Chapter 121: Cliff Top

Another quarter of an hour later.

Gao De followed behind Kandisi, his footsteps leaving the last step of the cliff path one after another, returning to the top of Kuli Cliff.

The other four people had already arrived at the top of the cliff for a while, and were resting at this moment.

Lu Ka, who was walking at the very front and carried the largest weight of water-gold ore, was even more tired like a salted fish, lying on the ground in a big character shape, panting heavily.

Seeing Kandisi and Gao De also climbing up, everyone just glanced at them weakly, not even having the strength to speak.

And as soon as she arrived at the top of the cliff, Kandisi also didn't care about any ladylike posture and noble etiquette, sitting cross-legged on the ground without any image, completely exhausted.

"Kandisi..." Luo Yasi, who had been resting for a while, hesitated and stood up.

He walked to Kandisi's side and handed her a bottle of orange magic potion.

"Physical strength recovery potion, I asked Instructor Sha Hu, drinking recovery-type magic potions is allowed, it's not a violation." Luo Yasi said.

Kandisi looked up at Luo Yasi and finally waved her hand, saying softly: "Thank you, I don't need it for now."

"Kandisi..." Luo Yasi, who was rejected, seemed to have turned a few shades paler.

Lu Ka, who had already sat up from the ground on the side, glimpsed this scene, and the corners of his mouth hooked into a mocking smile.

In his view, Luo Yasi wanting to "please" Kandisi but being rejected was both childish and losing points.

However, Kandisi did have some beauty, her features were exquisite and small, and her brownish-yellow hair was smooth and dazzling.

Even now that she was exhausted and pale, with sweat all over her head, one could still feel the noble temperament that could not be covered by her fatigue.

"Kaplan brother, how was the harvest this morning," he suddenly asked Kaplan loudly: "I dug a full thirty kilograms this morning, and if I work harder in the afternoon, another thirty kilograms is not a problem."

Kaplan was suddenly called, stunned for a moment, and soon understood the thoughts of this "good brother" of his.

Wanting to use this method to attract Kandisi's attention and show off his "muscles"?

He was naturally unwilling to let Lu Ke's thoughts succeed.

The problem was, the weight of water-gold ore Lu Ke carried up was really much more than his, and he had no power to refute.

Rolling his eyes, Kaplan decided to shift the topic.

"Gao De, look, we all have some harvest more or less, even Kandisi has ten or so kilograms of water-gold ore." He landed his gaze on Gao De, pretending not to hear Lu Ke's question, and "kindly" persuaded Gao De.

"You've been busy for nothing all morning, you should recognize reality, throw away unrealistic delusions, and like us, honestly go down to mine."

The others heard this and nodded slightly, clearly agreeing with Kaplan's words.

"It's okay, let me try again. I was busy practicing water in the morning and didn't find many clams." Gao De laughed and said.

It wasn't that he couldn't see the "little thoughts" of several people, but he was too lazy to argue with them.

Gao De, who had crossed over, had a state of mind that did not match his age.

For these means of speaking loudly to attract little girls' attention that could only be seen in junior high and high school, he only felt that the little boys in every world were really "cute" indeed!

Kaplan originally just wanted to shift the topic, but seeing Gao De not taking the bait, he actually got anxious:

"Didn't you hear Instructor Sha Hu's words? Clam collecting is harder than mining, not to mention you are a half-baked person who even has to learn to dive on the spot."

"Clam collecting is a dead end!"

"How would you know if you don't try?" Gao De still laughed and replied.

"Why are you so stubborn?" Kaplan was inexplicably anxious, "I dare to bet with you, even if another week passes, you will still be empty-handed!"

"Then you have already lost the bet." Before Gao De could speak, Kandisi suddenly opened her mouth at this moment.

"Hmm?" Kaplan looked at Kandisi, not understanding what her words meant.

"Look at Gao De's back basket." Kandisi said softly.

Everyone heard Kandisi's words and subconsciously looked at Gao De's back basket.

And it was just this look that they suddenly realized that Gao De's back basket was not as empty as they thought! "This... this is a Maid Clam?!" Kaplan was incredulous.

"Had good luck on the last trip down, collected one." Gao De smiled shyly.

This one Maid Clam was fifty kilograms of water-gold ore.

And Kaplan worked hard all morning, and the water-gold ore he carried up the mountain was only about twenty-five kilograms... "You can't have such good luck every time..." Kaplan blushed suddenly, holding back such a sentence.

Gao De pretended not to hear, chuckled, "I'll go back to eat first."

After such a toss all morning, he had long been hungry, and it was time for lunch.

Not just him, the others were even more so.

