One person: Senior brother Zhang Zhiwei, the Celestial Master begged me to descend the mountain.

The canteen at Longhu Mountain is usually the noisiest place.

A group of several hundred young disciples dressed in blue Taoist robes gathered together looked like several hundred ducks.

The clattering of bowls and chopsticks, the sounds of chewing, and the hushed chatter about morning prayers or which fellow student snored last night all blended together into a torrent of warmth and life.

But the moment that figure appeared at the entrance, the once noisy cafeteria fell silent.

All eyes turned to the doorway.

Zhang Taichu, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, led a few people in.

Behind them followed Zhang Chulan with a sly grin, Wang Ye who was always sleepy, and another…

A short-haired girl wearing a white dress and a purple bead around her neck.

"That's... our little junior sister?"

"I heard that our grandmaster uncle snatched it back from somewhere?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down! Didn't you see the beads around her neck? That's poison!"

Although the whispers around me were kept very low, they still swarmed into my ears like mosquitoes in this relatively quiet environment.

Chen Duo kept her head down.

She gripped the edge of the stainless steel plate tightly with both hands, her knuckles turning white from the force.

There are so many people here.

So many eyes.

The feeling of being stared at by countless eyes made her muscles tense instantly, and her breathing became rapid.

In the past, in the bunker, meals were served in separate cubicles.

In the past, in Biyou Village, people would sit on the ground to eat.

I've never felt like this before...like being under a spotlight.

She instinctively shrank behind Zhang Taichu; his tall figure blocked most of her view, making her feel slightly safer.

"What are you hiding from?"

Zhang Taichu stopped and glanced back at her, his gaze languid:

"Afraid they'll eat you?"

"You're the elder, so if anyone should eat, it should be you eating their food."

As he spoke, he pointed to the plump woman waving a large ladle through the window:

"Go get the food."

"Order whatever you want to eat, don't try to save money for Longhushan."

Chen Duo swallowed.

She glanced at the plump woman, then at Zhang Taichu.

In the end, she gritted her teeth and went over.

"Oh my! Is this the little girl that Uncle Taichu brought back?"

The plump auntie's face trembled with laughter as she scooped a large spoonful of vegetarian chicken into her hand, so much so that two pieces spilled out.

"He looks really handsome! He's too thin, he needs to eat more!"

"Snapped!"

The plate was piled high with food, forming a small mountain.

Chen Duo looked at the pile of steaming food.

Vegetarian chicken, green vegetables, and steamed buns.

It doesn't smell like nutrient solution, but rather has a rich aroma.

She carried the plate and followed behind Zhang Taichu, finding a corner seat to sit down.

Although the surrounding disciples were still peeking, none of them dared to approach due to Zhang Taichu's imposing presence.

Zhang Chulan and Wang Ye sat opposite each other, one on the left and one on the right.

"Wow, the food at Longhu Mountain is really good."

While stuffing a steamed bun into his mouth, Zhang Chulan mumbled indistinctly:

"It's much better than those boxed lunches from NTDTV."

Wang Ye slowly took a sip of soup and rolled his eyes:

"That's because you're used to getting free meals and drinks; everything free tastes good."

The two of them were bickering back and forth.

Only Chen Duo.

She sat there, chopsticks in her hand, but didn't move for a long time.

She looked at the pile of vegetarian chicken on the plate.

In the past, people ate to survive.

It is to consume enough calories to maintain the body's functions.

Back then, Uncle Liao would tell her how many grams of protein and how many grams of carbohydrates she should eat at each meal.

but now……

This plate of food is a messy pile, without labels or measurements.

Which one should we eat first?

How much should I eat?

Will I be punished if I don't finish my food?

Chen Duo's brows furrowed slightly, her eyes filled with confusion and helplessness.

"Tsk."

A soft sound came from the other side.

Zhang Taichu held half a steamed bun in his hand, and raised an eyebrow as he looked at Chen Duo's tense expression.

He rudely stretched out his leg from under the table and kicked Zhang Chulan across from him.

boom.

That kick was solid.

"Cough cough cough!"

Zhang Chulan nearly choked on a mouthful of steamed bun, his face turning bright red as he glared at Zhang Taichu:

"Master...Master Uncle? What brings you here...?"

