Chapter 61 (continued)

Everyone went upstairs to grill meat and chat.

Eermirisi was noticeably more agile at night than during the day; her speech and movements no longer had that slurred feeling from before.

The entire castle is in ruins.

There are hardly any intelligent creatures in the wilderness outside.

They sat atop the castle, with the ancient starry sky above them and a warm, golden campfire before them.

They would stick skewers of meat, strung together with some kind of branch, diagonally into the ground and let them roast over the campfire.

Flames licked at the meat skewers, forcing out the fat and making a sizzling sound.

Eermirisi saw that the meat was cooked, took a small jar of seasonings, and sprinkled a layer of seasoning powder on the meat skewers.

Xie Juanhan curiously, "What is this?"

Eermirisi handed him the jar. "Salt and spice powder."

Xie Juanhan picked up the jar and smelled it.

The spicy aroma hit his nose.

Eermirisi gestured. "Sprinkle it on the meat, then bake it again and it's ready to eat."

Xie Juanhan carefully sprinkled the seasoning powder onto the meat skewers.

The seasoning powder was firmly stuck to the meat's fat.

He grilled it again.

The heat brought out the spiciness of the spice powder, making the meat skewers smell incredibly appetizing.

Xie Juanhan distributed the grilled meat skewers to everyone.

He took a skewer himself, held the large piece of roasted meat in his teeth, and bit it down with a little force.

The meat was freshly grilled, with a layer of browned crust on the surface.

The oil coats the spice powder, making it stick firmly to the surface.

Xie Juanhan took a bite and tasted the salt, meat, and spices all at once.

This spice powder is spicy, sweet, and savory. When paired with salt, it brings out the full flavor of the roasted meat.

The barbecue tonight was excellent; the meat was tender, juicy, and delicious – one bite at a time.

Even the hardwood skewers used to skewer chunks of meat are excellent.

It must come from some kind of wild shrub; its wood is hard and has a unique aroma that gives the roasted meat an unusual flavor.

Xie Juanhan held the roasted meat up to his eyes and exclaimed, "This meat is so delicious!"

Not only Xie Juanhan liked it, but the furry creatures also loved this kind of barbecue.

They used their claws to press down on the wooden skewers, their sharp teeth to grab the meat, and with a tilt of their heads, they tore off a large piece of roasted meat.

As Eermirisi baked them, they ate them, their mouths soon becoming glistening with moisture.

The Companion Beast, in particular, were munching away on their roasted meat and no longer glared at Eermirisi.

Eermirisi: "Our specialty here is roasted meat. Hundreds of years ago, before the Tammi Kingdom was destroyed, roasted meat was the kingdom's signature dish."

"It lives up to its reputation." Xie Juanhan looked at the spice powder. "Is this spice powder a secret recipe?"

If not, they can take some home and probably make just as delicious barbecue at home.

"The spice powder isn't anything special; it mainly comes from Tammi Grass." Eermirisi turned to look out over the fields. "The highlands outside are covered in these grass seeds."

Xie Juanhan's eyes lit up slightly. "Are the grass seeds ripe now? Can we pick them?"

Telingewei chimed in, "Yes, I know where."

Xie Juanhan turned to look at Telingewei: "Shall we go pick some tomorrow?"

These grass seeds taste really good.

If I take it back and grind it into powder with the Spicy Clam, I should be able to make a spicy barbecue seasoning.

If I ever crave it again, I can bake some and try it anytime.

The roast meat that Eermirisi prepared was delicious, and the wine was also very good.

He specially prepared a sweet fruit wine that didn't have much of a bitter taste; instead, it was sweet, sour, and fragrant.

Even the little Demon Wolf licked it several times.

After eating and drinking their fill, Xie Juanhan and the others went back to their rooms in the castle to sleep.

Eermirisi stood atop the castle, guarding it, just as he had done for over a hundred thousand days and nights.

Eermirisi did not feel sad.

He lives a peaceful life and is now happy to be able to entertain friends again.

The next morning, he prepared roast meat and stems for Telingewei and his men, along with sweet fruit wine.

Xie Juanhan quietly asked Telingewei, "Did all these ingredients come from the wild?"

Telingewei nodded. "The Tammi Kingdom has been destroyed for a long time, and there are many ferocious beasts in the vicinity, so basically no humans come here."

Xie Juanhan understood. "No wonder the package he sent us was patched up; we should have brought some fabric as a gift."

Telingewei said in a low voice, "We can send gifts again in winter, on the day of the goddess's festival."

After breakfast, Xie Juanhan and the others, guided by Eermirisi, went out into the wild to collect grass seeds and also took the opportunity to explore the surrounding area.