It was just that everyone was performing the task for the first time and had no experience, so not a single person brought dry food.

And after doing physical labor all morning, if one doesn't replenish energy through eating in time, the body won't be able to hold on. So, the top priority should be to hurry back to eat, rather than "competing for favor" here.

Gao De first returned to No. 30 in the First District to take a shower and changed into a clean set of clothes.

Then he washed the clothes from the morning once, hung them on the balcony to dry, and then left the "dormitory" and came to the restaurant.

Even after such a toss, it was past mealtime, but there were still many people in the restaurant.

Clearly, the dining of many students in the academy did not strictly follow a certain fixed time.

At the same time, Gao De noticed that the words on the water sign at the entrance of the restaurant had changed compared to yesterday.

Today's special delicacy: "Charcoal-grilled Centipede," 8 silver/serving.

Hiss—Gao De, who had already witnessed and tried "charcoal-grilled bird spider" yesterday, couldn't help but gasp when seeing the name "charcoal-grilled centipede."

It's really so heavy-tasting, right... Good, good.

And it's so expensive, 8 silver coins a serving. With this money, what's wrong with eating something else? Why eat a broken centipede... Wait, this price seems to be cheaper than yesterday's "charcoal-grilled bird spider"... Gao De fell into deep thought.

Five minutes later.

"Sir, your charcoal-grilled centipede, carefully cooked, please enjoy!" The service staff brought a large plate of "charcoal-grilled centipede" to Gao De's dining table.

A small bottle of wine was also included with the meal.

Gao De, whose rationality had been suppressed by curiosity once again, silently observed this special delicacy in front of him.

His gaze was slightly puzzled at first.

Because at a glance, he didn't see the so-called "centipede" at all.

What he saw were five round and plump onions, with golden color and slightly burnt skin, onion rings arranged on the plate.

Of course, it was not a scam.

The real protagonist—charcoal-grilled centipede, was cleverly hidden in the wrapping of these onions.

Gao De used a knife and fork to cut the onion from the top.

A complex aroma mixed with charcoal fire fragrance, honey sweetness, spice spiciness, and the unique flavor of the centipede itself rushed to his nose instantly, making his index finger move.

Each centipede wrapped inside the onion had been carefully processed, removing the inedible parts, leaving only the most delicious body, presenting an alluring amber color.

They were covered with a thin layer of outer clothing made of honey, spices, and special sauce.

Gao De forked a centipede and a small piece of onion and stuffed them into his mouth together.

The first bite, first was the sweetness and slight spiciness of the onion blooming in the mouth.

Immediately after, the deliciousness and unique texture of the charcoal-grilled centipede followed.

After slow roasting over charcoal fire, the outer skin of the centipede became crispy and golden, while the meat inside maintained just the right tenderness and juiciness.

The crispness of the outer skin and the tenderness of the inside formed a sharp contrast, coupled with the clever seasoning of the spices, making the texture of the whole dish rich in layers and endless aftertaste.

And that small bottle of wine sent with the meal was onion wine, and the unique flavor was the finishing touch, just right to neutralize the slight fishy smell of the centipede, making the taste of the whole dish more harmonious and unified.

Gao De, who had eaten the charcoal-grilled centipede clean, felt the slight heat flow emerging from his body again.

His body had been suffering from the cold during diving, and even after going ashore, there was still some biting cold lingering inside his body.

Now, under the heat flow brought by this "charcoal-grilled centipede," that cold was also dispelled.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 122 =====

Their outer layers are covered in a thin coating made from a blend of honey, spices, and a special sauce.

Gao De picks up a centipede and a small piece of onion with his fork, stuffing them into his mouth together.

With the first bite, the sweetness and slight spiciness of the onion bloom in his mouth.

Immediately following this is the delicious, unique texture of the charcoal-grilled centipede.

After being slow-roasted over charcoal, the centipede's skin has become crispy and golden, while the meat inside remains perfectly tender and juicy.

The contrast between the crispy skin and the tender interior, combined with the clever seasoning of the spices, gives the entire dish rich layers of texture that leave one wanting more.

The small bottle of onion wine that came with the meal is the finishing touch; its unique flavor perfectly neutralizes the slight fishy scent of the centipede, making the overall flavor profile of the dish more harmonious and unified.

Having finished the charcoal-grilled centipede, Gao De once again feels a faint heat flowing through his body.

His body had been constantly assaulted by the cold while diving, and even after coming ashore, a bone-chilling cold remained deep within him, unable to dissipate.

Now, under the heat brought by this "charcoal-grilled centipede," that chill is finally dispelled.

(End of chapter)