Douluo: Martial Soul White Tiger, I am the White Emperor of Heaven

Chapter 518 Hu Liena and Ning Rongrong Alliance

"you?"

Hu Liena was the first to express doubt, looking Dai Chengfeng up and down, "You, who's lived a life of luxury... you can cook?"

Ning Rongrong blinked her big eyes, looking incredulous: "That's right, Dai Chengfeng, don't try to be a hero."

"Cooking is not like fighting; strength alone is not enough."

Born into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, she had lived a life of luxury since childhood, never lifting a finger to cook. Judging by her own experience, she couldn't imagine that Dai Chengfeng could cook.

In her opinion, Dai Chengfeng's ability to grill meat without burning it was already an extraordinary achievement.

Zhu Zhuqing had an almost blind trust in Dai Chengfeng, and subconsciously wanted to nod in support...

But when she saw the unanimous gazes from Hu Liena and Ning Rongrong that seemed to say, "Are you sure you want to believe him?", she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

In the end, he just nodded slightly without saying anything, but there was still a hint of expectation in his eyes.

Dai Chengfeng took in the three women's reactions without getting angry. Instead, he smiled smugly and rolled up his sleeves.
"Hmph, you look down on me, don't you?"

"Let me tell you, this is my exclusive specialty. Most people can't even get their hands on it!"

"If it smells good later, don't drool."

"Those who say they don't believe it now, don't be the ones scrambling to eat it later."

Upon hearing this, Hu Liena haughtily turned her head away: "Hmph, if I don't want to eat, I won't!"

"I've tasted all kinds of delicious food, I don't care for your picnic!"

Even so, she couldn't help but glance at Dai Chengfeng out of the corner of her eye, as if trying to see what he was up to.

Ning Rongrong nodded vigorously and echoed, "Yes! Sister Nana is right! I believe in Sister Nana's judgment!"

She made up her mind that no matter how bad the food tasted, she would put on a brave face for the sake of her reputation...

probably.

Dai Chengfeng chuckled, said no more, and turned to walk towards the campfire that had already been lit.

Dai Chengfeng had no habit of depriving himself of anything, and considering his stomach, he had already bought all the seasonings before entering the Star Dou Great Forest.

Dai Chengxian took out some bottles and jars from his storage ring, which were obviously various seasonings.

Then he took out a small but practical-looking iron pot, along with some freshly prepared meat and several kinds of edible mushrooms and wild vegetables picked from the edge of the forest.

The three women were soon surprised to discover that Dai Chengfeng's actions were no joke.

His handling of ingredients was exceptionally skillful and efficient: cutting meat, washing vegetables, starting a fire, heating the pan, adding oil...

His movements were fluid and seamless, without the slightest hesitation, making him look like a seasoned chef.

His control over the heat, as well as the timing and amount of seasonings, were extremely skillful, showing no signs of being a novice.

Soon, an indescribably enticing aroma began to permeate the camp, far surpassing the level of simple roasted meat.

At this moment, the lively Ning Rongrong was the first to lose her temper.

She sniffed hard through her small nose, leaned close to Zhu Zhuqing's ear, and exclaimed in a soft voice, "Zhuqing, can you smell it?"

"This taste... seems... really strong!"

Her previously confident expression had turned into one of surprise and uncertainty.

A hint of pride flashed in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes, but she remained reserved, simply giving a soft "Mmm" and saying in a low voice:
"He never does anything he's not sure of."

Even so, her gaze, fixed on Dai Chengfeng's skillful wok-flipping movements, revealed that her surprise was no less than Ning Rongrong's. Hu Liena naturally smelled the enticing aroma as well, her throat involuntarily bobbing slightly, but she refused to admit defeat.

She deliberately turned her head away from that direction and said to Ning Rongrong in a low voice, just loud enough for everyone to hear, "Rongrong, don't be fooled by appearances!"

"What's the point of smelling good? Maybe there's too much seasoning, which masks the problems with the ingredients themselves."

"I've seen this kind of trickery from roadside cooks all the time!"

She paused, then added, her tone slightly strained as if she were trying to salvage the situation: "Look at how he's doing it, it's just flipping a wok, anyone can do that."

Ning Rongrong blinked, watching Dai Chengfeng's fluid movements and the tempting colors of the food in the pot. After hesitating for a moment, she whispered her objection:

"But Sister Nana... can she really act that convincingly? The way he adds the seasonings seems quite methodical..."

"Hmph, that just means he's practiced a lot in private how to 'look' like he can cook, all to put on an act!"

Hu Liena retorted defiantly, but her eyes involuntarily darted towards the fragrant iron pot again, and she muttered to herself:
This smell... it's getting more and more tempting! No way, it must be my imagination!

Dai Chengfeng smiled slightly, seemingly oblivious to the whispers behind him, and continued to focus intently on controlling the ingredients in the pot.

The meat chunks are stir-fried in hot oil until they turn an enticing caramel color, then mixed with several different types of mushrooms that exude a unique aroma.

One type is translucent jade-colored, while the other has speckled spots, clearly indicating that they are not ordinary items.

As time went by, an indescribable, complex fragrance began to permeate the air.

The aroma is incredibly rich and complex, with the mellow richness of meat, the sweetness of several exotic mushrooms that seem to have absorbed the essence of the mountains and forests, and a subtle, refreshing scent of herbs that invigorates the spirit.

Ning Rongrong had long forgotten her reserve and leaned closer, her little nose twitching incessantly: "Dai Chengfeng, this...this soup smells so good!"

"These mushrooms are unlike anything I've ever had before! They seem quite special?"

Dai Chengfeng smiled slightly, then, with a hint of smugness, kept everyone in suspense: "This soup is called Jade Marrow Mushroom Heart Soup."

"We use several rare mushrooms that can only be found on the outskirts of the Starry Sky Forest, such as the 'White Jade Mushroom' and the 'Star-Spotted Chicken Mushroom,' which are extremely flavorful."

"Further enhanced with a secret blend of spices, and slow-cooked to extract the essence, this is something that no ordinary picnic can compare to."

"Jade Marrow Heart Soup?"

Ning Rongrong blinked her big eyes, looking at the milky white soup with a hint of jade and a slightly viscous broth in the pot, and she was filled with anticipation.

Although Hu Liena tried to remain calm, she was also tempted when she heard the name and the description of the ingredients.

The Spirit Hall is rich in resources, and she has seen quite a few delicacies, but this kind of forest delicacy, made with local ingredients and sounding quite elaborate, is something she has never seen before.

Curiosity also flashed in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes as she waited quietly.

Finally, Dai Chengfeng lifted the lid of the pot.

In an instant, the rich aroma reached its peak.

The broth had become as smooth and rich as the finest chalcedony, with slices of meat and various mushrooms floating and sinking within it, their colors harmonious and incredibly tempting.

Dai Chengfeng first served Zhu Hongye a bowl.

"High Priest, here you go."

Zhu Hongye nodded, took a small sip, and then her eyes showed even greater surprise. She nodded in praise:

"The broth is rich and flavorful, with the freshness of the mushrooms and the meat flavor blending together perfectly. What's even more remarkable is that it seems to contain a subtle hint of herbal essence."

"Chengfeng, your skills are truly remarkable."

(End of this chapter)