It was a hulking humanoid creature, standing over one hundred eighty centimeters tall.
It wore a simple linen short-sleeved tunic, washed pale, and a wide bamboo hat that covered most of its face.
The most striking feature was the massive black iron wok on its back, its rim gleaming with an oily luster under the sun, clearly the result of years of careful polishing.
It stood motionless at the edge of the coconut grove like a silent stone statue, as if the aroma had forcibly lured it from the forest.
From beneath the shadow of the bamboo hat, a pair of honest, black eyes stared straight at the roast meat rack in front of Lin Qingyue and her companions.
The emotions in its gaze were both complex and pure.
There was the longing of someone who had not eaten for three days and nights and stumbled upon a feast.
There was a curiosity about the unknown food, etched into its very bones.
And there was also a hint of caution when facing strange outsiders.
Seeing this creature, Lin Xiyue, Su Wan, and Xia Lian instantly entered a combat-ready stance, their movements stiffening.
They had seen all kinds of Beastmen, such as Cat-girls and Fox-men, but those were all just humans who had retained some bestial characteristics.
This thing in front of them was... clearly just a panda standing on two legs, wearing clothes, and carrying a wok on its back?
Its classic black and white color scheme and round yet not bloated figure instantly struck a a cute spot deep within their bloodline.
Only Lin Qingyue's eyes suddenly lit up the moment she saw the figure.
"Could this place be Pandaria?"
The wariness on her face instantly melted away, replaced by an incredibly enthusiastic and brilliant smile.
She waved vigorously at the still-hesitant Pandaren, holding up a skewer of freshly roasted, sizzling seven-colored mushrooms in her hand.
"Hi! Friend over there! You came following the smell, didn't you? Do you want to come over and eat some?"
Lin Qingyue's completely unguarded greeting caused the Pandaren's body in the distance to stiffen visibly.
The gaze from beneath the bamboo hat revealed a look of deep surprise.
It seemed completely unexpected that the response would not be hostility or caution, but rather a sort of... familiarity, as if greeting a street neighbor.
Lin Xiyue, Su Wan, and Xia Lian instantly exchanged a glance, their muscles tensed, as Magic Power and Holy Light gathered within their bodies, ready to unleash.
Honest and sturdy does not equal harmless.
Pandas are bears, not cats.
In a godforsaken place like this, any abnormality could be fatal.
Yet Lin Qingyue acted as if nothing were amiss, still smiling radiantly, and even held out the skewer of grilled mushrooms toward the other, letting that dominating aroma carve an invisible hook in the air.
Deep within her soul, the [ Miss Pink Elf's Blessing ] glowed brightly, her pink charm radiating everywhere.
That unreserved friendliness, mixed with the overwhelmingly delicious aroma of grilled meat, formed an irresistible gravitational field.
The Pandaren's large nose twitched as it sniffed hard, its throat bobbing involuntarily.
It hesitated on the spot for a full half minute, as if an internal struggle was raging within.
Finally, appetite won out over everything else.
It slowly lowered the hand resting on the handle of the iron wok at its waist, took a steady step forward, and walked over.
As the distance closed, they finally saw clearly.
Although this Pandaren had a burly figure, judging by the body lines and gait, it was likely a female.
Her steps were steady, each one seemingly measured with a ruler, carrying a unique rhythm proper to a chef.
She stopped about five or six meters away from the four.
First, she took off her conical hat, revealing a furry yet valiant face.
Then, she offered the four a somewhat peculiar cupped-fist salute.
"Greetings... outsiders."
Her voice was deep, carrying a strange buzzing hum.
"I am Pan Ironpaw, a wandering chef from the Valley of the Four Winds. I was drawn here by this extraordinary aroma and took the liberty of approaching. Please forgive my intrusion."
A wandering chef?
This profession surprised all three of Lin Xiyue and her companions.
"Hello, Master Pan," Lin Qingyue replied generously, casually sticking the grilled mushroom skewer into a nearby clean rock.
"I am Lin Qingyue, and these are my companions. Meeting is fate. Since we are both chefs, why not taste my cooking and exchange some insights?"
Pan Ironpaw's gaze had long been glued to the grill.
The sizzling meat and the row of uniquely styled spice jars beside it all exerted a fatal attraction on her.
She could sense that the meat contained extremely pure energy.
And as for those spices, they were of varieties she had never seen before. Just smelling them sent her chef's soul ablaze.
Dropping all formality, she nodded deeply and sat down cross-legged.
Lin Qingyue nimbly grilled another thick-cut deer steak.
This time, she deliberately added an extra pinch of a composite spice blend she had created, one that carried a faint aura of Holy Light.
Holy Light could not only purify but also maximize the inherent "goodness" of the ingredients themselves.
After the steak was grilled, she did not slice it, but placed it whole on a large banana leaf and offered it to Pan Ironpaw.
Pan Ironpaw took it solemnly.
