Chapter 64: A Pot of ‘Free’ Mushroom Soup Tastes More Delicious!
Everyone was sitting in a circle around the campfire while indulging themselves with some warm turmeric coconut soup in bliss. Sometimes, a low chuckle, an obscure plop-plop sounds, a merry hiss and a happy growl could be heard intermittently. The small family was chitchatting about their adventure telepathically with each other. Only the little yellow bird was left behind. However, she didn't even notice as she was concentrating on her own bowl of soup with infatuation. Hana scooped the bamboo shoots into her mouth slowly as she sighed in contentment with every bite. Even the little bird was copying Hana's action. She was really smitten with the wild flavor of the infused spiritual herb.
[What? You're an ice-attribute? Do you have those fancy powers like creating blizzards and stuff?] Hana inquired Shiro excitedly. Who had known that she had really entered the land of a Xianxia fairy tales like in the webnovels she always read online! The dense aunty finally realized why the fox's fur didn't turn warm even after so long. It's like wrapping yourself inside a fur coat extracted from the fridge.
[Haha.] Shiro laughed awkwardly. His androgynous voice was so pleasing to the ear, Hana though that this fellow would've make it big if he could be a singer in her world's international entertainment industry. Alas, his voice was exclusively for her only. The thoughts left a sweet feeling in her heart.
[I'm not that strong yet, Mom. One day, I'll be able too, I promise. Right now, a little of ice manipulation attacks, wind cleaving attacks and simple swipe with these is all I have.] Shiro explained humbly.
[Mommy, mommy, ask me, ask me!] A young boy's voice traveled into everyone's head. Everyone sweated with how the shameless snake was acting cute.
[Yes, Ku-chan. How about you?] Hana entertained her little pet as how she would to a five-year-old.
[Actually, I'm not just lightning-attributed, I'm a healer and also a poisoner. No one else can cure my poison. If you have cuts anywhere, my saliva will do the trick!] He said proudly.
[Really? OMG! Why didn't you tell me, sweetie! You scared me to death! I already told your Papa you have no poison! If he knew, he would've asked me to throw you out.] Hana was extremely surprised while she chuckled lightly. However, she was not afraid. She knew the little one loved her so much. Moreover, he was so gifted with so many abilities! This little one kept on giving her a number of startling surprises!
[It's alright, Mommy. Technically, you didn't not lie to him.] You didn't know. He said smugly.
[Another thing is, my psyche is stronger than the average old degenerates around this area. That is why I was able to link up to Mommy. You should be able to do the same from your side too, Mommy. After all, we already shared a very strong link. In the future when your psyche is stronger to withstand the burden, you can even use my physical ability, you know. Actually, as long as you're a bit stronger, you can already share my vision as I could share with yours.] He added enthusiastically.
A bombshell. The noisy public telepathy channel suddenly became quiet.
That was so much sensitive information! Hana was in awe with Kuro's capabilities! Hana didn't know Kuro had been eager to tell her for the longest time. He just didn't have the right time and place.
From the information, everyone had finally understood the main culprit who initiated the blood pact contract frenzy, and how he could do it with ease. The blood pact only works when both parties were willing. In this case, they're pretty sure Hana must've been unwilling at the beginning! After all, the aunty didn't understand serpent language! How could she know about the snake's noble intentions? The most important thing was, he had made the aunty as the main host, and he, the initiator, at the subordinate level! Everyone was dumbstruck with Kuro's actions!
Hana was very touched with the revelation. Without meeting Kuro, she might've been too scared to even go anywhere. She would've cried and whimpered in the darkness of the cave until all her powerbank battery ran out even before being rescued by her own family. When she finally had the courage to venture out, she would've died from being attacked by random animals in the forest!
Hana turned to Ara to ask. [How about you, Ara? I know what you think. Although we're not a family, we're already considered as close friends, right? Friends don't keep secret from each other.] She smiled 'sincerely' to the little pink fish.
[Errr.. I can wield water-attributed attacks, like the bubbles from before, and water guns.] She divulged her abilities after a short pause. After all, she had not cultivated diligently and focused more on medicine.
[Anything else?]
[Hmm... I'm also know a little bit of medicine. I can make a little healing poultices and spirit stabilizing pellets.] She said embarrassingly.
Hana chuckled. [Have you let anyone try your medicines all this while? How potent was it?]
[Er, no. Nobody was willing to try although I have perfected the recipe. Everyone ran away when they see me.] Ara said dejectedly.
Hana nearly let go of her own bowl.
...
"The leftover soup is a bit too little already." Hana ruminated in her mind for a while and came up with a novel method to finish up the leftovers! She will use the thick soup as a marination base!
Once the idea had formed, Hana couldn't shake it off from her mind. She immediately stood up to start preparing. Although the coconut turmeric soup just now was fulfilling to her, she knew her pets were still hungry. Why not just try out the new idea and see how it goes? She took the cut up gigantic crawfish meat from one of Ara's bubble and marinated them inside. After that, the busy aunty transferred the marinated crawfish meat to a cleaned banana leaf. Hana took another piece, cut them into cubes, and this time, she marinated them with a pinch of salt, and similarly placed them beside the leftover coconut-soup-marinated meats.
Once she cleaned the pot, she poured in water, a little bit of chopped garlic and shallots, two pinches of salt and half cube of chicken stock to make a simple clear soup base for stewing mushrooms. Once the base soup came to a boil, she grabbed the diced mushroom cubes and chucked them into the soup. Since they have five big ones, she was not worried there won't be enough. Only half of a single mushroom had filled the three-liter soup to the brim. They were too big! She had given one mushroom to the eager Ara as she silently went into a corner of the cave to do her own thing.
She was satisfied with their gain. Being chased around by gigantic colorful termites was totally worth it!
Once the mushroom soup had wilted a little, she scooped some out into one coconut shell bowl for Markisah. Then, she added in a little bit of diced prawn meat inside. Kuro had tactfully told her that she couldn't eat the crawfish. It was because the crawfish's meat was too potent in energy. It was like a super strong extra potent ginseng! Only Shiro and himself should eat them. The little fish might eat one or two bite before it'll be too much even for her. That was why she made the soup for herself, Ara and the not-so-vegan Markisah.
Once the simple soup was done, Hana started making bamboo skewers from the leftover bamboo poles she had. She then alternately pierced the crawfish meat marinated with plain salt and the ones marinated with the coconut soup. After that, she grilled them over some embers until a delicious smell filled the cave. Surprisingly, the meat took a long time to be ready. Hana gulped her saliva and tried hard to withstand the temptation! She really had to restrain herself with all she had!
...
As usual, everyone was sitting around the fire except for Ara, eagerly waiting for the next meal. Hana plated the 'shrimp' skewers and mushroom-prawn soup for Kuro, Shiro and Ara. She only served mushroom soup for herself and Markisah. Ara seemed busy at the moment, hence, she told everyone else not to disturb her, but still left a portion of food on her usual spot. Hana started eating the soup a mouthful at a time, until she fetched for the mushroom for a taste. The first bite gave her a mild combination of succulent-sweet-savory flavors in her mouth. It was absolutely delicious!
Hana lamented on her own luck. Is this pot of termite mound mushroom tasted the same as the ones back home? If they were this fantastic, the hype would've been bigger. Or was it because it was 'free'? That's why it was so delicious?
......
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
mrandmrsmooncat
mrandmrsmooncat If you know the 'medicines' Ara made had not gone through field trial, would you be brave enough to try? XDXD
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