Chapter 149: Chapter 122: If You Dare Steal My Food, Prepare for My Naked Revenge!!!!_2
Throughout, there’s no need to add cooking wine, lest it influence the bamboo rice’s original, subtle bamboo fragrance.
Zhang Lingxue’s portion was sent over by the Blood Gu Butterfly’s clone just moments ago.
This dish should be consumed within ten minutes. After ten minutes, the egg will be thoroughly cooked and will taste a bit old, unable to maintain its optimal flavor.
Recently, Zhang Lingxue has been obsessively researching Positive Rabbit and Negative Electric Rabbit, almost to the point of madness.
However, under Zhang Lingxue’s painstaking efforts and diligent research, the experiment has made significant progress.
Li Chen plopped down, picked up the silky egg with chopsticks. The egg liquid still flowed, mixed with translucent bamboo rice, and a faint bamboo fragrance wafted to his nose.
In the next moment, Li Chen seemed to be immersed in a sea of bamboo forest, a gust of gale sweeping through, he exclaimed at the refreshing wind.
Just from sniffing, he felt entranced, let alone putting this chopstick of silky egg into his mouth.
The first sensation upon the silky egg entering the mouth is tenderness, the second is smoothness, as if a gentle press is all it takes for the egg to slip into the throat.
On the lips and teeth dances the chewy and soft bamboo rice, the egg liquid wrapping the bamboo rice, forming a duet in the mouth.
He seemed to see countless dancing female fairies from Dunhuang, holding lutes, gracefully descending from the air, their jade-like toes lightly pressing on bamboo.
A breeze carrying the fragrance of bamboo leaves swept by, he saw the stunning beauty beneath the veil.
Li Chen took bite after bite like a machine, swallowing in large mouthfuls. Though this wasn’t his first time eating bamboo rice nor ten-yolk egg, the joy and emotion brought by eating this way was a first.
This was an ecstatic experience.
Tears of happiness fell, dripping onto the dining plate.
As the three pairs of chopsticks collided, all three simultaneously realized the ten-yolk egg fried bamboo rice was already finished.
For the first time, Li Chen understood how wonderful it felt to be stuffed.
At home, he had invited many renowned chefs from various centuries, yet none made dishes as warm as Big Gray’s creations.
"Ye Bai, the meals here are too good, could I provide the ingredients while you handle the cooking?"
Ye Bai shook his head.
"Big Gray is usually quite busy, and we don’t have much spare energy."
"If you want to mooch meals, forget it."
"It’s getting late. I should rest. Your Pet Beast has already been treated, so head back. Return if any issues arise."
Ye Bai, staring down Li Chen’s grieving gaze, directly ushered him out.
At this moment, Li Chen’s eyes turned to the Ten Thousand Changes Silkworm, whose bowl was still piled high with scrambled eggs.
It was happily devouring the egg in large mouthfuls when Ten Thousand Changes Silkworm noticed Li Chen’s intense gaze, instantaneously becoming alert.
Oh no! A thief is eyeing my lunch.
Thus, Ten Thousand Changes Silkworm slid its bowl with its tongue, Li Chen’s eyes following its lunch with precision.
Ten Thousand Changes Silkworm [○･｀Д´･○], does it never end?
Even if you’re foster father, it won’t do. In the face of deliciousness, I, Wan Sanzang, bury heaven, earth, foster father.
Dare to snatch my meal, prepare for my blatant revenge!!!!
Li Chen regretfully rubbed his swollen belly; he was very full but still wanted to eat.
Being human is truly contradictory.
Thus, Li Chen and Zhang Yiyi sat in the Cultivation House all afternoon, always aiding digestion.
After confirming Ye Bai had plans for the night and wouldn’t be home, the two finally left with regretful expressions.
"Sigh! I feel like missing out by a million."
"Only now do I realize how tasty Big Gray’s food is."
"Better late than never; Zhang Yiyi, what rare ingredients do you have there? What rare ingredients do I have here? Let’s co-conspire and directly drop by Ye Bai’s for a meal."
"With that, Ye Bai surely couldn’t say much, right?"
Li Chen winked at Zhang Yiyi.
"That’s right, I recall my boss has some extremely precious Enlightenment Tea leaves. Simply give them to Ye Bai for tea eggs."
"Tea eggs made with ten-yolk egg + Enlightenment Tea leaves, they’d be so delicious."
The two sunk into fantasies about gourmet food, mischievous smiles appearing at their mouths.
[Captives of delicacies, upon tasting something delicious, always show that ’sneaky’ smile, representing sincerity, beauty, and taste.]
Having packed up everything, Ye Bai planned to venture into the Black Market.
Jiaying City’s underground Black Market is located at Golden Water Park, not far from Shen Mountain Middle School.
There’s an area of abandoned villas there, where occasional night pedestrians witness dim green ghost fire flickering between the villas, leading to widespread rumors of hauntings.
Generally, few dare visit after dark.
Ye Bai has visited the Black Market four or five times and is quite familiar with its rules.
He pulled out a black cloak and black mask from the Pet Beast Space.
Black Market Law number one: In the underground black market, do not reveal your true identity, as severe consequences may ensue; some may track you down through your appearance.
Thus, in the underground black market, one must have a black cloak and mask to obscure key information, preventing oneself from being overly passive.
Next, Ye Bai took out a spray to spritz himself.
Black Market Law number two: Before entering the underground black market, use special air deodorizer to spray oneself entirely.
The purpose of this is to deter exotic beasts with keen senses from trailing and following.
Finally, Ye Bai retrieved a meticulously crafted coin from the Pet Beast Space.
This coin has the weight of pure gold, bears a Jiaying River pattern on the front, and a black character in regular script on the back.
The side grooves of this coin bear a string of Arabic numerals as an anti-counterfeit measure.
One such Black Gold Coin equates to a thousand Alliance Coins.
In the underground black market, there’s a dedicated exchange office for Black Gold Coins.
The aim of this is also to avoid exposing personal traces; the black market does quite well in this regard.
Black Market Law number three: The black market only accepts Black Gold Coins and bartering, greatly lowering the chance of uncovering true identity.
Once everything was ready, Ye Bai set off alone; the black market is safe inside, but it’s a different story once you leave.
By now the moon had climbed the sky, casting silvery moonlight down from above.
Established beside Golden Water Park in abandoned villas, the entire villa collection was worn and dilapidated under wind and rain.
The ground sprouted wild grasses over two meters tall, giving off an eerie vibe.
Pale green phosphorescence floated about insidiously.
Ghost fire signifies the commencement of the black market.
The black market opens at ten PM and closes promptly at six AM the next day.
Visitation is restricted to once a month, and attendees must be led by acquaintances, else guards stationed here will attack.
Ye Bai happened to sneak in alongside a taciturn man on one occasion, obtaining his black market number upon registering at the exchange.
This could work in previous years, but the black market later reformed, banning such practices.
Undeterred by the scenery, Ye Bai stepped forward, the view morphing around him, arriving instantly in a bustling area.
Clearly, this is the illusion realm created by the black market’s founders.
Everywhere were people in black robes, hurried in step, tightly wearing masks, without daring to remove them.
The black market is segmented into four zones: Exotic Beast Zone, Treasure Zone, Pet Beast Egg Area, and Herb Zone.
These zones, each spanning the size of ten football fields.
Ye Bai believed the Celestial Destiny Turtle’s shell would likely be in the Treasure Zone, and perhaps in a quite inconspicuous corner.
He also intended to explore the Treasure Zone, leveraging the Eye of Insight to select appropriate treasures more easily.