This was a basic but effective way to preserve food in the wilderness.
By the time he finished, the moon had risen.
Deep darkness and dead silence settled over the camp. The only sound was the wind howling through the conifers.
Su Wei could finally sit down and prepare himself a celebratory feast.
He switched on the camp light, driving away a small patch of darkness around the tent.
He took out his portable gas stove and opened the valve.
"Whoosh-"
A deep blue flame sprang up, bringing a trace of warmth and vitality to the cold, snowy night.
He set the small frying pan over the flame, then took a small piece of butter from his seasoning box and tossed it into the pan.
"Sizzle!"
The butter melted rapidly, and the rich aroma of fat burst into the frigid air.
He had set aside tonight's main course especially for himself.
It was also the finest part of the black-tailed deer.
The heart, the liver, and a small piece of tenderloin.
Even though black-tailed deer heart and liver were quite valuable, in Alaskan hunting circles,
these two things had always been the best way to reward a hunter.
Besides, Su Wei was already exhausted from the day and badly needed a delicious meal to reward himself.
Even in debt, he still needed the comfort of good food in his life.
Only then would it be a fitting reward for his hard work.
He wasn't the sort of person who would scrimp on even his food for the sake of money.
A life like that would be far too dull.
He started with the liver.
The fresh deer liver was purplish red, with a delicate texture.
He used his hunting knife to cut it into evenly thick slices, then pulled out half an onion and cut it into thin strips as well.
Once the butter in the pan was hot, he tossed in the onion strips to release their aroma.
The sweetness of the onion mingled with the fragrance of the butter. The smell alone was enough to make his mouth water.
Cotton Candy had long since grown impatient waiting beside him. Her little nose twitched constantly, and she made eager "gurgling" sounds in her throat as she circled Su Wei's legs frantically.
Su Wei paid her no attention, his gaze fixed firmly on the pan.
When the onion strips turned golden brown and slightly soft, he immediately slid the sliced liver into the pan.
The scorching butter instantly seared the surface of the liver, sealing in its moisture.
He stir-fried it quickly, adding only a little salt and ground black pepper.
After no more than a minute, the edges of the liver curled slightly and its texture turned tender and pink. He immediately took it out of the pan.
A moment too long and it would be tough; a moment too short and it would be raw.
Now, it was just right.
He didn't hurry to eat. He gave the pan a quick wipe and added another small piece of butter.
This time, it was the real star's turn to appear.
Black-tailed deer tenderloin.
This tender cut, known as the "venison fillet," had almost no fat or sinew and was one of the finest parts of the deer.
He cut it into steaks two fingers thick and pressed them gently with his palm.
When the pan heated up again, he put the venison steaks in.
"Sizzle-!"
The sound was louder than before. The instant the steaks touched the scorching butter, the protein quickly browned, and an even more overpowering aroma of meat soared into the air.
He didn't turn them much, simply waiting patiently.
A minute and a half later, he flipped the steaks.
The side that had touched the pan had formed a browned crust with an enticing sheen.
After the same amount of time, he took the steaks out and put them on a clean stone slab to "rest," letting the juices redistribute evenly inside.
Last came the heart, still warm.
He cut it in half, washed out the blood clots inside, and sliced it thin.
This time, he didn't even add more oil. He simply used the deer fat and butter left in the pan to sear the heart slices quickly until they changed color.
By the time he finished, fine beads of sweat had appeared on Su Wei's forehead.
He arranged the three trophies on the stone slab in front of him.
Deer liver stir-fried with onions, fragrant and golden.
Pan-seared deer tenderloin, crisp on the outside and tender pink within.
Seared deer heart with a springy, chewy texture.
The simple seasoning and presentation brought out the pure, natural flavors of the ingredients all the more.
This was the wilderness's generous reward to a successful hunter.
He picked up his fork and speared a piece of liver first.
The moment it entered his mouth, the liver's delicate texture melted on his tongue. It carried the light sweetness of the onion and the richness of the butter, with no trace of gaminess, only a deep, savory freshness.
So tender!
Its exquisite tenderness came with its natural juices, free of any extra flavors.
And just like that, exquisite savoriness exploded in Su Wei's mouth!
Su Wei unconsciously began to chew more carefully.
Next came the rested deer tenderloin.
He cut into it, revealing a beautiful rose-pink center. Abundant juices immediately seeped from between the fibers.
He cut off a small piece and put it in his mouth.
His teeth easily broke through the browned crust, followed by the unexpected softness and tenderness inside.
It nearly melted in his mouth, and the pure aroma of meat burst forth in his mouth.
It tasted better than the food at many high-end steakhouses he had eaten at.
This primal flavor was also a delicacy he had never tasted before.
[Ding!] [You have completed a high-quality wilderness cooking session. Life Module experience +15.] [Life Module lv2 (33/300)] [The outstanding quality of the ingredients and the perfect cooking technique have been detected. "Simple Dietary Supplementation" effect triggered!] [Temporary buff: "Qi and Blood Recovery" (faint). Effect: Accelerates physical recovery and slightly relieves muscle fatigue for the next 3 hours.]
Su Wei felt warmth rising within him as a current of heat spread from his stomach to his limbs and throughout his body. He let out a long breath of white vapor.
He picked up the last slice of seared deer heart and put it in his mouth.
Unlike the soft tenderness of the liver and tenderloin, the deer heart had an especially springy texture and a distinctive chew. With every bite, juices burst between his teeth.
Beside him, Cotton Candy was so anxious she was nearly standing up. Her two front paws kept pawing at Su Wei's pant leg, and she let out pitiful whimpers.
Only after finishing his own portion did Su Wei leisurely wipe his mouth.
He looked at the little fox, then cut off a small piece of raw, unseasoned tenderloin and placed it on his finger.
"Sit."
Cotton Candy immediately sat obediently, her blue eyes fixed longingly on the meat in his hand.
"Good."
Su Wei offered her the meat.
Cotton Candy snatched it up in a flash and swallowed it straight down, unable to bear even chewing it.
Then she licked her lips, still wanting more, her tail wagging frantically.
Su Wei cut off another small piece and repeated the command.
The meal also became a little obedience training session.
[An impromptu lesson. Beast Taming experience +13. Beast Taming Module lv2 (41/300).]
Once he had eaten and drunk his fill, Su Wei cleaned up his utensils.