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The mountain stream gurgled, the night was serene, and the moonlit tree shadows were dappled.
The flames reflected the figures of the three.
The three, enjoying their journey, chose to camp outdoors, having already prepared their tents.
Gurgle, gurgle, steam rose from the iron pot over the fire, bringing with it wafts of meat aroma.
"It smells so good," Dugu Yan said, sniffing the aroma of the meat and giving Shi Quan a thumbs-up. "Shi Quan, I never thought you could cook. That's amazing."
"It's been so many years since I last cooked, I almost forgot," Shi Quan said with a sigh. "If it doesn't taste good, you'll just have to eat some dry rations for now."
What he said was true; cooking was something Shi Quan did in his previous life. After arriving in Douluo Continent, this was his first time cooking.
"So many years?" Dugu Yan looked at Shi Quan suspiciously and asked, "By your logic, you already knew how to cook when you were six or seven years old?"
"Uh…" Shi Quan awkwardly replied, "Something like that, something like that."
Thankfully, he didn't blurt out that it had been over ten years. Shi Quan hadn't expected to make such a slip of the tongue.
"Alright, hurry and try it," Shi Quan quickly changed the subject, taking out bowls and chopsticks from his snow jade bracelet and serving each of them a full bowl of meat soup.
"It's delicious, and the taste is very unique." Dugu Yan's eyes lit up after just one taste, and she immediately praised it, then looked at Ye Lingling and said, "Lingling, what do you think?"
"It's delicious," Ye Lingling also nodded.
"If it's delicious, eat more. If you like it, I can cook it for you whenever you want in the future," Shi Quan said with a smile. The culinary techniques of Douluo Continent focused more on the original flavor, bringing out the inherent deliciousness of the ingredients to their fullest. If categorized by cuisine, it was somewhat similar to Cantonese cuisine from his previous life.
Shi Quan, in his previous life, was from the southwest, and the cuisine he learned was Sichuan cuisine, which uses more seasonings and has a fresh and savory taste. It was natural for the two of them to find it unique the first time.
"You said that," Dugu Yan nudged Ye Lingling with her shoulder. "Lingling, if you want to eat, just tell Shi Quan. Don't be shy with him."
"Mm." Ye Lingling buried her head, quietly sipping the meat soup in her bowl. A rare glimmer of light gathered in her usually vacant eyes.
Good food and beautiful scenery always soothe the soul.
The three sat around the bonfire, everything beautiful and quiet.
The next few days were the same. Everyone grew to like this stop-and-go feeling. When they were tired, they rested and enjoyed the scenery, living a truly leisurely life.
"At our current speed, we should be close to Shi Family Village, right?"
"Yes, just a bit further along the mountain range and we'll be there."
Unbeknownst to them, the group had already been out for five days. Only a short distance remained to Shi Family Village, and Shi Quan's longing for home reached its peak.
"About right, we should make it back for lunch," Shi Quan said, touching the snow jade bracelet on his wrist, which was filled with gifts he had brought for Shi Jian and Li Meili.
Soon, the three could see the village in the distance, with smoke slowly rising from its chimneys. That was Shi Family Village.
With home in sight, Shi Quan's mood involuntarily became excited, and his steps quickened without him realizing it.
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling exchanged glances, activated their spirit power, and quickly followed.
Only when they reached the village entrance did Shi Quan slow down. Shi Family Village was still the same Shi Family Village; after more than a year away, the village hadn't changed much.
As soon as the three entered the village, they attracted a lot of attention. It was close to mealtime, and most people were sitting idly in their courtyards, curiously observing the trio. In particular, their attire, compared to the villagers' clothes, looked very valuable and seemed so out of place.
"Uncle Shi, haven't eaten yet?" Shi Quan greeted a man in a nearby courtyard as he walked by.
Hearing Shi Quan's voice, the man was visibly startled, then somewhat flustered, he stood up and looked at Shi Quan, asking uncertainly, "You are?"
"It's Shi Quan, don't you recognize me?"
"Shi Quan?" The man paused, then reacted, his eyes widening. "You're Shi Quan?"
"Mm."
The man exclaimed, "More than a year without seeing you, how did you grow so much all of a sudden, kid?"
"The academy's food is pretty good," Shi Quan said with a smile, waving his hand. "I'm heading home now, we'll chat later."
"The villagers here are quite simple. That Uncle Shi usually has the best relationship with my dad. When my dad goes to Nuoding City, he usually goes along."
Shi Quan introduced them as they walked.
"My house is up ahead," Shi Quan said, pointing to the wisteria-covered fence courtyard.
"Dad, Mom, I'm back from the academy!" As soon as he got close, Shi Quan excitedly shouted towards the courtyard.
Normally, they had never seen Shi Quan so excited. Even when facing Sword Douluo, Shi Quan could maintain a calm and steady demeanor. This was the first time they had seen Shi Quan so agitated.
"Follow me," Shi Quan called out, leading the two quickly into the courtyard.
