The night was cold and clear.
With winter's arrival, the forest here had grown much quieter.
Outside the Fluorite Cave, a bonfire burned faintly, occasionally spitting tiny sparks.
On a stone grill, a haunch weighing over ten pounds dripped with fat. The outer layer had turned slightly golden and crisp, sending out an enticing aroma that made the mouth water.
Chen Shouyi leisurely scored the meat with the tip of his sword, then sprinkled on salt, cumin powder, and thirteen-spice seasoning.
Shell Girl squatted on Chen Shouyi's shoulder. The seasonings made her sneeze several times, and she complained in a sweet voice, "Good Giant, the stuff you're pouring on smells awful!"
Awful?
"Then go farther away!" Chen Shouyi snorted.
Shell Girl glanced at the pitch-black forest and instinctively grabbed Chen Shouyi's ear. A conflicted look crossed her face before she said, with utmost seriousness, "It smells good now!"
Chen Shouyi's heart seized up, and he nearly spat blood.
Her sense of dignity was beyond saving!
After grilling it a little longer, he decided it was done and called it a day. He picked up the stick skewering the meat and, not even bothering to wait for it to cool, took a bite. The outside was crisp and the inside tender, the grease flowing through his mouth as the rich, savory meat filled it.
This giant beast had only just gone into hibernation, and its fat content was extremely high. It would have been greasy in a stew, but it was perfect for roasting. As it cooked, the fat seeped into the meat, making it seem as if it were steeped in a rich broth that was fragrant but not cloying. Each bite sent the juices flowing, without the slightest hint of dryness.
Add the distinctive chewiness and rich fragrance of