Couldn't Cook

Those things were useless to the Land God, so Ling Qing could trade them for something.

As for the resentment, the Tiger Demon had only fed the corpses to the tiger pack after taking in the Chang Ghosts.

Most of the resentment had clung to the Tiger Demon.

And tiger bones were the strongest, while tiger penis was the most yang. The rootless resentment couldn't erode them.

Still, if he wanted to make use of them, it was best to treat them first.

Ling Qing soaked the rock-hard dried rations in water and ate them with some sweet-and-sour wild fruit he'd picked along the road. It made him miss the delicious food of the modern world terribly.

As a Druid, finding game in the forest should have been a piece of cake. Even finding all kinds of seasonings wouldn't have been difficult.

But the problem was, he couldn't cook! He couldn't cook!! He couldn't cook!!!

Back when he lived alone, he mostly ate out. When he occasionally didn't feel like going out, he'd just make instant noodles.

His last dungeon had been all right. The Liu Family had sent him food the whole time. It had been a little bland, but at least it was fresh and natural.

It had even tasted novel.

Who could have guessed that this time he'd be traveling alone over a long distance, with few people in sight?

Whenever he stayed at someone's home, the food was plain and simple. By now, his mouth was so bored it could've grown feathers.

And that was despite him not being too particular about food and drink. He had no idea how those pampered young masters, used to fine clothes and rich food, could stand it.

But thinking back to how Zhang Zhe and the others had acted last time, they'd probably gotten used to it long ago.

After all, if you wanted strength beyond that of ordinary people, you had to endure hardships ordinary people never did.

He'd just have to use it to temper his mind.

Thinking this, Ling Qing swallowed the ration in his hand before it had even softened.

"Ugh—"

He thumped his chest with one hand and grabbed the Water Gourd with the other, gulping down water.

With a gulp, the ration finally went down. He sprang to his feet in a fury and headed down the mountain.

Temper his mind?

Temper my ass!

He was going down the mountain to find a town and eat something delicious!

Furiously gripping his wooden staff, Ling Qing hurried along for dozens of miles. Yet when night fell, he still hadn't found a town.

He did come across a village, but it had long since been abandoned.

There were blotches of blood on the ruined streets, along with several rotting skeletons.

This was a village the Tiger Demon had ravaged. The survivors had fled for their lives, taking at most a little money and food to get by.

No one had dared risk their lives to clean up the bones, either.

Ling Qing lingered for a while, then went into the forest and chopped some wood. He gathered the bones together and set them in front of the village Land God Temple.

He spoke with the somewhat dispirited Land God, entrusted the remains to him, and told him the tiger menace had been eliminated.

When the villagers returned in a few days, the Land God could visit them in their dreams and tell each family to reclaim their loved ones' bones.

After that, Ling Qing set off again. When night came, he found a cave by the roadside and made do for the night.

He got up at dawn and set out again.

This time, he no longer hurried to find a village or town where he could feast.

He did his best to stick to the roads. Whenever he passed a village, he gathered any bones left exposed and entrusted them to the local Land God.

Sometimes, he came across old people or children who hadn't managed to flee in time. He'd go into the forest to prepare some food for them and tell them they didn't need to hide anymore.

What he'd seen along the way had moved him deeply. He'd spent his whole life in a peaceful age.

People in this era had almost no ability to withstand danger. A single natural disaster or man-made calamity could leave a family homeless and broken.

It made him cherish all the more the ordinary, almost dull life he'd once had. At the same time, he was willing to do what little he could for these suffering people.

But he had no grand ambition to take responsibility for the whole world. He did these things mostly to preserve the kindness in his heart.

Fortune Inn.

It was the only inn and tavern in Daling Town.

Early in the morning, Xiao Yi, the waiter, was yawning nonstop as he listlessly wiped the tables and chairs with a dingy gray rag.

He'd cleaned them all the day before and stacked them neatly on the tables.

When they opened up this morning, he'd set them down and given them a quick wipe. It was a habit he'd picked up over the years.

As he went about his work in a daze, a deep voice suddenly came from outside.

"Brother, is it all right to light a fire in the kitchen now?"

Xiao Yi looked up and saw a travel-worn scholar walk in through the door and ask him.

The man wore a long gray robe, and his hair was loosely gathered and tied with a ribbon. He stood over eight feet tall and looked lean and lanky.

He carried a wooden staff in one hand and a Book Box on his back. Something bulged at his waist.

As he moved, a flash of black and yellow showed.

Xiao Yi wiped his face and immediately perked up, putting on a sincere smile as he replied in quick succession, "Of course, of course. The kitchen's already been fired up for breakfast.

Please come in, sir."

Only when the man came closer did Xiao Yi realize that the tall, lean scholar wasn't frail at all. His muscles were solid, and his arms were thick and strong.

He carried the heavy-looking wooden staff with ease, and his steps were strong and lively.

Xiao Yi didn't dare be careless. Scholars were usually frail, but they were always willing to spend money.

Of course, some were tightfisted, but in his experience, this young gentleman didn't seem like that sort.

He led the guest to a bright table, quickly set down a stool, and invited him to sit.

As he instinctively pulled out the rag and wiped the already gleaming tabletop, he asked, "What would you like to eat, sir? We have rice porridge, tofu pudding, flatbread, fried dough sticks, steamed buns, and a dish of pickles on the house."

"Bring me some of everything." The guest set down his Book Box and leaned his staff against the table, within easy reach.

"Coming right up!" Xiao Yi had just turned to call into the kitchen when the guest stopped him.

"Wait!"

"Yes, sir?"

"What meat dishes do you have ready in the kitchen?"

Xiao Yi smiled and replied, "We've got roast chicken left over from yesterday, and smoked fish and cured meat that were washed this morning. They haven't been steamed yet, though."

"Then please bring me some breakfast first, and tell the cook to steam the chicken, smoked fish, and cured meat. Have a few other dishes made, too—some meat and some vegetables."

After speaking, the guest took a few pieces of silver from his robes and set them on the table. "Put this money in the till for now. I'll settle up after I eat."

The guest was Ling Qing, who'd been traveling through the wilderness and mountains for several days.

He hadn't come across a single well-off village on the way. The villagers barely had enough meat for themselves, let alone any to sell him.

Now that he'd finally found a town—and an inn—he naturally had to eat his fill.

"That's not necessary, that's not necessary. Put it away for now. You can pay after you've eaten, really."

Seeing the silver, Xiao Yi hurriedly waved his hands.

"It's fine. Take it for now, and hurry up and bring me some food." Ling Qing shoved the silver into Xiao Yi's hand and urged him on.

"W-well, all right." Xiao Yi reluctantly turned to the shopkeeper. Only after seeing him nod did he put the money in the till and head to the kitchen for the food.

Usually, customers paid after eating. Asking them for money upfront—or taking it in advance—was practically the same as driving them away.

But if a customer insisted, there was no need to go against his wishes.

"Rice porridge, steamed buns, fried dough sticks, flatbread, pickles, and savory tofu pudding. Please enjoy, sir."