Gan Ning wielded a large cleaver with such speed that Zhuge Liang could barely see the movements as the massive fish was sliced and placed on a nearby board. The entrails were then unceremoniously dumped into the sea. Meanwhile, Taishi Ci came over, carrying a large pot.
"Clank, clank, clank!" The two of them swung their weapons skillfully, quickly reducing the fish into large chunks. The skin was peeled off and thrown into the sea—cleaning it was just too much effort. By this time, Mi Fang had already arrived, lugging a large jug of fresh water and another filled with various herbs and spices.
"Whoosh!" Water was poured into the pot, followed by the spices and half a jar of salt. Large pieces of fish were tossed into the air, chopped into fist-sized portions with a single swing of Gan Ning's cleaver, and thrown into the pot. Finally, Gan Lan tossed in some freshly made tofu.
"Alright, let it simmer until nightfall, and it'll be ready to eat," Gan Ning said, wiping his cleaver with a cloth before slinging it back over his shoulder. Laughing heartily, he turned to Zhuge Liang, "The flavor is incredible, heh heh!"
"Is this supposed to be dinner?" Zhuge Liang felt his eyelid twitch. Was this really how they cooked?
"Hmph, don't underestimate this method! Even though it may seem rough and wild, the result is quite delicious, heh heh. You'll see, tonight's dinner will be great!" Gan Ning laughed in his signature carefree manner. "We'll eat this with steamed buns for dinner."
"Kongming, don't be fooled by Xingba's wild methods. Though he doesn't care much about manners, he's actually from a noble family. He may not seem like it, but he knows all about fine food," Mi Fang said with a chuckle as he noticed Zhuge Liang's skepticism. "Believe it or not, this fish stew turns out great. I think it's delicious, though the way he makes it is a bit... unconventional. Not sure where he learned it."
Seeing Zhuge Liang's continued doubts, Mi Fang patted him on the shoulder and added, "Don't worry, you'll see for yourself tonight. This method may look crude, but the taste is solid. We have this meal every now and then. Xingba also does grilled fish sometimes, but that's terrible."
"This way of cooking actually tastes good?" Zhuge Liang said with a wry smile. While he hadn't spent much time in the kitchen himself, he was certain that this wasn't how you were supposed to cook. Would it even absorb the flavors properly?
"Trust us, you'll find out tonight. It's actually pretty good," Taishi Ci reassured him. "I remember eating this for twenty days straight with Xingba and not getting tired of it. It's really not bad."
"You all eat like this regularly? No issues?" Chen Xi joined them, eyeing the large pot balanced on a stone platform. Though he had initially suggested this method to Gan Ning, he couldn't help but wonder if it was really okay.
"Don't worry! I've been eating this for a while now, and I'm perfectly fine. We've tried boiling just about everything we can pull out of the sea. Hey, Gan Lan, throw in whatever you just pulled up!" Gan Ning instructed as he pointed at Gan Lan, who was hauling up some seaweed. "It tastes pretty good too, and it helps nourish internal energy."
With that, Gan Ning casually tossed the seaweed into the pot. His cooking method was indeed as carefree as his personality. To him, whatever was thrown into the pot would taste fine. But to Zhuge Liang, this was completely unacceptable—could they really eat this?
Chen Xi didn't say much more. After all, this was all-natural and fresh, and it didn't seem like there was any real problem with it. Gan Ning had been eating this way for quite some time, and it had practically become the navy's standard meal. Still, the wild cooking method made Chen Xi feel a bit uneasy.
After setting dinner to cook, Gan Ning led Chen Xi to the cabin to meet Guan Hai. Though technically a prisoner, once Gan Ning learned his identity, Guan Hai's treatment improved significantly. He ate the same food as Gan Ning, and the guards initially assigned to watch him were dismissed. Guan Hai could escape whenever he wanted, but Gan Ning believed that a man of such honor wouldn't run.
True enough, when Gan Ning arrived, the door to Guan Hai's cabin was wide open, but Guan Hai lay on the floor with no intention of fleeing.
"Guan Hai, I've come to see you," Gan Ning said, appearing suddenly beside him.
Hearing his name, Guan Hai was startled. Before leaving, Guan Yu had specifically told him not to reveal his identity to anyone, including Gan Ning, the navy general who was supposed to take him to Yizhou for a peaceful retirement.
Having survived the chaos and gained newfound clarity, Guan Hai was relieved to know his future was secure. Naturally, he accepted Guan Yu's conditions without hesitation, keeping a low profile throughout the journey. He was just waiting for Guan Yu's further arrangements. He didn't remember ever revealing his name to the familiar-looking man before him.
After all, Guan Yu had been deeply impressed by Guan Hai's loyalty and trustworthiness. After Guan Hai agreed to his requests, Guan Yu promised to find a good position for every Yellow Turban leader and take care of the elderly and weak among them. He assured Guan Hai that he could retire in peace, even leaving a deputy general position for him when he returned. Guan Yu had pledged that any achievements he earned would also be credited to Guan Hai, from the day he left. This sincerity filled Guan Hai with satisfaction over his decision.
Now, as his dream of a good life was within reach—just a few years of keeping a low profile, and he could become a general of the Han, earn merits, rise through the ranks, and eventually receive noble titles, securing a legacy for his family. But now, someone had called out his name. How could this happen?
Guan Hai sprang to his feet, preparing to subdue the two men before him. He needed to silence them before anyone else discovered his identity. If news got out that he was still alive, it could jeopardize Lord Xuande's foundation, especially now that the Yellow Turbans had just been subdued, and his influence was at its peak.
"Wham!" Guan Hai was a man of decisive action, and when it came to matters involving the Yellow Turbans, he didn't hesitate. He leaped up and kicked towards Gan Ning's neck, but Gan Ning blocked it with his left arm and countered with a punch aimed at Guan Hai's abdomen.
"Bang, bang, bang!" A rapid exchange of blows followed, with Gan Ning leaping back slightly disheveled, and Guan Hai also retreating, his eyes now coldly focused on Gan Ning.
"Who are you, and how do you know my name?" Guan Hai asked, his gaze intense. The brief clash had shown him that it wouldn't be easy to take down his opponent, and revealing his identity was not an option. His eyes flickered toward Chen Xi.