Ziqian's lips curved into a bitter smile.
Xue immediately noticed the changes on Ziqian. "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice low but laced with concern.
Ziqian quickly smoothed his expression and shook his head. "Nothing… maybe I just moved too quickly."
Ziqian ignored the strange heaviness in his chest and lowered his gaze. There was no use paying attention to it—this was not the first time he had felt the guardians' emotions flare whenever they overheard gossip about him, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. Like what he always does, he chose not to dwell on it and instead busied himself with preparing the ingredients for dinner.
Yet, no matter how composed he seemed, Xue's gaze swept over him, lingering on the faint marks along his skin.
Xue's lips pressed into a thin line. "I told you to rest."
Ziqian exhaled quietly, stealing a glance at Xue, who was still watching him intently. "Don't worry," he said more softly this time, lips curving into a faint smile. "I'm fine. I'm just too excited to cook food."
It wasn't a lie. Before he felt Ero and Phi's emotions, his chest really had fluttered at the thought of finally tasting something other than roasted meat and boiled red root. He had gathered the ingredients and had the tools he needed—it would be his first chance to prepare something familiar, something warm.
A few bruises, a few whispers… those things could wait. Nothing would stop him from cooking tonight.
Xue didn't press further, but he quietly reached over, taking the basket from Ziqian's grasp. One after another, he gathered all the ingredients and tools, leaving Ziqian empty-handed.
Ziqian blinked at him, momentarily stunned. "I can still do it," he said, a trace of exasperation in his voice.
"Let me handle them," Xue firmly said.
Ziqian gave a small laugh under his breath, half in amusement, half in surrender. "Fine, but at least let me tell you what to do."
After checking all the current ingredients they found these past few days. His lips curved in satisfaction—tonight, there would be sautéed vegetables, white adobo, fried meat, and a proper boiled meat soup.
Xue didn't let Ziqian touch the bone knife. Xue's grip was firm and unyielding. All the cutting and slicing naturally fell to him, while Ziqian stood by his side, giving instructions.
"Cut the bitter melons thinly," Ziqian said, his tone patient, almost coaxing. "And the gizzards and livers of the one-horned birds cut them in much bigger slices."
Xue's hand stilled for a moment at the mention of the innards. His sharp nose already recalled their foul smell and the tough, rubbery texture he had forced himself to eat in the past. His expression darkened, but without a word, he pressed on, the bone knife flashing against the cutting board. Each slice was even and precise, following every word Ziqian spoke.
The sub-beast, noticing the faint crease in Xue's brows, smiled faintly. "Don't look so grim. Trust me, it tastes good."
Xue didn't argue, only handed over the neatly cut slices. Ziqian soaked the innards in salted water to make them tender and lessen the metallic taste. Then he rubbed the sliced bitter melon with salt, rinsed the slices, and slipped them into a bowl of salted water, letting them rest for a few minutes to mellow their natural bitterness.
Ziqian glanced at the chopping board and then at the basket of raw meat. "Cut a bit more, Xue," he said softly. "We'll need extra for the vegetables later… and another batch for frying."
Xue said nothing and simply reached for the larger slab of meat and began slicing it into neat, even strips under Ziqian's watchful eyes.
While the bitter melon rested, Ziqian pulled the dried chilis he had carefully strung up days ago. Their crimson skins were shriveled, yet they still held a sharp, fiery fragrance that prickled the nose. Pouring a small handful onto a flat stone, he took another smooth stone in hand and ground them down patiently into coarse flakes.
The dry crackle of chilis grinding filled the quiet space, mixing with the low rhythm of Xue's bone knife chopping meats, creating a homely atmosphere.
Ziqian brushed the crushed chilis into a small bowl. He wanted to make chili oil—something with real heat and fragrance that could bring all the dishes together.
The day before yesterday, he saw Yan in the forest, digging a pit to bury the heap of white fat and discarded innards—unwanted spoils from the hunt. It was the tribe's way of disposing of what they could not eat. Ziqian, however, had stopped him and asked for the white fat.
Yan had given him a strange look but handed it over without question. After rendering it down carefully over a slow flame, Ziqian had jars of clean lard ready to use. It wasn't the healthiest oil, but it was better than nothing.
Tonight, that lard would be the base for his chili oil.
Ziqian heated a pan and dropped in a chunk of lard, watching as it slowly melted into clear oil. When tiny bubbles began to rise on the surface, he lifted the pan and carefully poured the hot oil over the ground chili. A sharp, fiery aroma burst forth as the mixture sizzled and hissed. With a small pinch of salt added, the bright red oil gleamed under the firelight.
Just three simple steps, and he already had chili oil.
