Yang Guo: I'm invincible in the opening battle against Aunt Guo!

Huang Rong wanted to stop him, but then she thought of Yang Guo's current skills.

Ordinary wild animals couldn't harm him, so he was left alone.

I just reminded him, "Don't linger too long, and be careful."

Under the shade of a tree on the other side, Li Mochou and her two disciples were also having a meal.

They also brought dry rations, or even simpler ones.

Lu Wushuang silently ate the cold, hard pancake, while Hong Lingbo carefully served her master.

Li Mochou held a steamed bun, but had little appetite.

His gaze kept drifting towards the woods across the way, as if he were lost in thought.

A few moments later, a slight noise came from the woods.

Yang Guo was seen carrying a plump gray rabbit in one hand.

With his other hand, he carried a brightly colored male pheasant with long tail feathers as he walked out with light steps.

The rabbit and pheasant had obviously just been captured and were still struggling slightly, but they became docile with a casual pinch from Yang Guo.

"Good luck." Yang Guo walked back with a smile, waving the prey in his hand.

Guo Fu cheered, "Brother Yang is amazing!"

A hint of surprise flashed in Huang Rong's eyes; the forest wasn't very big.

To be able to catch such a lively wild animal with bare hands in such a short time requires truly extraordinary skill and keen eyesight.

But then he remembered that Yang Guo was no weaker than himself, and he felt relieved!

Yang Guo moved swiftly, found a streamside far from the main road, and skillfully processed the rabbit and pheasant, plucking their feathers, removing their dirt, and washing them clean.

Then he gathered some dry branches and started a small campfire.

He then used his dagger to whittle a few clean wooden sticks, skewered the pheasants and rabbits that had been rubbed with coarse salt, and slowly roasted them over the fire.

Soon, the grease dripped onto the embers, sizzling as it did so, and a rich aroma of meat began to waft through the air.

That wasn't all; Yang Guo took out the spice packets he had bought from the inn.

Inside were roughly ground Sichuan peppercorns, dogwood (similar to chili peppers), fennel seeds, and other ingredients. He also specifically asked for some maltose and crude soy sauce.

Once the pheasant and rabbit were roasted to a golden brown and the fat was oozing out, he carefully spread a sauce made of maltose and soy sauce on them, and then sprinkled on the spice powder.

Suddenly, a powerful aroma, a blend of caramel, meat, soy sauce, and unique spiciness, burst forth!

This taste was a game-changer for people in ancient times who were used to simple cooking or even cold food!

Guo Fu was already drooling with envy, staring longingly at the roasting meat on the fire.

Even Huang Rong couldn't help but glance at it slightly. This roasting method seemed rough, but the aroma was so rich and tempting.

This exotic fragrance, carried by the wind, naturally reached the noses of Li Mochou and her two disciples not far away.

Lu Wushuang sniffed, her eyes widened, and the cold, hard pancake in her hand suddenly lost its appeal.

Hong Lingbo couldn't help but swallow hard.

Li Mochou froze, holding the half-eaten white steamed bun.

The monotonous aroma of wheat seemed so bland in comparison, even somewhat unpalatable.

She considered herself to have traveled the world for many years and tasted quite a few delicacies.

But this was the first time I had ever smelled such a strange aroma of roasted meat.

She looked up and saw the young man in the blue shirt intently turning the grill.

The firelight illuminated his handsome profile; his expression was relaxed, and his movements were practiced, as if he were doing something extremely interesting.

The wild game, roasted to a golden brown and sizzling with oil, glistened enticingly in the sunlight.

Li Mochou glanced at the cold, hard steamed bun in her hand, then at the fragrant roasted meat, a hint of struggle flashing across her cold and beautiful face.

If it were according to her usual personality, if she took a fancy to something, especially if the other party didn't seem like a troublesome person, she would most likely just take it directly, instead of hesitating like this.

But... for some reason, she didn't feel any ill will towards the boy, and even admired him somewhat.

Moreover, the woman beside him, with her extraordinary demeanor, always gave her a feeling that she couldn't see through her.

Forcibly seizing it seems inappropriate.

After hesitating for a moment, Li Mochou finally stood up and said to Hong Lingbo and Lu Wushuang, "You two wait here."

After saying that, she straightened her apricot-yellow Taoist robe, her face regaining its usual indifference, and walked towards the campfire where Yang Guo and the others were.

When Huang Rong saw her get up, her eyes narrowed slightly, and she became wary.

Guo Fu also watched with curiosity as the aloof and beautiful Taoist nun walked over.

Li Mochou walked a few steps away from the campfire and stopped. Her gaze lingered on Huang Rong's face for a moment before landing on Yang Guo and the roasted meat in his hands.

She cleared her throat, trying to make her voice sound calm and even, and began:

"Young hero, the aroma of your roasted wild game is truly unique. I wonder... if you would be willing to part with some? I'm willing to pay for it."

As she spoke, she took out a small piece of silver from her sleeve.

Yang Guo raised his head, glanced at Li Mochou, then at the silver in her hand, grinned, revealing a set of white teeth:

"You're too kind, young lady. There's no need for money in this desolate place."

He paused, then deftly used his dagger to cut the nearly roasted rabbit and pheasant in half, skewered them onto two clean wooden sticks, and handed them to Li Mochou.

"It's fate that we met. Please, ladies, try these two portions. The seasonings are simple, please don't be offended."

This surprised not only Li Mochou, but also Huang Rong and Guo Fu.

Guo Fu muttered softly, "Brother Yang, ours..." She hadn't eaten yet!

Yang Guo turned around and winked at her: "That's enough, this chicken and rabbit are both very fat."

Li Mochou looked at the fragrant roasted meat, its fat still sizzling slightly, that was handed to her, and for a moment she forgot to take it.

She roamed the martial world, killing without hesitation, and was infamous. People avoided her like the plague. Who would have been so open and even generous as to give her food?

Moreover, the boy had clear eyes and a sincere smile, showing no fear or flattery whatsoever, as if he had simply done something perfectly ordinary.

This ordinary act of kindness seemed extraordinary to her.

She remained silent for a moment, then reached out and took the two wooden sticks.

It becomes warm to the touch, and the aroma becomes even stronger.

She raised her eyes and looked at Yang Guo. The icy coldness on her face seemed to melt slightly, and her tone softened a bit:

"In that case... thank you very much, young hero. May I ask how you and your wife are addressed?"

She took the initiative to greet him and ask for his name.

On one hand, she felt indebted to them, and on the other hand, she was genuinely curious about these people.

Yang Guo cupped his hands and smiled, "I am Yang Guo. This is my sworn master, surnamed Huang. This is my junior sister, Guo Fu."

Li Mochou nodded slightly as a greeting.

She hesitated for a moment, seemingly thinking that she should also introduce herself, perhaps to see how the other party would react upon hearing her name.

Then, she parted her red lips slightly and uttered that name that struck fear into the hearts of those in the martial arts world:

"I am Li Mochou."

……