First, she carefully scrutinized the perfect browned grill marks on the steak, as if appreciating a priceless treasure.
Then, she brought it close to her nose and took a deep breath.
With just this one sniff, her gaze changed.
It was a complex look mixed with awe, fervor, and respect. She saw not a piece of grilled meat, but a path leading to a new world!
She opened her mouth and took a huge bite.
The moment the meat entered her mouth, the expression on Pan Ironpaw's honest face instantly froze.
Immediately after, a terrifyingly sharp light erupted from her eyes!
An indescribably complex flavor exploded in layers upon her taste buds.
The meat's own tenderness and juiciness formed the foundation.
The aroma of the fruitwood charcoal was the solid framework.
And that spice she had never experienced before, carrying a hint of a divine and warm aura, became the soul of the dish, perfectly unifying all the flavors and sublimating them to a brand new realm!
That warm aura slid down her esophagus and into her stomach, transforming into a warm current that instantly spread to every limb and bone, washing away even the fatigue in the depths of her soul!
"Mmm!"
Pan Ironpaw chewed vigorously, a satisfied gurgle sounding from her throat.
In just a few bites, she finished the entire deer steak, which was larger than her own face, not even leaving a single shred of meat or tendon on the bone.
After eating, she licked her lips, still craving more.
When she looked at Lin Qingyue again, her gaze had completely changed from its initial wariness and curiosity into... a fervor almost like that of a pilgrimage.
"A Divine Skill! This is a Divine Skill!"
She praised from the bottom of her heart, her voice trembling.
"I have traveled across the mountains and waters of this fragment, tasting the flavors of a hundred families, but I have never eaten such... such a soul-touching grilled dish! Especially that spice you used, it... it can actually soothe the soul!"
"Just a little trick from my hometown," Lin Qingyue smiled modestly, though her heart was blooming with joy.
[ System Notification: Your culinary skills have received extremely high recognition from an Otherworld Gourmet. Elation Value +1000! ]
Next, the atmosphere shifted abruptly.
The once-tense confrontation transformed into a passionate culinary exchange.
Pan Ironpaw completely lowered her guard, even bringing out the Black Iron Wok she cherished like her own life to demonstrate her proud "Steam-Lock Freshness Technique."
Lin Qingyue smiled and casually tossed out groundbreaking culinary concepts like the "Maillard Reaction," "Introduction to Molecular Gastronomy," and "Sous Vide."
Every new term unleashed a storm of cognitive revolution in Pan Ironpaw's world, opening one new door to a new world after another.
The two of them talked more and more enthusiastically.
From ingredient preparation to heat control, and then to the philosophy of pairing different spices, it was as if they had met too late.
Lin Xiyue stood on the side, listening with her jaw dropped in astonishment.
This was the first time she ever learned that cooking could involve so many profound principles that sounded impressive yet were completely incomprehensible.
Su Wan and Xia Lian also listened with rapt attention, their gazes upon Lin Qingyue now filled with a newfound admiration.
"Master Lin," Pan Ironpaw said, having been completely won over, even using a respectful title.
She looked at Lin Qingyue with a burning gaze and asked:
"Forgive my presumption. What would bring a chef of your god-like skill to these 'Hidden Lands'?"
"We are searching for something."
Lin Qingyue turned the grilled meat while carefully choosing her words.
She could sense an incredibly pure, devout reverence for the 'Way of Food' from Pan Ironpaw, a kind of sincerity that evoked no ill will and made her trustworthy.
"Perhaps we can call it the... 'World Heart'."
"World Heart?"
Hearing this, Pan Ironpaw's brow furrowed as she sank into deep thought.
"I have never heard that name. However, an ancient legend does indeed circulate across our lands."
"Legend has it that the 'Root' of the world sleeps somewhere, keeping this land from completely crumbling."
A clue!
Lin Qingyue and her three companions felt their spirits lift.
"Unfortunately, the location has long been forgotten, becoming a true legend."
Pan Ironpaw shook her head in regret, but then changed her tone.
"But... perhaps there is a way."
She looked at Lin Qingyue with a gaze full of absolute sincerity and hope.
"Master Lin, your culinary skills are the finest I have ever seen in my life. As it happens, our Valley of the Four Winds will host its decennial 'Feast of a Hundred Flavors' culinary competition in seven days. At that time, the top chefs from across this land will all gather."
"The champion of the Feast of a Hundred Flavors will be honored as the agent of the 'God of Food' and will be granted an opportunity to pray to the sleeping 'God of Food'!"
"The God of Food?" Lin Qingyue caught the key word.
"Yes!" Pan Ironpaw's tone became exceedingly devout.
"The God of Food is the most ancient deity of our Pandaren race, and also one of the most ancient guardians of this land."
"Legend has it that He knows all the secrets of this world. If you can win the championship, with your skills, you will surely be able to awaken His response!"
"At that time, you might obtain clues about the 'World Heart' from Him!"