Chapter 92 - 94: The Worship Ritual, and a Little Cub with Luan Ting

Chapter 92: Chapter 94: The Worship Ritual, and a Little Cub with Luan Ting

After her beastmen left, Su Luoluo didn’t stay idle either.

After washing the pots and bowls, she began working on the wheat she had brought back.

Although the wheat was already ripe, it still needed to be thoroughly sun-dried so it could be ground into a fine powder.

The weather was clear and sunny, perfect for putting the wheat out to dry.

Drying it directly on the ground would make it damp.

So, Su Luoluo used her Wood Element Ability to fashion a few drying mats from bamboo strips. Placing the wheat on these mats would keep it from getting damp.

As usual, when her beastmen went out to help her with work, Su Luoluo would prepare lunch for them.

For lunch, Su Luoluo didn’t plan on making anything else—just noodles.

Even though the wheat would be better after more time in the sun, she could still pick out enough of the already-dry stalks to grind into flour.

Since she was making noodles, Su Luoluo certainly couldn’t leave Nantu out.

He had been somewhat disappointed before when she brought the wheat back.

This time, she was determined to teach him a proper lesson.

However, getting him to come over for the meal was a problem.

It was the first time Su Luoluo had ever thought that inviting someone to eat could actually be a problem.

After a moment’s thought, she found an excuse and called out to him, "You helped me carry the wheat the other day, so I’m treating you to a meal today. Come over at lunchtime."

Nantu was usually incredibly elusive, so she was surprised by her luck when she found him at the deep pool right away.

Nantu glanced up at her words and didn’t refuse. "Got it."

’Su Luoluo herself isn’t much to speak of, but the food she makes is truly incredible.’

When there was good food to be had, Nantu naturally had no reason to refuse.

Su Luoluo hadn’t expected Nantu to agree so quickly. She’d thought he would sneer at her before giving a cold refusal.

Still, his acceptance was a good thing for her.

Grinding wheat into flour was no easy task. Having said her piece, Su Luoluo turned and headed for her outdoor kitchen.

Su Luoluo had made a grinding stone before when she was milling corn flour.

It came in handy now for milling the wheat.

But compared to last time, things were much easier for her now.

With her Second-level Acceleration Ability from the Water Element, she could grind the flour both quickly and well.

In no time at all, she had ground out a fine, white flour.

She put the flour into a pottery basin and added cool water in stages, stirring until it formed into clumps. Then, Su Luoluo kneaded it all into a smooth dough.

She covered the dough with a large, clean leaf and, while waiting for it to rest, went into the woods to find some garlic, scallions, and some wild vegetables.

Today, she wanted to make oil-splashed noodles.

After gathering and washing the aromatics, the dough had rested enough. She rolled the dough into a log, cut it into small portions, and then used the bulb of a wild onion as a brush to coat them with some rendered and cooled lard. Then, she set it aside to rest a second time.

While the dough was resting for the second time, Xiao Ye, Luan Ting, Mo Xuan, and Xi Yi returned, carrying logs on their shoulders.

Su Luoluo looked at them and pointed to a plot of land. "Build it here. Don’t build it directly on the ground. Use some wooden piles and build the house on top of them."

Su Luoluo figured it was better to build the house up in the air than to worry about bugs and snakes.

Upon hearing this, the beastmen had a moment of sudden understanding. They nodded and immediately got to work.

Since they had experience from building Su Luoluo’s house, they didn’t need her to say much this time and immediately divided the labor amongst themselves.

Once the dough had finished its second rest, Su Luoluo pinched the ends of each portion, gave it a gentle flick to stretch it into a wide noodle, and then tore it down the middle into strips.

After she finished with the noodles, she brought water to a boil and cooked them, blanching the small wild vegetables she had found at the same time.

After placing the noodles in the bowls, she topped them in order with minced garlic, chopped scallions, her own sun-dried and crushed chili powder, and salt.

She didn’t have any Sichuan peppercorns, so she had to omit them for now.

