Chapter 49

Yi Yun was already eager, and he poured the sauce he had prepared earlier, tore off a chicken leg, took a deep sniff, and took a big bite.

The skin was crispy, the meat tender, the flesh fresh and succulent, the fat oozing between his teeth, and the aroma lingering in his mouth.

It had to be said that the unknown wild chicken given by the old man was truly delicious. No wonder the old man enjoyed it so much, even when the chicken was charred.

Moreover, the chicken contained a pure energy that, as Yi Yun swallowed it, spread throughout his body, giving him a warm and comfortable feeling.

The wine given by the old man was also very special. After salting, the wine flavor did not dissipate but seeped into the chicken, adding an intoxicating aroma.

The energy contained in the wine was even purer, making Yi Yun feel so comfortable that his pores opened up.

Lin Xintong looked at Yi Yun curiously. Just from the smell and appearance, she could guess that the chicken must be extremely delicious.

This kid looked no more than twelve years old, yet he had such skills?

"Miss Fairy, would you like to try some?"

Yi Yun's words were very sweet. He could tell that this girl was no ordinary person, and the old man treated her like a precious gem. Yi Yun didn't know her name, but calling her "Miss Fairy" was definitely right.

"Uh..." Lin Xintong was taken aback. She watched as Yi Yun tore off another untouched chicken leg and offered it to her, leaving her at a loss.

After hesitating for a moment, she took it and took a small bite.

Indeed, it was fresh and fragrant!

In comparison, the "charcoal chicken" her master grilled was simply inedible.

The girl took out a handkerchief, wiped the corners of her mouth, and smiled in thanks.

She had never tried this cooking method before, and the taste was extremely unique.

Although Lin Xintong was naturally indifferent and not particularly fond of food, after so long on this journey, she had grown tired of eating the bitter and smoky "charcoal chicken" every day.

While she appreciated it, she didn't show any excessive excitement. However, the old man was different. He was a glutton who had reached the realm of辟谷 (abstaining from grains) many years ago but never had the resolve to do so. He ate four meals a day: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a late-night snack.

At home, he had servants to provide him with food and drink, which was quite tasty and satisfying. But now, out on this journey with his disciple, things were a bit tough. He had been eating coal-dusted grilled food for so long and was already tired of it.

He was drooling, but he couldn't bring himself to ask Yi Yun for some. Seeing that Yi Yun had no intention of sharing the chicken, the old man became unhappy. This kid was ungrateful, had he forgotten who gave him the chicken and wine?

"I didn't expect you to be able to cook, young man. I've tasted all kinds of delicacies in my life, and my taste is authoritative! Come, young man, let me evaluate your cooking. I'll also give you some advice on how to improve."

As the old man spoke, his greasy, blackened hand reached out. He hadn't wiped his hands after eating the grilled chicken!

Yi Yun instinctively tried to dodge, but the hand, though not fast, was impossible to avoid. The old man grabbed a small half of the chicken, taking both of the succulent wings!

Damn!

Yi Yun cursed in his heart, but by then, the old man had already taken a bite. As he bit down, he gave Yi Yun a mischievous look, as if to say, "You think you can avoid my hand?"

The moment the old man bit down, the fat oozed out, and the aroma filled his mouth. His eyes sparkled!

The taste of the chicken itself was excellent, but the most important part was the wine.

In fact, the old man had eaten many delicacies before, but Yi Yun's method was the first he had seen.

The wine seeped into the chicken, making it even more fragrant!

He was not only a glutton but also a wine lover. He never imagined that wine could have such a wonderful use. The combination of wine and chicken, two separate delicacies, was incredible!

In comparison, his own grilled chicken was like food for dogs!

The old man had already eaten one whole chicken, and this unknown wild chicken was quite large. Yi Yun had learned the Elephant Swallowing Technique and could sense that this chicken was very hard to digest. An ordinary person would probably not feel hungry for days after eating just one chicken leg.

But the old man had eaten one and a half chickens and still felt nothing.

The old man appeared to eat the chicken elegantly, but his speed was incredibly fast. In just over a minute, he had reduced half a chicken to a pile of bones.

