Chapter 91 - Pineapple Flavored Beastman Gong (9)
Translated by Hua Li ^_~
In the Aoki forest, inside a tree hollow:
The red flames gently licked the dark green sh.e.l.l of an egg, and the boiling broth bubbled and steamed, carrying a tantalizing fragrance that wafted into people’s nostrils, drawing their attention.
The large white wolf, who had been rejected for his clumsy attempts to help, lay on the ground resisting temptation, occasionally lifting his head to watch Gou Liang bustling around six campfires.
Inside the Water-winged Dragon eggsh.e.l.l, a stew was brewing, and it contained the leg bones of a four-horned beast.
No one among the Beastmen had ever attempted such a way of cooking, but Gou Liang’s unconventional thinking proved that the bone soup from this peculiar creature was indeed delicious. The milky broth was rich in nutrients, and even after drinking it, Meng Hao felt a warm vitality coursing through his body.
It was undoubtedly a remarkable discovery, and once they returned to the tribe, they had decided to share this significant find with the tribal priests.
At this moment, Gou Liang was busy stir-frying the meat from the four-horned beast. He had added some winter-expelling herbs and red peppergra.s.s seeds to the mix, creating a slightly pungent, spicy aroma. The slightly pungent and spicy aroma made Meng Hao very worried about whether this kind of food was suitable for the little female to eat.
Meng Hao, who had been driven away earlier, listened to Gou Liang’s instructions and diligently turned the meat on the half-sized four-horned beast that was being roasted. Occasionally, he used his claws to help it cook faster and more evenly. As the roast approached perfection, the sizzling sounds filled the air, and droplets of oil slid down the succulent meat, creating a tantalizing spectacle that even the flames seemed to yearn for.
On Gou Liang’s right side, large cuts of meat, about the size of nutsh.e.l.ls, were sizzling on five rectangular sh.e.l.ls.
These cuts were from the tenderloin of the four-horned beast, and the meat had transformed from a pinkish hue to a rich reddish-brown. Gou Liang drizzled them with the fruit sauce made from the monkey wine fruit, a favorite of the Ape Tribe, creating an aroma so strong it would make anyone’s mouth water.
To the right of that, in the nutsh.e.l.l shaped like a cow’s head, there was a luxurious stew made with fresh, wine-red Red Moon Flowers and the beef.
The last campfire steamed the flesh of the Juicy-Milky-Fruit in a sh.e.l.l even larger than that of the water-winged dragon’s egg.
The aroma of the food made the wait feel endlessly long. Meng Hao’s gaze involuntarily wandered between the campfires, eventually settling on Gou Liang, who was using a tree branch carved into a human-shaped spatula to flip the beef. His ice-blue eyes were focused, unnoticed by anyone, and his tail swayed slightly, revealing a hint of impatience.
Sweat dripped down Gou Liang’s face and neck and he roughly raised his arm to wipe it to prevent sweat from falling into his eyes.
Observing Gou Liang’s sweaty forehead and neck, Meng Hao flicked his tail, soaked it in water, and offered it to him.
Although Gou Liang initially declined, Meng Hao transformed back into his human form and gently wiped the sweat from Gou Liang’s skin himself.
The cool sensation of the wet fur made Gou Liang release a contented sigh. He turned towards Meng Hao and remarked, “Hold on a moment; dinner will be ready soon.”
The freckles on his face seemed even brighter than the Red Moon Flowers blooming in the sunlight.
Meng Hao was momentarily stunned, and a smile tugged at his lips without him realizing it.
Once the beef was cooked to perfection, Gou Liang skillfully replaced it with a nutsh.e.l.l and whipped up two delightful vegetarian dishes.
Their improvised dining table, a split tree trunk, was now adorned with an array of culinary delights.
There was the meticulously cooked four-cornered beef, rendering tender and juicy steaks, the sweet and tangy red moonflower-infused stewed beef, the aromatic and crispy roasted whole beef, the spicy stir-fried beef, and the steaming beef soup… not to forget the green and crunchy sage gra.s.s and moonlight flowers, alongside the crystal-clear and plump milky rice.
“This is pure bliss!” Gou Liang exclaimed as he brushed the long-tusked animal’s hair from his face. He watched in awe as the large white wolf, using its claws sharper than knives, meticulously cut the steak into bite-sized pieces. He felt that this moment was perhaps the happiest in his entire life.
“That’s enough for now; I can’t eat too much,” Gou Liang chimed in.
After cutting half a piece of steak, Gou Liang called out to Meng Hao. Meng Hao, who knew his appet.i.te well, had no further questions and directly tossed the remaining half of the steak into his mouth.
