Good Ingredients Only Need Simple Cooking

Chen Siyao's eyes suddenly lit up, and she turned to the others:

"Why don't we... make a promise?"

"What kind of promise?"

"Every year, no matter how busy we are, let's set aside some time to vacation here together! We can see the flowers in spring, escape the heat in summer, admire the moon in autumn, and watch the snow in winter! What do you think?"

Yang Wanqing immediately grew excited. "Great idea! You have my wholehearted support!"

Cai Jingwen smiled gently. "I really like that promise."

Li Li nodded vigorously too. "I want to come too! Every year!"

Their spirits instantly lifted again. They stacked their hands together and said in unison:

"Let's meet in this paradise once a year!"

The scene warmed the hearts of everyone watching the livestream:

[Little Sunshine: What a heartwarming scene! I want to join too!]

[Travel Enthusiast: The year's most coveted vacation destination—the Queen Mother of the West's Guesthouse!]

[Working Stiff: I'm crying with envy. I want to lounge around in paradise every year too.]

Chen Hao leaned against the living room doorway, quietly watching their happy faces without saying a word.

As long as they liked the things in his Qiankun Bag, he didn't mind putting them to use.

To him, these were merely insignificant little objects accumulated over his long years.

To them, however, this was an adventure in paradise they would remember for the rest of their lives.

Just then, an ill-timed stomach growl rang out.

Chen Siyao blushed. "I think... I'm a little hungry."

Yang Wanqing rubbed her stomach. "Now that you mention it, I'm hungry too! All I had this afternoon was one Red Dust Fruit. I digested that ages ago!"

Cai Jingwen looked at Chen Hao. "Chen Hao, is there... anything to eat nearby?"

Chen Hao looked up and smiled faintly:

"Wait here. I'll go make you dinner."

At the words "make dinner," all of them froze.

Chen Siyao blinked. "You're cooking, brother? But... there aren't any ingredients here!"

Yang Wanqing was puzzled too. "Exactly, brother Hao. We can't just have Red Dust Fruit for dinner, can we?"

Chen Hao offered no explanation. He simply turned toward the pavilion entrance:

"Wait here. It'll only take ten minutes."

With that, he stepped out of the pavilion, his figure soon disappearing into the spiritual mist.

The livestream viewers immediately began guessing:

[Food Blogger Online: Is the Celestial Master going hunting?]

[Wilderness Survival Fan: Is he going to catch rabbits? Are there fish in the creek?]

[First Skill: My blind guess—immortal fruit and spiritual spring water!]

Meanwhile, Chen Hao walked to a secluded corner and sent his consciousness into the Qiankun Bag again.

With a casual turn of his hand, he took out a piece of beast meat that glowed a pale gold all over.

Before its aroma had even spread, it was already rich enough to clear the mind and spirit.

This was no ordinary beast's meat—

It was meat from a Flame-Patterned Deer, an auspicious beast of the Primordial Era.

Long ago, he had casually slain a Flame-Patterned Deer that had been wreaking havoc. He had preserved its meat using a special method, and even after ten thousand years, it remained as fresh and tender as ever.

Although Chen Hao wasn't much of a cook, meat from an exotic beast of the Primordial Era needed no elaborate seasonings. Simply boiling it in water and sprinkling on a little salt made it exquisitely delicious, far surpassing any delicacy in the mortal world.

Moreover, the meat contained pure spiritual energy. Even a little could strengthen an ordinary person's body and extend their life.

Carrying the meat, Chen Hao returned to a simple stone stove behind the pavilion.

He lit a fire, set a pot over it, poured in spring water from Spirit Creek, then cut the meat into chunks and tossed them in.

He used no elaborate seasonings at all, adding only a little fine salt.

In just a few short minutes.

An incredibly rich aroma burst forth, so enticing it made the soul tremble!

It wasn't an overpowering, pungent smell, but a mellow, full-bodied fragrance that whetted the appetite and drifted hundreds of meters on the wind.

The women in the pavilion immediately sniffed the air and rushed outside together.

"It smells so good!!"

"Oh my god! What is that smell? It's incredible!"

"I'm about to start drooling!"

