Hu Tao Is Monetizing My Existence. [51]

The spiked club gleamed coldly as it struck down again and again. Within moments, the juvenile Geovishap had stopped breathing.

Breaking off a tree branch, Jiang Bai prodded the Geovishap's corpse with curiosity. "Director Hu, do you think this thing has meat? Is it edible?"

Its entire body was encased in a thick layer of rocky scales, making it look anything but meaty.

"I don't know. I'm not Xiangling. Why would I waste my time figuring out if monster meat is edible?"

Normally, she would just send these creatures straight to the afterlife—corpse and all, neatly cremated in the process.

She walked over and casually tossed Jiang Bai a small knife.

"Why don't you cut it open and see for yourself?"

Jiang Bai wasted no time. Sliding the knife into a gap between the scales, he pressed down on the hilt and pried it open. The thick armor-like plating flipped away, revealing the soft, tender flesh beneath.

"Hey! There really is meat! Wonder how it tastes."

Licking his lips, Jiang Bai continued removing the abdominal plates, exposing more of the flesh.

The Geovishap only had meat around its belly. Everywhere else was either bone or organs. Jiang Bai carefully cut out the tender, pale meat, placing the chunks into a stone bowl he had formed with Geo energy. He planned to wash them later and skewer them for grilling at night.

"Director Hu, do you think its heart is edible?" Jiang Bai eyed the organ nestled within its ribcage. Geovishap, Geovishap… does that mean its heart is as valuable as a dragon's heart?

"Not sure, but we can always try."

Hu Tao was just as curious about what it might taste like.

With their fates sealed, the unfortunate Geovishap's remains were swiftly repurposed as dinner ingredients.

Humming a tune, Jiang Bai carried two stone plates to the creek to wash away the bloodstains. Unlike humans, Geovishaps had blue blood.

Without any means of preserving the fresh meat, it wouldn't last long. He had initially wanted Xiangling to test for poison, but by the time they returned to Liyue Harbor, the meat would likely have spoiled.

Guess we'll have to be our own taste-testers tonight. If it turns out good, we can hunt a few more on the way back and let them experience the terror of the food chain.

After cleaning the meat, Jiang Bai wrapped it in lotus leaves he picked near the creek and handed it to Hu Tao.

"Director Hu, store this away."

"Can't you just carry it yourself?"

"This is our dinner. It needs to be properly stored."

"Fine, fine."

With a flick of her wrist, the bundle in Jiang Bai's hands vanished.

...

The mountains darkened much faster than the plains. As soon as the sun set, visibility dropped significantly. Fortunately, roadside lanterns had been installed, providing some light when the moon's glow couldn't pierce through the dense forest canopy.

Jiang Bai found a small cave carved into a smooth rock face. As he approached, he realized it had already been used as a campsite.

A simple tent was anchored in place, with dry grass spread across the ground for warmth. Nearby, a clean cooking pot sat atop a long-extinguished fire pit.

There was even a small pool of water beside it, clear and shallow, formed from droplets seeping through the rock.

"Director Hu, this place is perfect!" Water, shelter, and even a cooking pot—finding a campsite like this in the wild was a huge win.

Hu Tao wasn't impressed. She had plenty of supplies anyway, so these things didn't matter to her.

Still, having a ready-made campsite was more convenient than searching for another one.

Jiang Bai scavenged unburnt charcoal from the old fire pit and used his Geo vision to build a makeshift grill. Then, he went outside to gather some branches and carved them into skewers.

By the time he finished, night had fallen.

Hu Tao, bored from waiting, had dozed off, her chin bobbing up and down as she sat on a rock.

"Director Hu, do y—" Jiang Bai had just opened his mouth to ask about seasonings when he noticed her struggling to stay awake. Her head drooped forward, jerking back up occasionally in a losing battle against exhaustion.

A helpless smile crossed his face.

After traveling all day, she was bound to be tired.

Glancing at the meat and seasonings beside her, Jiang Bai decided not to disturb her.

He carried the ingredients outside, slicing the meat into smaller chunks before skewering them. As for the Geovishap's heart… he had no idea how to cook it, so he left it alone.

Embers glowed as the charcoal caught fire. Jiang Bai blew gently, coaxing the flames higher.

Holding the skewers over the fire, he watched as the tender meat began sizzling, fat dripping onto the hot coals.

Under the night sky, the mountains were mere silhouettes, and the dense foliage had turned into shadowy outlines. Aside from the occasional croak of frogs or chirping of insects, the only sound was the sizzling of the skewers in his hands.

Looking up, he saw a vast sky of twinkling stars. The moon, veiled by a thin layer of clouds, seemed dim compared to the brilliant constellations above.

As the enticing aroma spread, Hu Tao stirred in her sleep, sniffing the air.

Still half-asleep, she muttered, "Smells so good… so good…"

Jiang Bai, grinning mischievously, waved a skewer near her nose, moving it closer, then pulling it away.

"Director Hu, are you awake… or sleepwalking?"

Hu Tao chomped down on the skewer without hesitation, snatching it from his hand before kicking him aside.

"Director Hu! I went through all this trouble grilling for you, and the moment you get your food, you kick me away? That's just cruel!" Jiang Bai protested from where he lay on the ground.

Standing over him, Hu Tao snorted. "Who told you to try and mess with me? Did you really think I was asleep?"

She took a big bite, chewing happily. "Mmm~ not bad!"

The Geovishap's meat was incredibly tender. With every bite, the juices burst in her mouth. Even without seasoning, the natural flavor was rich and satisfying.

Seeing how much she was enjoying it, Jiang Bai immediately sprang back up.

If he didn't, she'd eat everything before he even got a taste!

Grabbing a skewer, he took a big bite. The moment the flavors hit his tongue, a blissful expression spread across his face.

After finishing two skewers, Hu Tao got excited and picked up a couple more, eager to try grilling herself.

Jiang Bai swallowed nervously.

After that incident at Guyun Stone Forest, he had developed a deep fear of Hu Tao's cooking skills.

But seeing her enthusiasm, telling her to stop was clearly not an option.

With a resigned sigh, Jiang Bai scooted closer, deciding to supervise.

Her food only turns into "dark cuisine" because of poor technique. If I teach her properly, it should turn out fine… right?

Determined to save both their stomachs, Jiang Bai began instructing her. "When grilling, you need to control the heat. Flip the meat frequently so it doesn't burn—"

Hu Tao rolled her eyes. "I have my own special Hu-style cooking. Where's the fun in making everything the same?"

"Wait, don't season it yet—it's too early! If you add salt now, it'll turn bitter. The heat is just right, stop channeling your Pyro vision or it'll burn! And no, you can't add vinegar—!"

For the sake of his stomach, Jiang Bai fought with all his might.