A Bite of Douluo Continent

I glanced out the window at Xingluo City as night fell; it was brightly lit, and countless people were celebrating the new emperor.

Everything was peaceful and serene.

Qi Han smiled more, patted Gulu, and said softly, "Gulu, we're going back to Shrek Academy tomorrow."

"By the way, you haven't been to the little shop in Shrek City yet, have you? There are two new friends waiting for you there, one named Ying Shuangshuang and the other named Ji Yunruo."

"I think they'll definitely like you, and so will Fuya, she's also a member of Shrek's Shop..."

...

"I want fried rice with eggs again, and braised pork knuckle." Talley's eyes were vacant as he leaned back in a chair, looked up at the sky, and couldn't help but swallow hard.

It's been a month since I've had any of Qi Han's delicious food.

Will the gates be open for the Cold Food Festival or not?

He had already heard from his unlucky junior apprentice that Hanshi Restaurant was thriving in Xingluo City, not only offering a delicacy called hot pot, but also something like... Qing Palace Wanfu Meat!

The first four words are utter bullshit!

All I saw was the word "meat"!

It's said that dish costs 1200 gold soul coins...

Thales touched the money pouch in his arms and swallowed hard.

Meat that's so expensive must taste really good, right?

“Yes, I’m also craving the delicious food of Hanshi.” Beside Tai Lei, Zhao Yunsheng’s expression was unusually in sync with Tai Lei’s.

Ge You slouch.jpg

It is said that the Cold Food Festival in Xingluo City has a new dish called Boiled Cabbage in Clear Broth, which is plain to look at, has a delicate aroma, and leaves a lingering aftertaste.

What is boiled cabbage?

This is clearly Yun Sheng's cabbage!

This dish was created specifically for Zhao Yunsheng!

Such dishes are a perfect match for him, such an elegant gentleman!

Thinking of this, Zhao Yunsheng touched the money pouch at his waist and couldn't help but swallow hard.

Such elegant dishes must be very expensive, right?

“Old Sparrow, didn’t Qi Han leave with the Shrek teachers and students back then?” Terry suddenly remembered something and couldn’t help but sit up abruptly.

"Yeah, what's wrong?" Zhao Yunsheng leaned back lazily in his recliner.

I don't want to get up.

Without this boiled water... oh no, Yun Sheng cabbage, this old man would lose his soul.

"I heard that Shrek Academy's teacher-student competition is over and they're back? Why hasn't Qi Han returned yet?" Tyre's thick eyebrows furrowed together, his face full of displeasure.

"Probably... they were stopped by the coup in Xingluo City," Zhao Yunsheng replied lazily.

"But wasn't the coup thwarted three days ago?"

"It seems...it really is?" Zhao Yunsheng's expression turned serious, and he slowly sat up straight. "So...why hasn't Qi Han returned yet?"

A terrifying thought instantly surfaced in the minds of the two Title Douluos.

Could it be that... Qi Han will be staying there for a long time?

"Hey, old monkey, where are you going?" Zhao Yunsheng asked instinctively as he watched Tai Lei stand up and walk towards the door.

“Oh… the head of the Litang branch of Xingluo City, that Tai Jiong, is my distant cousin.” Tai Lei said without turning his head, walking towards the door. “I haven’t seen him in a long time, and I plan to get closer to this distant cousin.”

After a moment's recollection, Zhao Yunsheng's expression turned strange.

This distant relative... is really far away.

If we really want to count, we probably have to start from the twentieth generation or earlier.

"Hey! Old monkey, wait for me, I'll go with you!" Thinking this, Zhao Yunsheng was quick to get up and catch up with Tai Lei.

"You?" Thales paused, giving Zhao Yunsheng a strange look. "I don't recall you having any relatives in Xingluo City, do you?"

"Who said that!" Zhao Yunsheng retorted, his neck stiff with righteous indignation. "That Min Tang leader of the Xingluo City branch, what's his name again... Oh well, never mind, all agility-based attackers are one family, and he's my relative! I have to go see him."

Thales's expression grew increasingly strange.

If I remember correctly... the head of the Min Hall at the Xingluo City branch is a direct descendant of the Bai family, right?

Zhao Yunsheng... I remember he was bullied terribly by a disciple of the Bai family back then, and he cried and said that he would never be able to get along with the Bai family again...

So they've become relatives?

Chapter 230 Going Home (A short chapter of 3,000 words)

After a good night's sleep, Qi Han packed his luggage early in the morning and threw it all into Ruyi's storage space, while also complaining again.

