The sixteen of them split across two tables. To curry favor with He Jiang, the others hadn't left any room for Nan Yue and her companions. Nan Yue was more than happy to avoid sitting with them and instead sat with five other scavengers.
Xu Youci and Xu Defu sat not far away, sipping wine while waiting for them to finish. For a moment, no one moved their chopsticks, and the atmosphere was somewhat awkward.
"Let us just eat... we cannot exactly go without food for all seven days."
A thin, small, and young boy spoke up weakly. He had also been pushed aside by He Jiang's group because he looked useless.
In truth, everyone understood what Gu Xiang Kai had said earlier. Items couldn't be brought into missions, so the meals provided within the mission were generally safe to eat.
However, Multi-fortune Town had an eerie quality to it. Everything seemed normal, but perhaps because the town was so old, it was easy to become suspicious of everything.
Clack, clack.
The girl sitting across from Nan Yue tapped her chopsticks together and began to eat slowly and methodically.
Her name was Dongfang Yuelai. Her name sounded gentle, and so did she. She had a round face and a ponytail, and while her features weren't exceptionally striking, she had a presence that made people feel comfortable.
Seeing someone finally move their chopsticks, the others gradually began to eat as well. Gu Xiang Kai scanned the table; there was fish, chicken, vegetarian dishes, and pastries. It truly seemed beyond reproach.
He was about to suggest they stick to the vegetarian dishes first since those were surely safe, only to see Nan Yue already reaching for the roast chicken.
Gu Xiang Kai was speechless. I forgot that this woman cannot help herself when she sees food.
The others had originally been focusing on the vegetarian dishes until their faces practically turned green. Seeing Nan Yue's actions, they weren't sure if she was brave or just stupid.
"Does it... taste normal?"
Jiang Ningning, who had a melon-seed-shaped face and small eyes, stared at Nan Yue with a nervous expression.
Nan Yue savored the flavor carefully before giving her answer. "It is delicious."
Everyone else was at a loss for words.
Though they were a bit speechless, it proved the food was fine, and the atmosphere at the table immediately livened up.
The people at the neighboring table kept glancing over, some whispering among themselves.
"Are they crazy? They actually dare to eat that?"
He Jiang had also been observing. He gave a deliberate, profound cough. "The food will not be a problem. There is no need to worry."
He glanced at Nan Yue. "However, the youth are still too reckless."
Seeing both tables eating, Xu Youci and Xu Defu smiled with satisfaction. Xu Defu pulled a tobacco pouch from his sleeve and slowly lit it.
"Hey, what is this soup made of? It is so good."
Zhao Dekai, the man sitting next to He Jiang and acting as his secondary lackey, took a sip of the soup and looked surprised. It was fresh and smooth, a flavor he had never experienced before.
For most scavengers living in lower city states, the best food they ever tasted was often found within missions.
This was also why they were so cautious; they never knew if the food in these missions was actually 'normal.'
Because Nan Yue had eaten roast duck before, she could clearly distinguish the difference between chicken and duck meat.
But having eaten roast duck was already considered a luxury.
Zhu Xi Ning, on the other hand, had eaten many good things because she was willing to spend money. According to her, when she was flush with cash, she would even travel to other digital city states specifically to try their specialty dishes.
She whispered the names of the dishes to Nan Yue. "Braised pork, stir-fried diced chicken, steamed fish..."
"This soup..."
Zhu Xi Ning took a sip and looked surprised. "It really is delicious."
Nan Yue also had a bowl. The milky white broth had faint droplets of oil floating on top, and the scent alone was mouth-watering.
Her salivary glands worked overtime, but Nan Yue's heart suddenly gave a heavy thud.
It was just once, gone in an instant, but Nan Yue caught it.
It was a sensation she knew too well—as if her heart had been wrapped in filthy, rotten meat for a split second, filling her nose and mouth with a foul stench.
Nan Yue had never found any trace of that thing inside her while on a mission. Not once.
Once she entered a mission, she usually escaped that thing entirely, as if she were a normal person.
This was the first time she realized that even within a mission, that thing existed within her very bones and blood, inseparable from her.
She set the bowl of soup down.
"This, this is Milk-stewed Fawn Soup."
Xu Youci rubbed his hands and walked over, using a round ladle to scoop through the pot. Many pieces of meat were brought up, succulent and tender.
"This is our town's unique specialty. It is stewed with doe milk and young fawns. No one who tries it dislikes it."
Fawn meat?
No one present had ever eaten it. It likely wasn't even sold in Eden. Being such a specific ingredient, only a remote town like this would think of it.
Zhao Dekai was full of praise, and in the blink of an eye, he had finished two bowls.
Seeing this, the others tried it as well and found themselves unable to stop. Soon, the Milk-stewed Fawn Soup reached the bottom of the pot.
"Proprietor, is there any more?"
Li Maocai hadn't eaten as much as Zhao Dekai and gave the man a fierce glare.
They were all poor and usually ate the cheapest food available. It was rare to have such a feast.
"There is... no more. It is made using only the tenderest fawn brisket. Come back tomorrow."
Xu Youci looked apologetic, but mostly proud.
The others had to let it go, though Nan Yue's table still had plenty left over.
Gu Xiang Kai ate like a wild animal, but after hearing it was Milk-stewed Fawn Soup, he thought it sounded too gamey and didn't touch it.
Dongfang Yuelai hadn't touched any meat dishes from the start, explaining in a gentle voice that she had always preferred vegetarian food.
Seeing that Nan Yue hadn't moved, Zhu Xi Ning also only took two sips before painfully setting down her bowl, which was still mostly full.
Another man named Chang'an, who looked like a refined scholar, also said the soup involved too much slaughter and didn't drink it.
Once the meal concluded to everyone's satisfaction, Xu Defu led the group toward their lodgings.
The residence's view was indeed excellent, being at the highest point of the town. Candles had already been lit, and the place was cleaned thoroughly.
"Guests, please rest early. You are free to walk about the town during the day, but there are a few unwritten rules I must mention first."
Xu Defu's expression grew serious. "First, our townsfolk retire early. Please do not go out after midnight."
"Second, there is a madwoman in town who has aggressive tendencies. If you see her, please stay away. The hospital is too far, and she once tore a large chunk of flesh off a man."
Everyone listened intently, knowing these were mission rules. Hearing this, He Jiang sucked in a breath.
"Tsk... why is a madwoman like that still kept around?"
Xu Defu gave a bitter smile. "We are all in the same town. If you trace it back, we are all relatives. Providing her with communal meals is something we can afford."
He Jiang shook his head repeatedly, speaking with an air of earnest advice. "A woman like that is already useless. Since she has harmed people, she should have been dealt with long ago."
Xu Defu narrowed his eyes slightly and didn't respond. He Jiang had intended to agree with him, but he realized he had inadvertently offended the man, making things a bit awkward for himself.
Fortunately, Xu Defu soon smiled again. "Big brother is right, but the madwoman's movements are unpredictable. You likely will not encounter her."
Rate on N.U.
