Chapter 17: Pan-Seared Swift Wind Rabbit Steak
“This is... the Time Whispering Cook?” Su Liu looked down at her hands, her eyes shining with delight. Without hesitation, she activated her professional active skill for the first time—“Temporal Harmony.” With a slight flick of her mind, her fingertips traced gently along the pot’s handle, infusing the stove’s flame with an invisible temporal energy.
Inside the pot, the pale blue wind field suddenly surged, the temperature precisely rising and then swiftly dropping, sealing the last trace of oil deep within the meat patty’s core. The aroma of the meat, mingled with a fresh, post-rain grass scent, instantly filled the entire room.
Su Liu’s spiritual energy immediately drained to zero.
She quickly extinguished the stove and concentrated her thoughts: “Instant freshness!”
The perfect meat patty vanished from the pot in an instant, reappearing on the dining table, placed upon a newly manifested plate shimmering faintly with the flow of time—an exclusive preservation plate granted by her profession.
Next, she continued to pan-fry the half-cooked potato cubes until golden, and lightly tossed the blanched lettuce.
“Dinner’s ready!” Su Liu was in high spirits as she arranged the golden potatoes and crisp vegetables on the preservation plate.
The food’s aroma was astonishingly rich, and its colors irresistibly inviting.
She and the little fox eagerly sat at the table. Su Liu sliced off a small piece of the beast meat patty and placed it in her mouth.
“Mmm—!”
An indescribable burst of freshness and unimaginable tenderness exploded in her mouth. The subtle vitality brought by the wind element seemed to merge with the meat juices, not only eliminating any hint of gaminess but evoking a sensation of being in a fresh meadow.
With each bite, a gentle warmth and soothing energy instantly spread throughout her body.
[Consumption of special dish “Pan-Seared Gale Rabbit Patty” successful! Health +10! Fatigue -15! Temporary Buff “Light as a Swallow”: For the next hour, agility checks receive a +5 temporary bonus.]
[Little Fox consumed special dish successfully! Gains temporary buff “Shadow of the Gale”: Movement speed increased by 15% for the next hour!]
[Random attribute bonus activated, Agility +1]
The effect was remarkable! Her health soared from 61 to 71 points, while fatigue plunged from 62 to 47 points.
“Sis Liu! It’s so delicious! A thousand times better than before! And I feel so light!” The little fox clutched its own patty, eating without lifting its head, its two large tails wagging happily behind, clearly thrilled by the “Shadow of the Gale” effect.
Su Liu glanced at her status panel, feeling the surge of vitality, and savoring the unprecedented exquisite flavor. A profound sense of satisfaction and recognition welled up inside her.
She looked at the warm glow of the dining lights, the pristine tableware, the enticing food, and the little fox’s content expression, her eyes moistening slightly.
Isn’t this exactly what she wanted? Beyond brutal survival, striving to live a life of quality!
This was not merely filling one’s stomach, but reclaiming the warmth, color, and dignity that life should inherently possess!
---
“Breaking free from the rat race...” Su Liu murmured, a broad smile lifting the corners of her mouth, “The first step to breaking free is making every meal a source of joy and strength!”
[Ping~]
[The Dawn Sprite greets you. You have accumulated ten hours of leisure time. Would you like to redeem a blind box?]
Su Liu had initially planned to save up for ten draws before redeeming, but the temptation was too strong now that she had just reached the threshold. This time, she decided to indulge a little.
“Redeem!”
After a burst of dazzling effects, a deep blue blind box appeared at the dispenser.
“Congratulations! Player has obtained the special item [Word Spirit Contract Scroll]!”
[Word Spirit Contract Scroll]: A special binding item that locks onto a public channel or a designated target. When the target makes a clear commitment within the locked range, the scroll forcibly compels them to fulfill their promise through system enforcement.
Activation condition: The target must publicly express a clear intention.
Su Liu was momentarily puzzled. This seemingly powerful item’s practical use was unclear, so she decided to store it safely in her space.
