Chapter 188: Are They Cute, or Am I Cuter?

The Beastmen who had remained in the camp heard the commotion and all ran out. Seeing their comrades had returned, they immediately turned around and went back inside to bring out the prepared ingredients.

The Beastmen who had just stepped off the warship caught a whiff of an aroma they had never smelled before. "What’s that smell? It’s amazing," one asked, confused.

"I don’t know, but it smells incredible." As he spoke, he kept sniffing the air, trying to pinpoint the source of the fragrance.

The moment he finished speaking, a "GRRROWL~" sound was heard.

The other Beastmen immediately looked around for the source of the noise. "What was that sound?"

Just then, a Beastman scratched his head in embarrassment. "I think that was my stomach... Smelling this makes me a little hungry..."

Another Beastman added, "You know, now that you mention it, I’m a little hungry too. But I definitely drank two tubes of nutrient liquid this morning."

Marshal Sates came down from the warship and saw them all standing there. "Why aren’t you going inside?" he asked, puzzled.

The nearest Beastman immediately saluted Sates and said, "Marshal Sates. We smelled a fragrance and were discussing where it’s coming from."

Yue Junxiao came down and saw them crowded together discussing the aroma. His tone was filled with pride and a touch of casual showing off. "What’s all the fuss about? Of course the hot pot our wife-master made smells amazing! Once you’ve had it, you’ll never stop thinking about it!"

Before the day’s events, someone might have argued with him. But now, combined with the tantalizingly delicious scent, not a single person refuted him.

Just then, the few Beastmen in combat uniforms who had gone inside came out carrying the prepared ingredients. Seeing the others still standing there dumbfounded, they shouted, "What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and help! We just finished preparing everything. Your timing is perfect. We can start cooking and eat right away."

They never once asked if the battle was won or what the situation was, exuding a firm conviction that they had already won.

Their voices weren’t quiet. Hearing this, everyone rushed over, eager to see what this "hot pot" Yue Junxiao was talking about really was.

Bai Zhi had prepared many pots in advance. Worried that some couldn’t handle spicy food, she had also specially made some non-spicy soup bases. By now, everyone had gathered in the open space next to the camp, where hundreds of pots were arranged.

Bai Zhi taught a few of the leading Beastmen and put them in charge of teaching the others.

After all, with tens of thousands of Beastmen here, it was more practical for them to teach each other.

The hot pot was simple since the soup bases were already made; they just needed to boil everything. The barbecue, on the other hand, was a bit more troublesome. So, she first grilled a few skewers herself, then had them try, instructing them on when to add which seasonings.

Bai Zhi gave the skewers she grilled to a few of the Beastmen present.

A Beastman took a bite, and his eyes instantly lit up. "Mmm! This is delicious!"

"I always thought Mie-Mie Beasts tasted a bit gamey, but I never imagined they could be this delicious!!"

"Is there any more? It was gone before I even got a good taste."

The dozen or so Beastmen in charge of grilling produced skewers of varying quality. A few had good control over the heat, making theirs crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, though they were a bit heavy-handed with the seasoning. Others served up skewers that were either undercooked or burnt, but their seasoning was decent.

One who hadn’t managed to grab one earlier immediately snatched a skewer without a second thought. But after just one bite, "*PFFT! COUGH COUGH COUGH—* Have you had it out for me this whole time? Are you trying to murder me?! Is this even edible?"

The Beastman who spoke was coughing so hard that his eyes and neck turned red.

The other Beastmen who tried had a similar experience. They had all expected the skewers to taste as good as Bai Zhi’s.

Instead, one bite revealed raw, bloody meat. Another was so overwhelmed by the intense seasoning that it made him question his existence. The best of the bunch turned out to be the burnt one; although it tasted bad, at least it was edible.

Seeing this, Bai Zhi decided to have the ones with good heat control focus solely on grilling, while the others would be in charge of seasoning.

Only then did she and Hu Yan return to their own pot.

The Beastman soldiers stared at the bubbling red broth in the pot, which looked exactly like the stuff they used against the Insect Clan. One Beastman asked hesitantly, "Isn’t this what we use to fight the Insect Clan? Can you really eat it?"

The person next to him was also uncertain. "I guess so?"

As he spoke, he glanced at Hu Yan and the others. Seeing them already putting ingredients into the pot, he nudged his companion with his elbow. "Look, the Third Prince isn’t acting weird at all. He must have eaten this before. If the Third Prince can eat it, why can’t we? Besides, the broth smells amazing. It’s probably just like the Third Princess Consort’s Beast Husband said—it must be delicious."

"Makes sense! I see the Third Prince and his group putting in a lot of stuff. Let’s add more too."

The other Beastmen were just as curious. They watched and tossed ingredients into their pots, mimicking whatever Bai Zhi added to hers.

As they watched, they noticed Bai Zhi filling a small bowl with something. "What’s the Third Princess Consort making? What can you do with such a small bowl?" one asked the person next to him, confused.

His companion just glanced over. "No idea. Let’s just copy her."

And so, a peculiar scene unfolded in the camp.

