’Porcupine Territory needs a Knight. I can’t support it alone as the sole noble. Quick-blade is loyal enough, strong enough, and has accomplished enough. He’s the perfect choice to be my first Knight.’

Besides, Lieder had once intended to make Quick-blade a Knight. It was only Quick-blade’s foul temper after drinking that annoyed the equally foul-tempered Lieder, causing him to shelve the matter.

Perhaps Lieder had planned to knight Quick-blade upon his return, but Lieder hadn’t lived to see that day. It was just as well for Leech to do it now.

Leech rose to his feet.

SHING!

He drew the Longsword.

He placed the Longsword on Quick-blade’s shoulder.

He could feel the man trembling with nervousness.

"In the name of the Celestial Father, I command you to be just. In the name of Knighthood, I command you to be brave. For the sake of woman, I command you to be merciful. For the sake of the prisoner, I command you to defend the innocent, even if it means sacrificing yourself. Quick-blade, you are now a Knight of Porcupine Territory. Arise."

He offered the sword in his hands to Quick-blade. "It is yours."

Quick-blade fought back the urge to cry. He raised his hands and accepted the fine sword, his voice trembling. "My Lord! I will fight for you until my dying day!"