Behind him, he carried a basket of coal, his face smeared black, resembling a coal miner. His entire appearance was like a clown in a mine, performing acrobatics.
"Pfft..."
Seeing this, Bibi Dong's gloomy mood instantly lifted, and she couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Although Lu Leng was carrying so many things, he had been paying close attention to Bibi Dong's expression. Her sudden laughter was immediately caught by his eyes.
He felt a surge of joy, knowing that the first step of his plan had been successful.
"What are you doing?" Bibi Dong stepped forward, helping him unload some of the items.
"Teacher, I recently invented a new dish and specially came to share it with you," Lu Leng said with a smile, his white teeth in stark contrast to his blackened face, making him look like an African child, which once again brought a smile to Bibi Dong's face.
"You can cook?" Bibi Dong asked with a laugh.
"Well, children from poor families have to grow up early. If I didn't know how to cook a little, I would have starved to death," Lu Leng said with a hint of sadness.
"I remember your family was quite wealthy, and you even had a mansion."
"Ahem..."
"Teacher, let's not talk about that. Try my cooking first," Lu Leng coughed, quickly changing the subject. Fortunately, his face was so black that the embarrassment of being exposed wasn't visible.
"Go wash your face first."
After Lu Leng quickly washed his face, he began to prepare the meal under Bibi Dong's curious gaze.
He set up a charcoal stove, placed a copper pot on it, added water, sliced the meat, and arranged the plates...
That's right, what Lu Leng had prepared for Bibi Dong today was the specialty of Sichuan—hot pot! Hot pot is considered the most sensual food because it allows men and women to exchange saliva.
Lu Leng had two reasons for preparing hot pot. First, it didn't exist in this world, so it would be a novel experience that could pique Bibi Dong's curiosity. Second, hot pot creates a very lively atmosphere, which would help distract Bibi Dong from her thoughts of Yu Xiaogang.
This was Lu Leng's main goal.
The boiling water bubbled, and the red oil, spices, Sichuan peppercorns, garlic, and other ingredients were added. In no time, a spicy and fragrant aroma filled the air.
He started cooking the meat and then prepared a classic dipping sauce for Bibi Dong.
Garlic paste, sesame oil, and chopped green onions.
Just these three ingredients!
Then, under Bibi Dong's expectant gaze, they waited a little longer before they could start eating.
"Alright, it's ready. Teacher, please try it," Lu Leng said, picking up a piece of premium spirit beast meat and placing it in Bibi Dong's bowl.
Bibi Dong was half-skeptical; this was the first time she had eaten something like this. But under Lu Leng's sincere gaze, she still put the meat slice into her mouth.
The meat melted in her mouth, incredibly tender. Although it had a mix of fat and lean, it didn't feel greasy at all. Paired with the spicy and fragrant broth, it brought a burst of flavor to her taste buds. Just one bite, and Bibi Dong was hooked.
"Mmm~, delicious."
Bibi Dong couldn't help but exclaim, her eyes showing delight. "The flavor is great, spicy, fragrant, and numbing!"
"Hehe, I told you my cooking was good," Lu Leng said, seeing that Bibi Dong liked it. He knew that today's goal was one step closer.
"I didn't doubt it."
"But your expression earlier clearly showed doubt."
"I didn't."
"..."
The two of them chatted while eating.
The hot pot became more fragrant as they continued eating, with the flavor of the broth becoming more intense.
Lu Leng had prepared a considerable amount of food, but he still underestimated their appetites. By the end, all the food he had brought was completely devoured.
"I'll go prepare some more," Lu Leng said, noticing the beads of sweat on her forehead, feeling immensely pleased.
"No need, let's stop here for today," Bibi Dong waved her hand dismissively. "It's always good to leave a little longing for something wonderful."
With that, Bibi Dong stood up and walked to the edge of the pavilion, her gaze drifting into the distance.
Her demeanor once again turned melancholic, and Lu Leng knew she was thinking about Yu Xiaogang again.
The longing after such a lively atmosphere felt even more lonely! Damn it, that bastard Yu Xiaogang, he's really caused a lot of harm! Lu Leng cursed fiercely, vowing to teach Yu Xiaogang a lesson if he ever got the chance.
"Teacher..." Lu Leng began, but Bibi Dong interrupted him. "Alright, thank you for the dinner. I'm very happy today. Rest early, and tomorrow I'll take you to hunt for your second soul ring."
Seeing the situation, Lu Leng knew it was pointless to say more, so he started packing up.
"Take this ring. It has a hundred cubic meters of space, so you won't have to lug things around next time," Bibi Dong tossed a ring to Lu Leng.
Lu Leng caught it and examined it closely. The ring was silver with a jade inlay, looking quite ordinary, neither luxurious nor valuable.
When he put it on, he noticed a faint residual warmth.
"This is something I used when I was young. It's been with me for many years, but now it's of little use to me. I've kept it as a decoration, so I'll give it to you."
"Thank you, Teacher," Lu Leng said respectfully.
"It's I who should thank you."
Lu Leng remained silent, understanding what Bibi Dong meant. He bowed once more, waved his hand to collect the dishes, and then left.
After Lu Leng left, Bibi Dong watched his retreating figure, her eyes calm as water, lost in thought.
Back in his room, Lu Leng caressed the ring on his finger.
Although the dinner hadn't fully achieved his goal, it had shown its effectiveness, leaving an impression on Bibi Dong and planting a seed in her heart.
Their relationship had taken a step forward. Though they were still master and disciple, there was now a subtle spiritual elevation.
This ring was proof of that.
"Don't think it's nothing"—this was actually a crucial step. Often, the first step to opening a woman's heart is precisely this kind of gesture.
The next day, Lu Leng was pleasantly surprised to find that his soul power had broken through to level 22.
Could it be that even fate was on his side?
....
In the Star Dou Great Forest, Lu Leng and his two companions (bibi dong and Chrysanthemum douluo) arrived once again to look for the second soul ring for Lu Leng.
"Shouldn't the second soul ring be able to absorb a ten-thousand-year one?" Lu Leng asked. If the second soul ring was still only a thousand-year level, he wouldn't bother absorbing it.
That would just be embarrassing.
"Yes, your physical condition far exceeds my expectations. The second soul ring should be able to absorb one between twelve thousand to fourteen thousand years."
"That's good," Lu Leng said with a smile.
This time, Bibi Dong didn't send Chrysanthemum Douluo to capture the soul beast but personally led Lu Leng deeper into the forest.
As for the specific soul beast to configure for his second soul ring, he couldn't make a decision yet and could only wait to see what they encountered.
Soon, the group came across a Blazing Fire Bear. "The Blazing Fire Bear has a fiery temper, strong offensive capabilities, and immense strength. It would be quite suitable for you, but its age is only ten thousand years, which is a bit lacking," Bibi Dong analyzed before shaking her head.