As dusk fell once more, Red Moon City was left far behind them. Looking back, they could see the snow-capped peaks of Mount San Moriti bathed in the holy, solemn golden light of the setting sun.
Yun Wei relaxed and enjoyed the scenery, stretching lazily. They had reached the edge of the Divine Grace Highlands, and tomorrow, as they wound their way down the foothills, they would enter the bustling heartland of the Red Moon Kingdom.
He glanced at Isaac, who was skillfully building a campfire nearby.
Even in a tightly stretched coarse cloth shirt, the knight exuded the air of a haute couture gown. Beneath his rolled-up sleeves, his strong forearms moved pebbles up and down, adjusting the angle of the vent.
The firm muscle texture and slightly bulging veins seemed to possess a sexy charm that struck Yun Wei's heart, making him never tire of looking at them.
It was hard to imagine that the other party was extremely skilled in this area. Upon first meeting, Yun Wei thought the other party was the traditional type of knight who would be unable to take care of himself after leaving his entourage.
After all, Isaac was so elegant that even though the two were not close enough to talk about their private lives, Yun Wei could tell from his words and actions that he came from a noble background.
Every smile and gesture of Isaac's seemed meticulously designed, perfectly executed. His gentle demeanor and impeccable manners were not qualities cultivated overnight. Nobility was like an instinct ingrained in his very being, while elegance had become a habit, independent of anyone else.
Yun Wei realized with a deep understanding that he and Isaac were from completely different worlds. If it weren't for a series of bizarre and unexpected encounters, he and Isaac would never have crossed paths at all.
“The fire is lit, come sit down and rest.” Isaac turned around, kneeling on one knee by the campfire, his back straight like a disciplined soldier. “I have a surprise for you.”
"Oh?" Yun Wei raised an eyebrow, obediently walked over and sat down, but his tone was indifferent. "What is it? You've already told me in advance, so it's probably hard for me to be surprised."
Yun Wei glanced at the stone slab in front of him, which served as a table, and was about to take out some hard black bread from his spatial storage. Even this hard-to-swallow black bread was running low, but fortunately, they would reach a safer town tomorrow, where they could buy some more to store.
However, Isaac pressed down on his hand, which was slightly raised.
The other person's well-defined fingers and palms were exceptionally strong, yet the pressure was gentle. The contact area was clearly cold, but Yun Wei reacted as if he had been burned, his back straightening and his fingers slightly curling.
He tilted his head slightly, his eyes conveying a question, his jawline clearly outlining the curve of his profile.
But Isaac's attention was drawn to Yun Wei's trembling eyelashes.
He was about to take a closer look when his gaze fell into the inky black lake. It seemed that all the people of Bili City had such dark eyes, naturally possessing a restrained mystery and composure.
But his patrons are different.
Isaac knew that the deep darkness contained too many unspoken secrets, yet it was also crystal clear, enticing his mind like a mythical magic spring.
He was like a sailor drawn by the siren's song, thinking he could escape unscathed, only to find himself already caught in a whirlpool when he came to his senses.
Isaac had assumed that his growing attention to the other was simply due to the far from fair contract between them. But now, in the instant their eyes met at close range, Isaac suddenly realized how captivating that silent, dark gaze was, leaving him flustered and unable to extricate himself.
Why does my weak heartbeat quicken, and why do my icy lips feel so hot?
Isaac suppressed his chaotic thoughts, not daring to think about it further.
He silently withdrew his hand, avoiding his master's clear gaze, and said in a low voice, "No need for the black bread, Claude. I took some ingredients from the village earlier, perhaps... you can try my cooking."
His throat was very dry, and the sound he made was particularly low and hoarse, sounding like a buzzing violin at such close proximity.
"Oh...you can cook?" Yun Wei looked up, her tone somewhat doubtful, but her words were full of anticipation. "If this is the surprise you're talking about, then I think it is indeed a pretty good surprise."
His cheeks, bathed in the dual light of the setting sun and the campfire, looked as if they had lingered in the intoxicating glow of the evening. Each lost in their own thoughts, neither noticed how rambling and capricious their conversation was.
Yun Wei watched quietly as his follower earnestly took out ingredients and cooking utensils from the pendant around his neck (he had noticed this white-gold knotted pendant before, which looked quite valuable, but he hadn't expected it to be a spatial item), and arranged them neatly in their places.
Looking around, the ingredients were rather ordinary: meat, fats, oats, spices, some fruits and vegetables... including the rutabaga that Yun Wei hated the most.
Perhaps it was the other person's serious expression, but Yun Wei's face remained full of anticipation; he didn't want to dampen Isaac's spirits at all. He silently thought that even if he hated rutabaga, he would definitely try his best to finish it later.
Isaac continued to guide the "Water Control Technique," and after neatly completing the cleaning, he began a dazzling and skillful maneuver that left Yun Wei in awe.
The knife flashed, and the pot sizzled melodiously.
The raw ingredients were quickly processed and then neatly arranged, each in its place.
Yun Wei only inherited his mother's family's culinary culinary skills, and was completely clueless about cooking. However, even though he was a complete novice, he could tell from Isaac's confident and skillful handling that the other party had superb culinary skills.
The fat sizzled patiently on the griddle, and the onion strips on it were fried until they were slightly golden and fragrant. Isaac picked up a thick slice of rock bear loin and gently placed it on the pan.
In stark contrast to its incredibly tough fur, rock bear meat is exceptionally sweet and tender. With its perfect amount of fat, it is even more succulent than lamb, and has absolutely no gamey smell. The best cut is from the back.