The bones were so clean, even the fine ribs were distinct, and even a dog would be envious.

Ignoring Yi Yun's shocked gaze, the old man calmly wiped the oil from his mouth and said, "The taste is pretty good. With a bit more improvement, it could match my grilled chicken."

The old man said this shamelessly, leaving Yi Yun speechless. Who was this guy? He seemed to have a high status, yet he acted like this?

The old man seemed not to notice Yi Yun's disdainful look and looked at the salted chicken in Yi Yun's hand. "Why aren't you eating? Are you full?"

"No!" Yi Yun was startled, quickly shaking his head and quickly finishing the salted chicken in his hand.

If he was slow by even a second, the chicken in his hand would likely turn into a pile of bones in no time.

This chicken was not only delicious but also highly nourishing. Yi Yun felt that in just a short while, his body, which had been depleted, had replenished a lot of energy, making his bones and blood start to stir, as if they were about to strengthen again.

Could this chicken be a type of ancient bird similar to a荒兽 (wild beast)?

Yi Yun felt a bit melancholic. In wealthy families, they ate such things every day, which naturally boosted their strength rapidly.

He had been in a good mood because of his perfect body training, but now he was more calm.

His starting point was still low. He stood out in a small tribe, but in a large clan, he might not be particularly outstanding. He still had a long way to go.

"Hey, I see you have some talent in cooking. Since we've met, it's a matter of fate..."

The old man said this and reached for his ring.

Yi Yun had heard this line twice and was already immune. He calmly wiped his mouth and waited for the old man to take something out.

"Hehe, young man, take this to buy some candy." The old man took out two large gold ingots from his ring, each weighing about forty to fifty taels.

This was the first time Yi Yun had seen gold ingots. In the past, on Earth, he had only seen gold bars displayed in bank windows, and they were not as large as these.

Yi Yun couldn't help but look at them for a moment.

"Come, I have about twenty to thirty more chickens. If you process them, these two gold ingots are yours. You can buy a lot of candy." The old man smiled, though he didn't admit it, he knew his cooking skills were no match for Yi Yun's. The salted chicken Yi Yun made, especially the combination of wine and meat, made the old man drool.

Yi Yun pursed his lips. In Yunhuang, gold was more for show than for use.

If he were on Earth, these two large gold ingots would be enough to buy a lifetime of food, but in this world, food was very expensive, especially in Yunhuang. Even with gold, it might not be possible to buy food. If he used gold to buy food from Lian Chengyu, it would be like a lamb entering a tiger's mouth.

"I don't want gold." Yi Yun was unmoved. The old man had given him copper coins at first and now gold, but he still saw Yi Yun as a lucky ordinary child, not a martial artist. "Sir, don't you know that a child carrying gold through a busy market will have a bad end?"

"Uh?" The old man was taken aback, thinking that if Yi Yun didn't take it, he could at least give it to his parents.

Beside the old man, Lin Xintong looked at Yi Yun in surprise. The principle of "holding a jade in a busy market" was simple, but for a child of eleven or twelve to see such a large amount of gold and remain completely unmoved, and to say such calm words, was truly impressive.

"What do you want, then?" The old man put the gold away.

"I just want one thing from you, sir." Yi Yun spoke slowly and calmly, looking the old man in the eye.

The old man became interested. "Tell me."

"From the moment I saw you, I knew you were no ordinary person. You must hold a high position, with a transcendent status, and possess..."

"Enough, stop flattering me." The old man looked at Yi Yun disdainfully. This kid was truly clever.

"Um... I'm not flattering you. I just want to express my admiration. You have all this, and countless people, including me, admire you because... you have strength!"

"In this vast wilderness, only strength earns respect!"

"So, I boldly ask for one thing from you, and that is strength!"

Yi Yun's words were very confident. Though his tone was slow, they hit the old man hard.

Lin Xintong also blinked her beautiful eyes, looking at Yi Yun in surprise. The principle Yi Yun expressed was simple, but when asked by her master what he wanted, he brought up this principle, which more solemnly expressed his desire to become strong, rather than just saying it casually like other children.

These words didn't sound like they came from a child.