Zhang Taichu remained silent.

He simply pointed with his chin to the largest piece of vegetarian chicken on Chen Duo's plate, and gave Zhang Chulan a knowing look.

Zhang Chulan was stunned for a moment.

Immediately, that signature smirk that made you want to punch him appeared on his face.

He got it.

He's very familiar with this business!

"Oh dear, little nun."

Zhang Chulan put down the steamed bun in his hand, rubbed his hands together, and stared intently at Chen Duo's plate with his thieving eyes:

"This vegetarian chicken looks pretty good."

"Look how thin you are, it's not good for you to eat so much greasy food, it's hard to digest."

"As a junior, I have an obligation to help you share the burden."

Chen Duo was still in a daze.

She hadn't even had time to grasp the logical relationship between "greasy" and "digestion".

Then I saw a chopstick, with an evil whooshing sound, cross the center line of the table and head straight for the largest piece of vegetarian chicken on her plate.

"Hehe, then thank you for the reward, Auntie!"

Zhang Chulan moved very quickly.

This is the shameless movement technique he honed over many years of struggling in the world of supernatural beings.

Just as the chopsticks were about to pick up the piece of vegetarian chicken.

hum!

Chen Duo's brain hadn't processed it yet.

But her body moved.

That's the instinct to protect food that's ingrained in their genes, the instinct of a Gu-body holy child.

Inside the bunker, resources are pre-allocated.

But in the mission in the primeval forest, every bite of food had to be fought for.

That was her energy.

That was what kept her alive.

Whoever tries to steal it is the enemy.

Snapped!

A crisp popping sound.

Chen Duo's chopsticks blurred into a blur, striking Zhang Chulan's hand hard despite being behind him.

This time, no Qi was used.

It's purely physical strength.

"Aww!!!"

Zhang Chulan let out a scream, the chopsticks in his hand flew out of his hand, and he jumped up from the bench, clutching his hand.

"Ouch! Ouch! It's broken! It's broken!"

"Holy crap! Auntie, your grip is incredibly strong!"

Zhang Chulan looked at the red mark that had quickly appeared on the back of his hand, and tears almost welled up in his eyes.

Is this some kind of meal or a murder?!

For a brief moment just now, he even sensed a murderous aura!

The cafeteria fell silent again.

Everyone stared in disbelief.

That seemingly gentle and weak junior aunt actually beat up Zhang Chulan?

And... was it for protecting food?

Chen Duo maintained that striking posture.

Her chest heaved slightly, and she stared sharply at Zhang Chulan, like a little wolf cub protecting its bones.

"mine."

Chen Duo squeezed out two words through gritted teeth.

Clear and firm.

Zhang Chulan covered his hand and looked at Zhang Taichu with a wronged expression:

"Grandmaster! Look at her! Doesn't this count as assaulting a junior?"

"Well played."

Zhang Taichu slowly took a bite of the steamed bun, a satisfied smile playing on his lips:

"Who told you to be so impulsive?"

"In Longhu Mountain, even fighting for food is a form of spiritual practice."

"If you can snatch a piece of meat from her plate, I'll teach you half of the Thunder Magic."

"real?!"

Zhang Chulan's eyes lit up instantly, and he even forgot about the pain in his hand:

"Grandmaster Uncle, you said it yourself!"

He turned his head and looked at Chen Duo again, his eyes now filled with a hungry wolf's predatory intent, a starving gaze that had previously been mocking.

"Master, please forgive me!"

"For the sake of Lei Fa, I have to fight with all my might!"

brush!

Zhang Chulan made his move again.

This time he even used the Golden Light Spell, making him more than twice as fast as before.

"mine!"

Chen Duo's pupils contracted slightly.

She was no longer confused.

Eating is more than just taking in energy.

It could also be...a game?

Or is it a battle?

Since it's a battle, we can't afford to lose.

Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!

On the narrow dining table, two pairs of chopsticks clashed more than a dozen times in an instant.

Although neither of them used any lethal methods, the pure contest of speed and reaction kept Wang Ye glued to the side.

"Good heavens..."

Wang Ye clicked his tongue in amazement:

"Is this primal instinct? Old Zhang's Golden Light Mantra didn't even give him an advantage?"

Chen Duo's movements became faster and faster.

