The night was deep, darkness and tranquility enveloped the forest, and the endless mountain peaks stretched as far as the eye could see. The unique scent of the forest carried a hint of earthy fragrance.
A huge campfire burned in the center of the camp, and the adventurers enjoyed a rare moment of relaxation. After a day of clearing out enemies, they could finally sit down, warm themselves by the fire, and have something to eat—soaking hard bread in hot water and cooking it with some rabbit blood made for a rather luxurious meal in the wild.
"Hey! Blue, you should have seen the mages' heroic feats when they kill goblins! Hahaha! Just one fire spell, bang! Those damned bandits are blown to pieces!"
The adventurers, holding rye beer, teased their companions, the flickering firelight illuminating their young faces:
"Come on, I bet you're just slacking off in the back again. A real man should be obsessed with swordsmanship. Today I witnessed the lord's knight slay the Goblin King with my own eyes. By the God of Light, I hope I will also have the opportunity to serve the noble lord!"
His words immediately drew merciless ridicule from a group of people:
"Bruce is dreaming again. Why would the lord recruit adventurers like us who aren't even nobles? Oh, of course, if you're willing to fawn over the knight and respectfully call him 'Father,' maybe there'll be a chance, hahahaha!!"
"Oh my God of Light, look at this fellow's ambition, ha ha ha ha! I've never heard of a commoner being able to join the Lord's knightly order—"
The crowd burst into laughter again, and amidst the noise and commotion, someone brought up another topic:
"Seriously, did you guys see that guy following the lord today? My god, that guy is terrifying! He looks at least three horses tall! Is he a half-giant?"
"Of course, who can ignore that big guy? He tore a violent grizzly bear apart right in front of me. God of Light, if it weren't for the slave brand on him, I would have been afraid he would have bitten my throat!"
"Come on, Carl, I saw it. You were so scared you peed your pants!"
Hahahaha!
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Another burst of laughter erupted from the crowd, and someone nearby retorted:
"No, no, no, those are Arctic wolves living in the northern part of the continent. They are extremely valuable slaves. I heard that they are followers of the beast god Malthus. Not only are they proficient in ice magic, but they are also natural warriors. Even earth dragons are no match for them!"
Wow!
"This is an extremely expensive slave. I've only ever heard of it in the slave market in the capital. Honestly, if we could capture an Arctic Wolf Beastman, we might even be able to take down the Goblin King!"
"Brother, if I had a slave like that, I would have gone back to my hometown long ago. The money from selling him could even buy me a minor noble title back home!"
A group of adventurers gathered around a campfire, spouting nonsense and even fantasizing about what life would be like with a large sum of gold.
In the midst of a lively conversation, someone suddenly sniffed, a puzzled look on their face:
"What...is this aroma? I've never smelled anything like it before. What is it? Is it a thick soup?"
The companion next to him also took a deep breath. In addition to the smell of damp earth, there was a wonderfully sweet and sour aroma in the air. It was not the smell of expensive spices, nor was it the smell of vegetables and fruits they knew. It was a flavor they had never tasted before.
The aroma is like a tiny hook, luring your taste buds little by little until your mouth is watering. Only then will you realize that the black bread in your hand has become tasteless.
Many adventurers couldn't help but sigh, their faces filled with dissatisfaction; some even threw down their plates and cursed aloud.
"Damn it, Brooke! That magician is at it again! By the God of Light! Can't she wait until we finish our bread before she starts making dinner?!"
"Sigh! Let's just bear with it a little longer!"
"It's best not to provoke her..."
...
...
"I'm afraid that won't work. I have a very large appetite, so I can't share the food with others."
Not far from the campfire, Xu Milu smiled and refused the eleventh adventurer who tried to ask for food.
She couldn't be bothered to chat with a group of drunken adventurers, so she would light a fire separately every time she ate—after all, wood was the most plentiful resource in the Gelibari Great Forest.
"Beep—Beep—"
Suddenly, a spark burst from the small fire, and the dry branches crackled and popped. Above the fire hung Xu Milu's special iron pot for her adventures, inside which soup was simmering.
Slices of meat and potato chunks tumbled in the soup, the red broth looking rather vibrant, but the addition of mushrooms nicely balanced out this oddity. Just a gentle stir with a long-handled spoon was enough to let the intoxicating aroma travel even further.
Xu Milu mischievously stirred things up a bit longer, and only after seeing the restless adventurers disperse did she pat her cloak behind her:
"Fanny, dinner's ready. Tonight's dinner is stewed salamander meat with tomatoes, and the main course is potatoes with white bread. If you like, I can also add a head of roasted garlic. Trust me, salt and pepper and roasted garlic are a perfect match."
The large cloak shifted, and after a moment, a fluffy little head emerged from within. Its two wolf ears twitched, and its long tail swished happily behind it, all of which spoke volumes about Fanny's current mood:
"Yes! Lord Qingluan, I will eat them all!"
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