The rock bear steak, carefully marinated with coarse salt and herbs, released an extremely tempting aroma the moment it came into contact with the boiling pot. The crispy fat further enhanced the fragrance of the herbs. The three aromas blended together seamlessly, creating the most enticing flavor in the world, causing Yun Wei's pupils to dilate instantly.
If he was only shocked by the other party's skillful and confident operation before, now he was simply overwhelmed by the delicious food he had not tasted for a long time.
The brain excels at completing imaginations. Just hearing pleasant sounds, seeing exquisite ingredients, and smelling enticing aromas can make one's lips and teeth uncontrollably secrete saliva.
Yun Wei's Adam's apple bobbed, and his eyes sparkled like those of an extremely obedient puppy waiting to be fed.
When he snapped out of his reverie with a soft chuckle, he saw Isaac staring intently at him. The elegant knight's gaze was now playful and sharp, devoid of his usual grace, appearing lively and mocking.
"Ah..." This is so embarrassing.
Yun Wei just wanted to disappear into the ground. He turned his head away in shame and indignation, not daring to look Isaac in the eye again.
Yunwei, oh Yunwei, how could you act so greedy!
“We’ll have to wait a little longer.” Isaac’s voice was full of laughter as he looked at his bristling master, in high spirits. “However, if you’re already hungry… you can try this first.”
He leaned forward and placed a plate of freshly prepared vegetable salad in front of Yun Wei, just like a well-trained waiter from his previous life.
"Alright. Let me taste your cooking." Yun Wei, having nothing to lose and still stubborn, took the fork Isaac offered and, feigning pickiness, picked up a plate of exquisitely sliced carrot shreds and put it in his mouth.
The soft tip of my tongue met the chewy, crisp shredded carrots, while the sauce coating them spread throughout my mouth. Completely different from the salads I'd had in my previous life, it lacked the cloying sweetness of salad dressing, instead embracing a refreshingly light flavor.
The salad dressing left over in the village was of poor quality, so Isaac replaced it with apple cider vinegar and strawberry juice. He also used white sugar and salt to simmer a golden orange tomato sauce to increase its viscosity, so that the sauce could firmly coat the shredded vegetables and make the taste richer.
Therefore, from Yun Wei's perspective, that would be—
In an instant, all flowers bloomed and all trees ushered in spring.
The feeling at this moment is beyond description with mere words.
Yun Wei recalled an animated film he watched as a child, in which NPCs, after tasting various dishes made by the protagonist, would immediately find themselves in strange scenes, such as volcanic eruptions and the arrival of fairies...
That's how he felt right now.
Even though I don't like vegetable salads or shredded carrots, I feel like I'm in a jungle surrounded by fairies. Just tasting the sweet and sour flavors of the flowers and herbs is enough to make me feel great.
"How is it?" Isaac asked Yun Wei with a smile.
He himself was unaware of the anticipation and nervousness behind his voice.
"Not bad." Yun Wei continued to be stubborn, trying to appear professional. "It's a little sour, but it's delicious, very, um... appetizing."
Forget it, I'm not pretending anymore!
Seeing that the other person was confused and trying to understand what "appetizer" meant, Yun Wei simply admitted, "It means it's delicious! Very delicious! I like it very much!"
“In that case, it would be my honor.” Isaac bowed and returned the greeting with an elegant smile.
From this angle, the clearly defined abs on the sides are visible through the half-tucked shirt, giving diners, who are even hungrier after the appetizers, a clear view.
Yun Wei quickly looked away.
He felt not only his cheeks but also his earlobes burning.
Fortunately, today's signature dish is ready.
So he lowered his head and continued to savor the freshly cooked rock bear steak.
The steak, pan-fried until golden brown on both sides, was drizzled with a dark green sauce, exuding a unique herbal aroma with a hint of spiciness.
Yun Wei cut the meat against the grain, and saw the meat juices oozing out from the cut, neither undercooked and bloody, nor lacking moisture.
Yun Wei slowly forked the perfectly cooked steak, carefully blew on it, and then eagerly stuffed it into his mouth.
In an instant, bells and drums resounded, and gongs and drums beat in unison.
This is the most instinctive human reaction: the joy of eating delicious food.
Even before tasting it, the nose is already tantalized by the complex and delightful aroma. The first bite delivers a delightful surprise of crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
As the molars finally begin to gently grind against the food, the sweet juices overflow between the teeth and cheeks, and the layers of flavor carefully designed by the chef throughout the cooking process gradually emerge.
Yun Wei really didn't understand cooking at all; he couldn't describe the rich and interwoven flavors that filled his mouth.
However, the extreme pleasure of chewing and the chewiness that travels from the roots of his teeth up his spine to the surface of his scalp made him completely abandon his restraint and pretense, and he indulged in wolfing down his food to satisfy his appetite.
It was another whirlwind sweep through the clouds, just like in the Yunwei region.
The last dish of the evening was a bowl of seemingly ordinary oatmeal porridge. It was topped with a few vegetable leaves and a turnip puree that looked like a rose.
Yun Wei gently picked up the bowl and blew on it.
Steam, carrying the aroma of grains, rose and gently rolled across his eyes. This warm illusion made him feel as if he had returned to before the apocalypse.
How many years has it been since he last had such a hot and steaming meal?
Without warning, a large tear rolled down Yun Wei's cheek and disappeared into his collar, leaving a small water stain.
"you--"
At the other end of the fire, Isaac, who had been watching Yun Wei's expression, stood up. He looked at Yun Wei helplessly, his face showing some fear.
"I'm sorry. I'm fine, Isaac." Yun Wei, holding the oatmeal porridge, finally let down his guard.
He looked up, his eyes red-rimmed, gazing intently at his seemingly omnipotent follower, as if worshipping a god in his heart.
"I'm just... so touched."
"Thank you for your hospitality. It was delicious."
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