Chapter 8, The Stranger at the Table
Where can one find such exquisite delicacies
After a brief hesitation, he could not help but whisper, "In fact... there are many choices in life. Life can take various forms, it does not necessarily have to be..."
Moreover, Chen Daolin's seasonings can undoubtedly be regarded as the ultimate weapon in this world
Thank you
Barbecue is actually not very complicated; as long as you master the timing, it is sufficient to avoid overcooking or undercooking.
Looking at the satisfied smile on Lan Lan's face, it seemed as if he had captured the fleeting deep sadness and pain in the girl's eyes. Chen Daolin felt a surge of mixed emotions in his heart, and for some reason, he swallowed back the question that had already reached his lips
That beautiful face seems as if it should not belong to this earthly realm at all! The features appear to have been meticulously carved by the hands of deities, each detail refined to perfection! Even the bright moon in the sky pales in comparison to such unparalleled beauty!
Chen Daolin smiled awkwardly
Chen Daolin has already constructed a grill using branches here and has built a fire.
The long-legged girl lifted her eyelids to glance at Chen Daolin, seemingly enveloped by the warmth in his eyes. Her heart skipped a few beats, and she quickly averted her gaze, frowning as she said, "Can you... not call me that? My name is not Xiao Lan; that title is too unpleasant."
What is most peculiar is that on the lower right side of this person's face, there is a faint scar—so faint that it is almost imperceptible—yet it undeniably exists. This sight inevitably evokes a strong sense of regret in both Chen Daolin and Lan Lan after they see it.
... ...
"It was my rudeness not to introduce myself to the two hospitable hosts." The person smiled faintly and said, "My name is Falling Snow... Please do not be surprised by such a name, for I was born on a day when snow was falling from the sky in all directions."
What should I call you
The young girl with long legs carried the deer to the lakeside, eviscerated it, cleaned it thoroughly, and cut off two deer legs
"Everyone says so." Lan Lan's expression suddenly darkened, and a hint of unease flickered in her eyes as she slowly replied, "Among the ascetics I know who serve the deities, there are indeed a few who are truly stunning beauties."
As they drew closer, the campfire gradually illuminated his face—whether it was Chen Daolin or Lan Lan, both could not help but take a deep breath in that moment
He took on the role of the barbecue chef without any hesitation. First, he dipped a brush in honey and coated both deer legs, and as they were roasting, a mouthwatering aroma filled the air. He then grabbed various seasonings and sprinkled them on, causing the long-legged girl, who was a "hardcore practitioner," to drool beside him.
Lan Lan shook her head, interrupting Chen Daolin's words. There was a hint of sadness in her eyes as she slowly said: "You don't need to say anything. I only know that I grew up in the church, and everything I have is bestowed upon me by the church. It is only natural for me to dedicate all that I am to the church. I have long made a vow to devote my entire life to the divine, and for this lifetime, I shall simply be a minister serving the divine."
With a blue face and red ears, she stared blankly at the handsome stranger before her, who made her heart race, secretly thinking: "Falling Snow... what a romantic name!"
Kill, kill me
In fact, upon closer inspection, although you may not have a particularly imposing appearance, you do look quite attractive when you smile
So?
Suddenly, a smile blossomed on his face as he gently handed over a bottle of pepper and salt, saying: "Sprinkle it on the meat, and then give it another try"
May I ask ... ... I apologize for the interruption
This person smiled lightly, sitting casually by the campfire. Those eyes, like jewels, swept over the two individuals, and finally, the gaze, whether intentional or not, landed on the chest armor of Chen Daoli, as if a flicker of something unusual passed when seeing that flame tulip.
Chen Daolin's gaze appeared somewhat dazed—like that of a homebody. Although he usually came across as somewhat lewd, his heart was, in fact, quite simple. Having developed that kind of relationship with this girl, the naive homebody instinctively regarded her as his own woman, and his heart inevitably filled with tender emotions.
Seeing the long-legged girl beside him swallowing repeatedly, Chen Daolin couldn't help but feel a softness in his heart, and gently said: "Xiao Lan... you must have endured quite a bit of hardship in the past, right?"
Although wearing a hooded cloak, a few clusters of golden hair tips still peeked out from beneath the cloak
"Is it that you want to ask me why?" Lan Lan calmly glanced at Chen Daolin.
This person wore a faint smile, one that was so gentle and captivating—what annoyed Chen Daolin somewhat was that he noticed the long-legged girl beside him had already begun to sparkle with stars in her eyes
Greetings to both of you, it is indeed fate that we can meet here on such a beautiful occasion. This person's voice is exceptionally pleasant, and what is most striking is that phrases like "beautiful occasion" and "fate," which have become clichéd, still sound so fresh and refined when spoken by this individual
The face of the tall girl seemed to be slightly flushed, though it was unclear whether it was due to the warmth of the campfire. Yet, under the glow of the flames, her originally ordinary features took on a hint of allure.
However, in the end, the long-legged girl slowly shook her head, tears falling from her silver eyes, and softly said: "What a pity... what a pity... none of this is possible."
Why? Chen Daolin suddenly realized something in his heart and looked towards the blue eyes, feeling a sense of guilt: "No, it can't be because of hetushucomcom that night..."