“Is it delicious?” Gou Liang watched with antic.i.p.ation as Meng Hao’s ice-blue eyes slightly narrowed.
Meng Hao nodded, “Mmm.”
Even though this wasn’t his first time tasting Gou Liang’s cooking, he couldn’t help but praise it again.
Seeing his reaction, Gou Liang happily picked up a small piece of steak, put it in his mouth, and nodded while chewing. It was utterly fantastic! Wild, natural, and free of pollution k2013; the orcs who have been focusing on dark cuisine for thousands of years are really wasting their natural resources!
Initially, Gou Liang refrained from cooking in the wilderness, fearing it might attract the attention of unfamiliar creatures. The potential risk of losing their lives over a meal was too great.
However, he only felt comfortable doing so after Meng Hao explained the unique characteristics of the Aoki Forest, where they currently found themselves.
The Aoki Forest was the largest woodland in the Wobu Plain, inhabited by the Aomori tribe of apes and monkeys, and according to legend, even tree people dwelled there.
The small section of the Aoki Forest they resided in was known as the Treefolk Forest, and it was the domain of the Tree Men.
While Gou Liang hadn’t encountered these so-called tree people during his short stay here, he had learned, as the elderly priest informed Meng Hao, that tree people were staunch allies of the Wolf tribe. The old priest recounted how many years ago, when the Wolf tribe comprised only members of the Winged Wolf clan, a revered priest had saved the tree people and forged an everlasting covenant. This pact ensured that no harm would come to any orc from the Winged Wolf clan at the hands of the tree people.
Furthermore, the tree people possessed an enigmatic power that acted as a formidable deterrent against otherworldly beasts. Not a single alien creature dared to intrude into their territory, not even the most ferocious black-armored tyrannosaurus.
This was why Meng Hao, who had just reached maturity, had chosen this location as their permanent residence.
In the span of just a few days, thanks to Gou Liang’s constant exploration and daring culinary experiments, he had successfully harnessed the native ingredients of the orc world, creating a symphony of gourmet dishes that left Meng Hao’s palate dancing with delight. These delectable creations had conquered Meng Hao’s taste buds, making him realize that for the first thirty years of his life, he had been consuming fake animal meat!
Life in the wilderness became more fulfilling and busier because of the delicious food.
With the first rays of sunlight, Gou Liang prepared breakfast, while Meng Hao went out to collect fruits: Red Salt Fruits, Milky-Rice Fruits, Red Dawn Fruits, Red Moon Flowers, and more. Although the Treefolk Forest was relatively safe, Meng Hao didn’t venture too far, returning with a bag full of precious fruits once Gou Liang signaled with a bone whistle. Afterward, the two, full of energy, embarked on a hunting expedition.
The darker the skin color, the stronger the strength of the exotic beasts, and the meat they carry contains more powerful energy, making it less p.r.o.ne to spoilage. That’s why Meng Hao liked to target the solitary, largest, and meatiest black-skinned exotic beasts during their hunts.
The battles were intense, but nine out of ten times, Meng Hao emerged victorious, returning with a rich harvest.
As night fell, Gou Liang curled up under Meng Hao’s belly, satisfied, and hugged his large tail as he slept, enjoying the most peaceful moment of the day.
However, good times are always fleeting.
Ten days pa.s.sed in the blink of an eye, and tomorrow they would embark on their journey back home.
With limited appet.i.te as a female, Gou Liang finished eating and promptly started packing their belongings. He faced a dilemma as he looked at the pile of fruits in one corner of the tree hollow—even the small Red Fist Fruits, he couldn’t bear to part with.
“Meng Hao, can we take all these things with us?” He asked hopefully.
Meng Hao, who was sipping soup, casually nodded, not concerned about the weight.
Gou Liang was delighted at his response and began to busy himself with packing.
Meng Hao swung his tail, watching him as he enjoyed his meal.
Regardless of how fierce the battles were during the day, or how exhausted they became, at this moment, Meng Hao felt a profound sense of contentment and relaxation he had never experienced before.
This feeling was unfamiliar to Meng Hao, but it had been frequent in the past two days. He instinctively restrained it, suspecting that this comfortable feeling, which made one let down their guard, might hide deep dangers. Nevertheless, it would still emerge from time to time.
Just like now, watching Gou Liang treasure the fruits that were scattered throughout the forest, Meng Hao lazily swung his tail, reluctant to move.