Chen Hao stood beside the stone stove, the firelight softening his profile.

Against the twilight of this paradise, his youthful figure looked especially fresh and radiant.

Once the meat was cooked, Chen Hao carried the entire pot straight into the living room.

The moment he lifted the lid.

Whoosh—

The rich aroma of meat flooded the entire pavilion!

The chunks of meat were pale gold, and the broth was clear and bright. Each piece looked so tender that it would melt with the slightest press of the tongue.

There wasn't a trace of gaminess, only an exquisitely pure, savory fragrance.

Chen Siyao, Yang Wanqing, Cai Jingwen, and Li Li all stared, transfixed.

"Bro... wh-what kind of meat is this? It smells amazing!"

"Hao, can I have a piece first? Just one!"

Smiling, Chen Hao served each of them a bowl:

"Go ahead. Careful, it's hot."

Unable to hold back any longer, they picked up their spoons, gently scooped up a piece of meat, and put it into their mouths.

The next second—

Everyone's eyes flew wide open!

"!!!"

Chen Siyao went completely still. With the slightest press of her tongue, the meat melted in her mouth.

Savory, fragrant, tender, silky—all the sensations blended perfectly. A warm current slid down her throat, spreading warmth through every part of her body.

Even the best thing she had ever eaten in her life wasn't worthy of holding a candle to this bowl of meat!

"It's so good... oh, it's so delicious..."

Chen Siyao was so moved that her eyes reddened. She took bite after bite, unable to stop.

With the meat's fragrance lingering in her mouth, Yang Wanqing called out through a mouthful:

"Hao! Your cooking is incredible! This is the best thing I've ever eaten in my life! Nothing else even comes close!"

Usually so elegant, Cai Jingwen forgot all about appearances and ate in quick, small bites, her eyes filled with amazement:

"It's so delicious... this definitely isn't ordinary meat."

Li Li was holding the Wolf Cub. At the smell, it frantically nuzzled her hand, so she had no choice but to feed it a small piece first.

After eating it, the Wolf Cub clung to her leg and refused to let go, yelping for more.

The livestream chat had gone completely wild:

[Foodie Alliance: I'm drooling through the screen!]

[Destroyer: Please! Give me a bite! Just one!]

[Gourmet Connoisseur: This meat is definitely extraordinary! The texture, sheen, and aroma are all top-tier!]

As they ate, something suddenly occurred to Yang Wanqing. She looked up at Chen Hao with a mischievous smile:

"Hao, I finally understand now..."

"Understand what?"

"Why did you complain that the Queen Mother of the West's cooking was awful?"

Chen Siyao nearly spat out the meat in her mouth. "Hahaha, exactly! With cooking like yours, how could anyone stomach food made by someone else?"

Cai Jingwen couldn't help chuckling either. "Indeed. The comparison is brutal."

Their remarks left Chen Hao a little embarrassed. He cleared his throat and turned his face away:

"Just eat. Even this can't shut you up."

Despite having lived through countless ages, he still felt a little awkward being teased by a few young women.

The livestream viewers instantly caught the moment:

[Caught One: Hahahaha!]

[Puzzled Granny: Queen Mother of the West: In the end, my cooking just wasn't good enough!]

Just as everyone was enjoying the food amid constant laughter and chatter.

"Chirp—!"

A clear, pleasing birdcall came from outside the pavilion window.

Everyone looked up.

There stood Three Blue Birds, with blue, red, and gold feathers, perched elegantly on the windowsill. Head tilted, the bird stared straight at the pot of meat on the table with bright, lively eyes.

That little gaze plainly said:

[I want some too.]

Chen Siyao's eyes widened. "It's Three Blue Birds! What's it doing here?"

Yang Wanqing said softly, "It must have followed the smell... this meat smells so good that even a divine bird couldn't resist."

As though understanding her, Three Blue Birds nodded gently and let out another soft, sweet chirp.

There was none of the majesty of a divine bird from the Primordial Era. Instead, the bird looked like a big parrot wheedling for food.

Chen Hao looked at it and smiled helplessly. He picked up a piece of meat and held it out by the window:

"Want some?"