Chen Daolin felt a stir in his heart, yet gazed into the blue eyes and gently said: "Lanlan, tell me about your matters... How did you become that so-called 'Ascetic'?"
"Because I do not wish to kill you." Lan Lan's tone was as calm as the glimmer in her eyes
"That was my choice." Lan Lan looked at Chen Daolin with a cold expression.
Because he said: "I haven't had dinner yet, could you share a bit of the roasted venison with me?"
This ... ? ... Because you didn't kill me, so you ended up in bed with me
However, the next sentence he uttered left both Chen Daolin and Lan Lan in a state of shock
Just as the two were feeling somewhat full, a gentle greeting suddenly came from the forest behind them
Damn it, women are indeed infatuated; they go weak at the knees when they see a handsome man
Chen Daolin felt displeased: "Falling Snow? What a sissy name!"
"How did one become a monk?" Lan Lan listened, seemingly in a daze, gazing at the campfire in front of her, lost in thought for a moment before shaking her head and saying: "I was born in an orphanage run by the church. From the time I became aware, there were nuns teaching us to read and study the scriptures. When I grew a little older, I took on small chores at a nearby religious institution. After that, I was selected to become a practitioner... everything just happened naturally. As for why, I have never thought about that question."
Chen Daolin sighed, looking at this young woman, and couldn't help but feel a sense of sympathy
Her voice was soft, yet it carried a hint of faint bewilderment in her tone
"It looks good." Chen Daolin said with confidence.
Chen Daolin broke out in a cold sweat
At this point, Lan Lan's tone became somewhat difficult: "As a practitioner, I have only two choices: either I kill you to regain my innocence! However, you saved my life, and I cannot bring myself to kill someone who has saved me, no matter what. So I..."
Unfortunately, before Chen Daolin had the chance to voice his questions, Lan Lan had already let out a long sigh, as if to expel all the pent-up frustrations within her. She finally stood up, picked up the already roasted golden deer leg, sliced off a piece with a knife, took a bite, and smiled, exclaiming, "Indeed, it is very fragrant!"
Wait, wait! How many balls are there in the sack!
A figure slowly emerged from the forest.
This voice is clear and pure, like a mountain valley stream gently flowing through the heart. The tone is so gentle and courteous, falling into one's ears like a refreshing spring breeze
Lanlan felt somewhat uncomfortable under his gaze and couldn't help but scold, "What are you staring at me for?"
This response was sincere, which made Lanlan's heart soften even more. She glanced at Chen Daolin, her tone also becoming gentler as she softly said, "Don't deceive me anymore; I know I am not good-looking."
Chen Daolin had not yet spoken, but Lan Lan was already staring at the beautiful stranger, her face flushed. Upon hearing the other person's question, this long-legged young woman immediately replied: "Please feel free to enjoy it."
At this moment, everything has been taken out
What kind of logic is this
Chen Daolin was disheveled in the wind
Although Chen Daolin's culinary skills are average, he has often dined with friends and classmates at those so-called Korean barbecue restaurants in the real world, and he can manage with grilled meats and such
The bonfire is warm, as the moon hangs high in the sky
Chen Daolin felt a slight sense of pride in his heart, and amidst this pride, there was a hint of shyness. He endured and endured, but finally could not hold back: "That... is, is..."
Two young individuals, burdened with their thoughts, sat by the campfire under the bright moon, laughing heartily as they shared a leg of deer.
From a distance, this person has a tall and slender figure, dressed in a snow-white robe. Standing under the moonlight, the white garment appears like snow, as if all the worldly affairs and trivialities are unrelated to him
As the stars fill the sky, the night spent barbecuing by the lake at hetushu.com has its own unique charm
Even if you are kind-hearted and do not kill me... what does it mean that last night we were bathing in the lake and you were flirting with me?
Who said that! Chen Daolin was filled with righteous indignation
I am a penitent. Chosen by the temple, I have dedicated my life to serving the divine as a penitent. " Lanlan suddenly picked up a branch and gently stirred the firewood in the campfire, whispering, " According to the doctrine, I must remain pure... both in spirit and body. And that day... we encountered that pack of demon wolves, you saved me, and saw my body... "
Lan Lan suddenly sighed, her tone becoming unusually strange: "Perhaps my teacher is right; I have never been a steadfast believer. I lack the will and courage to dedicate myself to the divine. I... I am merely an ordinary person who goes with the flow."
Alright! This is called Orleans-style roasted venison leg!
Lan Lan squinted her eyes, took the pepper and salt shaker, and gave Chen Daolin a deep look.
It is as if one has seen a masterpiece by a great master, with a small flaw left behind.
Thus, in an instant, Chen Daolin became fully awake
Moreover, he also packed several bottles of condiments taken from the supermarket in his backpack! Not to mention oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, there were also various miscellaneous items like pepper salt, chili sauce, and sesame paste.
This poor girl. During the barbecue, Chen Daolin had a brief conversation with her and learned that someone like her, a "hardship cultivator," endures the most arduous life in this frozen forest to temper her spirit
Undoubtedly, this person's beauty transcends gender, capable of captivating everyone regardless of age or sex! If this person is a woman, she would be the kind of beauty that could topple nations! If this person is a man, he could break the hearts of countless young women!
He walked slowly, his steps light, moving through the vast jungle as if he were leisurely strolling in his own garden