Soon, Ye Feng signaled Xiao Xiao to stop, build a fire, and cook. Of course, besides building the stove, starting the fire, and providing ingredients and drinking water, he did not help.
After all, he was very tired now, and the true energy in his body was somewhat out of control.
He didn't want to suddenly overturn the half-cooked meal... or the stove to collapse... or the iron pot to develop a large hole...
Xiao Xiao was already proficient at cooking. In a short while, fragrant white rice was steamed, and the vinegar pork trotters were almost stewed under the pressure cooker, releasing a rich aroma.
Subsequently, Xiao Xiao skillfully stir-fried a plate of vegetables and boiled a bowl of egg and seaweed soup, and then she and Ye Feng happily ate lunch.
"Big brother, these vinegar pork trotters aren't greasy at all. They're a bit chewy and delicious!"
Xiao Xiao, who was gnawing on a pork trotter, was quite surprised, as it was her first time eating them today, and the recipe was provided by Ye Feng.
"Mmm!"
Ye Feng, also gnawing on a pork trotter, nodded. "This is a famous delicacy. Paired with aged vinegar, it's sweet and sour, not greasy, and very appetizing!"
"Oh, oh!~"
Immediately, the two said no more and focused on eating.
"Hmm?"
As they were eating with great relish, suddenly, Xiao Xiao turned her head sharply, her face full of vigilance.
"Xiao Xiao..."
Ye Feng was about to ask but stopped. He also frowned and looked in the same direction as Xiao Xiao, because he had also sensed the fluctuation of arcane energy coming from not too far to his right.
"Seriously... how can you be so careless? The aroma of this food is so strong that I could smell it from a kilometer away!"
Under Ye Feng and Xiao Xiao's gaze, a male voice they were somewhat familiar with came from the front right.
Then, a mass of water emerged from the bushes, gradually condensing into a human shape as it moved towards Ye Feng.
"It's you?"
Upon seeing the person clearly, Ye Feng couldn't help but be surprised, because the other party was none other than Yue Miao.
"What, at noon, won't you invite me to a meal?"
Yue Miao waved at Ye Feng.
"Uh... alright..."
Since there was plenty of rice and dishes, Ye Feng nodded in agreement.
Yue Miao was not polite. He walked over, sat down at the small table, took a large bowl of rice and chopsticks handed to him by Ye Feng, scooped up some meat broth and vinegar pork trotters with a large spoon, and then ate them heartily.
Afterward, he even picked up the large basin of seaweed and egg soup and poured himself half a bowl...
From beginning to end, Yue Miao only ate what was in his own bowl, and he didn't use a small spoon to drink soup or anything like that, because Ye Feng and Xiao Xiao were using small spoons...
"Burp!~"
"I say, you two, are you exploring the apocalypse or on vacation... you're living too comfortably..."
Yue Miao patted his slightly bulging belly and let out a burp, saying.
"You're not going to tell me that you accidentally met us here again?"
Ye Feng looked at Yue Miao, who was leaning back in his rattan chair with a relaxed expression, and frowned slightly.
"That's not it... although I did accidentally see you a few days ago..."
"But I came to find you specifically this time!"
Yue Miao shook his head.
"A few days ago?"
Ye Feng looked at Yue Miao with some confusion.
"You should remember encountering a swarm of mirage insects when you passed through a hilly area a few days ago..."
"Mirage insects are capable of producing illusions..."
Yue Miao had only spoken half of his sentence when Ye Feng interjected, his face showing slight surprise. "The mirage insect swarm suddenly went into chaos then, was that your doing?"
"It's so much easier talking to smart people!"
Yue Miao gave Ye Feng a thumbs-up. "That's right, I stabbed Insect Seven, who was controlling the mirage insect swarm from a distance, a few times!"
"Insect Seven?"
Ye Feng recalled and found no impression of this person. "Who is that guy? Why did he use insects to deal with me?"
"That's what I want to know too!"
Speaking of this, Yue Miao's lazy and comfortable expression turned serious. "Ye Feng, what did you do to attract such a high bounty!"
As soon as his voice fell, Yue Miao's hand flashed with light, and a crumpled piece of paper appeared on the small table in front of Ye Feng.
"Big brother... it's our bounty notice!"
Seeing this, Xiao Xiao couldn't help but exclaim.
"This bounty notice is unusual. It was issued by the Brad Base of the Seven Great Forces!"
Under Ye Feng and Xiao Xiao's gaze, Yue Miao spoke slowly.
"Brad Base?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Feng was taken aback and muttered to himself, "This bounty notice should have been issued quite a while ago... it shouldn't be caused by the conflict between the ancient ruins and the Brad Base exploration team... and the Brad Base exploration team was wiped out, so why would they put out a bounty for revenge without anyone informing me..."
"Ye Feng, Xiao Xiao, I didn't intend to find you, but your route made me a little worried!"
At this moment, Yue Miao spoke again.
"Route?"
Ye Feng turned and looked at Yue Miao with a confused gaze.
"Yes!"
Yue Miao nodded. "If you continue to travel in that direction, you will enter the sphere of influence of the Brad Base in less than a month!"
"This bounty of 100,000 arcane coins is extraordinary. Almost all the elite forces of the Brad Base are involved!"
"Even the highest echelons of the Brad Base, the Ten Blood Guards, are looking for you. This is very unusual!"
Yue Miao pointed in a direction and quickly explained to Ye Feng.
"What the hell is going on?"
Ye Feng and Xiao Xiao exchanged glances, and both saw confusion in each other's eyes.
"I don't know..."
Yue Miao shook his head. "But one thing is certain: you must have something that the Brad Base desperately wants. This item has probably alerted the Blood Ancestor, who hasn't appeared for decades!"
"Blood Ancestor?"
Ye Feng frowned slightly. He had heard Sphinx mention it before when he was in Mech City... that guy seemed to have used the power of the Blood Ancestor at that time...
"Yes!"
Yue Miao's tone was serious. "Because only the Blood Ancestor could mobilize all Ten Blood Guards!"
"This..."
Ye Feng's brow furrowed. He thought for a long time but couldn't understand why he and Xiao Xiao were so valued by the Brad Base out of nowhere.
"Wait... Ye Feng, you..."
At this moment, Yue Miao seemed to notice something. His eyes widened, and he stared intently at Ye Feng, his face filled with disbelief.
"Wh-what?"
Ye Feng felt a chill from Yue Miao's scorching gaze.
"Ye... Ye Feng, you... you are already Gold Rank Seven..."
Yue Miao's voice trembled, and his scarred face flushed with excitement.
He hadn't paid much attention earlier, but now that he sensed the fluctuation of arcane energy from Ye Feng, he was extremely surprised and excited...
"Mmm!"
Ye Feng nodded. "I broke through a couple of days ago!"
"Unbelievable..."
Yue Miao swallowed. "Although I had high hopes for you... I didn't expect you to grow to this extent in such a short time. This... this is truly somewhat frightening..."