With all the new students now enrolled, the east gate of Shrek City had once again become bustling.
On both sides of the avenue outside the east gate, numerous vendors had gathered, selling a variety of goods. Among them, food vendors were the most numerous, their cries for customers filling the air.
Clearly, it wasn't only Huo Yuhao who knew that the students of Shrek Academy were all wealthy second-generation rich kids who didn't mind spending their parents' money. These vendors had gathered here specifically to cater to Shrek Academy students, and over time, a brightly lit food street had formed.
Huo Yuhao slowly pushed a cart equipped with a grill and barbecue rack. The cart's surface was laden with various seasonings and cooking tools.
He opened the cabinet attached to the bottom of the cart and took out a few small tables and wooden stools, setting them up near the city gate.
These items were pre-ordered from several shops in Shrek City after he had lunch earlier that day.
As the saying goes, "a heavy reward will attract brave men." Huo Yuhao had used a high price of one hundred gold soul coins to get craftsmen to work tirelessly according to his design. After an entire afternoon, they managed to produce a mobile barbecue cart with a modern design.
Huo Yuhao had arranged with Old Mo to store this barbecue cart in the courtyard of Old Mo's shop during the day. In the evening, Old Mo would load the cart with the necessary meats and vegetables and deliver it to the vicinity of Shrek City's east gate.
Although there were other barbecue stalls along the avenue, Huo Yuhao's cart was undoubtedly the most eye-catching. Such a sleek, simple design was too advanced for the Douluo Continent.
As Huo Yuhao was setting up the tables and arranging the seasonings on the cart, a large group of Shrek Academy students had already gathered around him, pointing and discussing the barbecue cart.
"Wow, this junior has some interesting ideas, making a mobile barbecue cart."
"This is actually more convenient, and the shiny metal surface looks very clean. Not a bad idea."
"This design has some soul tool elements in it. Could this junior be from the Soul Tool Department?"
Huo Yuhao didn't interact with them but continued with his preparations.
The cart had two metal cabinets below. The left cabinet stored the foldable tables and stools, while the right cabinet contained fish, meat, and some vegetables for grilling.
All the fish had been cleaned by Old Mo, with the scales and innards removed. Huo Yuhao tore some perilla and patchouli leaves and mixed them with other seasonings before stuffing them into the fish's bellies, skewering them with bamboo sticks.
He also brushed a special sauce on the surface of the fish. This sauce, which he had concocted himself, not only enhanced the taste of the grilled fish but also spread its aroma far and wide to attract customers.
After lighting the charcoal in the grill, Huo Yuhao secretly used his Burning Arts to control the temperature and the area of the flames.
Using the Burning Arts to grill fish—he was likely the first to ever do so.
The grill was quite large. Even after placing five fish on it, there was still some space. He then skewered some meat and vegetables, brushed them with sauce, and placed them on the grill as well.
In his previous life, as a top assassin, he had carried out missions disguised as a chef, which required him to possess excellent culinary skills. So, he had systematically learned these skills.
Combining the original Huo Yuhao's memories with his own extensive cooking experience from Blue Star, his barbecuing skills far surpassed those depicted in the original work.
At this moment, if Yao Lao could manifest, his expression would surely be one of bemusement. Huo Yuhao was using his Flame God Eye martial soul and Burning Arts technique to simultaneously control the cooking of more than ten skewers of various grilled items. This was indeed a rare and valuable practice for him.
Practicing like this was extremely effective for his alchemy skills and carried no risk of wasting materials.
But why did this scene look so odd?
His apprentice's first step in learning alchemy was opening a barbecue stall? If this got back to Yao Lao on the Douqi Continent, people would probably laugh their heads off.
One had to admit, Huo Yuhao's cooking skills, honed over two lifetimes, were almost at a master level. In no time, the rich aroma of the various grilled items wafted out, more effective than any advertisement.
Not only did it attract the academy students, but even the nearby vendors, catching a whiff of the scent, couldn't help but look over.
"Hey, Xiao Yuhao?"
A young girl pushed through the crowd and came to the front of Huo Yuhao's barbecue stall. She looked about fifteen or sixteen, with long black hair tied in a ponytail, and her Shrek Academy uniform accentuated her youthful, budding figure.
Following behind her was a tall, slender boy with short, deep blue hair that gleamed like gems in the sunlight. Though young, he exuded an elegant demeanor, with a handsome face wearing a lazy, warm smile. He stood with his hands behind his head, looking at Huo Yuhao with interest, though more at Huo Yuhao than the grilled fish.
Huo Yuhao recognized these two. They were Tang Ya, the head of the Tang Sect, and Bei Bei, the first disciple and vice-head of the Tang Sect, as well as its only current member and emergency fund.
"Hello, Sister Tang Ya, Brother Bei Bei. Long time no see," Huo Yuhao greeted them with a smile while turning the fish on the grill.
"Yuhao, I didn't expect you to enroll at Shrek," Tang Ya said in surprise, looking at Huo Yuhao's Shrek Academy uniform. "But why haven't I seen you around the academy?"
Huo Yuhao's mouth twitched. The reason she hadn't seen him was because he was intentionally avoiding these two harbingers of trouble. Every time they met, they tried to recruit him into the Tang Sect.
Joining the Tang Sect was particularly dangerous for him. If he became a member, both Mu En and the Tang God King would keep an eye on him. They might even send him to the Valley of Eternal Love for training, an experience he would rather avoid.
Bei Bei's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he smiled at Tang Ya. "Xiao Ya, you might not have heard, but Yuhao is a rising star among the new students. He made the stern Madam Zhou Yi eat humble pie shortly after joining and even became the class monitor of Freshman Class Nine after transferring."
As a descendant of Dragon God Douluo Mu En, Bei Bei had direct access to Sea God Pavilion's information. He naturally knew about Huo Yuhao's deeds, though he rarely shared such details with Tang Ya.
"Wow, Xiao Yuhao, you're amazing!" Tang Ya's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Since you're so outstanding, why not join our sect? Our sect was once the number one on the continent. You definitely won't regret it."
Won't regret it... Won't regret it... Regret...
He would lose both his dignity and his body, and that wouldn't count as regret?!
Huo Yuhao didn't respond, merely lifting the perfectly golden and crispy, aromatic grilled fish in his hand. He smiled and said, "Sister Xiao Ya, stop talking and let's order first."