After a long while, the battle had finally ended!
Ning Rongrong's small face was pale, making her look pitiful. She had exhausted her spirit power but hadn't suffered any injuries.
As for Zhu Zhuqing, her face was flushed, and she was breathing heavily. The intense battle had drained her stamina. Being chased and beaten by Chen Yuan, she certainly hadn't fared well.
Chen Yuan, on the other hand, remained calm. Although he was also somewhat tired, it didn't affect him much. He casually placed the wooden sword on the weapon rack and then turned to the two girls, saying:
"Rongrong, you should meditate first to recover your spirit power. Zhuqing, you've just gone through an intense battle, so don't sit down to rest immediately. Walk around the training ground for about ten laps, then rest slowly."
At this point, Chen Yuan looked up at the sky, noticing the dark clouds covering it, and suggested:
"The weather looks gloomy, and it's probably going to rain. Why don't you two stay here today instead of going back to the academy? I'll go into the city to buy some meat and vegetables, and we can cook something for dinner."
Ning Rongrong's pale face showed a hint of surprise as she asked with great interest:
"Brother Chen Yuan, you know how to cook? How come I never knew that?"
Chen Yuan lowered his head, looking at Ning Rongrong with a light smile, and said:
"Back at the sect, we always had ready-made meals, so there was no need to cook ourselves. But since we're out here now, I thought I'd give it a try."
Then, he turned to Zhu Zhuqing and asked:
"What do you think, Zhuqing? Will you stay?"
Zhu Zhuqing nodded in agreement. Going back to the academy would mean seeing people she didn't want to, so she might as well stay here. She thanked him:
"Then I'll be imposing."
After settling the two girls, Chen Yuan didn't say much more. He summoned his spirit, activated his spirit skill, and manipulated his flying sword to soar into the sky, disappearing into the horizon in an instant.
Upon arriving in Suotuo City, Chen Yuan first went to buy the necessary seasonings—peppercorns, chili peppers, various spices, scallions, ginger, garlic, and their substitutes—before purchasing the meat and vegetables.
Chen Yuan wasn't a professional chef. If he had to prepare a full table of dishes, he might not be able to pull it off. But making a pot of hot pot base? That was within his capabilities. Paired with a pot of broth, they could enjoy a hearty, spicy, and steaming hot meal.
After buying the seasonings, he picked up the meat, vegetables, and some fruits. With his arms full of bags, Chen Yuan flew back to the manor on his sword.
Without disturbing Ning Rongrong or Zhu Zhuqing, Chen Yuan went straight into the kitchen and got to work.
His methods weren't professional, but he worked quickly. He boiled the broth, rendered beef fat, prepared the hot pot base, and handled the meat and vegetables. His knife skills were excellent—given his level of swordsmanship, this was child's play.
Before long, rain began to fall outside, pattering softly against the windows. Chen Yuan glanced at it briefly before returning to his tasks. After all, there were people at home waiting to eat.
Soon, a spicy, aromatic scent filled the kitchen—the hot pot base was ready.
Chen Yuan scooped a bit with a spoon, tasted it, and said with a hint of nostalgia:
"It's missing a few flavors, but it's still a taste worth remembering. Eating hot pot on a rainy day is a perfect match."
After saying this, Chen Yuan continued working. He arranged the prepared meat and vegetables on plates and brought them to the table. In the center of the table was a basin of charcoal, which hadn't been lit yet.
Chen Yuan first went to wake up Ning Rongrong, who was meditating, and Zhu Zhuqing. When the two woke up and heard that the meal was ready, they were eager to taste Chen Yuan's cooking.
However, when they entered the kitchen, they were greeted with plates of raw meat and vegetables. Both girls wore identical expressions of confusion on their pretty faces.
Ning Rongrong couldn't help but laugh and said teasingly:
"Brother Chen Yuan, you're not expecting us to eat this raw, are you? I've had my share of dry rations, but raw meat and vegetables? This is a first for me."
Zhu Zhuqing pursed her lips and then said:
"Maybe I should cook something instead. I'm already very grateful for your guidance in my training. This is the least I can do."
Chen Yuan smiled mysteriously and simply said:
"Just wait a moment!"
With that, he got to work again. He lit the charcoal, took out a copper pot, poured the hot pot base and beef bone broth into it in the right proportions, and then placed the pot over the charcoal fire.
While waiting for the pot to boil, Chen Yuan prepared two bowls of dipping sauce and handed them, along with chopsticks, to the two girls. As the water heated up, he explained:
"I know I'm not a professional chef, and I can't whip up gourmet dishes. So, I thought we'd try something different. Once the pot starts boiling, you can pick whatever you like, dip it in the pot to cook, then take it out, dip it in the sauce, and eat it."
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing were still skeptical, but seeing how confident Chen Yuan was, they decided it wasn't a prank.
Following Chen Yuan's instructions, they waited for the pot to boil, then picked their favorite ingredients, cooked them in the pot, fished them out, dipped them in the sauce, and finally took a bite.
Hiss!
Both girls nearly jumped from their seats. The food was spicy and scalding hot, a fiery sensation that set their taste buds ablaze.
After some struggle, they managed to swallow the food. Their mouths were still burning, but the constant salivation made them want to keep eating.
Ning Rongrong swallowed and, recalling how she had been huffing and puffing while chewing, felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment.
Zhu Zhuqing was in a similar state. Her face was equally thin-skinned, and eating in such a manner made her feel quite awkward.
Chen Yuan looked at them, somewhat puzzled, and asked:
"How does it taste? Is it good or not? Why aren't you eating more?"
Ning Rongrong quickly nodded and said:
"It's delicious! What's this dish called?"
Chen Yuan took a deep breath, a hint of nostalgia in his voice, and replied:
"It's called hot pot."
Zhu Zhuqing hesitated for a moment before saying:
"It's tasty, but it's so spicy and hot that it feels like my tears and snot are about to flow down together."
Chen Yuan smiled and said:
"It's fine. There are no outsiders here—just family. No one's going to laugh at anyone. If it's good, eat to your heart's content. Otherwise, all my effort would have been wasted."
At these words, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing both felt a strange sensation, a subtle shift in their emotions.
After saying this, Chen Yuan didn't elaborate further. He dipped a slice of beef into the pot, coated it with sauce, and put it in his mouth, thinking with deep emotion:
'This is the taste…'
Seeing that Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing hadn't touched their chopsticks again, Chen Yuan added:
"Come on, eat! Don't let my efforts go to waste!"
His words snapped them out of their hesitation. Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing picked up their chopsticks again, and the three of them began to feast heartily.
As they ate, they occasionally glanced at each other, noticing the flushed faces, heavy breathing, and the occasional tear or sniffle. Without saying a word, they silently acknowledged each other's state, as if holding a mutual secret. Unconsciously, the bond between the three of them grew stronger.
(End of Chapter)
Word Count : 1,336
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