Chapter 460: Chapter 460: Village Patrol and Upholding the Dao

Plop!

A gazelle was thrown onto the ground, its neck drenched in blood, with several deep wounds that cut to the bone standing out starkly.

And it was the Gray-toothed Lynx that brought this gazelle over.

After dropping its trophy, it gave a proud "meow" to Zhang Yuan, who was sitting by the campfire.

Zhang Yuan laughed heartily, reaching out to rub the creature’s head.

It is said that the Chinese rural cat worries its owners might starve and goes out to catch small animals like mice or sparrows.

The behavior of the Gray-toothed Lynx now can be said to mirror that exactly!

He praised, "Well done!"

The Gray-toothed Lynx rubbed its furry head vigorously against Zhang Yuan’s palm, letting out a whimper of affection from its throat.

Sitting opposite, Mo Huai’an looked on with extreme envy.

It wasn’t impossible to have a beast that understood human nature.

But a fierce yet adorable beast like the Gray-toothed Lynx, he had indeed not seen a second one in the Upper Scenic Celestial Peak Gate.

Just the sight of it made him envious!

Zhang Yuan noticed the eager look on this young mage’s face and secretly smiled in his heart.

Mo Huai’an really had a good temperament.

As a talent from the second generation of cultivators, he didn’t have the slightest bit of arrogance. Even though he was extremely envious, he managed to control his inner desires and didn’t say anything that would put others in a difficult position.

Like borrowing or buying the Gray-toothed Lynx.

This alone made him far better than many peers.

Zhang Yuan’s Gray-toothed Lynx was quite coveted, even Yuan Zishan had wanted to buy it with five hundred Daoist Merit points.

Thinking in his heart, Zhang Yuan took out a small knife and took the gazelle to a nearby brook for skinning and cleaning.

The campsite he chose was quite strategic, close to a water source, on higher ground, and in a wind-sheltered location.

Without experience in the martial world, one would not understand.

The gazelle hunted by the Gray-toothed Lynx was not fully matured, so its meat was extremely tender. He took the most succulent part, washed it, skewered it, and set it over the flame.

As it cooked, he sprinkled on some seasoning.

Zhang Yuan never compromised on food.

On this journey, he brought along seasonings like salt, oil, sauce, and garlic to make the barbecued meat flavorful.

Cooking wild game over a campfire usually takes a long time, and one must ensure the right technique to avoid charring the outside while leaving the inside raw.

But Zhang Yuan took a different approach.

He injected a trace of Primordial True Flame as he turned the meat, cooking the inside thoroughly in just a dozen breaths.

The outer layer was then roasted to a golden crisp, and finally brushed with a thin layer of sauce to complete it.

"Have a taste."

Zhang Yuan handed the freshly grilled lamb leg to Mo Huai’an.

"So quick?"

Mo Huai’an, though young, was not without knowledge—he knew about grilling meat.

Hadn’t much time passed? A lamb leg was already cooked?

The young mage hesitated for a moment but eventually took the fragrant lamb leg and bit into it.

The next moment, his eyes widened suddenly.

It’s so delicious!

Mo Huai’an came from a well-off family and had always received all kinds of resources from an early age, so his diet was naturally not lacking.

He had just been worried about eating meat that was half-cooked, but one bite conquered his taste buds.

This lamb leg was genuinely crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with the seasoning applied just right. Even without the marinating process, the fresh and savory taste penetrated deep, providing an extremely rich texture.

It’s truly the top enjoyment for a gourmet!

Mo Huai’an never expected Zhang Yuan to have such a skill.

The young mage sincerely praised, "Senior Brother Zhang, your cooking is better than the chefs in the Daoist Palace!"

Zhang Yuan chuckled, "How is that possible? I just have some skills in barbecue."

Zhang Yuan wasn’t being modest, just telling the truth.

His barbecue skills were actually honed in the Forbidden Cave on Siguofeng.

In Zhang Yuan’s storage space, there was a large amount of fresh Fierce Beast Meat he had hunted in Mo Yuan.

This Fierce Beast Meat often tasted ordinary, even quite tough, but its nourishing effect on Qi Blood was great.

Regular consumption could further strengthen the body.

So, during breaks in his training, Zhang Yuan used this beast meat to practice his grilling skills.

Over the past year, his greatest achievement in this area was mastering the technique of using True Essence to condense True Fire for roasting beast meat!

It sounded easy and simple, but in reality, the control required was very challenging.

Mo Huai’an was the first outsider to taste Zhang Yuan’s unique skill.

He finished the small lamb leg cleanly.

Zhang Yuan, smiling, handed him a second—such efficiency!

Mo Huai’an felt a bit embarrassed, "Senior Brother, you should eat too."

"Hmm."

Zhang Yuan certainly wouldn’t shortchange himself and set up a larger lamb leg.

The Gray-toothed Lynx came over to lie by his side, watching the turning lamb leg in the fire intently.

It, too, was tempted by the aroma of the barbecue.

In fact, back in the Forbidden Cave, most of Zhang Yuan’s "test pieces" ended up in this creature’s belly.

The dinner was a happy one for everyone.

The resulting effect was that Mo Huai’an became much closer to Zhang Yuan, no longer bearing the initial caution and wariness.

The next morning, Zhang Yuan and he packed their bags and set off once again on their journey.

By evening, the two arrived at a village.

There was no fixed route or specified destination for the travels of an Upper Scenic Celestial True Disciple.

A crucial part of it was patrolling villages and upholding righteousness!

"Patrolling villages and upholding righteousness" meant passing through a village or town to check if any strange and harmful events were occurring. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

If there were, then they would step in to help, eliminating evil and upholding justice.

This served to hone magical skills, enrich combat experience, and accumulate merit.

The Daoist School placed great emphasis on merit and karma, imposing strict standards on disciples in this regard.

The village Zach Yuan and Mo Huai’an encountered was quite small, with only a few dozen households, very ordinary.

However, when the villagers saw the two arriving on horseback, accompanied by the Gray-toothed Lynx running at the front, they all hurried back to their homes and shut their doors in a panic.

Leaving Mo Huai’an speechless.

Zhang Yuan laughed, "Next time we enter a village, let’s leave Xiao Hui outside, so we don’t scare anyone."

Just then, an elderly man with white hair, supported by a cane and accompanied by two villagers, cautiously came towards them.

From a dozen steps away, the old man bowed deeply, "My name is Zhang Dashan, the village chief of Zhang Family Village. Greetings to you, masters!"

Mo Huai’an dismounted, lifting a hand in a gentlemanly gesture, "No need for formalities, sir. May I ask if anything strange has happened in your village recently?"

"I am Mo Huai’an, here specifically to vanquish monsters and exorcise strange occurrences!"

He bowed as he spoke.

Upon hearing Mo Huai’an’s words, the old village chief and the two villagers looked at each other in dismay.