The bear meat for the barbecue had been meticulously prepared by Lu Mingming's dragon friends.
Following her instructions, the dragon elder separated the limbs from the bear and, along with the tenderest loin section, skinned and washed them clean.
Once the hide was removed, the bear meat was smooth and pale, crisscrossed with fine blood vessels, carrying a faint, metallic scent.
Lu Mingming didn't discard all the bear hides. She washed off the blood, dried them, and kept them for later use.
After all, they would be staying in this desolate place for three days. If she could fashion the remaining hides into small blankets, it would be nice to keep the cubs warm, as medicine would be impossible to find if they fell ill.
Spreading the bear hides out in the sun, Lu Mingming began preparing the ingredients. Since no one had brought any seasonings for the barbecue, she turned to the dragons:
"Could I trouble you to collect some honey for me? We'll need it for the barbecue later."
"Honey?"
The dragons were confused.
Wasn't that something they usually drank with water?
The comments section exploded with Lu Mingming's request.
【What's so good about honey? It's sickeningly sweet to drink.】
【What should this dish be called, honey bear meat?】
【Lu Mingming is developing a new dish again, everyone, come and see!!】
The dragons were equally puzzled, but obediently went to retrieve a large beehive. They used clean banana leaves to fashion bowls and squeezed a basin full of rich, fragrant honey.
The little cubs couldn't resist dipping their fingers in for a taste. The sweetness made their little faces scrunch up, yet they were reluctant to let go of the lingering sweetness on their tongues, taking tiny licks again and again, much to the amusement of the adults.
Everyone divided the tasks. Xu Jiajia went into the forest to find some small branches, shaving off the bark to make large skewers for the meat. Huaxia moved several large stones to build a simple stove. The rest of the people threaded the tender bear meat, piece by piece, onto the large wooden skewers.
Lu Mingming made deep cross-shaped incisions into the meat and, seizing the opportunity, used leaves to scoop up honey, brushing it evenly over the surface of the meat. This allowed the honey to penetrate the meat, nourishing it from the inside out, making it more tender.
The amber-like honey colored the surface of the meat evenly, giving the entire bear meat a glistening, translucent appearance.
Among the dragons, there was one with fire-attributed spiritual power. With a snap of his fingers, a string of flames ignited the pile of dry branches, quickly growing into a warm fire.
Several other powerful dragons guarded the perimeter of the camp, watchful for any approaching beasts.
Although they had thoroughly cleared this area and had even marked its boundaries with bear droppings to deter wild animals, there was always a chance of something foolish being drawn by the scent.
Lu Mingming continuously flipped the meat on the grill. Drops of honey sizzled as they fell onto the flames, making a "sizzle" sound.
The flames grew more intense, and the rich aroma of fat seemed to struggle to escape the honey's coating. Greyish-white smoke rose, carrying the tantalizing scent of the roasted meat on a breeze that drifted to everyone's noses.
Even before it was fully cooked, more than half of the broadcasters, seated in the waiting area, were already salivating.
The livestream chat declared that one should indeed trust Lu Mingming's culinary skills!
The dragons' previously dismissive gazes turned into pure admiration as they looked at Lu Mingming.
They believed that anyone who could create such delicious food must have good character, and for the sake of this meat, they wanted to befriend her today.
"It should be ready in about ten minutes."
Lu Mingming reminded the cubs who were tired from playing.
Upon hearing this, the little ones scurried over to guard the grill, patiently waiting for the honey-roasted meat to be served.
Under the fierce heat of the fire, the honey gradually solidified on the surface of the meat, forming a golden, delicious outer layer. Through this transparent shell, the smooth muscle fibers of the bear meat could be faintly seen.
From the cross-shaped cuts, rich, fragrant oil oozed from the golden-brown, marbled surfaces, whetting everyone's appetites.
Lu Mingming used a small knife to cut a piece of meat to check its doneness. The outermost layer had turned a deep yellow, penetrating the meat's surface and spreading inch by inch towards the enticing pink interior.
With one bite, the juice exploded, and the aroma of honey-roasted meat filled the mouth, a delightful combination of honey's sweetness and the tender, slightly charred roasted meat, leaving a lingering taste.
