Welcoming Party (2)

Bai Yuan put the mold on the table and sniffed it, a cold sweet smell drifted into his nose. It's sweet! Thought Bai Yuan. After asking Yan Xiu how to eat it, Bai Yuan opened the lid and pulled one of the sticks. The black popsicle made its appearance. Bai Yuan sniffed it again, the sweet smell was denser. Yan Xiu told him that the best way to eat popsicle was to lick it first before putting it in his mouth and biting it bit by bit. Bai Yuan licked it and the foreign cold sweet taste exploded in his mouth.

He exclaimed and licked his lips before shoving the popsicle into his mouth, the cold sensation and sweet taste filled his mouth. The same milky taste of Bananut, the unique sweet taste of Kirno fruit blended perfectly with the cold, it provided a new experience for Bai Yuan. he bit the tip and sucked on it. He really liked the cold sensation in his mouth.

"Uho hoho! (master, this is really tasty!)" (BY)

"Hehe, later I'll make you something even better." (YX)

"Ho?! (Really?!)" (BY)

"Of course." (YX)

Yan Xiu laughed, he already finished peeling the bamboo shoots. He took out a pot and boiled the bamboo shoots with a bit of salt. While the bamboo shoots boiled, he took the tofu and cut it into 1-inch cubes. He also cut the mushrooms, then he took out a bowl and mixed chicken broth, soy sauce, and sugar. In another bowl, he dissolved some starch with water. He took out a wok, added oil, and proceeded to stir-fry the tofu cubes when the oil was hot. 

When the tofu turned brown, he set it aside. The bamboo shoots were done boiling. He took them out and let it cool. He used three and kept the rest, he then cut the bamboo shoots in strips. The wok was cleaned before adding oil when the oil was hot, he put in chopped garlic. Stirring until it was aromatic, he entered the mushroom and bamboo shoots. Stir-fry for a minute, he pushed the vegetables to the side and added the sauce and starch. Stirring quickly to thicken, add the tofu and he heats it all thoroughly. The stir-fry was done.

He took out a big bowl and poured the stir-fry in. The browned mushroom and bamboo shoots looked pleasing to the eyes, the rich smell whets the appetites. Finished with his popsicle, Bai Yuan turned his sight to the stir-fry. He was about to reach out for it but his hand was slapped by Yan Xiu.

"No. This is for tonight. You can eat at the party later." (YX)

"Uhouho? (Can I just have a taste, master?)" (BY)

"No." (YX)

Bai Yuan sulked, Yan Xiu smiled and patted his head.

"Just bear with it for a little, okay? You can eat this and many other dishes later at the party, okay?" (YX)

"Uho.. (Okay..)" (BY)

Yan Xiu thought that this may be what it felt to be a big brother. He was an only child, he felt lonely when his parents disappeared. While there were the Lus that was close to him and the new friend he knew after becoming a hunter, they weren't able to fill the hole in his heart. But then Bai Yuan came, filling his heart. He felt close to Bai Yuan because of their connection and his house no longer felt empty with Bai Yuan. 

Yan Xiu smiled and cleaned the cookware while Bai Yuan sat staring at the stir-fry. After he was done cleaning the kitchen, Yan Xiu went to the storage and came back with a blue box. Inside the blue box was the same inscription as the one inscribed on the ice big box. Yan Xiu filled the box with his Qi and activated the inscription, cold air came out of the box. He put the popsicles molds inside the box and closed it. 

"Let's go, Xiao Yuan take the small cart." (YX)

"Uho! (Okay!)" (BY)

Bai Yuan pulled the small cart while Yan Xiu was on the cart holding the stir-fry bowl and the blue box. They went to the village. Before they even reached the village, they already saw the bright light of the village. The gate was adorned with lanterns and a banner that said "Welcome Back"

Bai Yuan looked at the lantern, interested. Back when he was living in the wild, bright light like this was something he avoided. Since it usually signaled that there were humans there and they might attack him. Now that he could look at it closely, he felt it was beautiful.

The big long table was now filled with all kinds of meat dishes. The meat was from the beasts they hunted, the Black Bulls and Gudol Birds. Grilled meat, fried drumstick, braised beef, and many more. It was an amazing spread. Yan Xiu and Bai Yuan stopped near the table, Yan Xiu put his stir-fry on the table along with the blue box. The two of them admired the spread when someone tapped Yan Xiu's shoulder.

Yan Xiu turned around, It was Xin Guodan and Shuang Jingu.

"Yo, how are you, Xiao Xiu?" (XG)

He patted Yan Xiu's shoulder as he said that.

"I'm feeling great, how about you?" (YX)

"Hahaha, as you can see, I'm fit as a fiddle!" (XG)

"Alright, stop patting him so hard. It's good to see you, Xiao Xiu." (SJ)

"You too, Jingu." (YX)

Yan Xiu smiled. The three hadn't seen each other after the last hunt and now that they gathered together, it finally hit them that they were no longer a trainee but a real hunter.

"Now that we are a hunter, we can go with the hunting team when they go out later. I can finally get away from the village!" (XG)

Xin Guodan's word made Shuang Jingu and Yan Xiu felt excited too. Yan Xiu's goal to become a hunter was not just to become stronger but also to go outside the village to search for clues of his parents. Now he finally had that chance!