He thought that before leaving tomorrow, he might as well gather more fruits. Red Dawn Fruits, for example, which Gou Liang particularly liked. Whenever he couldn’t finish them, he would pout and insist on having a few more bites. The Monkey Wine Fruits were good too, and Meng Hao had caught him red-handed several times sneaking a sip of the fruit pulp… Thinking about it, Meng Hao suddenly had an idea: perhaps he should find a female to spend the rest of his life with.
Just like now, on this unremarkable night, looking at his female, who was smiling contentedly at the worry-free life of clothing and food, watching him prepare a delicious meal for himself, and hearing him talk about how he had defeated the exotic beast of the day, and how rare the fruits they collected today were…
Meng Hao was momentarily stunned, realizing that he had inadvertently painted Gou Liang into the image of “his female,” and quickly halted this terrifying thought.
He shifted his gaze away from Gou Liang and hurriedly resumed eating.
[System: Master, master, the target’s favorability level just fluctuated significantly and seems to be increasing! Seize the opportunity, pounce on him, pounce on him, meow, meow!]
Gou Liang’s eyes lit up suddenly, and he looked at Meng Hao.
The big white wolf had just finished dinner and got up to shake off his fur. He then began to take down the exotic beast meat hanging on the top of the tree hollow, oblivious to Gou Liang’s mischievous and clearly scheming gaze.
This hunting trip had been quite fruitful for them.
Not to mention other things, just the meat they had hung up to dry on the tree hollow, cooked and prepared with Red Salt Fruit paddles and hot water, was enough to meet the meat storage needs for both Meng Hao and Meng Hui, with plenty to spare. In addition to that, there were Gou Liang’s mountains of fruits, a specially saved Water-winged dragon egg for Meng Hui, stacks of beast skins, precious herbs… If it weren’t for the White Wolf’s robust carrying capacity, they wouldn’t have been able to bring it all back.
When everything was finally packed up, the Red Moon had already risen.
Gou Liang was soaking in a nutsh.e.l.l filled with warm water, spreading his limbs out comfortably, his fatigue from the day completely dissipating. He lay on the edge of the nutsh.e.l.l, soaking and watching Meng Hao, who was squatting outside the tree hollow with his back to him. Gou Liang’s inner schemer was biting his tail fiercely, as he thought: They’ve been together for so long, and not even a kiss; he can only secretly groom his fur, truly a major regret in his life!
“You washed your hair?” Meng Hao, who had waited for Gou Liang to finish bathing, finally returned to the hollow. When he saw Gou Liang’s wet hair, his brow immediately furrowed.
“I sweated a lot, felt uncomfortable,” Gou Liang scratched his head, looking like he had a valid reason.
Meng Hao glared at him.
In the Wolf tribe, there was a tragic incident during Meng Hao’s childhood where a female fell ill and pa.s.sed away because he had slept without drying his hair. Meng Hao had witnessed this event firsthand, which made him extremely cautious. He had already emphasized the importance of this to Gou Liang long ago, but to his surprise, Gou Liang was being so disobedient.
Seeing Gou Liang yawning and getting ready to sleep, Meng Hao took immediate action. He pulled him out of the tree hollow, transformed back into his animal form, swung Gou Liang over his head using his tail, and handed him a piece of long-tusked animal skin while giving him a stern warning: “No sleeping until you’ve dried your hair properly.”
Gou Liang rested on his head, casually drying his hair while teasing him with a mischievous smile: “Are you really upset? You won’t find a mate if you’re so quick to anger, you know.”
However, Meng Hao remained completely unfazed.
Gou Liang hummed, sat cross-legged and vigorously dried his hair.
A gentle night breeze blew, providing a rare moment of coolness during the hot Red Moon season. Gou Liang looked up at the sky, the Red Moon resembling a burning red fireball. It radiated light, allowing him to see clearly even in the darkness of night.
It felt like there were only the two of them in this world, and no one could disturb them.
This is also true. When Gou Liang thought about all the troubles he will experience when he returns to the Wolf tribe, he felt even more reluctant to leave.
“This place is really nice… Meng Hao, can we come back here in a couple of days?”
“No,” Meng Hao replied.
“Why not? Where are we going next?” Gou Liang asked curiously, but when Meng Hao didn’t answer, he tugged at Meng Hao’s fur. “I’m talking to you.”
Meng Hao tilted his head back, and unexpectedly, Gou Liang rolled down from the top of his head, landing under his thick and soft neck, making some noise.
“You tricked me again!”
Gou Liang complained as he pulled Meng Hao’s fur and climbed back onto his head, not heeding the warning. However, he also held onto Meng Hao’s fur vigilantly, lowered his center of gravity, and was cautious not to let himself fall again.
Meng Hao’s ice-blue eyes displayed a hint of amus.e.m.e.nt.
