Mandarin Duck Hotpot

Time passed swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, it was evening. Xiao Yao took the previous iron pot out of his Soul Storage Ring and placed it steadily on the fire stand.

He poured rich bone soup into the pot—this was bone soup from a Tier 2 tiger-type Magical Beast that he had asked someone to brew. Xiao Yao browsed through various ingredients and seasonings from the System Supermarket list, searching for materials that could serve as hotpot base. After a round of selection and confirmation, he poured them into one side of the hotpot, and these base materials quickly blended into the bone soup, making the flavor of the soup even more mellow.

Xiao Yao stirred with a spoon again, allowing the hotpot base to fully mix with the bone soup. Xiao Yao watched as the hotpot formed a scene of one red side and one white side after pouring in the base materials, thinking that this could indeed serve as a mandarin duck hotpot.

At this moment, Xiao Yao looked at the rolling soup in the pot, his heart filled with anticipation. He knew that this pot of mandarin duck hotpot was about to be completed, and he only needed to wait a little longer to taste the delicious delicacy.

Finally, when the soup boiled for a little while, the aroma overflowed and permeated the entire room. Xiao Yao knew the hotpot was ready.

He picked up his chopsticks, clipped a piece of tender meat slice, and gently placed it into the pot. The meat slice rolled in the steaming hotpot base and cooked quickly.

Xiao Yao scooped out the meat slice, dipped it in the special sauce, and put it into his mouth.

That delicious taste instantly permeated his oral cavity, making Xiao Yao unable to help letting out a sound of praise.

He continued to add some prepared shiitake mushrooms and some meat balls and other ingredients taken from the supermarket at random.

Xiao Yao looked at the ingredients already cooked in the pot, and said to Xun'er and Xiao Yan, "Come and taste the delicacies that are already cooked."

Xiao Yao scooped up the cooked ingredients from the hotpot and put them on a plate, bringing a plate of freshly cooked ingredients in front of Xun'er and Xiao Yan. He looked at their expectant gazes, his heart filled with a sense of fulfillment.

Xun'er took the chopsticks handed over by Xiao Yao and impatiently picked up a piece of cooked meat slice.

She bit into it gently, and that delicious taste instantly exploded in her oral cavity, making her unable to help letting out a cry of praise, "Wow, too delicious! Big Brother Xiao Yao, that faint spicy taste is just stimulating my taste buds, the spicy taste is rich, the texture is tender and soft, making one intoxicated!"

"Yeah, Big Brother Yao, the meat slices of the hotpot are tender and juicy, making people unable to help eating continuously, and the vegetables and mushrooms in the hotpot are refreshing, delicious, and nutritious, making people eat to their heart's content." Xiao Yan also tasted it, saying with his eyes flashing a satisfied radiance.

Hearing their praise, Xiao Yao smiled and said, "As long as you like it, this is a delicacy I made with care. Come, eat more, let's thoroughly enjoy this delicious meal tonight, and after eating and drinking our fill, I'll tell you the rest of the story."

Night fell low, bright stars flickered, and an antique wooden house appeared exceptionally tranquil in the night. In the courtyard, bright moonlight sprinkled on the ground, creating a family atmosphere.

The outside of the courtyard was arranged simply and comfortably, with a pot of mandarin duck hotpot currently boiling placed next to the stone table, the soup rolling and the aroma wafting.

Xiao Yao, Xun'er, and Xiao Yan sat around the table, their faces brimming with satisfied and happy smiles. With chopsticks in his hand, Xiao Yao was skillfully picking up ingredients and putting them into the pot, his movements fluent and elegant.

Xun'er and Xiao Yan impatiently waited for the ingredients to cook, their gazes fixed tightly on the ingredients in the pot as if afraid of missing any delicious moment.

When they saw the ingredients they fancied were cooked, they would excitedly pick them up and put them into their bowls, then tuck in with gusto.

The sounds of conversation and laughter among the three rose and fell alternately. At times they discussed trivial daily matters, and at times they laughed heartily, the atmosphere relaxed and pleasant.

On this warm night, Xiao Yao tidied up after finishing the hotpot, then sat on a stone chair, cleared his throat, and said to the two of them, "Then I'll start and continue the story from last time. Picking up where the book left off, Shi Hao took the alias Desolate, fighting in all directions in the Upper Realm and the Immortal Domain, killing anyone who blocked his way and Buddhas who blocked his path, fighting all the way to the Dark Source..."

