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"You?"
Hu Liena was the first to express her doubt, sizing up Dai Chengfeng from head to toe. "You, someone who has lived a life of luxury… can you even cook?"
Ning Rongrong also blinked her big eyes, clearly unconvinced. "Exactly! Dai Chengfeng, don't strain yourself."
"Cooking isn't like fighting; it takes more than just strength."
Coming from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, she had been pampered since childhood, never having touched household chores. Judging by herself, she simply couldn't imagine Dai Chengfeng in the kitchen.
In her mind, if he could manage to cook meat without burning it, that would already be an extraordinary feat.
Zhu Zhuqing, who trusted Dai Chengfeng almost blindly, instinctively wanted to nod in support…
But seeing the synchronized skeptical glances from Hu Liena and Ning Rongrong, silently asking, "Are you sure you want to believe him?" she swallowed her words.
In the end, she only gave a slight nod, saying nothing, but her eyes still carried a hint of anticipation.
Dai Chengfeng took in the reactions of the three girls, not at all offended. Instead, he smirked and rolled up his sleeves:
"Hmph, underestimating me, are you?"
"Let me tell you, this is my exclusive specialty. Most people can't even taste it!"
"If it ends up smelling delicious, don't drool."
"Anyone who says they don't believe me now better not fight over it later."
Hearing this, Hu Liena haughtily turned her head away. "Hmph, if I don't eat, I won't eat!"
"This girl has tasted all kinds of delicacies; I'm not interested in your wilderness cooking!"
Though she said so, her sidelong glance couldn't help but sneak a peek at what Dai Chengfeng was doing.
Ning Rongrong also nodded vigorously, agreeing: "Right! Sister Nana is right! I believe in Sister Nana's judgment!"
She made up her mind that no matter how bad it tasted, for the sake of appearances, she would endure…
Probably.
Dai Chengfeng chuckled and said no more. He turned and walked toward the already lit campfire.
Dai Chengfeng was not one to neglect his own comfort. Considering his stomach, he had already purchased all necessary seasonings before entering the Great Star Dou Forest.
From his storage-type soul tool ring, he retrieved several bottles and jars—obviously various seasonings.
Then, he took out a small but seemingly practical iron pot, along with some freshly processed beast meat and several edible mushrooms and wild vegetables picked at the forest's edge.
Soon after, the three girls were astonished to see that Dai Chengfeng's actions were far from a joke.
His handling of the ingredients was exceptionally skilled and efficient—slicing meat, washing vegetables, starting the fire, heating the pot, adding oil…
Every move was smooth and fluid, showing the demeanor of an experienced chef.
Especially his control of the heat and the timing and amount of seasoning added, all demonstrated great expertise, not at all like a novice.
Before long, an indescribably enticing aroma began to waft through the campsite, far surpassing the layers achievable by simple roasted meat.
At this moment, the lively Ning Rongrong was the first to give in.
She sniffed hard with her small nose and whispered into Zhu Zhuqing's ear, exclaiming softly: "Zhuqing, do you smell that?"
"This smell… it seems… really quite impressive!"
Her originally confident expression had turned uncertain.
A flicker of pride gleamed in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes, but she maintained her composure, lightly responding with an "Mm," and said softly:
"He never does anything without confidence."
Though she said so, her gaze, fixed on Dai Chengfeng's proficient wok-tossing movements, revealed her surprise was no less than Ning Rongrong's.
Hu Liena naturally smelled the appetizing aroma too, her throat involuntarily swallowing slightly, but she refused to back down verbally.
She deliberately turned her head away, speaking loudly enough for everyone to hear, pretending to whisper to Ning Rongrong: "Rongrong, don't be deceived by appearances!"
"What good is a pleasant smell? Maybe he just used a lot of seasoning to cover up flaws in the ingredients."
"I've seen plenty of such roadside chef tricks!"
She paused, then added, trying to find excuses: "Look at him tossing the pan; who can't do that?"
Ning Rongrong blinked, watching Dai Chengfeng's fluid movements and the tempting dish in the pot, hesitated for a moment, and whispered back:
"But, Sister Nana… can pretense look this convincing? I think the way he adds seasoning seems very methodical…"
"Hmph, that only shows he practiced privately a lot to 'look' like he knows how to cook!"
Hu Liena stubbornly retorted, but her sidelong glance uncontrollably drifted back to the fragrant iron pot, inwardly muttering:
This smell… why does it keep getting more enticing? Impossible, it must be an illusion!
Dai Chengfeng smiled faintly, seemingly oblivious to the murmurs behind him, remaining focused on controlling the ingredients in the pot.
The chunks of meat caramelized in the hot oil, mixing with various uniquely aromatic mushrooms.
One type was semi-transparent jade-colored, another dotted with star-like spots, obviously not ordinary varieties.
As time passed, an indescribable complex aroma began to spread.
This aroma was extremely layered, combining the rich fattiness of the meat with the fresh sweetness of various exotic mushrooms, as if condensed from the essence of the forest. It also carried a faint invigorating herbal fragrance.
Ning Rongrong had long forgotten her composure, moving closer, her little nose constantly twitching: "Dai Chengfeng, how… how can this soup smell so good?"
"It's different from anything I've ever tasted before! Are these mushrooms special?"
Dai Chengfeng smiled faintly, teasingly holding back a bit: "This soup is called Jade Marrow Mushroom Heart Soup."
"It uses several rare mushrooms found only at the periphery of the Great Star Dou Forest, like this 'White Jade Jelly Mushroom' and 'Star-spotted Chicken Mushroom,' which are incredibly flavorful on their own."
"Paired with secret spices and simmered slowly to extract their essence. Not just any wilderness cooking can compare."
"Jade Marrow Mushroom Heart Soup?"
Ning Rongrong blinked her big eyes, looking at the creamy white, slightly translucent, and somewhat viscous soup in the pot, full of anticipation.
Even though Hu Liena still tried to appear calm, hearing the name and ingredient description stirred something within her.
The Spirit Hall had abundant resources, and she had seen many delicacies, but this kind of on-site sourced, seemingly meticulous forest gourmet was a first.
Curiosity flickered in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes as she quietly waited.
Finally, Dai Chengfeng lifted the lid of the pot.
In an instant, the intense aroma reached its peak.
The soup had become as smooth and rich as fine jade marrow, with slices of meat and various mushrooms floating gracefully, harmonious in color, incredibly tempting.
Dai Chengfeng first served a bowl for Zhu Hongye.
"Grand Priest, here, please taste."
Zhu Hongye nodded, tasting it gently. Her eyes widened with amazement, nodding in praise:
"The soup is rich, the freshness of the mushrooms blends seamlessly with the meat flavor, and even more remarkably, it seems to contain a faint trace of herbal essence."
"Chengfeng, your culinary skills are truly remarkable."
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