"I think it's ready."
Just then, Xu Jiajia returned after washing the freshly picked banana leaves, spreading them on the ground to serve as a tablecloth.
Lu Mingming and Huaxia carried the roasted meat skewers, their glistening oil dripping onto the ground until the entire meat was placed on the banana leaves to cool.
Once it reached a more palatable temperature, Lu Mingming carefully cut it into small pieces for the cubs.
The dragons, however, didn't bother with such niceties. The steaming hot meat was fragrant, so they took large bites, washing them down with cold water to cleanse their palates.
As the dragons tasted it, they couldn't help but exclaim, "My heavens, this is truly delicious!"
"How about this, you stay with us and cook every day, and we'll provide you with safety and security. What do you say?"
The dragon elder said to Lu Mingming with a chuckle.
The other dragons nodded in agreement: "We dragons may not have much else, but taking care of people and ensuring safety is no problem."
The offer from the dragon elder perfectly aligned with Lu Mingming's wishes.
After all, they couldn't all rely solely on Cheng Shiqin.
Even though Lu Mingming had activated her spiritual power, it was inconvenient to overtly reveal her abilities in the competition arena. It was better to rely on the dragons.
Everyone was eating happily. Lu Mingming picked up a plate of honey-roasted meat and said:
"I'm going to step away for a moment. My cub is a bit timid, and I need to go feed him."
No one else voiced any objections. As the saying goes, accepting favors makes one hesitant to refuse, and that was none of their business.
Finding a spot hidden from the cameras, Lu Mingming pressed her spiritual power against the grass, scanning the surroundings for any movement.
Lu Mingming unzipped her backpack and met the gaze of the cub who was quietly staying inside without moving. "Sister has finished making the meat. Do you want to try some?"
She pinched a piece of roasted meat and tore it into soft shreds, offering it to the cub's mouth.
The cub glanced at it, but instead of eating the meat, its sharp little teeth bit down on Lu Mingming's finger.
Small beads of blood immediately formed on the surface of her finger, spreading along the fingerprints and blurring into a bloody stain.
The sudden sting elicited a cry of pain from Lu Mingming. The dragons in the distance heard the sound and rose to their feet, walking towards her. "What's wrong? Do you need help?"
To prevent them from misunderstanding, Lu Mingming quickly replied, "It's nothing. I just saw a leaf and thought it was a snake, so I got scared."
"Oh, I see. Call us if you need anything."
This explanation allayed the dragons' suspicions, and their spiritual power no longer probed their movements.
Lu Mingming turned to look at the cub in front of her. Its mouth was wrapped around her finger, and its soft tongue licked the pad of her finger back and forth.
"Baby, it's very dirty. Please let go, and let's eat the meat, okay?"
Lu Mingming whispered, on the verge of tears.
The cub remained unmoved, holding her slender wrist with its soft little hand. Its inorganic, beautiful eyes stared intently into Lu Mingming's moist eyes, while its mouth enclosed her finger, sucking the metallic-tasting blood.
At some point, after finishing the blood, the cub, with surprising understanding, licked the wound with its tongue. Miraculously, the wound began to heal.
Having completed this, the cub met Lu Mingming's gaze with its rose-colored eyes that no one could refuse.
Lu Mingming's heart softened, and she offered the shreds of meat to the cub's lips again.
The cub began to eat, chewing each bite slowly and elegantly, its movements exuding an innate nobility.
Lu Mingming froze at the sight.
If the little white tiger possessed the innate arrogance of a king among all creatures, showing disdain for everything else with a haughty air, this cub of unknown species was like the moon in the night sky, distant and unapproachable, with no possibility of being touched.
Lu Mingming came back to her senses and asked, "Are you using blood to replenish your energy? Next time you want to eat, tell me first. I need to be mentally prepared, it hurts when you bite me."
The cub showed no reaction, and Lu Mingming assumed it had taken her words to heart.
Once the cub had eaten its fill, Lu Mingming packed everything away, ensuring nothing was left behind, and slung her backpack over her shoulder, heading back to the camp.
Seeing her return, the leading dragon addressed her:
"Are we staying here to set up camp, or should we go look for the crystal token?"