Everyone stared intently at Bai Zhi’s group. Whatever she did, a large crowd would follow. When Bai Zhi added meat, they added meat. When Bai Zhi mixed her dipping sauce, they mixed their dipping sauce. And when Bai Zhi finally picked something up and ate it, they followed suit.

"*Hiss*... *Whew*... So hot but so, so good!!"

"*HISSSS*... This red stuff is biting my mouth! It hurts! *Hiss*... *Whew*... But it’s so delicious!!"

"This hot pot the Third Princess Consort made is amazing!"

"Those restaurants really need to see this! They’re always so smug about how good their food is!"

"As expected of an SS-level Purification Master, the ingredients don’t have the slightest trace of bitterness! If this were served in a restaurant, it would probably sell for tens of thousands of Star Coins a pot, right?"

"This flavor is to die for! I think there’s another type of food over there. I wonder how it tastes, but I bet it’s delicious too."

Many of the Beastmen’s address for her changed from "that female" to "Third Princess Consort."

This was more than just a change in title; it was a sign of their acceptance.

Yue Junxiao didn’t forget to talk while eating. "Someone should have recorded that just now. What a spectacular sight! They had people assigned to teach them over there, but they didn’t learn from them. Instead, they kept sneaking glances at us. They have no idea how obvious they were!!"

Yan Yichen picked up a piece of beast meat and placed it in his bowl. "Just eat. Even food can’t shut your mouth."

Yue Junxiao chuckled. "I’m going to get some barbecue. What do you guys want?"

They each called out a few requests. Yue Junxiao put some more food into his own bowl, then ran off to get the barbecue.

The barbecue station was swamped, so Yue Junxiao had to make it himself.

The hot pot and barbecue feast won over every Beastman’s stomach. Even Sates praised the food, saying it was delicious.

After the meal, Hu Yan prepared to depart with Bai Zhi and the others, as important matters awaited him back on the Main Star.

When they left, everyone came to see them off. It wasn’t the insincere crowd that gathers to send off a superior; what happened today had forged a life-and-death bond. It was different.

Plus, Bai Zhi’s cooking had completely conquered everyone.

One Beastman even voiced a sincere hope in a joking tone, "Third Princess Consort, you should open a restaurant on the Main Star! When we’re on leave, we’ll all go and boost your sales!!"

Bai Zhi smiled and replied, "Alright."

’The restaurant she opened with Lila Grey and the others is supposedly doing very well on Blue Star,’ she thought. ’Lila Grey had asked her before about opening a branch on the Main Star. It seems now is the time to put that on the agenda.’

The Beastman had only asked casually, not expecting Bai Zhi to agree. After all, she was already the Third Princess Consort; there was no need for her to open a restaurant.

Furthermore, Bai Zhi was a rare SS-level female Purification Master. The Third Prince would surely not want her to do such things. But to everyone’s surprise, Bai Zhi had agreed so casually!!

The Beastman subconsciously glanced at Hu Yan, worried the Third Prince would be displeased with him for suggesting it.

But to his surprise, Hu Yan showed no reaction at all. He simply gazed at Bai Zhi with a faint smile, as if nothing else mattered besides her.

Or perhaps, the Third Prince fully supported anything the Third Princess Consort wanted to do.

Whichever it was, the unspoken meaning was that he approved.

In an instant, the crowd erupted.

"Then we’ll be waiting for your good news, Your Highness the Third Princess Consort!!"

Bai Zhi smiled and nodded at them.

As they boarded the warship, Bai Zhi couldn’t help but say, "They’re actually quite cute."

Hearing this, Hu Yan’s brow furrowed slightly. He said, word by word, "They’re... cute?"

Hu Yan turned to look at her. "Are they cute, or am I cuter?"

Bai Zhi was speechless at his words. ’I can’t believe he’d get jealous over something like this.’ Seeing his insistent gaze, she said, "You’re cute. You’re the cutest."

At this, Yue Junxiao stared at her resentfully from the side. "My lady, didn’t you say I was the cutest?"

Yan Yichen looked at her with puppy-dog eyes, as if to say: ’My lady, am I not cute?’

Sang Mo raised an eyebrow at her, and Lang Qiu’s brow also furrowed slightly.

Bai Zhi: "..."

She hadn’t expected a single sentence to provoke such a strong reaction from them.

She could only placate them, "You’re all cute."

But when she saw Lang Qiu, his serious face, looking up to meet her gaze, she suddenly found herself at a loss for words.

Because they had been delayed late into the previous night, it was almost noon by the time they reached the Main Star.

Zelda had received news of their return early that morning and had rushed over at once.

After Hu Yan escorted Bai Zhi back, Zelda reported, "Fox Jue has been captured. He’s still being interrogated, but he won’t admit to his crimes. He only explained why he pretended to be unconscious and won’t confess to anything else. On another note, Hu Ao has already pleaded guilty. When he found out Fox Jue was still alive and that his own associate was one of Fox Jue’s men, he was furious. But he also understood his current situation clearly, so he confessed quickly."