Is This Grilled Fish Laced with Something?

"It smells so good. What is that scent?"

At the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, Wu Feng's keen nose caught an unusual scent in the air.

Ning Wuque, walking beside Ning Tian, raised an eyebrow, slightly stunned.

Come on, is Huo Gua's grilled fish really not mixed with aphrodisiacs? The scents in this forest are as jumbled as a rat's nest, yet it can carry this far?

Yes, Ning Wuque had more or less guessed what was giving off that smell. At this point in time, who else could it be besides Huo Gua, grilling fish beside some nameless little river in the Star Dou Great Forest?

Anyone with even a little common sense knew that setting up a stove in a forest crawling with soul beasts was a major taboo, right? Scents could convey a great deal of information!

"Wu Feng, are they cooking?"

Ning Wuque asked, intending to have Wu Feng use her dragon nose to get a better sniff.

She first closed her eyes and took two hard sniffs, then nodded and replied, "Probably. There's food in the scent. It smells pretty good. Want to go take a look?"

Hearing that, Ning Wuque turned to Ning Tian beside him.

They had already spent several days wandering through the Star Dou Great Forest and had just come back from deeper within. Unfortunately, they had not found a suitable soul ring for Ning Tian. They would have to wait until the clan sent someone to capture a living one, knock it out, and deliver it to Shrek City.

Ning Tian's eyes shifted as she lightly nodded. "Sure, let's go take a look. We've grown a little tired of dried rations these past few days anyway. Finding a cook and camping out sounds like a good choice."

"I'm all for it! I'm about to throw up from all these dried rations. I should've asked my father for a cook before coming here. This has been miserable."

Wu Feng nodded in wholehearted agreement.

Although the dried rations they carried were high-quality goods—neither unpleasant nor even particularly bad—they were still dry food. After eating them for days on end, anyone would get sick of them.

But none of the three knew how to cook. Setting up a stove was even more out of the question. It would be a success if they did not burn the meat into charcoal.

Besides, there were two Soul Douluo secretly watching over them on this trip. What was there to fear?

"Mm."

Ning Wuque nodded, having no objections. If they were going, then they were going. It was also a good chance to confirm whether the other party was Little Huo. If it really was Little Huo...

He lowered his head slightly, a flicker of longing passing through his eyes.

The name Electrolux surfaced in his mind.

Originally, Ning Wuque had not planned to try for this opportunity. He had neither the connections nor the time to inquire about Little Huo's whereabouts. If he could not even find him, how could he plan ahead for this opportunity?

Even when he had accompanied Ning Tian into the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt soul beasts this time, he had not considered it. Yet after searching everywhere in vain, he had found what he sought without any effort. Little Huo's grilled fish shone like a flame in this dark forest.

Electrolux, a soul from another world; a good teacher; the Holy Necromancer who was proficient in souls!

What benefits could he gain from obtaining Him?

Inheritance, the Life Carving Knife, secret techniques of possession... There were far too many to count. Several of them were things Ning Wuque urgently needed—things he absolutely had to have!

Still, Ning Wuque did not know whether he could attract the other party's attention. This opportunity was wonderful, but unfortunately, it was something he could see but not grasp. The choice of whom to choose rested entirely with the other party.

But how would he know if he did not try?

Soon, the three changed course from their original route toward Shrek Academy and followed Wu Feng's powerful sense of smell toward the source of the fragrance.

Before they even got close, not only Wu Feng but also Ning Wuque and Ning Tian could smell the fragrance drifting through the air.

Honestly, it really did seem like it had been drugged. Even Ning Wuque, whom Ning Tian occasionally treated to all sorts of delicacies, felt his eyes light up.

Rustle~

Wu Feng, dressed in custom leather trousers and a shirt, pushed through the grass ahead and was the first to reach their destination. Her full set of training gear was as thin as inner armor, but worn on the outside, it made her look like a female general wearing a cape and helmet.

Yet the moment she opened her mouth, that heroic bearing was utterly ruined. "Wuque, Young Mistress, there really are people here!"

"Who are you?" x2

By the river, a man and a woman who had been sitting on the grass stood up and watched Wu Feng warily. Behind them stood a blue-haired little boy who looked somewhat at a loss.

Ning Wuque and Ning Tian soon followed. After Ning Tian saw the two people's misunderstanding, she immediately said, "My apologies for intruding without invitation. We are new students preparing to enroll at Shrek Academy. We passed by and caught an unusual fragrance, so we came looking for the cook in hopes that he might prepare a meal for us weary travelers."

Ning Tian's bearing was flawless, her elegant and noble young lady's temperament on full display.

Perhaps because of that aura, the blue-haired young man among the two was the first to lower his guard. He pulled the girl beside him back and said, "It's a misunderstanding, Xiao Ya. Hello, my name is Bei Bei. I suppose you can consider me your senior. You can call me Bei Bei or Senior Bei. We also came here after smelling that unusual fragrance. This is Tang Ya, my companion. And that little one over there is Huo Yuhao, Little Brother Huo. His cooking is truly excellent. Even simple grilled fish becomes wonderfully fragrant in his hands."

Unlike his usual gentle manner around Tang Ya, Bei Bei introduced his side with the politeness of a young nobleman.

Though he had not received a systematic education, his background was what it was. With one look, he saw through the three of them.

At the very least, the brown-haired girl was not lying. Her temperament was something that could only be cultivated, never faked!

"Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Ning Tian. It is a pleasure to meet you all."

"My name is Wu Feng. Hey, kid over there, can you grill a few more fish? Catch!"

As she spoke, Wu Feng flicked her wrist and accurately tossed two Gold Soul Coins into Huo Yuhao's arms. One had to pay when buying things. Though she was impulsive and thoughtless, she actually followed the rules quite well.

Two Gold Soul Coins should be enough, right?

"Ning Wuque. Guard."

With his arms folded across his chest, Ning Wuque stood half a step behind and to Ning Tian's left. He had no intention of concealing his aura or strength, looking fierce as though he might make a move at any moment.

In the distance, Huo Yuhao looked at the two Gold Soul Coins in his hands and said timidly, "N-No, this is too much."

"Anything this young lady throws out stays thrown out. Hurry up and make me a few more fish. If you dare to cut corners, hmph, hmph~"

Wu Feng looked like she considered herself second only to heaven itself. She disdained retrieving the two Gold Soul Coins and even pointed a finger at Huo Yuhao in warning.

He had better not half-ass her grilled fish. Otherwise, she would definitely make him regret it!

"Don't scare him. My apologies, you three. This girl has social issues. I apologize to you on Wu Feng's behalf."

Feeling helpless, Ning Wuque stepped forward to smooth things over for Wu Feng. This girl truly never learned.

Across from him, Bei Bei's original displeasure vanished under Ning Wuque's mediation. At least this hot-tempered girl had two reasonable friends.

And... a guard?

Such a young, yet powerful guard! The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had produced a real monster this year.

Everyone's continued reading has been amazing~ You let the author post three chapters every day.