Chapter 88: Cuisine, The Origins of Dewgrass

Clearly, the little one was going through a growth spurt, and its appetite seemed to grow by the day. The not-yet-satiated Poison Sprite Bird polished off all the remaining desserts. Su Yi had already tasted them and didn't mind, but Caibean, who rarely had the chance to enjoy such treats, was left unsatisfied and a little disappointed.

“Greedy little thing!” Su Yi knocked gently on the Poison Sprite Bird’s head.

The little creature looked utterly aggrieved: I was just hungry.

“I’ve already had my share, so it’s really nothing. Please don’t blame the little one,” Caibean said quickly.

“It’s almost dinner time anyway. Let me make a dish to make up for it,” Su Yi glanced at the time as he spoke.

“A dish? There’s really no need to go to the trouble,” Caibean immediately thought of the lavish feasts Su Yi used to prepare back on Armor Isle and shook her head.

“It’s no trouble at all. I want to try something new, and I’d love for you to taste it,” Su Yi rolled up his sleeves with a smile.

…

In the kitchen, Su Yi placed a bag of Mushroom Boar meat on the cutting board.

“Need any help?” Caibean asked, flexing her hands as if preparing for battle.

“No need, it’s a simple dish. You can just start cooking the rice,” Su Yi replied, half amused by her earnestness.

He chopped the Mushroom Boar meat into small pieces, then set about preparing the spices gifted by the Plateau Minstrels.

Meanwhile, Caibean busied herself with the rice, curious about what Su Yi would make. Having tasted his cooking before, she couldn’t help but look forward to it.

After preparing the ingredients, Su Yi heated oil in the wok, adding the meat and spices in turn and stir-frying them. Gradually, a delicious aroma filled the air, whetting their appetites.

Caibean’s eyes were fixed on the Mushroom Boar meat, which was taking on a tantalizing color in the pot. Her stomach, barely satisfied by the few sweets she’d eaten, let out a yearning groan.

“Patience,” Su Yi said with a smile. Caibean touched her stomach, her cheeks flushing.

Once the meat was nearly done, he added the secret honey glaze from the Plateau Minstrels and let it simmer over a low flame.

“What dish is this? It feels kind of like curry,” Caibean asked, puzzled.

“This is braised pork over rice. The ingredients are a bit lacking and the method isn’t exactly authentic, but the meat and spices are excellent, so it should taste quite good.”

After eating Aunt Honeyleaf’s curry back on Armor Isle, Su Yi had immediately thought of this braised pork rice—the two dishes were both served over rice.

And Mushroom Boar meat was the perfect ingredient for this.

“All done!” Su Yi heaped rice onto plates and ladled the richly sauced braised pork on top.

“It smells amazing!” Caibean breathed in deeply, the intermingled scents of honey glaze and meat awakening a primal craving for flesh.

“Try it!” Su Yi brought the dishes to the table and set aside a portion for the cat as well.

Gazing at the glossy braised pork, Caibean murmured her thanks and mixed the rice and pork together, bringing a mouthful to her lips.

“Mmm!” She paused, then quickly took another bite.

The honey glaze, brimming with wild flavor, and the rich yet not greasy Mushroom Boar meat complemented each other perfectly. The balance of sweet and savory was just right, opening up her appetite completely.

Chewing the tender, sauce-soaked meat, a sense of satisfaction welled up inside her. The rice mellowed the flavors, making it all the more enjoyable.

Licking a trace of sauce from the corner of her mouth, Caibean exclaimed, “It’s delicious! I really love the sweet taste of the honey glaze!”

“Seems like it turned out well,” Su Yi nodded, pleased with the result, though he knew he could still improve.

“Who knew Mushroom Boar meat could be this good, meow!” Dewleaf purred contentedly.

Back at the base, Mushroom Boar was usually just roasted, which left the flavor wanting compared to Herbivorous Dragon. But braised like this, the layered fat and lean meat melded into a rich, non-greasy delight.

In no time, the entire pot of braised pork and rice was gone.

“Whew!” Caibean patted her belly and said earnestly, “Thank you for the meal!”

Su Yi waved it off with a smile. “No need to be so formal—you’ve helped me so much.”

Those sword dance technique notes were worth thousands, after all.

Eat, eat to your heart’s content!

…

After dinner.

“Are you leaving already?” Caibean asked, seeing Su Yi neatly packed and ready.

“There’s something I need to take care of, but I shouldn’t be gone long,” Su Yi replied.

“When I’m back, I’ll make you something else to try,” he added with a smile.

“I’ll look forward to it, then.” Caibean nodded.

“Well then, see you!”

“Meow!”

Su Yi waved and left with Dewleaf, their figures receding into the sunset.

Caibean watched their silhouettes grow smaller beneath the evening sky.

Sometimes, setting aside burdens and worries to savor a steaming, lovingly prepared meal made just for her—it didn’t seem so bad after all.

…

Coral Plateau, as night descended.

Su Yi opened his map and checked their location.

“We’re headed to the Third Fleet’s airship, meow?” Dewleaf asked, following Su Yi’s gaze.

“Yes. I wonder if Master Field has made it back safely,” Su Yi replied, releasing the Dazzling Bird, Zizi.

“Zizi, since you’re small, I’ll rely on you to carry us,” Su Yi said.

“Waah!” Zizi nodded, and once Su Yi and Dewleaf had climbed on, he set off toward their destination as directed.

Night had quieted the Coral Plateau, and with fewer dangers about, it was the perfect time for travel.

“By the way, Dewleaf, I didn’t realize you were from the Third Fleet’s cohort,” Su Yi said, making conversation as they rode through the cool evening.

“Actually, not quite, meow. I was born after the Fourth Fleet arrived. I should be eight years old now, meow,” Dewleaf replied after some thought.

“Eight?!” Su Yi was startled. Was this considered child labor?

“What’s wrong, meow? For a Felyne, eight isn’t that young,” Dewleaf explained.

“Still, that’s not very old,” Su Yi said in wonder.

No wonder Dewleaf seemed a bit smaller—most adult Felynes stood over a meter tall, but Dewleaf didn’t quite reach that.

“What about your parents? Were they Palicoes for hunters?” Su Yi asked curiously.

“They were, but later the hunter they followed returned to the Old World, and they went with him,” Dewleaf explained.

“Why didn’t you go as well?”

“Because I love exploring, meow! My parents returned to the Old World to retire, but I want to see more of the New World!” Dewleaf’s words brimmed with the desire to explore the unknown.

Truly, he was a cat through and through.

“So that’s your story, aibo. Then tell me, why are you called Dewleaf?” Su Yi asked with interest.

“It’s nothing special, meow. When my parents were out on an expedition with their hunter, they encountered an Anjanath and got hurt along with the hunter, meow.

“At a critical moment, it was the restorative dewleaf on the plains that saved their lives.

“Later, my father told me, ‘Even if you seem as unremarkable as a dewleaf by the water’s edge, you can be the key to life and death,’” Dewleaf recalled.

“Aibo, you’re my restorative dewleaf,” Su Yi said with feeling.

Since meeting Dewleaf, he had saved Su Yi’s life more than once at critical moments. Though Dewleaf wasn’t strong in battle yet, Su Yi believed his day to shine would come.