Chapter 78

Cheng Mo and the others quickly finished processing the meat. They cut it into medium-sized chunks, wrapped them in leaves, and stacked them aside. Once everything was ready, Cheng Mo brought Si Lu over to store the meat in her space. Si Lu touched the meat, and it vanished into her storage instantly.

The group had already eaten one of the beasts they hunted, so they were all full. But every time they returned, they would sit with Si Lu and eat a bit more because they enjoyed the time spent together with her. Although Heiyao didn't join the hunt, Cheng Mo had saved a wild boar for him, which he promptly devoured.

They were all there to support each other, sharing their spoils and helping ensure everyone had food. That's just how they operated, looking out for their own. And when it came to Bai Di, he was a bit special. He didn't eat much—just enough to enjoy meals alongside Si Lu, and there was always plenty for him.

"Alright, everything's packed away. Let's go back for grilled meat and my spicy hot pot shrimp," Si Lu said with a bright smile.

"Sounds good," Cheng Mo responded with a doting look in his eyes.

The group followed Si Lu as they headed back. It wasn't far, just a few minutes' walk. But Cheng Mo insisted on carrying Si Lu the whole way, refusing to let her walk even a step. Just like when they arrived earlier, she had been carried the entire time.

"Hmph, you really can't bear to let me walk, can you?" Si Lu teased.

"Of course not. With all your little 'hmphs,' you're as cute as a little piglet, absolutely adorable," Cheng Mo chuckled, pinching her cheek affectionately.

Her cuteness was irresistible. How could a little female be this cute?

Song Zhan and Heiyao, walking nearby, couldn't help but envy Cheng Mo. They both wanted to pinch Lu Lu's nose and carry her themselves. Unfortunately, Cheng Mo had beaten them to it. But they weren't too bothered—there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.

When they reached the firepit, Bai Di had already started grilling the meat. He knew that if Cheng Mo took Si Lu away, they would have finished processing the meat, so he began cooking right away. By the time they returned, the meat was almost ready.

"We're good to eat now—grilled meat, meat soup, and shrimp are all done," Bai Di announced with a smile, his eyes soft as he looked at the group. His gaze lingered on Si Lu, noticing how Cheng Mo still had her cradled in his arms. With her snuggled against him, she looked even more petite and adorable. Bai Di wished he could hold her too, his eyes shimmering with longing.

Finally, Cheng Mo set Si Lu down, though not without reluctance. Even though she now had shoes and no longer walked barefoot, Cheng Mo still preferred to carry her. The way they cared for her so tenderly brought Si Lu a deep sense of happiness.

Standing on her own, Si Lu's eyes sparkled as she looked at the delicious food, already feeling her mouth water.

"Alright, let's eat!" Si Lu said, her smile lighting up her face.

Everyone gathered around the fire, sitting down with plates of grilled meat, meat soup, and a large pot of spicy hot pot shrimp in front of them. Naturally, everyone's attention was drawn to the big pot of shrimp.

Si Lu, seeing their eager expressions, couldn't help but laugh.

"These shrimp need to be peeled first. The meat inside is really tender and delicious—it's a unique delicacy," she explained with a grin.

Bai Di had already begun using a spatula to serve the shrimp into stone bowls. The bright red shrimp looked appetizing and vibrant against the backdrop of the fire.

Following Si Lu's instructions, Bai Di peeled a shrimp, the red shell falling away to reveal the succulent meat. His pale skin contrasted beautifully with the vivid shrimp in his hands, making it look even more appealing. He handed the peeled shrimp to Si Lu, gently gesturing for her to take a bite.

Si Lu, touched by Bai Di's thoughtfulness, smiled warmly and opened her mouth to taste it. She had been curious to see how it turned out since she'd given the instructions but hadn't tasted it yet.

As soon as she took a bite, her eyes lit up with delight. It was delicious! The flavor was incredible, though it was a bit spicy, thanks to the generous amount of red chilies they had used. But the taste was perfect.

Seeing her reaction, the others knew it was a success and that she liked it.

"You all should try it too. I think it's great, but I want to know if you like it," Si Lu said with a smile before taking another bite of the shrimp Bai Di had peeled for her.

Bai Di continued peeling shrimp for her, clearly enjoying the task. Since she liked it, he was happy to keep peeling.

"Adi, don't just peel shrimp for me—try some yourself and see if you like the flavor," Si Lu urged, feeling a little bad that Bai Di was focusing only on her. He was always so sweet, always thinking of her first and never about himself. That's just how they all were.

They were selfless and considerate, but she knew their lives shouldn't revolve solely around her. It wasn't healthy for them to put themselves second all the time. Still, she understood that this was how the orc men were raised. In this land, the females were fragile and needed extra care and protection.

"Mm," Bai Di nodded obediently, popping a shrimp into his mouth. His eyes widened in surprise—it really was delicious!

"Adi, how is it? Do you like it?" Si Lu asked, smiling as she watched his reaction.

"It's amazing! Really, really good! And it's not fishy at all. Lu Lu, you're incredible," Bai Di praised, grinning from ear to ear. The slight spiciness only added to the flavor, making it even better.

"Is it really that good? Let me try." Song Zhan, still chewing on his grilled meat, eyed the pot of red shrimp with suspicion. He wasn't a big fan of spicy food, but seeing how much everyone else was enjoying it, he decided to give it a shot.

Before he could reach for one, Cheng Mo and Heiyao beat him to it, grabbing shrimp for themselves. They peeled the shrimp but ate it with the shell on, crunching it down. The flavor was leagues better than anything they'd had before.

"This spicy hot pot shrimp is delicious," Cheng Mo said with a satisfied smile.

"Yeah, it's really good," Heiyao added, nodding in agreement.

"You guys actually ate the shells too? Didn't it hurt your mouths?" Si Lu asked, a little exasperated.