A gentle breeze blew past, bringing fresh air and crisp insect chirping. After a long while, Xiao Yao paused for a moment and continued: "When Desolate killed the Corpse Immortal Emperor, he discovered the truth was Above the Firmament. That day, those people saw Desolate.

"I am fine, I am waiting for you in another realm!"

The Desolate Heavenly Emperor had his long hair scattered, and even his dense black strands of hair emitted a blazing brilliance like cast gold. He was waving an immortal sword and hacking down fiercely, splitting open the eternal firmament.

From then on, the Boundary Sea was no longer seen, cut off by him!

Chaos replaced it and submerged that place.

Supreme laws existed there, sealing that side away.

Desolate strode away into the heavens!

This homeland was far away from the tragic battles and even more cruel wars; this was the last thing Desolate could do. Thus, with a single sword stroke he severed the ages, protecting his homeland and everyone else. Afterwards, carrying his sword, he slaughtered his way back up once more, continuing to write the legend belonging to the Desolate Heavenly Emperor Above the Firmament."

Xiao Yao stopped after finishing the story and said in a low voice, "This story ends here, you two mustn't take it seriously, Xun'er, Little Flame."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan jumped up and shouted, "The enemies defeated in my hands have never been regarded as rivals by me. I give you time to catch up, until you can no longer see my shadow. Big Brother Yao, I like this sentence the best; this sentence is too domineering."

Seeing this, Xiao Yao shook his head and said helplessly, "As long as you like it."

At this moment, Xiao Yao saw that Xun'er's long eyelashes were covered with teardrops, resembling crystal-clear dew remaining on lotus leaves after a light rain, lingering as if reluctant to drop from her fair skin.

Seeing Xun'er like this, Xiao Yao hurriedly raised his hand to gently wipe away the teardrops in Xun'er's eyes, soothing her in a rush, "Don't be sad, Xun'er. Big Brother Xiao Yao will explain the things in the story that made you so sad."

Xun'er raised her head to look at Big Brother Xiao Yao, tears swirling in her eye sockets, and she said softly, "Big Brother Xiao Yao, you say that loving someone can really make someone wait bitterly for him for tens of thousands of years? Is Huo Ling'er in the story really willing to wait bitterly for millions of years for Shi Hao's words of 'Wait for me to return, and I will take you to see all the splendor of the world'?"

Xiao Yao gently hugged Xun'er and said softly beside her, "Whether it's worth it or not, Xun'er will know when she grows up."

Xun'er rubbed her eyes, pouted her lips as she looked at Xiao Yao, and said coquettishly, "It's all because the story Big Brother Xiao Yao told was too moving, making Xun'er unable to tell whether this story is true or false."

Watching Xun'er's sad yet cute appearance, an inexplicable tenderness welled up in Xiao Yao's heart. He smiled gently, then said softly, "Alright, don't be sad. Let me give you something sweet to eat, maybe it will make you feel a bit better."

His words were like a breeze, gently brushing across Xun'er's heartstrings and making her originally low spirits improve slightly. Xun'er raised her head, looking at Xiao Yao through tear-blurred eyes, those large eyes shining with crystal tears that made anyone who saw them feel immensely heartache-stricken.

Xiao Yao took out a lollipop with rainbow-like colors from the System Supermarket and handed it to Xun'er. Xun'er accepted the candy given by Xiao Yao and saw that its exterior was colorful, just like a beautiful rainbow spanning across the candy, exuding an enticing luster.

She carefully unwrapped the candy packaging, and a sweet aroma wafted over, making her unable to help closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.

Then, she took a gentle bite, and that sweet taste spread through her oral cavity, as if capable of dispelling all sadness and sorrow.

Xiao Yao smiled as he watched Xun'er enjoying the candy, and a warm current welled up in his heart. He reached out to gently rub Xun'er's hair, and said softly, "Xun'er, do you feel a sweet sensation? Is your mood much better now?"

Hearing Xiao Yao's tender words, Xun'er's eyes curved into crescent moons, as if her spiritual charm was overflowing. She said softly, "Big Brother Xiao Yao, you must tell a happy ending next time, let's agree on that!"

Eating the candy in her hand, Xun'er walked while turning her head back to look at Xiao Yao, waving her small hand at him and saying, "Big Brother Xiao Yao, I'm leaving first, see you tomorrow."