He wasn't a wilderness survival expert, nor had he ever learned to cook. All his time was spent on scientific research, and he spent more days living in the lab than at home... Although he held seven Ph.D. titles, when it came to life skills, Bruce Banner honestly couldn't even get a passing grade.
Take, for example, the saber-toothed salmon he roasted. They were either undercooked or burnt, and to top it off, the innards weren't cleaned properly, and he hadn't used the wild herbs growing around the cabin to marinate them and remove the fishy smell... In short, the finished product's taste was truly nothing to write home about.
"Pfft, pfft, pfft!" After taking a small bite, an indescribable taste exploded in his mouth, and Bruce Banner quickly spat out several mouthfuls of saliva.
Could such roasted fish win over the big guy in front of him? Wouldn't it just enrage it?
Looking at the roasted fish skewered on a stick, then at Da Bai, who was waiting at the side, already 'eager to try,' Bruce couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive.
'It can't be worse than raw,' Bruce mused for a moment, finally deciding to give it a try.
Well, he had originally wanted to roast another one, but judging by Da Bai's appearance, it clearly didn't look like it could wait any longer.
Carefully taking the roasted fish off the stick, managing to keep it mostly intact, he stood up and, with some trepidation, approached Da Bai, who had already opened its large mouth, waiting to be fed. After a brief hesitation, Bruce finally raised his arms and tossed the still-steaming roasted fish into Da Bai's mouth.
Fearing that Da Bai would attack him if it wasn't satisfied, Bruce subtly retreated several steps, quietly preparing to 'flee into the cabin immediately if things go wrong'... Although his cooking skills were beyond terrible, his observational skills were quite good. After noticing Da Bai's movements earlier, he had already guessed some of the inside story, roughly concluding the fact that 'this Tyrannosaurus Rex values the cabin and probably won't destroy it.'
"Woof~."
Observing Da Bai's reaction with unease, Bruce was a little surprised to find that Da Bai didn't seem to mind the strange taste of the roasted fish.
'That's right, it's used to eating raw food, so a little fishiness isn't a big deal for it.'
'It's also possible that a Tyrannosaurus Rex's taste buds are different from humans; what I find unpalatable might be exactly what it likes.'
'Or...'
The occupational disease of a scientific researcher kicked in, and he subconsciously began to analyze the reasons behind it. In a flash, Bruce had already come up with several possibilities.
A sense of accomplishment welled up, giving Bruce a burst of motivation. Also, because the hunger in his stomach hadn't been alleviated and he needed to continue eating, Bruce returned to the campfire, refocusing his attention on roasting raw fish.
The more discerning the diner, the more they can inspire a chef's potential and hone their skills.
The reverse is also true.
Because Da Bai wasn't picky, Bruce's fish-roasting skills remained stagnant. After roasting seven or eight in a row, there was still no improvement whatsoever.
However, even a blind cat sometimes catches a dead mouse. After roasting so many, there were bound to be one or two edible pieces of good meat. By picking and choosing, Bruce finally managed to fill his stomach.
'What should I do next?' He went to the river, took a few gulps of clear water, washed away the strange taste lingering in his mouth, and then looked back at the Tyrannosaurus Rex, which was lying by the campfire, seemingly dozing off. Bruce began to ponder: 'I can't be sure if it will always maintain this attitude. If so, then it's fine. But if not... safety first, I should leave here first and avoid it.'
Unfamiliar with the place, where should he go?
From the appearance of the dinosaurs, he guessed that he might have traveled through time and arrived at an ancient Earth... As soon as he thought of this, Bruce felt another wave of discouragement.
Just as Bruce was undecided and feeling lost about the future,
A sharp eagle's cry echoed from the sky.
He instinctively looked up, and a giant eagle, comparable in size to a small car, descended from the sky and landed beside the Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Not knowing that the giant eagle and the Tyrannosaurus Rex were allies, he assumed they would surely clash. Fearing he would be caught in the crossfire, Bruce quickly jumped into the river and hid behind a reef.
"Screech~, chirp chirp~."
"Roar~."
"Caw caw, gurgle gurgle."
"Mmm, hiss hiss."
The two behemoths didn't fight after all. Judging by their interaction, it seemed more like old friends conversing. Bruce, peeking his head out from behind the rock, was utterly surprised and filled with confusion.
He wasn't sure if the Tyrannosaurus Rex had said something or if the giant eagle had already seen him from the sky, but moments later, Bruce noticed the giant eagle turn its gaze in his direction, even waddling over with a swagger.
Indeed, it was a swagger, swaying with each step, the kind that defied all kinship.
Not only because the giant eagle, being a bird, wasn't adept at walking, making its posture inherently peculiar, but also because it was genuinely arrogant.
And this arrogance stemmed from Shi Xiaolei's boundless affection. Back then, whenever Shi Xiaolei went on a long journey, he almost always rode the giant eagle for transportation. Even when he was heading into a dungeon or to fight a Boss, he would carry the giant eagle in a cryogenic chamber as a last resort for escape.
Whether in terms of time spent by Shi Xiaolei's side or the number of trips with him, the giant eagle was number one among all his pets.
Even if it didn't quite reach 'being showered with all the love,' it wasn't far off. As Shi Xiaolei's most favored 'confidante,' the giant eagle naturally became the 'big sister' in the eyes of the other pets.
This could also be seen from the conversation between the giant eagle and Da Bai, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, just now—Bruce couldn't tell, but in reality, the giant eagle was unilaterally scolding Da Bai, saying things like 'you're slacking off again,' and 'you don't even know who it is, and you dare to eat the fish he roasted.' The giant eagle had no shortage of nagging. If both were anthropomorphized and shaped into human figures, it would be a perfect scene of a big sister lecturing her younger brother.
"Screech, purr~."
Tilting its head, the giant eagle looked at Bruce, who was peeking out from behind the rock, and flapped its wings twice.
Bruce didn't understand what the giant eagle said, but from its demeanor, he roughly guessed its meaning.
He chuckled, walked out from behind the rock, waded ashore, and approached the giant eagle, rubbing his hands with a hint of unease: "Um, hello."
The giant eagle leaned its head forward slightly and scrutinized Bruce from head to toe, left to right.
Earlier, Da Bai could still smell a trace of Shi Xiaolei's scent, but now, because the sheet was wet from the river, that scent was completely masked.
Naturally, the giant eagle came to a different conclusion, and its reaction was completely different from Da Bai's.
It flapped its wings and soared into the air, extending its two enormous talons, and seized the incredibly nervous Bruce. Then, amidst Bruce's long and panicked cries, the giant eagle streaked across the sky, carrying him far away.