Love Bento

"It feels more and more like playing a game of leveling up by killing monsters."

This thought made him chuckle.

Then, his gaze fell on the massive corpse of the Bull Leader, which loomed like a small mountain, a flicker of eagerness in his eyes.

Advancing in realm required consuming a great deal of energy, and high-grade magical beast meat rich in mana was undoubtedly an excellent source.

The meat from those Octopus Monsters earlier had already provided far better satiety and energy replenishment than ordinary food.

This D-grade Leader's meat was bound to be of even higher quality!

"Captain," Xu Feng couldn't hold back and asked, "this bull meat... can I take some back to eat?"

"Bull meat? Sure, go ahead." Piao Zhi Yong nodded readily. "Aside from the horns, heart, certain special bones, and the magic core—those valuable materials need to be handed in or distributed—you can take as much of the rest as you want. But..."

He glanced at Xu Feng's sturdy build and warned, "This kind of magical beast meat has a pretty high mana concentration. Ordinary people who eat too much might get indigestion or even mana overload.

You're a physical-type hunter, so your digestion should be stronger, but don't overdo it in one go.

Also, the meat fibers are coarse and heat-resistant, making it hard to cook well. Usually, people just roast it simply, eat it half-raw, and it ends up tough and dry—not many people like it."

"Got it! Thanks, Captain!" Xu Feng's face lit up with a delighted smile.

Without hesitation, he walked over to Jin Shan: "Brother Jin Shan, mind if I borrow your tool?"

"Oh, here." Jin Shan, though a bit puzzled, handed over the door-plank-sized greatsword.

Xu Feng gripped the sword with both hands, aimed at the relatively intact hind leg of the Bull Leader's body, measured it, and then flashed the blade in quick succession!

In a few strokes, he cut off a massive chunk of bone-in beef, about two meters square and over half a meter thick!

He quickly wrapped and tied it up with a thick oilcloth he'd prepared, tested its weight, nodded in satisfaction, and then hoisted it onto his back with some effort.

The huge meat block nearly covered his entire upper body.

The others watched his operation, all a bit speechless.

"Xiao Feng... this bull meat really doesn't taste good—it's gamey and tough. Why'd you take such a big piece?" Mai Xiao Wen couldn't help asking curiously.

But when her eyes landed on Xu Feng's slightly flushed, handsome profile, made more vivid by the exertion of carrying the heavy load, her heart skipped a beat, her cheeks warmed, and her voice unconsciously softened, "If... if you like beef, tomorrow... tomorrow I'll buy some fresh regular beef, cook it up, and bring it for you to try..."

"Whoa! Already preparing a Love Bento?"

Luna had somehow sidled over, throwing an arm around Mai Xiao Wen's shoulder and teasing her with a wink.

Already shy, Mai Xiao Wen's face instantly turned crimson, like a ripe apple.

She bashfully gave Luna a light punch but didn't deny it, only murmuring in a voice as faint as a mosquito in Luna's ear:

"A hunter should love and hate boldly... if I meet someone I think is decent, what's wrong with being proactive..."

"Thanks for the kindness, Sister Xiao Wen!" Xu Feng seemed not to notice Mai Xiao Wen's girlish coyness.

He flashed a row of neat, white teeth, his smile sunny and frank, scratched the back of his head, and said a bit sheepishly, "But tomorrow I plan to eat at home. Mom said she's stewed old hen soup for me and specifically told me I have to come back."

Hearing this, a trace of resentment flickered quickly through Mai Xiao Wen's eyes. She lightly stamped her foot, but her gaze still lingered on Xu Feng.

After that, the team conducted a final sweep and survey of the entire dungeon.

Confirming no stray magical beasts or overlooked valuable resources, they returned to the real world through the teleportation gate.

Before leaving, Xu Feng looked at the other bull corpses on the ground, hesitated, then dragged back a relatively intact ordinary bull, wrapping it in another oilcloth.

Now, the luggage on his back was even more astonishing.

Two bulging, huge bundles nearly swallowed him whole, making him look like a moving mountain of meat as he walked.

After bidding farewell to Piao Zhi Yong and the others, Xu Feng left alone.

It was now two in the dead of night, everything silent.

His father, Xu Shan, had already finished work and gone home to rest.

Xu Feng had told his parents that afternoon that he had a mission at night and would be back late.

From near the Hunter Association to the Guanghua Residential Area where they lived was about a dozen kilometers.

With Xu Feng's current leg strength, sprinting at full speed would get him home in half an hour.

But he didn't plan to go back right away.

There was still one thing to handle.

That sewer hiding the Octopus Monster, so close to home.

A potential threat had to be eliminated quickly, to avoid trouble later and keep his family safe.

But before that...

Xu Feng, carrying the huge meat bundles, ducked into the woods behind Guanghua Residential Area.

"Meow~~"

He sat down against a tree, rubbed the head of Little Black, who had suddenly leaped down from the canopy, and took out an ordinary bull's hind leg, placing it in front of him.

Little Black meowed, his eyes gleaming, and began to feast.

Xu Feng then set his bundles at his feet, his gaze burning as he looked at the attribute panel only he could see.

"Add points!!!"