章 26: Before the hunt

Frozen meat and fat, garlic, and herbs. The equipment already frozen and the casing was immersed in warm water. Everything had been prepared.

Yan Xiu asked Bai Yuan to took out a big rectangular marble board from the cabinet, Yan Xiu cleaned it with cloth and Spring Mist spell. On the board, an inscription was carved, it was the same inscription on the ice box and refrigerator. Yan Xiu filled the inscription with Zhenqi until it's full, the inscription glowed with blue light and cold air leaked out from it.

This board was something his papa made especially for making cold dishes, the board would keep everything on it stayed cold. He took out the pork, boar, and snake meat. He wanted to make a sausage out if these three different meats, first was the pork.

The meat and fat was diced with the meat in bigger size than fat, then put into the same bowl. The garlic and herbs also cut to small pieces and added to the meat, using hands, Yan Xiu mixed up the meat and the herbs thoroughly. When the meat and herbs mixed, salt and pepper was added and mixed once again.

With that done, he took out the meat grinder. The mixed meat and herbs was grinded to ground meat. Yan Xiu added some black pepper to the ground meat and mixed it. The meat was ready to be put into the casing.

He took out the sausage stuffer and slip the casing to the device mouth while leaving a tail to be tied. Yan Xiu set a side some of the meat to ate right away, the rest was put inside the stuffer. The meat slowly came out of the stuffer, forming a long meat train. He tied the tail after the meat came out, and slowly pushed the meat out.

The meat formed a long coil, he pinched the meat to make links and hanged them on wooden rack so they didn't touch too much. Let it dry for one to two hours, before putting in a container inside the fridge to rest overnight. He took a sterilized needle to poke air bubble in the links if there were any. And voila! The pork sausage was done!

Yan Xiu looked at the finished sausage and nodded, not too bad for his first time making it. Bai Yuan, who was watching Yan Xiu making sausage, already focusing his gaze on the finished sausage. The smell was asking him to bite it, but Bai Yuan held himself back. If he ate it, he knew that would be the first and last one he would taste, he wouldn't let a moment satisfaction denied him of a bigger bliss.

Bai Yuan then guarded the sausage and didn't let flies near it, much less touched it. Yan Xiu, on the other hand, already working on the boar's sausage. It was the second time he make it, his experience allowed him to make it faster than the first time. The snake sausage was completed even faster, the rack now looked like sausage tree with so much sausage hanging on it.

Bai Yuan already drooling when he saw so much sausage just dangling in front of him, three different meaty smell was driving him crazy. Yan Xiu let Bai Yuan continued his antics, he was busy cleaning up. When the kitchen was tidy and clean again, he went to train and cultivate, he also spared with Bai Yuan. Of course, Yan Xiu didn't use weapon and Bai Yuan lowered his strength. Yan Xiu obviously lost.

Wiping his sweat, Yan Xiu looked at his empty field. He couldn't let his field be empty like this, he needed to found time and went to the city buy some seeds. 'I'll go after the hunt.' thought Yan Xiu. After watering the Glass Lime and taking care of the livestock, the sun was already set and moon rose to the sky. Yan Xiu went inside the house, it was time to make dinner.

Yan Xiu took the three different meat he set aside before and make it a patty. He also mixed some of the three meats together, curious how they would taste.

Bai Yuan already diverted his gaze to Yan Xiu, if he continued to stared at the sausage, he would lose to the temptation and bite one. Yan Xiu lightly fried the patty in oil until they beautifully browned.

He divided the patties evenly between him and Bai Yuan. After the rice cooked, they began to ate. The pork patty was nice and juicy, the meat and fat was in perfect balance. The boar was almost the same with the pork, but the stronger smell and chewy texture added more flair to it. The snake was tender and had stronger taste, even though it didn't had many fat, it didn't feel dry.

After cleaning the table, he took the sausage and put them into three different containers. He then put them inside the ice box. It was still a little early to hit the hay, so he went to train and cultivate again.

Right at this time, a visitor suddenly came to his house. It was Chen Hanchen.

"Little Xiu!" (CH)

"Senior, what's wrong?" (YX)

"Oh, it's nothing. I just forgot to tell you there won't be any training tomorrow. Just rest and make sure you're on top shape on the day of the hunt." (CH)

"I see. Then, senior, can I ask you something?" (YX)

"Sure, ask me anything." (CH)

"When we're going hunting, are we going yo divide into teams?" (YX)

"Yes, the format will be you, apprentice hunters, and one senior hunter." (CH)

"I see. Then, everyone will have their role, right? What's my role then?" (YX)

This was something Yan Xiu had been meaning to asked, after all, Chen Hanchen only been training him on weapon and hunting techniques. He never told him about his role.

"Ah, about that. Truthfully, hunter's role is determined by their weapon or spell of choice. The one using shields or big weapons are usually tanks or attackers. User of ranged weapons or offensive spell were either disruptors or attackers. Anyone using healing or augmentation spell is a support.

By that Logic, you can choose to be either disruptor or support. Personally, I think you should be disruptor as I can see you have talent for it. But, it's something you need to decide on your own, so think hard about it. Whatever role you choose, I'm sure you'll be good at it!" (CH)

"Thanks, senior! I will not let you down!" (YX)

Yan Xiu smiled confidently to assured Chen Hanchen, Yan Xiu contemplated on which roles to picked. Done relaying the message, Chen Hanchen began fidgeting, Yan Xiu grew confused looking at Chen Hanchen.

"This.... little Xiu, have you had dinner yet?" (CH)

Looking at the hopeful expression of Chen Hanchen, it reminded Yan Xiu of Lu Hao. 'I see now. He's here to scrounge a meal." thought Yan Xiu. With wry smile, he told Chen Hanchen of the disappointing truth.

"Sorry, senior. We just had dinner, there's nothing left." (YX)

"I... see. What a shame." (CH)

Chen Hanchen dropped his head in disappointment, his hope of eating Yan Xiu's delicious dinner was crushed. Bai Yuan laughed when he saw Chen Hanchen disappointed look.

"Senior, please come here at lunch tomorrow. I'll treat you to lunch." (YX)

"Really? Okay, I'll definitely come tomorrow! Well, I have said what need to be said. I'll go now, bye!" (CH)

"Bye bye!" (YX)

Chen Hanchen went home cheerfully. Bai Yuan scoffed and went to bed, Yan Xiu also went to sleep.

..........

The next day, after watering the Glass Lime and checking the livestock and cultivate a little, Yan Xiu went to granny Shen's place with Bai Yuan. With the bucket and jade container filled, Yan Xiu was about to leave when he suddenly asked granny Shen if she sold any seed.

Unfortunately, except a few exceptions, granny Shen only grew plant with medicinal properties. Yan Xiu didn't have any interest in medicinal plants, so he didn't ask anymore and just leave after saying good bye.

Before he went home, he thought 'Why not invite Lu Hao along?' so he did. Lu Hao instantly followed Yan Xiu home when he heard about having sausage.

At Lunch time, Chen Hanchen came. The sausage version had deeper taste than the patties version. The four of them enjoyed the lunch greatly.

After Lu Hao and Chen Hanchen went back, Yan Xiu trained and cultivated until dinner time, he felt his cultivation was about to break through. That night, Yan Xiu went to bed earlier. And with the rising of the sun, the hunting day came.