Her eyes grew brighter and brighter.

The fear of the unknown and the constraints of rules that I had felt before were all thrown to the back of my mind at this moment.

All attention was focused on the piece of vegetarian chicken on the plate.

Protect it.

Eat it.

That's the whole point now.

at last.

Zhang Chulan made a feint to sneak up on the steamed bun, but Chen Duo saw through it and slapped his wrist with chopsticks again.

"Ouch!"

Taking advantage of the moment when Zhang Chulan withdrew his hand.

Chen Duo quickly picked up the largest piece of vegetarian chicken and, without any hesitation, stuffed it into her mouth.

"Well……"

His cheeks were bulging.

The rich flavor of the sauce exploded in my mouth.

It's a bit salty.

It's a little sweet.

There's also a... sense of victory.

She chewed vigorously, her eyes fixed on Zhang Chulan, as if to say:

You probably won't be able to get one, right?

"well……"

Zhang Chulan looked at the empty plate, slumped back onto the stool, and rubbed his swollen hand.

"Master Uncle, you've tricked me."

"This isn't eating, this is risking your life."

"I didn't tell you you absolutely had to get it."

Zhang Taichu smiled and placed the vegetarian chicken from his plate onto Zhang Chulan's plate:

"Alright, stop acting. Here, this is your reward."

"Thank you, Uncle-Master!"

Zhang Chulan's expression changed instantly, and he began to eat with relish.

Chen Duo swallowed the food in her mouth.

She glanced at Zhang Chulan, then at Zhang Taichu.

A faint blush suddenly appeared on that previously expressionless face.

Just now……

Do I seem... fierce?

but……

So cool.

That feeling of fighting for, fighting back against, and possessing what you want.

It felt so good.

She lowered her head and looked at the remaining vegetables and steamed buns on the plate.

This time, she didn't hesitate.

He picked up a piece of steamed bun and took a big bite.

Really fragrant.

The disciples who were secretly observing nearby couldn't help but smile kindly at the sight.

"It seems our little junior sister isn't so scary after all."

"The way she guards her food is actually quite cute."

"Haha, even that shameless Zhang Chulan has his moments of being humiliated."

The atmosphere in the cafeteria became lively again.

It was no longer because of Zhang Taichu's intimidation.

It's not because of the vibrant energy that belongs to people, but because of that human vitality.

Twenty minutes later.

Chen Duo put down her chopsticks.

The plate was spotless; not a single grain of rice was left.

"belch……"

A loud burp suddenly escaped from her mouth without warning.

Chen Duo froze.

She quickly covered her mouth with both hands, her large eyes looking around in terror.

This...this is a mistake!

This is an uncontrollable manifestation of bodily functions!

This is absolutely forbidden in the etiquette class at the bunker!

It’s over.

Am I going to be treated as an oddball again?

Just as she was feeling uneasy.

"belch--!!!"

A louder, longer, and more unrestrained burp came from across the way.

Zhang Chulan patted his belly, leaning back in his chair with a contented expression:

"Ah, that feels so good!"

"This vegetarian chicken is really filling."

Wang, standing beside him, shook his head helplessly.

"Hey Lao Zhang, can you watch your image? You're supposed to be from Longhu Mountain, after all."

"Tch, if you eat a full meal and don't burp, what's the point of eating?"

Zhang Chulan spoke with righteous indignation.

Chen Duo slowly lowered her hand that was covering her mouth.

She looked at Zhang Chulan's shameless demeanor.

original……

Is it okay to burp?

Can you make sounds when you're full?

She lowered her head and looked at her slightly protruding belly.

A feeling I'd never experienced before, called contentment, flowed through my body like warm water.

Is this... what it feels like to be alive?

"Are you full?"

Zhang Taichu stood up and casually wiped his hands on the tattered Taoist robe.

"Let's leave after we've eaten our fill."

"Go back and take that dress off."

"Starting tomorrow, I'll do morning prayers with those young Taoist priests."

Chen Duo stood up and followed closely behind him.

When I got to the door...

She suddenly turned around and glanced at the noisy cafeteria.

There was the aroma of food, the sound of laughter, and the traces of the not-so-fierce battle that had just taken place.

It's no longer just cold, hard data.

It is no longer a task that must be completed.

This is life.