Epoch 9: The sauteed vegetables in Gaia.
"In the past 2 days, have you noticed anything unusual about Tang Tang?" Lia asked Xue.
Lia is really interested in knowing Tang Tang's origin. He knows that the sub-beast is sent by the Beast God, but there is something about Tang Tang that makes him curious.
Because other than his name, they didn't know anything. That's why he asked Xue to observe Tang Tang.
"Yes. I notice three things," Xue said without any changes in his expression.
"What is it?"
Xue takes out an arm-length piece of ginger from the animal skin.
"What is this?" Lia asked curiously. The smell is familiar, but he can't remember where he smelled it.
"Tang Tang knows a lot of things we don't know, and he didn't know a lot of things that are very common. As if he is not from here."
Tang Tang asked him a lot of questions yesterday, and all of them are common knowledge among every tribe in Gaia.
At the same time, he knows things he has never heard before, like the thing he called 'basket' and this root he called 'ginger'.
At first, he also wanted to know where Tang Tang came from, but now he doesn't care anymore. The important thing is that Tang Tang is already part of the Winged Tiger tribe.
"This is the root of the herbs you use to make medicine for colds. Tang Tang said that the roots are much better than the leaves."
When Lia heard it, he suddenly remembered the familiar smell. It is really the herbs he is using in making medicine.
Lia took the ginger root and said, "I will check it later to see if it is really better to use the roots than the leaves."
Xue also informs Lia about the basket and Tang Tang's plan to teach the females and sub-beasts how to make it tomorrow.
Lia felt ecstatic, wondering if it was really as useful as Xue described. He definitely wants to learn how to make a basket.
"What's the second one?"
"I'm not sure about this." Xue is also quite puzzled, which is why he is hesitating if he will tell it or not.
But since he knew that his mother didn't have any bad intentions, he decided to tell him at the end.
"I think he knew or could detect where monsters are located."
Lia frowned. "How? I mean, only beasts can sense a monster from afar."
Beasts have heightened senses; they can detect a monster through hearing, smell, or sight, even if it is meters away.
"I don't know, but in the past 2 days we never encountered a single monster. If I sense a monster nearby, Tang Tang will always go in the opposite direction without me telling him," Xue explained.
He wants to believe that it is just a coincidence, but during these two days, it happens not only once, but every time there are monsters nearby.
"If it's really true, then one thing is for sure: The Beast God is protecting him." Lia nodded, thinking that they shall never wrong Tang Tang, or it may anger the Beast God.
"What is the third one?" Lia asked, full of expectations.
Xue has great insight; that's why Lia believes in him.
"For a sub-beast, he is too friendly," Xue said with a serious expression.
Lia raised an eyebrow. "What's unusual about that?"
Sub-beasts are treasured on the Gaia Continent, and because of this, some of them became arrogant and self-righteous. But being friendly is not uncommon; he can still name a few sub-beasts that are approachable.
Xue frowned.
"Don't think too much about it; take a rest for now, and I will call you when it is time to eat," Lia said when Xue didn't answer and was deep in thought.
"Tang Tang said he will make delicious food using the plants we gathered. I will eat with him."
"Ohh!" When Lia hears this, he suddenly wants to come with Xue. "Okay! Just update me, or you can also bring me some to taste for later." But on second thought, it is time for the two of them to cultivate feelings for each other.
Xue nodded, took a homeopathic herb and a large piece of meat from Lia, and returned to Tang Tang.
____________
Tang Tang had already prepared all the ingredients he needed while waiting for Xue.
He plans to cook sauteed bitter melon and fried meat. First, he cuts the bitter melon into thin slices. Then he rubs it with salt and slightly squeezes out the juices. After washing, he soaks it again in the water with salt and sets it aside for a few minutes. It will help to lessen the bitterness of the fruit.
He cut the onions, then, using smooth stones, smashed the chilis he dried yesterday. The chili is not properly dried, but it is enough for now; he is just craving spicy food today.
