The Spirit of Gourmet

Chapter 129 Unexpected acquaintance

"Ta-da! That's Mount Misty Hidden!"

Cao Dongdong, wearing a sun hat, pointed to a mountain peak several hundred meters ahead.

Unlike the other mountains around it, that mountain was shrouded in a layer of clouds from its foot upwards, and the clouds became thicker as you went up, until the mountain was completely obscured by the time you reached the halfway point.

These clouds and mist blend with the white clouds in the sky, as if the entire mountain is draped in a mysterious veil, making people marvel at the wonders of nature.

"Although I had seen pictures and descriptions before coming, seeing it in person still makes me want to say..." Zhao Qian couldn't help but exclaim, "This is just too amazing!"

“The other peaks nearby are completely shrouded in mist, while this one is covered in clouds. This is indeed a rare occurrence,” Qin Lang nodded in agreement.

"I don't know how these clouds and fog were formed."

"Hehe, speaking of this, I've heard a legend about it." Cao Dongdong winked at the two of them.

"Legend has it that Jock, who rode a deer, once hid a treasure in this mountain, which is why Misty Hidden Mountain has clouds and mist that are different from other mountains."

"Jock again?" Zhao Qian couldn't help but tease. "That deer-riding man is really busy; everything is related to him."

"Since there's a legend of treasure, will anyone come looking for it?" Qin Lang asked curiously.

“Perhaps it existed in earlier years, but not anymore.” Cao Dongdong shook his head. “Legends are just legends; how can we believe them?”

"That's true." Qin Lang nodded slightly.

As they talked, they arrived at the foot of Misty Hidden Mountain.

A man-made stone staircase appeared before them, its mottled carvings resembling the marks of time, winding its way into the clouds.

There is actually another legend about Wuyin Mountain.

As they ascended the stone steps, Cao Dongdong spoke slowly and deliberately, “On Misty Hidden Mountain, live the descendants of Qiao Ke, the man who rides a deer. They have lived in Misty Hidden Mountain for generations, guarding it and rarely leaving the mountain.”

"They are called the Fog Keepers."

"This must be just a rumor," Zhao Qian said with a disbelieving look. "Living in a mountain shrouded in mist sounds wonderful, but life must be very inconvenient."

"No, no, no." Cao Dongdong mysteriously extended a finger and shook it gently. "This legend actually has some possibility."

"Because the Keepers of the Fog really exist, and the one we're going to visit later is one of them."

"You mean... Mr. Ruan Cen?" Zhao Qian's expression turned strange.

“That’s right.” Cao Dongdong nodded slightly. “It is said that Mr. Ruan Cen lives in Wuyin Mountain all year round and will not come out of the mountain unless there is a major event.”

“Not only Mr. Ruan Cen, but also his father and ancestors were like this.”

“If it weren’t for the need to protect Mount Wuyin for some reason, I couldn’t imagine why they would live in such a mountain.”

Listening to their conversation, Qin Lang looked thoughtful.

The Fog Guardian...

When Mr. Ruan Cen arrived at the amusement park, Luo Feng was indeed quite surprised by his arrival. Ruan Cen explained that he had come down the mountain because of something at the association, which matched Cao Dongdong's description.

Do the Fog Keepers really exist?
Are they really descendants of Jock, the man who rides the deer?
Is there really some treasure buried in the Misty Mountain?
Qin Lang couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity.

The three chatted as they walked, and to relieve their fatigue, they summoned their respective Food Spirits. With two playmates, Egg Baby became noticeably more energetic.

The three food spirits flew back and forth among the clouds, sometimes appearing and sometimes disappearing, but because of the contract, there was no need to worry about them getting lost.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Zhao Qian suddenly stopped and pointed ahead.

"There seem to be some different outlines ahead."

Through the thick fog, some shadows could be vaguely seen, looking like some kind of building. "This means we've arrived," Qin Lang smiled. "If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Ruan Cen should be staying here."

"Then what are we waiting for!" Cao Dongdong rubbed his hands excitedly. "I didn't even see Mr. Ruan Cen when he came to the amusement park last time."

"This time, we'll have to take a good look at what the Fog Keeper looks like."

"What are you saying?" Qin Lang said, both amused and exasperated.

Why are you acting like you're visiting a zoo to see rare animals? Are you being polite?
The three chatted and laughed, quickening their pace, and soon a charming little villa appeared before them.

Outside the villa is a large yard planted with various crops, and in the intervals between different crops, you can also see some poultry and livestock.

The gate to the courtyard was wide open, with a sign hanging above it that read, “Visitors may enter directly.”

"Is this Mr. Ruan Cen's home?"

Zhao Qian looked around curiously. "Everyone says that Mr. Ruan Cen is a casual and hospitable person, and now I see that it is indeed true."

"Let's go in quickly!"

She had already prepared the dishes for the upcoming food recommender assessment and was just waiting to show off her skills in front of Mr. Ruan Cen!

Qin Lang and Cao Dongdong quickened their pace, and the three of them walked through various crops before finally arriving at the front of the villa and ringing the doorbell.

"Ding-dong-"

The doorbell rang, and footsteps soon came from inside.

"Squeak~"

The door was slowly pushed open, and a smiling, white-haired face appeared before Qin Lang and the other two.

Compared to their last meeting, Ruan Cen was dressed more casually this time, and his smile widened when he saw Qin Lang.

"This remote little place has had a steady stream of visitors today. Welcome, welcome."

As he spoke, he stepped aside to let Qin Lang and the other two in.

Qin Lang was still pondering why Ruan Cen had said "one after another" when he looked into the spacious living room and saw a familiar figure.

"Mr. Zog?!"

"Hmm?" Zuo Ge was drinking a cup of tea when he heard someone call him. He turned his head subconsciously and his eyes lit up with surprise and delight when he saw Qin Lang and the other two. "It's you guys."

"Three kind-hearted young people."

He put down his teacup and smiled as he gave each of Qin Lang and the other two a hug.

“Mr. Zuo Ge,” Qin Lang nodded with a smile, “if I’m not mistaken, you’re here because of the legend of Misty Mountain?”

Although he was initially surprised to see Zuo Ge, Qin Lang felt that everything made sense when he thought about Zuo Ge's identity as a legendary scholar.

With so many legends surrounding Misty Hidden Mountain, the other party clearly wouldn't miss out.

“That’s right.” Zuo Ge nodded. “If I’m not mistaken, you’re here to conduct a food recommender assessment for Mr. Ruan Cen, right?”

As he spoke, he turned to look at Ruan Cen and gave her a thumbs up.

"Mr. Ruan Cen, their cooking skills are absolutely superb!"

Ruan Cen winked playfully, "Whether a cooking skill is good or not, you'll only know after you've tasted it. It seems I don't need to cook for you myself today."

(End of this chapter)