After a brief rest, ten o’clock arrived.
Taking advantage of the acceleration buff from the Pan-Seared Gale Rabbit Patty, a well-fed Su Liu and the little fox with a kerosene lamp prepared to leave their safe space to hunt monsters.
They could both practice agility and gather special materials dropped by the monsters.
The kerosene lamp cast a ten-meter radius of light around Su Liu’s feet.
Tonight, the black mist revealed a level-one [Thirsty Lichen].
Wait—Su Liu looked up sharply and noticed a black hawk circling above—it was a [Wind-Beak Hawk]!
Too far away to determine its level, Su Liu observed cautiously.
As she considered her next move, numerous dark red mosses began to crawl slowly toward the light circle.
Although she knew they couldn’t enter, being completely surrounded would ruin tonight’s hunt. Even before stepping outside the light, the lichens alone could drain her health.
Zero health meant death!
“Fox, use [Wind Gale Step] to suppress the left side!”
The little fox leapt into the air, delivering a triple stomp that stirred gusts of wind. The lichens in the front row were smashed by the gusts, their juices splattering as their assault faltered.
Seizing the opportunity, Su Liu dashed beyond the safety zone’s edge, her poisoned dagger tracing a shadow—
Ssssh! The paralyzing toxin seeped into the lichen’s core. Large patches of moss stiffened and withered!
Excellent. Su Liu bounded in place twice, feeling her body light and her reflexes sharp!
---
She hurriedly gathered the dropped Bloodthirsty Powder—a valuable material.
The circling Wind-Beak Hawk noticed the skirmish below, screeched sharply, and dived, sweeping out three gust blades with its wings.
Su Liu deliberately retreated to bait it. Just as the hawk’s claws were about to strike, she suddenly activated her hourglass:
“Slow down!”
The hourglass radiated blue light, and the giant hawk’s movements slowed to one-third speed.
Simultaneously, the little fox unleashed [Space Scar], sending two spatial rifts to shred the hawk’s wings!
Su Liu flipped in midair, her sharp, resilient dagger now empowered with +5 strength piercing the hawk’s eye!
The Wind-Beak Hawk screeched in imbalance. Su Liu pressed forward, finishing it off.
Loot: Eagle Feathers x2, Wind Element Evolution Stone Fragment (1/3) x1.
Wait—that item actually dropped Wind Element Evolution Stone Fragments!
Su Liu’s eyes lit up, but suddenly a wave of unease swept over her.
The grass beneath her, still tinged with paralyzing toxin, collapsed. A stench-filled gust hit her face as a snake, almost blending with the night, burst from the ground. Its bone spikes raked Su Liu’s left arm, knocking the poisoned dagger from her hand.
“Damn!” Su Liu rolled to ease the pain.
Thanks to the night’s rabbit patty, she managed to raise her sharp, resilient dagger just in time to block a second stab, sparks flying!
Her right arm tingled with numbness—this attack came from a level-three monster!
Just as she prepared to retreat, a wide swath of dark green mist obscured her vision.
Su Liu and the little fox were instantly engulfed, losing all sense of direction.
“This fog... not good. It’s a level-three [Mist-Hide Serpent Lizard]!”
“How is it already here by the second day?”
Su Liu’s heart raced. Previously, she hadn’t dared leave the safe zone during the early days, only venturing out near the end of the newbie protection period after reading messages from high-level players in the chat hall to hunt level-one ordinary monsters.
Her skills had been honed gradually through later gameplay, especially during that catastrophe...
Holding her breath, Su Liu dared not dress the bleeding left arm or search for her lost poisoned dagger.
With her somewhat numb right hand, she gripped the sharp, resilient dagger tightly, back to back with the little fox, both adopting defensive stances.
Suddenly, a black streak flashed in her peripheral vision. The Mist-Hide Serpent Lizard opened its wide mouth, lunging to bite Su Liu’s neck!