The poor Swift Rabbit ended up burnt, and Xu Milu had to eat the worst dinner she'd ever had.
After consuming the seasoning packet, Aoki underwent a complete transformation, seemingly gaining even more strength.
Before encountering Aoki, Xu Milu had already collected enough ping-pong grape vine seeds. In addition, a giant iron-backed black ape, as big as a mountain, tore the giant snake apart in front of her as if it were a game. Valuing her life, she made a quick decision to turn back.
Who knows what strange things might be hidden deep in the forest?
God knows she just had alien genes, not that she had more lives than others.
...
"Click!"
A giant banana tree fell to the ground with a thud, and a milky white sap flowed from its twisted trunk, looking just like milk.
Aoki, carrying all the miscellaneous items, slowly withdrew his hand. Xu Milu's luggage was almost entirely piled on his back, forming an exaggerated small mountain, but he looked relaxed and could still move freely.
Milk banana: Non-toxic, the fruit and branches are edible, and the trunk produces delicious milk with a sweet and pleasant taste, earning it the nickname "liquid gold."
"Lady Miru, please have some."
Aoki strode closer, respectfully offering the milk served in a large leaf, his expression serious.
"We are getting closer and closer to Mount Inu. Water is scarce in the area, but fortunately, we have the juice of these milk bananas to replace drinking water."
Xu Milu's lips twitched slightly. Although she still couldn't quite accept that a man who was over 1.9 meters tall was kneeling in front of her, she could barely accept it because he was very capable.
The taste of the banana milk is somewhat like sweet banana milk, but it also has a natural fragrance of herbs and plants. The plant sugars can effectively replenish energy, and even Ah Chou happily rolled around in the leaves.
Xu Milu opened the map and found that Aoki was right. They had left the Black Stone Forest and were about to enter the outer perimeter of the Xu Volcano.
"You said before that the Dog Volcano erupted ahead of schedule, what exactly happened?"
Xu Milu took a small sip of the banana milk in her hand and asked.
Aoki hesitated for a moment and said:
"I don't know the specifics. Mount Inu erupts every ten years on the night of the second new moon, but this time something happened. The sleeping Moltres woke up early, causing Mount Inu to erupt..."
A few traces of grief crossed his face: "Before we could even react, Su Lang and his men ambushed us. I wonder how Aomori is doing now."
Xu Milu was curious about what the legendary firebird looked like, while Aoki's face showed a hint of awe.
"Legend has it that the firebird has magnificent tail feathers, soft as satin, and its whole body is covered in flames. It leaves colorful fireworks wherever it flies, and when it flies across the night sky, the entire Forest of the Dog is illuminated."
Such beauty seems to exist only in legends.
...
...
On the forty-seventh day after entering the Forest of Dog, Xu Milu finally witnessed the beautiful scenery after the eruption of the Dog Volcano.
Dark red, scalding lava, accompanied by plumes of black smoke, erupted from the crater, while countless plumes of white steam shot into the sky, as if the entire world was veiled in a blurry filter.
"Boom!"
"Rumble rumble rumble—"
The enormous sound of the volcanic eruption echoed through the valley, layer by layer, as countless rocks were pushed into the air by the steam and then crashed down, creating a fiery red spectacle.
Even from a distance, Xu Milu could feel the immense energy hidden deep within the volcano.
"So beautiful."
Xu Milu couldn't help but murmur aloud, while Ah Chou in her breast pocket struggled uneasily, seemingly resisting.
They are currently on a natural viewing platform with a wide view that allows them to see the volcanic eruption clearly. Above the platform, there is also a hot spring emitting white mist.
Aoki, who went to scout ahead, returned shortly afterward, carrying a large string of brightly colored pheasants.
【Red-feathered Pheasant: Non-venomous throughout, named for its brightly colored tail feathers; its meat is tender and juicy; catch rating: four stars.】
"Lady Milu, should we stew these red-feathered pheasants directly?"
Aoki was curious about how Xu Milu would deal with the pheasants.
After spending a few days together, he discovered that the other party's methods of handling ingredients were extremely unique, and even some of their recipes were unheard of.
This made him increasingly look forward to the next meal.
"There are also a lot of huge, delicious mushrooms and peach blossom mica honey. Go find some non-toxic large leaves and dig a hole in the ground. We're having beggar's chicken today."
Xu Milu said with a smile.
"A beggar's chicken?"
Aoki repeated the unfamiliar name, clearly not understanding her meaning, but still obediently began digging a hole.
The pheasants had their necks broken and their blood drained by Aoki to make it easier for Xu Milu to process them. She didn't hold back and used the scalding hot spring water to pluck the feathers, gut, and cut open the pheasants. In no time, the pheasants were completely naked.
Place a piece of chicken fat on a stone slab and dry-fry until the fat soaks the entire slab. Then, place diced, large, delicious mushrooms on the slab and stir-fry. Add the spices you carry with you and stir-fry until they are 80% cooked. Set aside.
The pheasant is soaked in hot spring water, then quickly poked with a twig to make holes in its skin. Once you're sure every part of the skin is covered with small pores, you stuff the freshly cooked mushroom sauce into the pheasant's cavity.
Once each pheasant's belly was bulging, Xu Milu brushed on a thick layer of peach blossom mica honey, carefully wrapped it in several layers of large leaves that Qingmu had found, tied it with straw rope, covered it with a layer of volcanic mud, and buried it in the ever-hot pit.
Xu Milu then directed Qingmu to dig up a pile of volcanic rocks that had been heated to a bright red color and place them on the pit. The natural heat was enough to allow the chicken to slowly ferment and develop an unparalleled delicious flavor.
As for the remaining, slightly plumper red-feathered pheasant, Xu Milu planned to use it to make roast chicken. After cleaning it, she placed it directly on the fire and slowly rotated it. When the chicken skin began to turn yellow, she brushed honey water on it layer by layer until a sweet aroma filled the air.
"Lady Milu, you're actually an excellent chef?"
A look of surprise crossed Aoki's face: "Sorry, I just rarely see someone who is both a Gourmet Hunter and a Chef."
"I love adventure, and I love cooking even more. If it weren't for that, I would never have seen the legendary giant fruit paradise."
Xu Milu shrugged, understanding Aoki's surprise.
In this world obsessed with food, excellent chefs are like national treasures, and each chef has a unique recipe, which is also known as the chef's "life menu".
They may spend their entire lives studying the dishes on the menu, while every chef's lifelong wish is to find their own "menu of life".
Compared to gourmet hunters, high-star chefs are safer because they don't have to travel far and wide to find rare ingredients; gourmet hunters will provide them.
As the two were talking, Ah Chou, who was perched on Xu Milu's shoulder, nudged Xu Milu's neck forcefully, and the rich fragrance in the air grew stronger.
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