Xue Xi curiously looked at the giant rabbit lying motionless on the ground. Compared with the gray rabbits from her previous life, the only difference was its larger size—its most striking feature was its pair of huge front teeth, which gleamed like metal. She reached out and flicked one with her finger. It made a crisp clang. She sighed in admiration. This must be the legendary Steel-Tooth Rabbit.
Little Wolf obediently lay down nearby, tilting his head as he watched Xue Xi roll up her sleeves. It was chef time. For now, he was just a well-behaved diner waiting for his meal.
Xue Xi snapped off a few thicker branches from a nearby dead tree and made a simple grill, setting it aside. There was no shortage of fuel in the abandoned fields, and homemade equipment didn't need to be fancy. Next came preparing the rabbit meat.
But the rabbit was a meter long and built like a pig, which left petite Xue Xi stumped. She spotted a certain wolf nearby, licking his paws and watching the show, and came up with an idea.
"Little Wolf, give me your paw." Little Wolf paused mid-lick. Looking at the sharp claws he'd just finished cleaning, he immediately tucked them away inside his paw and gave Xue Xi an innocent look. As if! Diners didn't double as tools. He couldn't let that precedent be set!
Xue Xi put a hand to her forehead and kicked the lazy bum in exasperation. "I don't have any tools, so I can't cut this rabbit up. Besides, I'm making this for you. I'll only eat one leg, so don't complain if it tastes bad!"
Little Wolf's ears perked up. Bad? That wouldn't do! In an instant, he spread his paw, extending five sharp wolf claws from his toes. A wolf who doubled as a tool? That was just how generous he was.
Xue Xi gave the wolf, who was even more practical than a person, a flick on the forehead. Then she used his claws like a knife and swiftly butchered the rabbit. She washed it in a nearby stream, cut it into several pieces, skewered them on sticks, and set them on the simple grill.
Then she took out the seasonings she'd carefully picked out and, wearing gloves, rubbed them onto the rabbit meat. She gave the rabbit a thorough Thai-style massage, making sure the spices worked their way into every corner of the meat.
Once the meat had absorbed the seasoning, Xue Xi took out her windproof lighter and started the fire. This time, she was making authentic Sichuan-style spicy grilled rabbit. In her previous life, people had described this delicacy like this: diners could rarely resist this heavenly dish. They'd devour it with delight, savoring the rabbit's fragrant, smoky aroma and its tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Whether seasoned with five-spice or numbing chili, every bite grew more flavorful, leaving a lingering aftertaste. Its allure was truly impossible to resist.
No more talk—time to grill!
She told Little Wolf to lie down closer, then pulled out her phone and settled comfortably against his soft fur. With her right hand, she browsed the news and current events of this world; with her left, she slowly turned the skewered rabbit to cook it evenly.
When a layer of oil formed on the rabbit meat and dripped onto the fire with a sizzling sound, Xue Xi took out a brush and coated the meat evenly with salad oil. A few minutes later, she brushed on another layer.
A girl and a wolf nestled together in the open fields, food roasting over the bonfire beside them. The scene looked especially warm and harmonious—though credit for today's top contributor to the meal went to our big shot, the delicious spicy grilled rabbit!
The whole rabbit, golden and glistening with oil, slowly turned over the natural charcoal fire. Bubbles of grease popped on its skin, sizzling as the aroma of meat drifted everywhere, irresistible yet free of any choking smoke. A brush dipped in secret oil seasoning swept back and forth. As it rose and fell, the coals flickered, the rich aroma grew stronger, and the scent of the meat filled the air.
At the very end, she sprinkled on a handful of chili powder from Chuanshu Base City, and the aroma reached its peak!
Little Wolf could hardly hold himself back. He impatiently stared at the little person leaning against him and nudged Xue Xi's shoulder with his muzzle, as if urging the chef to hurry up.
Xue Xi smelled the delicious aroma and secretly swallowed her saliva too. Beast General Rank meat really was extraordinary—even the aroma was several levels better than ordinary meat. "Don't rush me, don't rush me. It needs a little longer. The smoky fragrance is even better when it's cooked just right!"
The girl and the beast both stood up, staring intently at the fragrant roast meat in the middle of the bonfire. Seeing that it was nearly done, Xue Xi quickly moved the crossbar holding the meat to the highest branch. That way, the flames wouldn't overcook it, while the heat would keep it warm. Now it was time to enjoy the feast!
Xue Xi cut off a meaty rabbit leg, enough to fill her up, then signaled that Little Wolf could start eating.
Little Wolf sat by the bonfire, drooling as he began to eat the rabbit meat. Xue Xi leaned against his soft fur again, gripping the rabbit leg—which was longer than her own leg—and tucking in.
The first bite filled her mouth and nose with fragrance, then flowed straight into her lungs. The thick parts were rich and soft; the thin parts were crisp and crunchy, with a distinctive springy bite. The more Xue Xi chewed, the more delicious it became.
Once the meat touched her tongue, she couldn't stop. As she slowly savored every mouthful, the essence of Sichuan flavor came through again and again: numbing, spicy, savory, and fragrant. In two words: authentic!
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