Next, she heated some lard until it sizzled and quickly poured it over the toppings. There was no black vinegar, so she used some sour wild berries as a substitute.

Noodles splashed with rapeseed oil would have been more fragrant, but she didn’t have that option at the moment and had to make do with lard.

The instant the hot oil was poured, a fragrant aroma from the noodles filled the air.

Smelling the aroma, the beastmen all poked their heads out to look.

Su Luoluo looked at them, chirping with hunger like little birds, and said with a smile, "Come and get your oil-splashed noodles."

At her words, they teleported to the table. Just as they had settled in, Nantu arrived.

Seeing what Su Luoluo had placed on the table, he was slightly taken aback. "This is..."

Su Luoluo shot him a smug glance. "Noodles made from wheat. Have a taste."

While the two were talking, the others had already started to wolf down their food.

These oil-splashed noodles were delicious, with an especially satisfying, chewy texture.

Nantu’s face was a mask of disbelief. ’Those yellow weeds can be made into something like this?’

His eyes swept over to the cooking area. A few half-ground wheat kernels remained in the stone mill. Su Luoluo had left them there on purpose, just to make sure the fool Nantu saw them clearly.

Sure enough, Nantu’s expression was one of shock. He then lowered his head and took a bite. The noodles were fragrant and had a wonderful chewy texture.

After finishing a bowl, he felt remarkably full.

’Could what this Su Luoluo said be true?’

"Ding! Congratulations, Host. Nantu’s Heartbeat Value has risen to 40, and his attraction value has risen to 25 points."

Hearing the expected notification, a smile touched Su Luoluo’s lips.

’Heh, I knew I could win over this sapiosexual.’

Since she hadn’t done any hard labor, Su Luoluo hadn’t served herself a large portion of noodles and finished eating quickly.

After eating, she began to size up the new house.

With five Fifth-stage Beastmen working together, the house was built in no time.

A smile lit up Su Luoluo’s face as she looked at the small, stilted cabin before her.

Suddenly, her eyes swept over the area and she discovered five wooden cabins now stood behind her own house. She was puzzled. "What are these for?"

Xi Yi heard her and smiled sweetly. "Luoluo, these are little houses we built for ourselves so we can all live together. That way, you can sleep with whoever you want, whenever you want."

Su Luoluo’s expression stiffened. ’They’ve certainly thought this through,’ she thought. ’But no matter how I look at it, this seems more about making it easier to mooch meals, doesn’t it?’

...

「Soon, the day of the ritual for the Heavenly God arrived.」

In the past, the ritual had always been performed by Lan Ya and Su Yang.

But this year, Su Yang had changed his mind. Luan Ting and Su Luoluo would go instead.

Previously, Su Yang hadn’t paid Su Luoluo much mind, but now that she was so capable, it was time for her and Luan Ting to produce a cub.

Luan Ting was capable, and they needed a way to bind him to the tribe permanently.

Although Su Yang had used a debt of gratitude to make Luan Ting stay, he knew Luan Ting’s heart still wasn’t with Su Luoluo.

A debt of gratitude was a powerful bond, but it was the kind of thing that could fade over time.

Only blood ties could bind them together inextricably, making them truly consider one another’s well-being.

Just as he had taken care of Su Luoluo.

He summoned a messenger to inform Su Luoluo and Luan Ting of the decision.

It was easiest to conceive a cub after performing the ritual to the Heavenly God; that was how Su Zhao had been born all those years ago.

Su Luoluo heard the news in her outdoor kitchen with a look of utter confusion. ’What is this ritual for?’

As for the five men besides Xi Yi, their expressions darkened upon hearing the news.

Xiao Ye, Mo Xuan, and Fu Feng, in particular, looked as if they could stare a hole right through Luan Ting.

Su Luoluo caught the meaningful look from Nantu and, for some reason, started to understand.

’This ritual seems anything but ordinary. Don’t tell me it’s for conceiving a child!’