C4

Su Luo was quite surprised. She had deliberately chosen a spot with a great view, overlooking the river and backed by a large tree, with flat ground all around. If anyone was nearby, she would have seen them immediately. Yet, she hadn't noticed a single person.

"Hey kid, how about trading some meat for your wine?"

Just a moment ago, the voice had been about thirty yards away, but in the blink of an eye, it was only a hundred steps distant. By the time the last word was spoken, the person was standing right in front of her.

This person moved incredibly fast. Su Luo sized him up. He was bald, not a single hair on his head, and wore a loose, slightly worn monk's robe. His beard was snow-white and so unruly it covered half his face. Clearly, he was a scruffy monk from who-knows-where.

"Wine and meat pass through the intestines, but the Buddha remains in the heart," Su Luo remarked. "So, you're a monk who enjoys a drink and a bite."

The monk clasped his hands together. "Amitabha. You're quite right, little one. This monk fears two things: running out of meat and running out of wine." He scratched his head, looking pitiful. "I haven't had a drink in three days because I've been busy with something important. I caught the scent of wine from afar and just couldn't resist."

Su Luo tossed the wine flask to him. "What a coincidence. I happened to have some wine, and you happened to be thirsty."

The monk burst into hearty laughter, downing his drink in one go. "Well said, that's a great way to put it." He smacked his lips and added, "Kid, this wine isn't all that great." Suddenly realizing he had just criticized the free drink, he quickly added, "But it's perfect for quenching thirst."

Su Luo shook her head. "This wine isn't even good for that. I don't have the right tools right now, but when I get the chance, I'll brew some proper wine for you, alright?" Just then, a deep, rumbling sound echoed.

The monk's face turned bright red as he clutched his stomach, sheepishly admitting, "Well, the truth is, I haven't eaten in two days."

More like you don't have the money for food, Su Luo thought, but she didn't call him out on it. She stood up briskly and said with a smile, "Monk, I'll cook something for you."

The monk pretended to decline, "Oh, no, no, I couldn't possibly impose." But seeing Su Luo already heading to the river, he added, "Are you going to catch some fish? I'm quite the expert at that."

From a distance, Su Luo replied, "The fish you catch wouldn't suit my taste."

The monk, eager to please her, said, "Of course, the best ingredients are the ones you prepare yourself."

Su Luo quickly sharpened one end of a branch, held her breath, and aimed at the river. Like a flash, she speared down, catching a fish before it even realized what happened. Her movements were swift, and in no time, several fish lay at her feet. She strung them together with some river grass and brought them back.

The monk over there had already set up the pot, and the water inside was bubbling away.

Su Luo chuckled to herself as she quickly cleaned the fish, removing the head, scales, and innards until it was spotless. "Hey, how about we have some grilled fish and fish soup?" she suggested. Suddenly, she paused and said seriously, "I'm offering you fish and drinks, but I don't even know your name!"

The monk replied, "You can call me Xuan Kong."

Su Luo thought to herself that anyone with the name "Xuan" must be a highly respected monk. But this monk didn't quite fit the image. Then again, extraordinary people often defy expectations, so who was she to judge?

Su Luo crushed some wild herbs she had gathered along the way and rubbed them onto the fish to marinate it. She kept busy by tossing a few wild greens into the boiling water.

Xuan Kong inhaled deeply, savoring the aroma wafting from the pot. "I smell red berries, lemon zest, and something else," he said, closing his eyes to take another whiff. "Ah, it's allspice and ghost lotus."

"You've got quite the nose," Su Luo laughed, dropping the fish pieces into the water. "It'll need to cook a bit longer to really bring out the flavor." She frowned slightly. "It's a shame I didn't bring all my cooking tools. You'll have to make do with this plain fish soup."

Xuan Kong shook his head, his eyes fixed on the bubbling fish soup.

While the soup was cooking, Su Luo used a peeled branch to make a simple clamp. She wrapped the marinated fish in large leaves, coated it with wet clay, and placed it in the fire.

“What are you doing?” the monk asked, intrigued by Su Luo’s every move.

“Without pots and pans, we have to improvise. Haven’t you ever had beggar’s chicken?”

Xuan Kong suddenly understood. “Ah, you’re using the beggar’s chicken method for fish!” He clapped his hands and laughed. “Ingenious, ingenious. You’re quite the creative one.”

Su Luo smiled, fully absorbed in her task.

Before long, both dishes were ready. The fish soup was aromatic, and the fish itself was tender and white as snow.

Xuan Kong had been waiting eagerly and couldn’t resist any longer. Without worrying about the heat, he reached out, grabbed a piece of fish, and popped it into his mouth.

“How is it?” Su Luo asked.

Xuan Kong was too busy devouring the meal to answer immediately. It wasn’t until the entire fish was gone, save for the tail, that he reluctantly stopped. “In all my years, I’ve never tasted beggar’s fish this good,” he admitted, glancing at the pot to see most of the soup was gone too. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he added, “You’ve made such a delicious meal for me. I must show my gratitude somehow. I can’t have people saying I took advantage of a youngster’s generosity at my age.”

Su Luo tilted her head back and said brightly, "Alright, what do you have to offer me?"

Xuan Kong scratched his head, rummaging through his pockets, but came up empty-handed. He said awkwardly, "I'm used to being laid-back and didn't bring any cash. How about I send a signal for my apprentices to bring some?"

Su Luo smirked and teasingly brushed her finger across her cheek, "That's what those freeloaders in the stories always say."

Xuan Kong was so anxious that his eyebrows shot up. "I swear, I never lie. Look, I'll set off this firework right now."

Su Luo stopped him with a cheerful smile, "I was just joking. It's just a fish, no big deal. Next time, I'll not only treat you to fish but also to some wine. Champlain Amber Wine."

Xuan Kong's interest was piqued, his eyes lighting up, "What kind of amber wine? Is it as good as Yicheng Nine Brews, Lingnan Lingxi Boluo, or Qi Lu Wine?"

Su Luo replied, "It's top-notch, amber-colored, with a fragrance you can smell from miles away. It clings to the glass when poured. Those wines you mentioned are good, but they can't compare to Amber Wine."