Beast Pet, Enhanced Body Part?

Wang, who had still been lamenting the waste, caught the aroma and involuntarily drew a deep breath. The complaints on the tip of her tongue suddenly stuck.

That aroma... was far too enticing!

Even Li Zhong, who had originally thought stewing it into soup would be better, visibly swallowed.

Unhurried, Li Xuan slowly turned the wooden branch, letting the meat heat evenly.

The goat leg was thick and required patience.

Under the high heat, the outer layer gradually tightened, its color shifting from deep red to light brown.

Finally, bathed in fat and licked by the flames.

It took on an appetizing caramel sheen, interwoven with gold and red.

The fatty portions, in particular, had turned translucent and quivered as though they might melt at any moment.

Fat kept dripping down, setting off a string of sizzling sounds and an even richer aroma.

The room fell quiet, leaving only that enticing sound and the dancing firelight.

Xing'er sat beside Li Xiuer, staring unblinkingly at the golden roasted goat meat glistening with fat.

Her little hands unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes. Her stomach betrayed her with a soft growl, and she immediately lowered her head in embarrassment, even the tips of her ears turning red.

At last, Li Xuan judged that the meat was nearly ready.

Using his woodcutter's blade, he sliced off a perfectly roasted piece from the outer layer and offered it to Li Shan first. "Dad, try some."

Li Shan took it. The slice was slightly crisp on the outside, but still brimming with juices within, steam rising from it.

He blew on it and put it into his mouth.

For an instant, the old man's chewing stopped.

Then his eyes narrowed slightly, and his cheeks moved as he chewed slowly and firmly.

The distinctive aroma of wild goat, rich and savory without a trace of gaminess, burst forth the moment his teeth tore through its fibers.

The coarse salt brought out the sweetness deep within the meat with just the right touch of saltiness.

The charcoal's distinctive roasted fragrance and a faint hint of pine smoke pushed that wild flavor to its peak. The meat was exceptionally firm without being dry, its fibers full of trapped juices, and every chew released a fresh wave of flavor.

That texture, that flavor, was utterly unlike any goat meat he remembered eating.

"Good... good!"

Li Shan swallowed the meat and uttered only those two words, but the relaxed wrinkles on his face and the lingering yearning in his eyes said everything.

Li Xuan then cut portions for Li Zhong, Wang, Xiu'er, and Xing'er.

Li Zhong took his and bit off a huge mouthful. It was so hot that he kept puffing out breaths, yet he couldn't bear to spit it out.

Chewing in great gulps, he wore a simple grin of near rapture and mumbled:

"So fragrant! Really fragrant! Better than stewed!"

"Slow down! Nobody's fighting you for it!"

Wang rolled her eyes at her husband and took a dubious little bite. Her eyes immediately lit up.

The lightly charred, crisp exterior formed a wonderful contrast with the tender, juicy interior.

The rich meaty aroma needed almost no other seasoning to conquer her taste buds.

She finally stopped fretting over the "shrinkage," because the flavor of this roasted goat meat was entirely worth it!

She couldn't resist another bite, savoring it carefully. So meat... could actually taste this good?

Li Xiuer and Xing'er ate until their little mouths shone with grease. Xiu'er chattered excitedly:

"Third Brother! It's delicious! Better... better than anything!"

Xing'er ate in tiny bites, cherishing every mouthful.

With each chew, the glow of happiness on her face grew brighter.

She stole a glance up at Li Xuan as he portioned out the meat, and her face flushed.

But halfway through, she stopped eating and carefully tucked the larger remaining portion inside her clothes.

She planned to take it home for her elderly grandmother.

"Xiu'er, Brother Xuan, I'll head home now. Grandma's waiting for me. If I don't go back soon, she'll worry."

"Xing'er, wait."

Li Xuan fetched a bowl, went to the kitchen, and ladled out some of the goat soup his sister-in-law had just cooked, then handed it to her.

"Take this back to help your grandmother build up her strength."

Xing'er's eyes reddened.

"Thank you, Brother Xuan."

"No need."

After Xing'er left, Li Xuan cut himself a large piece and put it into his mouth.

As that firm chunk of meat blossomed across his taste buds.