It didn't taste as good as the one on Earth, but at least his cravings for spicy would be satisfied. A faint smile tugged at Ziqian's lips as he set the small bowl of chili oil aside with care.
Ziqian then sautéed the sliced onions and tomatoes, letting their aroma rise with the smoke before tossing in the thinly sliced meat. He stirred the mixture just enough before leaving it to simmer gently for five minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
While waiting, Ziqian drained the bitter melon he had set aside earlier as he gestured to Xue to set another pan over the fire and slowly teach him how to fry.
With steady hands, Xue laid the thick meat cuts onto the hot pan. The sizzle of fat rang out, filling the small space with a mouthwatering aroma.
Ziqian liked eating fried food, but he wasn't fond of frying it himself—the sharp sting of hot oil splattering on his skin was something he'd never gotten used to. Each time the pan hissed and popped, he unconsciously leaned back, lips pressed into a thin line.
Xue noticed. Without a word, he shifted his stance, placing his broad frame just slightly in front of Ziqian as though shielding him from the pan. His movements were calm and steady, almost too careful for someone his size, turning the sizzling meat once it was golden just the way Ziqian had instructed.
The man continued to fry several large pieces of meat, each one searing perfectly in the pan. Ziqian had told him earlier that it wasn't only for the two of them—he wanted to share some with Lia, Bei, and the elders who had always shown kindness to him since his arrival.
Ziqian left the frying to Xue, who had quickly adapted the art, to continue making his own dishes.
Because he had felt upset earlier, Ziqian decided not to restrain himself. He would exhaust all their harvest and make a feast so fragrant that those envious sub-beasts would be left swallowing their own saliva. If they wanted to talk about him behind his back, then let them do it with watering mouths and empty bowls.
Stay envious!
The continuous fragrant smell wafted out from Ziqian's tent, catching the noses of those passing by. One after another, beasts and females slowed their steps, their heads instinctively turning toward the source.
Outside the tent, several of them stopped altogether, inhaling deeply with wide eyes. The sizzling of meat, the mellow sweetness of simmering broth, and the sharp, spicy kick of chili oil all blended together into a mouthwatering aroma that drew anyone nearby.
"What… what is that smell?" A young female whispered, clutching the hide in her hands.
"I've never smelled something like this before," another beast murmured, his stomach giving a loud growl despite not knowing where the smell came from.
"Is Ziqian making something?" a petite female asked, standing on her tiptoes as if the extra height would help her catch a better whiff of the tantalizing aroma.
"It smells so delicious!" another replied, her eyes practically shining.
"I heard that Ziqian was looking for edible plants in the forest. Didn't he almost get poisoned last time?" A brunette female said, lowering her voice with a mix of concern and gossip. "He even got hurt earlier."
"Why does he even need to do that?" a chubby female named Tin curiously asked. As a sub-beast, Ziqian didn't need to do hard work.
"I heard that Ziqian wants to help the tribe have more variety of food. He is so beautiful and kind," Gal said, his voice full of admiration.
Sue giggled behind her hand. "Careful, Gal. If that group hears you praising Ziqian like that, they might get jealous."
An older female snorted. "Gal is just speaking the truth. Those arrogant sub-beasts gossip about Ziqian every day, but have they even gone out of their way to bring back something new for the tribe?"
The brunette female named Sia suddenly remembered, "Tei told me yesterday that Ziqian found a seed that can be eaten. She said that it tastes delicious, and her cubs like it."
Tin, who liked to eat, widened his eyes. "Really? What kind of seed is it? Is it really delicious?" she asked excitedly.
"I don't know, but Yan, Tei, and Qiu tasted it themselves."
Just then, another female carrying a cub overheard their conversation and joined in. "Ziqian gave some to my child, and he likes it." She reached into her small pouch and proudly showed them a handful of sunflower seeds.
The group discussion became more lively when the female showed them the seeds. "Ziqian gave some to those children who always played with him," she said warmly, remembering the kind gesture of the sub-beast.
The cub in her arms squealed and reached for the seeds, stuffing one into his mouth.
"Really?" Tin's round face lit up with surprise. "So it's not just talk—he actually shares them?"
"Of course."
Tin scratched her head thoughtfully. "If only I knew, I would have followed and played with him too..."
"Are you a cub?" Sia laughed, covering her mouth with her hand.
The others burst into chuckles, and even Tin's round cheeks flushed red. "What? I'm serious! If the cubs get delicious food, then why not me?" she grumbled, though her eyes kept drifting longingly toward the tent.
"I want to know what he's making now. It smells so different… I've never wanted to eat so badly."
Several heads nodded in agreement, their curiosity mixing with the growing rumble of their stomachs.