Culinary Diplomacy

It was Silas who couldn't hold back the first time.

Oh, Ginawell and Lothar aren't doing much better.

Especially Lothar, with his thick fur and massive build, was now squatting by the pot with Ginawell, drooling like a giant golden retriever, just waiting to be fed! Hmm...

Why do I have such strange thoughts?

Is it because I have too many pets?

never mind,

None of that matters.

He took out bowls, ladled out noodles, and handed them to them, saying, "Alright, you can eat now."

certainly,

The fire under the pot hadn't gone out, and the broth inside was simmering over the campfire, releasing an increasingly rich aroma.

Li Yao's senses were now heightened, so he could clearly hear the rumbling in the stomachs and the sounds of swallowing saliva from the people confronting him at the camp entrance. He turned around with his rice spoon and looked at them, saying, "We've finished eating here."

Everyone: "..."

The initial feeling of hunger suddenly turned into irritability.

It's that annoying feeling when you're starving and someone eats all the delicious food right in front of you! You know what I mean?

The initial hostility, which had been dispelled by the delicious food, doubled exponentially, but Li Yao's next words immediately dispelled all their hostility. "I'll make something decent."

Isn't this decent enough?!

That was absolutely amazing! Li Yao turned around, took the pot off the stove, and tossed it to Silas: "Go wash it."

Silas quickly got up and went to wash the pot.

Li Yao then took out a larger pot and rummaged through the car for a packet of "Chongqing Butter Qiaotou Hot Pot Base"... Before long, the aroma wafting out was almost intoxicating to those people! After Li Yao had prepared all the ingredients and arranged them around the hot pot, he said, "Those who want to get rich with me, please come and eat."

This is the inaugural meal!

If you eat my food, then you're all my miners!

The bright red broth in the extra-large pot was bubbling and leaping like a raging fire, and the aroma wafting out was like a tempting little devil, constantly teasing them!

soon,

Reason has been stifled.

Driven by their hunger pangs, their appetites were amplified countless times, leading them toward the cooking pot.

They thought to themselves:

At worst Laozi, I'll eat it and then deny it! Who are they?

They're all bad people!

Extremely fierce!

I never used to dine and dash because I thought it was tasteless, but now I'm thrilled to eat at someone else's place! The first person walked over to the pot and stared at it for a while...

Seeing that he didn't move, Li Yao asked, "Can't you handle spicy food?"

The man replied in broken English, "How else can I use these two little sticks?"

Li Yao corrected him seriously, "These are chopsticks!"

"Learn how to use it from me..."

He started teaching seriously, and Ginawell and Lothar followed suit... They were using their own forks to eat the noodles earlier...

Before he knew it, a lot of people had gathered around Li Yao.

Once they are taught,

They awkwardly picked up ingredients with chopsticks, threw them into the pot, and then took some out to eat—hmm?

Tasty!

Soon, these usually cold-blooded and ruthless rogue cultivators were enjoying their meal immensely.

Alphonso looked at those people with immense heartache! They were all utterly devoid of principles and moral boundaries! He, Alphonso, would never eat the enemy's food!

Li Yao saw Alphonso standing fiercely outside the crowd. He scooped some Udon Noodles from the pot, put them in a bowl, and handed them to him. "Eat."

He smiled warmly.

His sincere demeanor makes him seem like your best friend.

Just as Alphonso was about to reach out and knock the bowl over, Li Yao grabbed his hand and shoved the bowl into his own.

It was a little hot! But he didn't throw the bowl away in the end.

Li Yao said, "Even if you're angry, you shouldn't hold it against your stomach. Eat your fill."

Alphonso, silently tightening his grip on the bowl. He looked up to find that Li Yao had already left and was now instructing Silas to set up a few more campfires, as one campfire wasn't enough for so many people. Some of the rogue cultivators even volunteered to help.

The sun blazed high in the distance, and the desolate wilderness was filled with a wild and unrestrained atmosphere. Everyone gathered around the hot pot, enjoying their meal as if it were a family picnic.

Looking at the bustling scene before me, full of life and energy,

Alphonso seemed to remember something, as if a soft spot in his heart had been touched.

He took a deep breath and thought fiercely, "But this is what that guy gave me, not what I wanted!"

Alphonso a big shovelful of Udon Noodles from his bowl—it was indeed a bit spicy and pungent, so it's not unusual for him to tear up, you bastard!

After all the more than one hundred people had eaten,

Wearing an apron and carrying a spatula, Li Yao said, "I know many of you have been beaten by me—I was clearly wearing a mask back then, yet you still recognized me. It must be because my handsomeness can't be hidden even by a mask."

Everyone: "..."

Li Yao said with a smug look, "Alright, it's not your fault."

Everyone: "..."

He continued, "But I'm also giving you a chance. Would you have been able to taste Chinese cuisine if it weren't for me? It's all fate!"

Fate is truly wondrous!

Everyone: "..."

Someone asked Ginawell, "Red Spider, how do you know this guy?"

simply...

It's all a bit hard to describe, damn it!

Ginawell's mouth was covered in red butter, and she was taken aback when asked what happened.

She thought for two seconds before replying blankly, "Maybe it really is fate?"

The person. "..."

Little Spider, you've gone astray!

After a barrage of trash talk, Li Yao felt the atmosphere was lively enough, so he got to the point. "The main reason I did all this was to get everyone together to talk about hunting Spiritual Energy Diamond. You guys are short of food and clothing, but I have everything. How about you use your Spiritual Energy Diamond to exchange for supplies?"

Everyone: "!?"

Are you fucking serious?

This is all your fault! You stole our things and now you want us to buy them back with Spiritual Energy Diamond? Have you no shame?! Many hot-tempered people even threw down their bowls and chopsticks!

I can't eat this! Li Yao glanced at it and his face immediately turned cold. "Pick it up, do you hear me? Pick it up! Didn't your mother teach you to cherish food?!"

Who are you trying to fool with your attitude?

Startled by Li Yao's cold gaze, the man sheepishly picked up his bowl and chopsticks again.

After intimidating those guys, Li Yao continued, "Don't be unconvinced. I know those diamond-covered monsters better than you do. As long as you listen to my cooperative hunting, I guarantee you will earn more and suffer fewer casualties than when hunting alone."

Finally, he got to the point. "What are you all here for?"

Make money!

Is a battle of egos really that important in comparison?

Everyone fell into deep thought. Just then, Alphonso and said, "That's right. There's no point in fighting over pride. As long as you can really help us make more money and kill fewer people, we can let bygones be bygones."

Li Yao nodded to him.

This is a sensible person.

With Alphonso the way, more and more people agreed to the proposal.

So Li Yao turned around and took out another stack of A4 papers from the car. "Those who agree, come over and sign an agreement, and that will settle things. After you sign the agreement, I will explain in detail the characteristics and weaknesses of those monsters to improve the success rate of the hunt. Oh, by the way, I have put the bill on the food and the medicine I gave you before. We will settle it later!"

Regardless, the accounts need to be settled! Everyone: "..."

First update. I only found out after a reader pointed it out that a book on Feilu plagiarized my work. The first few chapters were a blatant copy of the original Chinese translation. My protagonist is named Li Yao, and his is Li Wei; my roommate has a character named Chen Tao, and his is simply named Chen Tao. That's ridiculous! Copying settings, chapters, and pacing is one thing, but copying even the author's note is unacceptable! It feels like my hard work has been taken, coated in excrement, and fried until golden brown on both sides. I hope everyone enjoys reading... I'm going to go and isolate myself for a bit.