"Ruyi, you actually raised your prices?"

Yes, the price, which originally cost 100 gold soul coins per cubic meter per day, has now risen to 200 gold soul coins.

"Ahem, I recently discovered that the storage space has also been upgraded along with the system upgrade. Now it can not only store inanimate objects, but also living objects, so naturally the price has to go up." Ruyi coughed lightly, sounding quite self-righteous.

Qi Han looked at Gulu in his arms and fell into deep thought.

“But I didn’t put any live animals in, and Gulu still wouldn’t go in.”

"The presidential suite offers a free gym, outdoor pool, and private garden. Do you think it will charge you less than a dollar just because you don't go to the gym, swim, or go clubbing in the garden?"

"You make a lot of sense." Qi Han nodded in agreement. "So why would I go clubbing in the garden?"

Don't worry about the details.

"Alright." With a sigh, Qi Han skillfully took out a gold note containing two hundred gold soul coins and handed it to Ruyi.

"By the way, the system space was upgraded when I went to the Infernal Corridor last time, right? Why didn't I pay extra then?" Qi Han suddenly remembered something as he watched the gold notes disappear from his palm.

"Oh right! I forgot!" Ruyi exclaimed in surprise, "So you still have to give me one hundred gold soul coins!"

"roll!"

"Alright, I'm off then. But before I leave, I absolutely won't tell you that you've already completed side quest three!"

Qi Han's eyes lit up, and he casually pulled out a hundred gold soul coins. "Keep the change!"

He then happily opened the quest interface, and the screen showing the completion of side quest three came into view.

Side Quest 3: Teaching Cooking Skills (Completed)

Task Rewards: 1 three-star random recipe (claimable), 2 three-star selectable recipe fragments (claimable)

After casually collecting the two selectable recipe fragments, Qi Han stared intently at the three-star random recipe, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Although he still has a bunch of recipes he hasn't started learning yet, and even after more than ten days, he still hasn't mastered Wensi Tofu, Qi Han says he's already calm and collected, and won't be intimidated by this mere three-star recipe.

He wasn't worried at all, as there was still one four-star recipe he hadn't unlocked yet.

"and many more."

Just as he was about to click to claim, Qi Han suddenly remembered something, put down Gulu, rushed into the bathroom, washed his hands, and then slowly clicked to claim.

The last time he washed his hands, a randomly dropped recipe was drawn by Qi Han and he ended up with a four-star recipe.

Washing your hands is the real deal!

As soon as Qi Han clicked to claim the reward, he entered the system space in the next instant.

Qi Han and Ruyi stared nervously at the purple roulette wheel in mid-air until it stopped, and a picture of a dish slowly appeared before their eyes.

Samsung Recipe: Dinghu Vegetarian Cuisine!

Qi Han took a deep breath and once again felt the joy of washing his hands.

Nineteen vegetarian dishes become meat dishes.

This dish, made with nineteen vegetarian ingredients including three kinds of mushrooms, six kinds of fungus, nine kinds of bamboo shoots, and one kind of shiitake mushroom, is so magical that it can create a rich meaty aroma that is no different from that of meat dishes, thus earning its place in the Manchu Han Imperial Feast.

Qi Han was also extremely surprised to be able to draw this dish.

He even thought at one point that this dish was at least a four-star recipe.

"This dish costs two thousand gold soul coins per serving, just one step away from four stars." Sensing Qi Han's thoughts, Ruyi spoke softly.

Wow, washing hands is definitely a must!

Qi Han couldn't help but start looking up recipes that he hadn't used yet.

Two-star recipe: Bodhi Jade Vegetarian Restaurant.

Two-star recipe: Longjing Shrimp.

Two-star recipe: Squirrel Mandarin Fish.

Two-star recipe: Shredded pork with garlic sauce.

Two-star recipe: Swallow skin wontons.

Two-star recipe: Steamed Fish Head with Chopped Chili.

Samsung recipe: Jade Dragon Tendon.

Samsung recipe: Dinghu vegetarian cuisine.

In addition, there's the three-star recipe, Wensi Tofu, which is still in practice but is already showing signs of success.

Qi Han probably won't need to worry about a lack of new dishes for a while.

That's fine. These dishes can be gradually introduced to Shrek City as a surprise for our diners.

Qi Han picked up Gulu again and smiled.

He hadn't been back for a month and was starting to miss the Shrek Academy diners.

And... her.

A day apart feels like three autumns. Qi Han and Yu Lianxin haven't seen each other for four days, which adds up to twelve years.