When Xie Juanhan arrived yesterday, he was sitting on Telingewei's back and didn't get a good look at what was happening below.

Walking on the land today, he discovered that the soil here is extremely fertile.

The dark, oily soil was turned up, making it impossible to tell whether it was soil or animal excrement.

No wonder the plants here grow so well!

Xie Juanhan was intrigued. "This soil is really good. Let's take some back with us when we go."

Telingewei: "The soil in our Magic Forest is also very fertile."

"That's different; the soil from the two places has a different style." Xie Juanhan pulled on Telingewei's arm. "Help me carry some back; I want to study it."

Telingewei: "Back."

The fields were covered with withered, yellow grass.

Tammi Grass grows among wild grasses.

They carried baskets and could easily pick up Tammi Grass seeds every few steps.

The seeds of Tammi Grass are so plump that it's almost impossible to tell they are wild.

Their ears of grain were heavy, hanging in clusters, Xie Juanhan could easily gather a large handful with a casual flick of his wrist.

The freshly harvested grass seeds are also fragrant, spicy, sweet, and fresh, with a rich and pleasant aroma.

Xie Juanhan guessed it would be delicious stewed with meat; he could try it another day.

They picked grass seeds.

Wild animals nearby dared not approach them and all kept their distance.

Except for Griffin.

Xie Juanhan noticed that the Griffin that had delivered the message to them was approaching and following them.

The little ones weren't so averse to Griffin in the unfamiliar place, and quickly became friends with them.

With the Griffin as their local guide, they not only gathered grass seeds, but also picked a lot of wild fruits and dug up a lot of wild vegetables.

On high ground.

The sky seemed lower than the sky in the Magic Forest.

The clouds here are big and thick, and the grass is fragrant and soft.

The little ones quickly started rolling around on the grass carpet and even learned to grass ski without any instruction.

They lay sprawled on the grass, their thick fur providing an advantage, and slid down the slopes with their bellies pressed against the grass.

The Griffin glide with them.

As they swoop down, they get excited and howl.

The Griffin also joined in with their howls.

Xie Juanhan and Telingewei could hear their calls from a great distance.

Since we can determine their safety by sound, there's no need to see them with our own eyes.

The two dragons looked at each other and walked tacitly into the depths of the grassland, behind the bushes.

Using the bushes for cover, they drew closer to each other and kissed behind them.

Their lips met, their tongues rubbed together, and they kissed repeatedly.

They were captivated by the intimacy and unique tactile sensations.

After the kiss, Xie Juanhan out of breath and looked at Telingewei: "Again?"

Telingewei embraced his narrow waist and kissed him without hesitation, forcefully invading his mouth and rubbing his tongue against his.

They kissed passionately, their kisses intense and evenly matched.

Just then, they heard a faint sound coming from behind the bushes.

It looks like something is coming.

Neither of the dragons paid any attention.

With their strength, if a wild animal were to ambush them, it would be like delivering food to them.

This will save them from having to go hunting after they finish picking the grass seeds.

They continued kissing.

After another kiss, they looked at each other, trying to calm their breathing and intense physical reactions.

Xie Juanhan listened intently. "Harper and the others seem to be quite far away."

Telingewei wiped the water from Xie Juanhan lips and then stroked his soft lips. "They probably ran off while playing."

Xie Juanhan: "Go find them now? In unfamiliar places, we can't let them wander too far."

Telingewei was a little reluctant, but he still took Xie Juanhan's hand and prepared to leave.

They had only taken two steps when a faint meow came from the bushes. "Meow?"

Xie Juanhan pulled Telingewei's hand, making him stop. "Wait, a cat meowing?"

Telingewei listened carefully. "Over there."

They followed the sound, parted the grass, and saw a golden-brown Griffin cub nestled inside.

This Griffin cub is chubby, covered in soft golden-brown fur, with a tuft of white fur at the tip of its tail.

It was clearly only a month old, with small wings on its back covered only by a thin layer of feathers.

Clearly, it couldn't have flown this far with just those two soft little wings.

Someone must have brought it here.

Xie Juanhan picked up the baby Griffin, cradling its rump in his palm, and looked it in the eye. "Who brought you here?"

The baby Griffin writhed and struggled, its four claws flailing wildly. "Meow!"

It sounds more like a cat meowing.

Xie Juanhan: "Did the Griffin bring you here?"

Little Griffin: "Meow!"

Xie Juanhan muttered, "I knew it was acting suspiciously when it came in."

Telingewei: "Griffin are about as intelligent as Demon Wolf, except they don't use human language."