“Mr. Gu, I wonder if you would be willing to part with this weapon?”
“Mr. Zhongli, you’ve taken a liking to my rifle, haven’t you?”
…
Should I say ‘I expected this’ at this point? Gu Sanqiu’s face remained expressionless. He’d seen this coming the moment Zhongli started enjoying himself. It felt like he was caught in some strange light novel adaptation, where every new gadget he pulled out existed solely to increase the Geo Lord’s favor.
Ahem.
After a brief pause, Gu Sanqiu cleared his throat lightly.
“Mr. Zhongli, it’s not that I’m unwilling to give it to you, but there are a few conditions.”
“Oh? And what conditions would those be?”
“A set of rules created by an ancient warlord before he declared himself Emperor. A method to earn public favor, if you will.”
“First, this weapon cannot be handed over to official researchers. If they dismantle it improperly, the entire workshop might face… consequences.”
“Second, it must not be given to any representatives from other nations.”
“Third, under no circumstances should Hu Tao get her hands on this thing and start playing around with it.”
Zhongli nodded thoughtfully, resting his hand under his chin. “Hmm, reasonable conditions. I accept.”
“Good. Fifty thousand Mora, or items of equivalent value. This trip to Mt. Hulao can count as a product test, but when we return, payment must be made in full.”
“Agreed.”
A while later, Zhongli and the driver sat by the campfire, quietly watching as Gu Sanqiu stirred a pot of fragrant noodles with serious focus.
“Mr. Gu, what exactly is that dish? It smells… delightful.”
“Instant noodles,” Gu Sanqiu said, tossing a stack of Wanmin Restaurant’s special ham slices into the pot. “A premium version.”
“Ah, and it includes specially grown bamboo shoots from Qingce Village, Matsutake mushrooms, Sichuan peppercorns nurtured in the mists of Minlin…”
“Fresh cabbage and potatoes from Jade Chamber’s designated farmers…”
“Oh, and I also brought pickled vegetables—Jueyun Chili and garlic grown near Dragonspine, finely chopped and marinated. If you find the noodles lacking flavor, feel free to add some yourself.”
The driver’s eyes lit up. Normally, if he took his family out to eat something with ingredients this fancy, his wallet would be trembling. But today, he got to indulge in such a lavish meal during work hours!
Hehe, I’ll remember how to make this and impress my wife and kids when I get home!
Item: Withered Mountain Instant Noodles
Origin: Withered Mountain Realm
Note: Instant noodles created by disciples tired of eating bland, unseasoned meals during training. Delicious and nutritious, though that year’s disciples were reportedly punished for turning their combat training into a farming adventure.
“Instant noodles… Another interesting way to prepare food, I see,” Zhongli commented.
“It’s not exactly revolutionary. Just a kind of noodle dish,” Gu Sanqiu replied, dividing the portions among them. He lifted the glowing red-hot pot, casually brandishing a pair of chopsticks, leaving the driver gaping.
Slurp, slurp—
With his eyes half-closed and a serene smile, Gu Sanqiu’s face melted into pure delight as he devoured the noodles. He even wore an oddly nostalgic expression.
(′▽`〃)
This taste… It’s been too long.
“Delicious, simply delicious!”
The driver imitated Gu Sanqiu, but he ended up burning his mouth and had to blow on the noodles hastily.
Only Zhongli remained elegant, delicately lifting his bowl, using chopsticks to slowly bring the noodles to his mouth, chewing deliberately before taking a sip of broth.
“Hahaha, Mr. Zhongli, there’s no need to be so formal out here in the wilderness. It’s just us,” Gu Sanqiu said with a chuckle, slightly exasperated. Eating instant noodles like you were at a high-end restaurant—only Zhongli could pull off such formality in the middle of nowhere.
“Oh? There’s such a thing as proper etiquette for eating outdoors?”
“Indeed. This kind of food was initially meant to be convenient, portable nourishment. Earlier versions weren’t exactly flavorful or nutritious, but they became a staple for students who found the cafeteria food unappetizing. Some would even insist on drinking every last drop of broth, calling it the best soup of their school days.”
“Oh, right.” Gu Sanqiu remembered something. “Here, these are sausages. A perfect match for instant noodles. You can try eating half directly and adding the other half to your bowl.”
Item: Black Whirlwind Sausage
Origin: Southern Yao Territory, Xuanfeng Cave
Note: A pig demon who made a fortune selling sausages made from his own meat? Alright, that’s a first. But it tastes pretty good. Also, Xuanfeng Cave is just another name for Blackwind Cave—famous for sweat and foul wind odors. This fake elegance is baffling, but I guarantee the food quality is excellent.
…
I really want to punch whoever wrote these notes, Gu Sanqiu thought. How could that person still enjoy the sausage after writing about its dubious origins?
Also, why did he have to torture himself by reading the note first? He could’ve just eaten it!
“Hmm, unique flavor. Even as a processed meat product, the texture retains the springiness of pork, with a hint of the wilderness,” Zhongli noted calmly.
…
Gu Sanqiu was speechless. How did Zhongli’s food commentary always feel like he was checking someone’s identity card?
Wait—did demon beasts even have identity cards?
Slurp, slurp—
Gu Sanqiu looked up to see Zhongli’s perpetually calm face as he sucked down noodles.
Ah, dammit! We’re headed to Mt. Hulao, and there’s a chance we’ll meet Azhdaha. I forgot to bring my camera!
Big mistake!
“Hmm, the sound of slurping, paired with the unique texture, creates an odd satisfaction. It’s oddly relaxing,” Zhongli said, ignoring Gu Sanqiu’s barely suppressed laughter and the driver’s stunned expression. He carefully picked up a slice of ham and chewed it slowly.
Gu Sanqiu quickly covered his mouth, trying to mask his amusement. He didn’t want to get the you’re-about-to-lose-your-job glare from Zhongli. It felt like he was dancing dangerously close to the edge.
After finishing the meal, Gu Sanqiu tossed the pot aside and pulled out a teapot.
“Here, have some Pure Qinxin Tea. Its delicate fragrance from the highlands is perfect for aiding digestion.”
The three of them sipped their tea, the strong flavors from dinner gradually fading, leaving behind a light and pleasant aftertaste that lingered in the mouth.
“Mr. Gu, I heard from Director Hu that you own a rather majestic eagle. Why didn’t you bring it along this time?”
“Oh, that guy? I let him roam freely. We left in a bit of a hurry, so I didn’t call for him.”
Of course, that was a lie. His Greatshadow Eagle excelled at scouting, but this time he was heading into a high-level dungeon, led by one of the Seven Legends in the “server.” If anything went wrong, whether the eagle got intimidated or accidentally caused trouble, it could be a problem.
From a practical standpoint, it would affect their performance. And on a personal level, he’d be heartbroken if anything happened to his pet. So, he decided it was better to leave the eagle at home.
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