Huayu97: Starting with Wu Song Fighting the Tiger

Liu Xiang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and the inexplicable jealousy dissipated considerably.

Soon, Old Wang abruptly lifted the pot lid, and an incredibly rich aroma instantly soared into the sky, filling the entire mountain forest. "It's ready! Mushroom and pheasant stew is ready!" Everyone immediately gathered around, and saw that the chicken soup in the iron pot was an enticing milky white, the chicken pieces were stewed until golden and tender, and the mushrooms had absorbed the broth and become plump, especially the matsutake mushrooms, which were stewed until soft, sweet, and fragrant, making everyone's mouths water just looking at them.

Old Wang scooped out a bowl with a large ladle and handed it to Li Tiansheng: "Director, please have a taste!" Li Tiansheng scooped a spoonful of chicken soup, took a sip, and his eyes instantly lit up: "Delicious! So delicious! This taste is even more authentic than what you get in restaurants!" Upon hearing this, everyone grabbed their bowls and chopsticks and rushed over to scoop some out. Liu Xiang also ladled out a bowl, blew on it, and took a sip of chicken soup.

So delicious! The rich aroma of chicken blends perfectly with the sweetness of mushrooms, especially the unique fragrance of matsutake mushrooms, which explodes in your mouth and slides down your throat, warm and comforting, making you want to sigh. The chicken pieces are stewed to perfection, falling off the bone with the slightest touch, and the mushrooms are soaked in the broth, bursting with juice with every bite, a truly delightful experience.

"Delicious! So delicious!" Chen Haoming slurped, his mouth dripping with oil, as he gnawed on a chicken leg, clutching a chicken wing in his hand as if afraid someone would snatch it away. Liu Xiang watched everyone wolfing down their food, feeling a sense of accomplishment. He took his bowl to the shade of a tree and slowly savored his meal.

"Hiding here all alone, sneaking a bite to eat?" A clear, gentle voice sounded from behind. Liu Xiang turned around and saw Li Ruotong approaching. She was also carrying a bowl of chicken soup, a smile on her lips, and a little soup still on her face, like a greedy little kitten. "I'm not sneaking a bite, it's just quiet here." Liu Xiang smiled and moved aside. "Sister Ruotong, please sit here."

Li Ruotong sat down next to him, took a sip of chicken soup, and exclaimed, "The pheasant you caught is really something else; it's especially fragrant when stewed. And the matsutake mushrooms you picked are so delicious." "It's all from past experience," Liu Xiang said, scratching his head a little embarrassed. The two sat under the shade of a tree, drinking chicken soup and chatting.

As they chatted, Li Ruotong's eyes suddenly lit up, and she pointed deep into the woods: "There's a mountain path over there, shall we go for a walk?"

Liu Xiang looked in the direction she pointed and indeed saw a winding path hidden in the dense forest, covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves. "Okay, but the forest over there is dense, it might be a bit dangerous," Liu Xiang said cautiously.

"What's there to be afraid of with you here? You can even catch wild pheasants, you must be amazing in the mountains." Li Ruotong blinked, her tone filled with anticipation, like a spoiled little girl.

Liu Xiang's heart warmed, and she put the bowl aside: "Come on! I'll show you the wilderness survival skills I learned!"

The two walked along the path deeper into the forest. The further they went, the denser the trees became, and the sunlight was blocked by layers of leaves, leaving only scattered spots of light on the ground ahead. The forest air was filled with the fresh, light fragrance of grass and trees and the damp scent of earth. The crisp chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves in the wind, along with the distant chirping of unknown insects, made them feel incredibly relaxed and happy.

"Wow, the air here is so fresh." Li Ruotong took a deep breath, a look of bliss on her face, like a happy little deer. Every now and then, she would reach out to touch the wildflowers by the roadside, picking one and tucking it behind her ear. Liu Xiang walked ahead, occasionally pushing aside branches that blocked the way, explaining things to her as he went.

Suddenly, Liu Xiang said excitedly, "Look, these are pine trees. Pine needles can be used to start a fire; even wet ones can be lit. And these ferns over there, their tender leaves are edible. After blanching, they can be made into a cold dish; it tastes quite good."

He pointed to a type of wild grass on the ground and explained, "This is plantain, which can clear heat and promote diuresis. If you accidentally get diarrhea in the mountains, chewing some of these leaves can relieve it. And there's dandelion over there. It's beautiful when it blooms, and you can even make tea from its roots." As he spoke, he pointed to a moss-covered stone next to him and said, "To determine the direction, the side with the most lush growth is the north, and the side with the sparse growth is the south."

Li Ruotong followed behind him, listening with great interest. Every now and then, she would squat down to carefully observe the wild grasses, like a primary school student listening attentively: "So these inconspicuous plants have so many uses!" "Of course," Liu Xiang proudly raised his chin, "If you get lost in the mountains, these things are lifesavers."

The two continued walking, the path narrowing as the surrounding trees grew taller and taller. Some ancient trees had trunks so thick that it took several people to encircle them, and long vines hung from their branches like green curtains. Suddenly, Li Ruotong cried out "Ah!" and stopped in her tracks. "What's wrong?" Liu Xiang quickly turned around, thinking she had encountered some danger.

"Look, there's a nest of baby birds over there!" Li Ruotong pointed to a large tree not far away, her voice full of surprise. Liu Xiang looked in the direction she was pointing and saw a bird's nest among the branches of the tree. Inside, several fluffy little birds were chirping with their beaks open, their tender yellow beaks opening and closing, probably waiting for their mother to come back and feed them.

"Don't get too close, you'll scare them," Liu Xiang said softly, afraid of disturbing the little creatures. Li Ruotong nodded, but couldn't bear to leave. She stood there, her eyes fixed on the baby birds in the nest, a gentle smile on her lips that outlined her soft profile.

Looking at her profile, Liu Xiang's heart suddenly skipped a beat. This scene was so similar. It was exactly like the image of Xiaolongnu in the forest of Zhongnan Mountain, watching the birds, when she watched "The Return of the Condor Heroes" in her past life. Pure, beautiful, untouched by worldly concerns, like a lotus flower blooming alone in the world.

But the thought of Xiaolongnu being defiled by Yin Zhiping later made Liu Xiang feel like she was being pricked by a needle.

The pain was excruciating at that moment. It's such a pity that such a good girl, such a pure person, suffered such a calamity. Such beauty was shrouded in an indelible shadow, leaving so many viewers heartbroken.

Liu Xiang's gaze gradually hardened. He looked at Li Ruotong's profile, at her cheeks slightly flushed in the sunlight, at her pink lips, and a crazy thought suddenly popped into his head. Why? Why must beautiful things always be defiled by those vile people? Why can't such a wonderful girl have pure happiness?

Li Ruotong seemed a little dazzled by the sun. She took out a white handkerchief from her pocket and gently covered her face to block the glare. The handkerchief was pure cotton, with a faint scent of soapberry, just the one she usually used. She leaned against the large tree behind her, her eyes slightly closed, a faint smile on her lips, her breathing even and long, making it difficult to guess what she was thinking deep down.