freeallnovels Chapter 1301 - 631:
Chapter 1301 - 631:
Fang Cheng cut off about three catties, re-sealed the rest, and tossed it into the freezer.
Then he lit the fire, placed the pot, poured a little golden base oil, preparing to make a serving of braised Crawling Beast meat.
When the first wisp of smoke rose from the bottom of the pot, the cut pieces of meat were poured into the pot.
"Sizzle—"
The sound of stir-frying filled the kitchen instantly.
Fang Cheng held the pot handle steadily with one hand, his arm muscles rhythmically moving with each flip of the pot.
The heavy iron pot seemed as light as a toy in his hand, frequently flying over the flames.
The meat pieces quickly shrank under the high temperature, the surface blood quickly congealed, transforming into a special charred fragrance.
He did not add any complex spices, just grabbed a handful of coarse salt and tossed in a few pieces of crushed old ginger.
For ingredients of this level, retaining the original flavor is the greatest respect.
As he continuously flipped and stir-fried, the meat gradually turned from dark red to grayish-brown.
A special scent, spicy with a primitive aura, instantly filled the air.
After locking in the flavor with high-temperature stir-frying, he added water, poured in a bit of aged cooking wine, and then clanged the lid on top of the pot.
Fang Cheng adjusted the flame to the lowest setting, letting the heat inside the sealed space gently work through those rubber-like stubborn muscle fibers.
This meat is incredibly resilient and requires sufficient time to tame.
Seizing the time while the pot was bubbling, Fang Cheng didn’t remain idle; he turned around and scooped a big bowl of white porridge from the clay pot.
The porridge had been simmered thoroughly, with a thick film of rice oil forming on its surface.
Then, he retrieved a jar of pickles made by his mother from the freezer to neutralize the aggressive fat of the meat.
After half an hour.
Two plates of Otherworld Beast meat, enough to drive countless Martial Artists crazy, were laid on the dining table side by side.
Meanwhile, a slight flash of light appeared before Fang Cheng’s eyes, and new prompt messages emerged:
[You have personally cooked a rare and precious ingredient, Cooking Skill Experience +10]
[Cooking Skill lv1 (216/250)]
Gaining so much experience from just cooking a dish was a pleasant surprise.
Fang Cheng smiled slightly, changed into a clean gray vest, and sat down at the table.
He first took a sip of white porridge to moisten his throat, then picked up a piece of braised Crawling Beast meat to taste his craft.
The texture of this meat was extremely contrasting.
The outer layer of the beast meat was stir-fried to a crispy and flavorful char, dissolving slightly with just a bite.
However, the inner texture remained firm and elastic, with an astounding resilience and strength.
Every chew felt like having a final tussle with the remnant soul of this Other Shore Beast.
Abundant meat juices mixed with freshness exploded in the mouth, and the rich, intense flavor shot straight to his nose.
As a large amount of high-energy meat entered his stomach, Fang Cheng felt a growing heat surge within him.
Pure energy continuously poured into his limbs and bones, nourishing and tempering his body.
Just then, several panel notifications popped up incessantly:
[You are consuming a rare ingredient, absorbing Life Energy, Constitution increased by 0.001]
[You are consuming a rare ingredient, absorbing Life Energy, Constitution increased by 0.001]
.........
Seeing this, Fang Cheng chuckled lightly and immediately abandoned any restraint, indulging himself heartily.
He grabbed a large chunk of beast meat with one hand and fed his mouth continuously with the other.
The grinding sound of his teeth sounded like two millstones pressing against each other.
His cheeks bulged round and tight, chewing with fierce intensity.
Thick meat juices dribbled down his chin and neck unnoticed.
His ravenous eating posture was like a starving beast encountering its prey.
The original refined demeanor was completely gone, leaving only greed and satisfaction for top-notch gourmet food.
The stewed Crawling Beast meat was tender and rich, melting in the mouth, while the braised version was chewy and springy.
Together with the crispy tartness of pickles, it perfectly neutralized the greasy sensation of the fat.
Multiple flavors clashed and intertwined on his tongue, bringing Fang Cheng unprecedented satisfaction and contentment.
With each swallow, he could clearly sense the imperceptible yet steady growth of his inner strength.
This tangible sense of enhancement made him feel all the more exhilarated, eating even more joyously.
In just a few minutes, a bowl of white porridge and two large plates of beast meat, enough to stuff a normal person, were devoured by him completely.