He doesn't know if the food he will make will taste good because the condiments are lacking, but with salt, it will at least be eatable.
When Xue returned, he handed him a purple herb.
"What is this?"
"For your bruises."
"Oh, okay, help me apply it later. Let's cook first."
Xue nodded.
"Xue, can you help me cut the meat?" he asked when he saw a large piece of the monster's meat on Xue's other hand.
Tang Tang instructed Xue to cut small pieces for the sauteed bittermelon and some large pieces for him to fry later. He will put some chili oil on it for Xue.
Xue, using a bone knife, cut the monster's meat as per Tang Tang's instructions.
While waiting, Tang Tang started making chili oil. He will be using lard for the oil. Lard is not good for health, but it is the only option for now.
The day before yesterday, he saw Yan digging a hole in the forest. She was about to put a lot of white fat on it. This is their way of disposing of the unwanted monster's part.
He asked for the white fat and processed it into lard.
On the heated stone slab, he put lard and waited for it to melt. When the oil is already boiling, he puts on the chili and a little bit of salt.
Just three simple steps, and he already has the legendary chili oil.
After he sets aside the chili oil, he starts to cook the bittermelon.
He first sauteed the onions; it is better if there are garlic and tomatoes too. Then he added the small pieces of meat, and while waiting for the meat to cook, he drained the bitter melon he had set aside earlier.
When the meat was already cooked, he added the bitter melon and sprinkled some salt.
While on another large stone slab, he had already started heating oil. He asked Xue to put a large cut of meat on it.
Tang Tang liked to eat fried food, but he doesn't like frying because he hates the oil splashed on him.
The fragrant smell of the food wafted through the air.
Outside the tent, several beasts and females stop in front of Tang Tang's tent, smelling the delicious aroma coming out of it.
"Is Tang Tang making something to eat?" A petite female asked.
"It smells so delicious!"
"I heard that Tang Tang is looking for more edible plants in the forest. Didn't he almost get poisoned yesterday?" A brunette female said.
"Right! Xue panicked that time; that is the first time I saw the future chieftain react like that."
"Why does he even need to do that?" A chubby female named Tin asked.
"Yan said that Tang Tang wants to help the tribe have more food this winter," a beast named Gal said.
"I saw Tei earlier; she is talking about a flower Tang Tang picked earlier; the seed of that flower can be eaten. She said that it tastes delicious and the cubs will surely like it," the brunette female said.
"Is that true?" Tin, who likes to eat, happily asked.
"It's true! Yan, Tei, and Qui tasted it themselves."
Another female carrying a cub heard their conversation and joined in. "Have you already heard? Qiu said that tomorrow Tang Tang will teach us to make a basket."
"What is a basket?" Gal asked.
"They said that it is a thing that will help us carry more things," the female answered.
The group continues discussing when a beast named Dio suddenly says, "I really envy the future chieftain and Hou; they can freely talk to the beautiful sub-beast."
"Why don't you try to talk to him? He will not ignore you," an elderly female said.
"Old Sen is right! Tang Tang is the most beautiful sub-beast in our tribe, yet he is still friendly and smiles at everyone, compared to the other sub-beasts I know." Gal agreed.
"I think, not only in our tribe but also in the entire continent."
Not far away from the group, a group of sub-beasts heard their conversation.
Gio sneered. "Beautiful his face, he is just white!"
"He is just showing off, since he was new here."
"No one knows where he came. He might have come from a tribe that has enmity towards us," a beautiful blonde sub-beast said.
"Kea is right!"
"He is just trying to get our trust."
"We need to let the whole tribe know his schemes."
Hearing the other sub-beasts reactions, Gio looked at Kea meaningfully.
"I think he is not—ahh," a timid sub-beast said, but before Pen could even finish his sentence, Kea pinched his waist, and Gio glared at him.
Pen looked down and kept quiet. His eyes are on the verge of crying as the other sub-beasts continue slandering Tang Tang.
While inside the tent, Tang Tang and Xue are preparing to eat without taking any care of the discussion outside.