Clang.
The iron pot landed on the wooden table. Its thick, semi-liquid contents wobbled, and steam rose with the rich aroma of thoroughly mashed grain.
The survivors, listless and numb moments ago, sprang back to life!
Driven by hunger, they rushed toward the table. Even Carson, usually so concerned with appearances, swallowed hard as he hurried to squeeze through the crowd.
Tall and broad, Manhunter pushed to the front and reached eagerly for the food. Xia Lun slapped his hand away.
"Easy. There's enough for everyone," Xia Lun said. "Two spoonfuls each. We'll all start eating once everyone has a spoon."
With that, he handed Manhunter a spoon.
"Xia Lun, aren't you eating?" Manhunter asked, gripping the spoon and fighting to contain his hunger.
Xia Lun shook his head and handed another spoon to Carson, who stood second in line.
"That smells incredible." Carson stared at the thick food in the pot, transfixed. "Mr. Xia Lun, you're quite a cook."
Xia Lun smiled and distributed spoons to the others. Then he took his own and stood beside the table.
The food had been made in the Jade Wolf Pot. It smelled wonderful, but in truth, the dish was nothing more than boiled Nutrient Paste.
Xia Lun had added two tubes of Nutrient Paste and a little purified water, then heated the mixture until it thickened into mush. He had mixed in half a tube of the High-Energy Nutrient Paste he carried and sprinkled in some sea salt, maximizing how filling it would be.
Perhaps because the ingredients and preparation were too crude, the Jade Wolf Pot had given the dish no additional boost. His Cooking Specialty had increased by only 3%, barely reaching basic 53%.
"Uncle Xia Lun, can we eat now?" Aislin asked from Roman's lap, pressing her lips