The plate was clean as if it had never been used, licked spotless.
"Ah, it’s easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury to frugality."
Fang Cheng put down his chopsticks and wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin, sighing with some emotion:
"After eating this top-grade exotic beast meat, how can I ever get used to ordinary pork and beef again?"
Thinking about it, he couldn’t help but recall that mysterious guy Lu Tianming.
Since that night when they "met frankly" in the West Mountain Forest, this Director of the Internal Investigation Department seemed to have vanished without a trace, no longer reaching out to him.
Fang Cheng wasn’t in a hurry and had no intention of paying a visit.
He knew in his heart that Lu Tianming was probably extremely busy now.
After all, that night caused such a big commotion that a few candidates actually died in what was supposed to be a normal physical test.
This matter hadn’t spread outside, but it couldn’t possibly be quietly covered up within the Special Search Team.
The subsequent investigation and embellishment of the records all required Lu Tianming to use considerable authority to navigate.
Especially those black market mercenaries disguised as candidates, whose backgrounds were already dirty.
If the investigation team discovered the deception and traced it back to Lu Tianming being the one whitewashing these assassins’ identities...
Then it might reveal the "Black Tide" lurking in the shadows, and the resulting turmoil would definitely not be small.
Fang Cheng stood up and walked to the fridge, reaching out to open the top cover.
Cold air spilled out in a white mist, and he fished out a bottle of mineral water, unscrewing the cap to take a big gulp.
The icy liquid slid down his throat into his stomach, slightly suppressing the heat brought by the beast meat he’d eaten, and Fang Cheng let out a comfortable burp.
Under such circumstances, keeping his distance from the other party was the wisest choice.
He certainly didn’t want to get tangled up in an unsolvable stench at this time.
Of course, he had prepared for the worst.
If the mole Lu Tianming was exposed and even dared to implicate him, Fang Cheng didn’t see it as a big problem.
At worst, he’d have to reveal his strength earlier than planned.
With his current capability to destroy Reproductive Armor with his bare hands and traverse the interdimensional passage...
If it came to that, the upper echelons of the Special Search Team would have to be fools not to treat him as a criminal but instead, would try every means to win him over like a priceless treasure.
In this age of frequent supernatural events and gradually collapsing order, immense strength is the best get-out-of-jail-free card.
"Just wait a few more days..."
Fang Cheng murmured softly, casually crumpling the empty bottle into a ball.
The reason he’d spared Lu Tianming’s life was primarily for that method of "stably opening a relic’s entrance."
The feeling of being torn apart by spatial turbulence when he forcibly breached the Golden Light Barrier to enter the Otherworld was still fresh in his memory.
Brute force was useful, but no one wanted every outing to feel like a dance at hell’s gate.
The technology and experience that Lu Tianming possessed were exactly what he needed now.
Moreover, from what Lu Tianming said, there was a cooldown period after opening the relic entrance once, and it seemed to require a large energy replenishment.
Being anxious now wouldn’t help, so he might as well wait for the storm to completely subside.
Fang Cheng took steps towards the living room, stopping in front of the floor-to-ceiling window.
It was nearing noon, and the clouds in the sky were layered.
A few beams of brilliant sunlight slanted through the gaps, spreading across the vast sea a shimmering pattern that made one squint.
On the coastal highway, dense traffic moved forward leisurely, horns faintly echoing in his ears.
Everything seemed as calm and ordinary as ever.
Looking at the scene outside the window, Fang Cheng’s gaze gradually deepened.
In the coming days, he needed to plan carefully.
Once he successfully infiltrated the Special Search Team and donned that official guise, he’d have the chance to access internal files to investigate the truth of his father’s death years ago.
He could also utilize the convenience of his public service position to resolve certain persistent troubles.
Furthermore, he could use the Special Search Team’s channels to gain more resources to satisfy the demands of this increasingly abnormal body.
While the world of ordinary people pursued money and fame, his goal was to become stronger.
Strong enough to disregard rules, strong enough to spread his wings and overlook the masses in the chaos that might ensue in the future.
Fang Cheng stretched out his hand, slowly spreading his fingers, then suddenly clenched them tight.
A low explosion-like sound came from between his fingers.
"Special Search Team..."
He muttered softly, withdrew his gaze, and turned towards the heavy sandbag hanging in the living room.
After eating and drinking his fill, it was time to resume training.