Chapter 313 - 311: A Place Without Belonging
Returning to Flying Eagle’s home, Jiang Che and Ding Ning looked at the table full of dishes.
The lighting inside the house was soft and warm, casting its glow upon faces that were filled with anticipation.
As they entered, Ding Ning immediately noticed the dishes presented atop the white salt on the table.
Her eyes sparkled because, during her cooking, she had always been troubled by the salt melting into the variety of dishes.
At this moment, she felt like she had discovered a new continent, her excitement was beyond words.
This was her first time seeing clean dishes that hadn’t melted.
She approached the dining table, observing closely, her eyes filled with curiosity and delight.
Jiang Che’s expression was complex when he saw the table full of dishes.
He rarely had eaten different styles of dishes before, and salt-grilled dishes were a first for him.
He stared at Flying Eagle in shock, wondering if this salt looked like more than Ning would use?
Ning’s use of salt was usually just some on the surface of the dish.
It was piled like small snow mountains.
But Flying Eagle and the others didn’t need to use more salt to please Ning.
He had talked to Flying Tiger, saying that some things don’t need to be done intentionally; everyone should just prepare what they like to eat normally.
If things are done deliberately to please, it would rather feel more like superior and subordinate dynamics.
If possible, he would rather be friends with everyone and maintain normal interactions.
"Just sit down first." Jiang Che took a glance without showing any dissatisfaction.
Ding Ning looked at Flying Eagle curiously, knowing that this meal was prepared by Flying Eagle.
"Why doesn’t this salt melt?" She tilted her head, looking like a curious child.
She felt that it looked visually more appealing than what she usually made.
Recalling her cooking, there were times when she didn’t control well, leading to black clumps on the dishes.
"Why doesn’t this salt melt?" Ding Ning examined the salt in the bowl, her face full of curiosity.
Her gaze shifted back and forth between the dishes and the salt, eager to understand the principle behind it.
Flying Eagle looked at the Lord in front of him; she was very curious about everything in the kitchen.
Even though Ding Ning was standing close, and he felt able to see her clearly, for some reason, despite knowing what she looked like, his mind just couldn’t remember.
Whenever he thought of her, it was all a blurry image.
"This, this is called salt-grilling." Flying Eagle patiently explained the method to her.
At this moment, the soft lighting in the dining room bathed everyone in a warm atmosphere.
Ding Ning was no longer a novice, just upon a simple explanation, she grasped everything quickly.
After learning, she walked over to Jiang Che and sat beside him at the dining table.
"Try it, if it tastes good, I’ll cook it this way for you in the future."
She looked expectantly at Jiang Che, but even though Flying Eagle explained in detail, she still thought that this way the salt couldn’t fully integrate into the dish.
Unsure how it would taste.
But she trusted humans, there was still much for her to learn about cooking.
Under her expecting gaze, Jiang Che picked up a piece of chicken with chopsticks.
The dim light enveloped the dining table, Jiang Che sat there, mentally prepared to embrace "disaster."
Seeing Flying Eagle and the others place so much salt together, he was utterly dumbstruck.
Who said Ding Ning was the real Salt Prince, look at these people, aren’t they!
He silently wailed in his heart, looking at the salt-covered dishes, only feeling a shiver in his scalp.
He could eat Ding Ning’s meals, no matter how they tasted.
But others’ meals, he couldn’t bear one bit; however, if his reaction were poor, it could lead to a flaw that would make Ding Ning suspect him.
Yet when the chicken entered his mouth, all he felt was the burst of savory juices exploding in his mouth.
The tenderness of the chicken perfectly melded with just the right seasoning, the salt not only didn’t spoil the taste but added a unique flavor.
Jiang Che looked at the table of dishes, eyes filled with confusion.
Could such a normal dish be made with so much salt?
"Is it delicious? If so, I’ll make it for you when we return!" Ding Ning looked at Jiang Che expectantly, feeling inside that melting might be tastier, but girls can’t refuse wonderful things.
If all the salt melted, clumps could form easily on the dishes.
If it’s slightly dry, it would solidify on top, visually unappealing.
Flying Eagle’s method was the one she was most satisfied with.
Jiang Che paused, then nodded.
"Still, the wife’s cooking is the best."
Upon hearing his flattering words, Ding Ning said nothing, merely pursing her lips in a secret smile.
After the meal ended, Jiang Che looked at Flying Tiger and Flying Eagle with a complex gaze.
Because this method was one that didn’t hurt Ding Ning nor himself.
"When you go to the Octopus Lord’s dungeon later, I’ll go with you." Flying Eagle’s gaze was clear, after the meal, he had nothing left to worry about.
"I’ve also contacted other Human Lords, all dungeons without barriers."
"Everyone will enter with you."
"During this period, I’ll discuss with them the specifics of what to do next, you shouldn’t trust them or even me."
"Inside there, the one to trust will be yourself." Flying Eagle seriously instructed.
Although he mentioned coordinating with others, no one knew what could happen inside.
"You just need to carry out your own plans without minding us."
"They ultimately didn’t rehearse a game scenario together."
"Because in such a mind game, the more rehearsals, the worse for impromptu adaptability."
"Acting according to predetermined rules might lead to failure."
Jiang Che looked at him complexly, recalling Ding Ning’s words that whether it was participants from the Octopus Lord’s realm or outsiders, he had no bias.
"Because in his eyes, it’s just a game."
"His domain also frequently updates with new spirits."
"Once all are dead, he will consume the domain’s energy to nurture new spirits."
"He ensures enough participants accompany him in this game at each start."
The spirits born in other Lords’ territories are subordinates, family to them.
But to the Octopus Lord, these are just tools for playing the game.
He didn’t anticipate these tools to reach any high rank, just wanted to see them fighting and dying in this game."
"If humans enter, he won’t care, he merely ensures the camp numbers remain balanced."
After leaving, Ding Ning seriously explained the rules to Jiang Che.
"It can be said, his domain is one where subordinates feel the least sense of belonging." Ding Ning walked through the eerie forest along with Jiang Che.