A torrent of heat, far fiercer and more vast than what the rabbit and Mountain Pheasant meat had provided before.

Surged from his stomach throughout his body like a river bursting through its banks!

[First effective consumption of "Adult Wild Goat Leg Meat." Physique experience greatly increased!]

[Hunted and consumed valuable large prey. Awarded an additional massive amount of Hunting Points!]

[Hunting Points +20!]

Twenty points! Li Xuan's heart jolted, and understanding followed.

It seemed the Hunting Panel's rewards depended not merely on the act of hunting itself.

They were also closely tied to the prey's "quality" and "quantity"!

Whether in size, strength, or hunting difficulty, a wild goat was far beyond a rabbit or Mountain Pheasant.

The points it provided increased geometrically as well!

To grow stronger faster, I couldn't settle for these little skirmishes. I had to challenge stronger, more valuable prey!

The roasted goat leg left the whole family satisfied, its fragrance lingering on their tongues. Li Zhong even painstakingly sucked the last traces of meat and marrow from the crevices of the bones.

The charcoal still held its warmth, and the room was cozy, shutting the wind and snow out completely.

After dinner, Li Xuan helped clean up, then said to Li Shan, Li Zhong, and Wang:

"Dad, Eldest Brother, Sister-in-law, I'll go to the market in town with you tomorrow."

"While this goatskin is still fresh and hasn't been tanned, we should have a knowledgeable fur dealer look at it and get a good price. Hides are in high demand in snowy weather, so it should fetch a little more."

Li Xuan paused. "Also, I remember Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law saying that the yellow essence and poria planted on our little hillside plots should be ready to dig up, right?"

"Just before heavy snow seals off the mountains is when the herb merchants buy stock. If we wait any longer, they might drive down the price. Since I'm going along, we can look out for one another and sell the herbs too."

Li Zhong and Wang exchanged a glance and both nodded.

Li Zhong said, "Third Brother's right. We need to get those herb plots taken care of soon. Your sister-in-law and I were already planning to visit the town market these next couple of days, but the long journey put us off for a few days... Having you along would be wonderful!"

The moment Li Xiuer heard they were going to town, she sprang up and hugged Li Xuan's arm.

"Third Brother! I want to go too! I want to go to the market in town! I've never been!"

Wang tried to dissuade her. "Xiu'er, town is too far away. We have to leave before daybreak and spend most of the day on mountain roads, with ice and snow everywhere. Can those little legs of yours manage it? Listen to your sister-in-law. We'll take you when the weather warms up."

Li Xiuer's little face immediately crumpled.

She tugged at Li Xuan's clothes and gazed up at him pleadingly, her big eyes full of longing and hurt.

Li Xuan's heart softened. He crouched down and said gently, "Be good, Xiu'er. The journey really is too long and cold this time. I promise that next time, once the weather warms up, I'll take you to town just to have fun. We'll watch acrobatics and buy sugar figurines, all right? This time, I'll bring you back something delicious—crispy candy and sesame cakes that you can only get in town. How does that sound?"

Hearing about the treats and his promise for next time, Li Xiuer still felt a little reluctant.

But she was finally soothed. She nodded unwillingly and held out her little finger. "Pinky promise!"

"Pinky promise." Smiling, Li Xuan hooked his finger around hers.

With everyone well fed, the night grew deep and quiet.

The rich aroma of charcoal-roasted goat leg still seemed to linger among the beams and pillars.

The whole family had sunk into sweet, deep sleep. Only the faint crack of accumulated snow snapping dead branches outside the window made the night seem quieter still.

Lying on the heated brick bed, Li Xuan did not immediately allocate the enormous haul of points he had earned that day. His attention was wholly absorbed in the Hunting Panel in his mind.

[Available Hunting Points: 28]

[Li Xuan]

Physique: 1.3

Dexterity: 1.3 (+[Wild Rabbit Agility][Featherfall][Swiftness])

[Archery Mastery: Proficient (2/30)]

[Beast Pet: Unnamed (Forest Wolf cub)]

[Status: Weak (recovering), hungry, contract-bound]

[Enhanced Body Part: 0]

[Hint: Focus your consciousness to perform in-depth inspection and interaction.]

"Beast Pet... enhanced body part?"