Pale Continent, Grass Valley Forest.
Here, a winding Jade River cut through the dark red wasteland.
Along its banks, star moss grass bloomed with a soft glow, bathing the riverbank in dreamlike light.
The clear river revealed its bed, transparent fish swimming through its murmuring waters.
Several flat boulders served as natural tables and stools.
Yang Xiu crouched beside a makeshift stove on the riverbank, watching the thick soup bubble in the pot.
The soup was an enticing milky white, with mushrooms gathered along the way and evenly cut chunks of meat rolling inside. Its aroma mingled with the crisp scent of vegetation and spread through the air.
"Tsk, boss, where on earth did you pick up these cooking skills?" Stone Statue sat cross-legged on a rock, an empty bowl before him, gazing eagerly at the pot. "I remember when I first joined you, the stuff you cooked-what a disaster. A blackened lump. Eagle Head almost thought you were brewing some new poison, but I ate it to survive. Still fresh in my memory."
As he spoke, Stone Statue dramatically patted his chest, looking frightened by the memory.
Beside him, Eagle Head was wiping his dagger. He replied without looking up, "Not almost. I was already prepared to die. Between starving and poisoning myself, I chose poison, and I really did nearly die from it."
The squad burst into irrepressible laughter.
Yang Xiu stirred the pot with a wooden spoon without turning around. "Shut up. Even food won't keep your mouths busy. This is called learning through practice. Monster World has so many strange ingredients. If we don't figure out how to make something tasty, are we supposed to chew on hard rations every day?"
"Exactly!" Black Snake immediately agreed from her seat not far from Yang Xiu. She propped