Hearing the shouts from outside, two people immediately walked out of the house.
It was Shi Jian and Li Meili. Both were clearly startled when they saw Shi Quan, but they quickly reacted. Li Meili hurried forward and tightly embraced Shi Quan, her eyes a little red as she said, "Shi Quan, you're finally back. Mom missed you so much."
Shi Jian also stepped forward and patted Shi Quan's shoulder, saying, "It's good that you're back."
"I missed you too," Shi Quan said, embracing Li Meili tightly.
Shi Jian patted Li Meili's shoulder, indicating, "Alright, Meili, Shi Quan brought guests back."
"Isn't it because Shi Quan is back? I'm just too happy!" Li Meili wiped her moist eyes and looked at the two girls behind Shi Quan, her eyes immediately lighting up. She quickly asked, "Shi Quan, who are they?"
"Mom, they are both my Senior classmates. They're on holiday with nothing to do, and since staying at the academy is just staying, they came back with me to play."
"This is Dugu Yan, I usually call her Sister Yanzi."
"This is Ye Lingling, I call her Lingling."
"This is my mom, Li Meili, and this is my dad, Shi Jian."
"Hello, Uncle and Auntie. You can just call me Yan Yan," Dugu Yan immediately said, presenting a gentle and adorable demeanor.
"Hello, Uncle and Auntie. You can just call me Lingling." Perhaps out of politeness, Ye Lingling specifically removed her veil.
"Good, good, good." Li Meili happily wiped her hands on her clothes, then went forward, took the two girls' hands, and led them into the house. "You two sit down first. I didn't know you were coming, so Auntie will go make some more food for you."
"Mom, no need to go to so much trouble." As he spoke, Shi Quan took out some cold dishes from his snow jade bracelet and placed them on the table.
He also took out all the gifts he had brought back for them.
"Shi Quan, where did you get all these things?" The two stared at the pile of items on the floor, speechless.
"They're all from the snow jade bracelet," Shi Quan said, shaking the snow jade bracelet on his hand, explaining to the two, "This snow jade bracelet is a type of space spirit tool. Simply put, there's a very large space inside this bracelet where I can store things and take them out when needed."
"Such a thing must be very precious, right?" Li Meili asked in surprise.
"Not really, this bracelet was given to me by a Senior."
Shi Jian frowned and asked, "Such a precious item, just given away like that?"
"That Senior asked for my help and just gave it as a side gift. Dad, you don't need to worry."
Dugu Yan seized the opportunity to chime in, "Uncle, Shi Quan is right. He's really amazing at the academy, even my grandfather likes him a lot."
Shi Jian smiled and said, "That's good. Uncle was just worried this kid would get wild once he left home."
"Uncle, don't worry, Shi Quan is very diligent at the academy. Not only does he Cultivate diligently, but he also studies hard, especially in Martial Spirit theory, he's super good. He's not just a student at the academy now, he also teaches us Cultivation with our teachers."
"Shi Quan can teach people now?" Li Meili said in surprise.
"That's right, Auntie. The academy teachers also praise Shi Quan's theories endlessly. The academy's Education Committee specifically asked him to guide us in Cultivation."
Dugu Yan directly transformed into a praise Incarnation, constantly talking about how good and amazing Shi Quan was, making Li Meili and Shi Jian beam with joy.
Shi Quan, the person being praised, was a bit embarrassed himself and quickly interrupted, "Mom, let's eat first, let's eat first."
Li Meili quickly patted her head and said, "Yan Yan, Lingling, you two wait a moment. Auntie will go bring out the dishes first."
"Auntie, I'll help you." Dugu Yan stood up to help, but Li Meili immediately stopped her, "No need, no need, you sit, you sit. Chat with your uncle and Shi Quan."
"Then we'll trouble Auntie."
"No trouble, no trouble at all. You coming makes Auntie happy, how could it be trouble?" Li Meili quickly waved her hand and walked towards the kitchen.
"Sister Yanzi, come, come, drink some water first, drink some water. You must be thirsty after talking so much," Shi Quan quickly got up to pour her water, hoping she would shut up for a bit.
"I'm not thirsty." Dugu Yan smiled slyly and looked at Shi Jian with a chuckle, "Uncle, you don't know, that Senior who gave Shi Quan the bracelet even sent his daughter to Shi Quan. She's a little beauty too."
Shi Jian looked at Dugu Yan and the other girl, then at Shi Quan, and after secretly giving Shi Quan a thumbs-up, he seriously asked, "Shi Quan, what kind of favor did you do for someone that they sent their daughter to you?"
Shi Quan's face darkened as he quickly explained, "Dad, don't listen to Sister Yanzi talking nonsense. That Ning Rongrong is just following me to learn Cultivation, it's the same as teaching them Cultivation. Uncle Ning, who is the Senior who gave me the snow jade bracelet, he only sent his daughter because of my deep research in Martial Spirit theory. There's no other meaning."