Without further teasing, Meng Hao responded to Gou Liang’s previous question, “There are no Purple Flower Red Moon fruits here. I need to go elsewhere to find them, and I’ll keep searching until I do.”
Understanding the situation, Gou Liang comforted him, patting his head gently. “Don’t worry; he will get better. Even if we can’t find the Purple Flower Red Moon fruits, Ga’er said it was my prayer that allowed him to stand up again, right? So, I can pray to the Beast G.o.d to restore his warrior glory. I think I’m definitely more powerful now!”
Meng Hao shrugged and gestured for him to continue drying his hair, saying, “For things we can achieve with our own strength, it’s best not to pray to the Beast G.o.d. Otherwise, the Beast G.o.d may punish greedy beasts, even the entire tribe.”
“Isn’t that the priest’s responsibility? I’m not a priest.”
“Even so, if punishment doesn’t fall on the tribe’s head, it will fall on yours.”
“Oh, you’re worried about me.”
“…”
Gou Liang chuckled. “I see, I’m more important to you than your brother. I’m really touched.”
Meng Hao sighed again.
With a smile on his face, Gou Liang continued, “So, in your heart, I’m more important than your brother. I’m so touched.”
Meng Hao sighed once more.
Gou Liang cheerfully continued to dry his hair, but when his long black hair was almost dry, he hesitated to come down from Meng Hao’s head. Instead, he lay on top, his fingers twirling Meng Hao’s soft white fur, and he suggested, “Then, next year, can you bring me back here? By then, we can pick a lot of Monkey Wine Fruits to take back. Didn’t you say that the priest loves the pulp from Monkey Wine Fruits the most?”
“No,” Meng Hao interrupted him. “The Red Moon ceremony marks your coming of age. By then, Hui will be your protector, but he needs to guard the tribe, so he might not have time to accompany you.”
Gou Liang was stunned and asked urgently, “Why Hui? What about you?”
Meng Hao was surprised by the question. “Didn’t Ga’er and the priest tell you? Hui is your prospective mate. You will be bonded when the Red Moon season ends.”
“What did you say?!” Gou Liang exclaimed.
He suddenly stood up, swaying a bit, and grabbed onto Meng Hao’s fur. Sitting on the White Wolf’s nose, he asked loudly, “What do you mean by this? Why should I bond with Hui?! Shouldn’t it be with—Meng Hao gege, what’s going on?”
Meng Hao, who was quick-witted, promptly brought Gou Liang back. He ceased speaking, appearing to have something on his mind. He emitted a low growl, then lowered his head and placed Gou Liang on the ground.
Gou Liang clutched Meng Hao’s face tightly and urged, “Please explain clearly!”
Meng Hao reverted to his human form and ignored Gou Liang, who was sitting on the ground. Instead, he said, “Although you’ve lost your memory, a promise is a promise. I hope you’ll keep it and not make Hui sad.”
Previously, Meng Hao had been unwilling to let Gou Liang interact with Hui, even when Gou Liang had first lost his memory and turned into a five-year-old child.
However, after Gou Liang was injured and lost his memory again, the old priest had made it clear that the chances of Gou Liang regaining his memories were slim, and he wanted them to prepare themselves for that possibility. The current “Lang Xi” had shed the previous arrogance that came from being spoiled and had retained only the softest and purest parts of himself, with no troubling characteristics. Their time together had also convinced Meng Hao that Gou Liang had the ability to take care of Hui, so he had never thought of opposing their bonding.
“But… Meng Hao, wait…”
Seeing that Meng Hao had made his stance clear and had no intention of saying more, Gou Liang stood up and caught up with him.
Meng Hao, still in his human form, turned to face Gou Liang. “Hui has shown interest in you as his partner, and you’ve already made a vow in front of the priest and the tribal chief. Although many things have happened since then, I believe that you can bring happiness to Hui now. So—”
“I don’t want to!”
Gou Liang shouted. “I won’t bond with him! I—”
“Lang Xi.” Meng Hao raised his voice and interrupted him. “Hui is the most outstanding warrior of the Winged Wolf Tribe. His legs have already recovered, and someday, he can once again protect the tribe. You have no reason to break your promise. Trust me, there’s no better partner for you than him.”
Gou Liang stared at him in disbelief, his eyes, usually filled with smiles, now wet with tears. He said, “But… the person I like is you!”
I have my exams coming up. I will probably stock up chapters if possible coz I have to take notes for preparing. So if I don’t update, plz forgive me, this poor girl has to probably end up with sleepless nights studying. Anyway, wish me luck ?