They made their way to Snack Street, where both Na'er and Gu Yue were full of curiosity.
Na'er had only recently moved to Eastsea City. Besides, the Tang brothers were usually at school, and she had never felt like going shopping there by herself, so now she looked here and peered there.
Gu Yue, on the other hand, was fascinated simply because everything around her was new.
A shut-in dragon who had spent her days holed up in the Star Dou Great Forest had suddenly arrived at a food street brimming with the bustle of everyday life. It was like Liu Laolao stepping into the Grand View Garden.
The street wasn't very wide, but shops lined both sides. As soon as they reached the entrance, waves of enticing aromas drifted toward them.
"Candied chestnuts! Freshly roasted candied chestnuts! Buy a pound, get half a pound free!"
"Don't miss out as you pass by! Volcanic-stone grilled sausages, three yuan each, or three for ten!"
Vendors called out one after another, their voices rising and falling along the street. It was all bustling with life.
Gu Yue followed behind Tang Heng and Na'er, gazing around with curiosity as her steps gradually slowed.
"What are you two planning to eat?" she asked softly, catching up to Tang Heng, who was strolling ahead at his leisure.
Tang Heng glanced around and soon spotted a particularly eye-catching shop by the roadside.
"Obviously, we'll start with Pot-Stewed Beef. It's an Eastsea City specialty, you know?"
Pot-Stewed Beef was cooked in a brownish-yellow earthenware pot. The beef was washed, then simmered with slices of scallion and ginger.
The pot sealed in the beef's juices and savory flavor. Once the meat changed color, more than a dozen spices were added, and it was stewed for a long time. By the time the beef had turned completely tender, the spices had blended perfectly with the meat. It was a famous snack in Eastsea City.
In the original story, Xie Xie had taken Tang Wulin and Gu Yue to try it. When Tang Heng had read that part, he'd thought it sounded delicious.
But back then, he'd been too young, and between his heavy schoolwork and limited energy, he'd soon forgotten all about it.
Now, though, he could finally find out what this famous Pot-Stewed Beef tasted like.
"Yay! ヾ(✿ﾟ▽ﾟ)ノ I wonder which tastes better, Pot-Stewed Beef or Chicken Cartilage?"
Tang Heng smiled helplessly, then pinched Na'er on the bridge of her nose. "You really do love Chicken Cartilage every single day. Maybe I should just call you the Chicken Cartilage Queen from now on!"
"Hehe, Chicken Cartilage Queen doesn't sound nice. Call me Queen Na'er!"
Na'er naturally looped an arm around Tang Heng's and pressed herself close as she walked alongside her brother.
Seeing this, Gu Yue instinctively reached out her hand.
But as soon as she realized what she was doing, she quickly pulled it back.
"What is this strange feeling...?"
Gu Yue murmured under her breath.
She couldn't make sense of it. She'd never felt this way before.
In the end, she could only blame Na'er. Her memories and powers had been sealed at the time. Although Na'er's personality had been in control, they had still shared the same body. That must have been why this inexplicable emotion had suddenly surfaced.
Yes, it must be muscle memory.
Having reassured herself, Gu Yue hurried after them.
The three of them arrived at the shop and looked it over.
It was small, with the stove set up outside. Nearly a hundred little burners were lit beneath earthenware pots of beef.
The aroma of steaming beef kept the pot lids rattling, and the scent seized the chance to slip out and tempt passersby.
"Boss, give us thir—thirty portions of Pot-Stewed Beef."
Tang Heng suddenly remembered how much he and Na'er could eat. With Gu Yue joining them, the three dragons would need a lot, so he ordered that many.
The boss heard that they wanted thirty portions all at once and noticed the three of them were children. He furrowed his brow. "Kids, are you buying that much to take home to other people? Our portions are pretty big. If you order too much and can't finish it, it'd be a waste."
Na'er spoke up first. "Thanks for the concern, Uncle, but this is all for the three of us~"
"We'll also need ten more portions to take home for our family."
"Are you sure you can eat all that?"
Tang Heng nodded with a smile. "We're all Soul Masters, and our Martial Souls are a little special, so we eat a bit more."
The boss nodded. So they were Soul Masters. That explained it.
On Douluo Continent, any strange thing that couldn't be explained could be attributed to a Martial Soul. It had practically become a rule everyone took for granted.
After all, Martial Souls were wondrous things.
Although Soul Masters no longer held the same exalted status they had tens of thousands of years ago, thanks to advances in technology, and ordinary people could also enjoy relatively comfortable lives through various means, people still respected Soul Masters more than they did ordinary folks.
The boss arranged a larger round table for Tang Heng and the others.
Before long, ten portions of Pot-Stewed Beef arrived, along with three bowls of white rice and three plates of greens in oyster sauce.
Tang Heng picked up his chopsticks and said softly, "What are we waiting for? Dig in." As he spoke, he lifted the lid off the pot in front of him.
A rich beef aroma immediately wafted out. The broth was dark gold, and inside were chunks of beef cut into small pieces.
Tang Heng touched one with his chopsticks. The beef was already falling apart.
He carefully picked out a piece and placed it on his rice. Then he ate them together, his face full of bliss.
Na'er had long since lost patience and began eating just like Tang Heng.
"So good!"
She exclaimed. It really was delicious.
The beef's rich aroma mingled with the broth, its savory flavor perfectly balanced by the rice.
Still, it wasn't quite as good as Chicken Cartilage.
He wondered if they made Pot-Stewed Chicken Cartilage, too.
Tang Heng ate heartily. Na'er seemed lost in thought, but her mouth never stopped moving. Gu Yue, who had been sitting ramrod straight beside them, swallowed at the sight. After hesitating for a moment, she copied their movements, picked up a piece of beef, and put it in her bowl with some rice.
It was so good!
Gu Yue's beautiful eyes widened. The tender beef melted in her mouth with the slightest pressure.
She'd never eaten properly cooked food in the forest. Most of the time, she didn't eat at all. While recovering from her injuries, she'd spent all her time curled up in the Lake of Life, drawing on the aura of life and the power of nature.
After suddenly tasting food seasoned with spices, the sensation was beyond words.
Gu Yue glanced at the other people in the shop.
There were old people and children, as well as countless young people stopping for a break after work. They gathered together, enjoying delicious food as they shook off the day's exhaustion.
It was just a little shop, with dim yellow lighting and plain tables and chairs, yet it served food that was astonishingly delicious.
Beef, rich broth, vegetables, white rice. It all warmed her from the inside.
This was a scene she'd never find in the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Tasty?"
Tang Heng wiped his mouth and suddenly asked.
Gu Yue came back to herself and quickly nodded.
"If you like it, eat some more. If it's not enough, I'll order more. I just finished a big order and made a ton of money."
Tang Heng smiled. His pockets were stuffed these days.
After they finished eating, they took Tang Wulin's share with them and left the shop together.
Partway down the street, Di Tian and Yun Ming caught up with them.
Their clothes were a little disheveled, but both looked much better than before, especially Yun Ming.
Perhaps it had been a long time since he'd faced a powerhouse on Di Tian's level. Their exchange had given him new insights, so he now seemed rather excited.
"Want some beef?" Tang Heng held up a pot of it and waved it in front of Yun Ming.
Yun Ming blinked, then waved a hand. "Thanks, but I don't eat beef."
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