An argument broke out!
Feng Yi watched in a daze as Xiangling and her father argued fiercely. Where had the scene of paternal love and filial piety from moments ago gone?
The crux of their dispute lay in how to cook the rare delicacy.
Due to a lack of experience, the father and daughter engaged in a discussion and exchanged opinions before officially cooking.
Who would have thought they would disagree!
Master Mao insisted on following the classic recipe passed down through generations, the culmination of years of his ancestors' hard work, which deserved their meticulous preservation.
Xiangling, however, had her own ideas. She believed some ingredients were outdated and she had better innovations!
Feng Yi couldn't help but sigh, poverty indeed!
If ingredients were abundant, what harm would a few more experiments do?
How about each of you make one dish, and let Brother Feng Yi be the judge?
Master Mao's fighting spirit surged, as if he had rediscovered the passion of his youth in cooking.
No problem! I will show you that innovation is the driving force behind the constant development of the culinary world!
Xiangling nodded, agreeing with her father's decision. It was just a cooking competition, after all! She accepted the challenge!
She would prove her abilities and ideas to her father!
This time, I won't go easy on you!
Master Mao laughed heartily, confidence gleaming in his eyes.
That's for the best! You use the stove first, I'll go find some ingredients in the wild. Guoba, let's go!
Xiangling was equally excited. Turning around, she saw Guoba standing still, staring intently at the bear paw on the table. She was somewhat surprised.
In all the time she had known Guoba, she had never seen it so fixated on any ingredient!
But with the competition imminent, Xiangling didn't have time to ponder.
Despite her helpless urging, it had little effect. In the end, she had to drag Guoba out of the room.
Feng Yi, who had witnessed this scene, knew Guoba's true identity, unlike Xiangling. Feng Yi knew that Guoba was the Stove God who guarded Liyue!
The Stove God, Marchosius, was born from sparks created by colliding stones. He presided over the hearth and people's livelihoods, a god who loved humanity!
A thousand years ago, the ancients expanded their city and built settlements on the plains, naming it Guoli Village.
The Stove God, cherishing the people's lives, manifested his avatars and entered thousands of households, helping to light fires, cook meals, and bring families together.
However, a great flood swept away their homes. The flood destroyed Guoli Village, forcing the residents to flee south and resettle in Liyue Harbor.
Though the journey was not very far, they faced fierce winds and heavy rain. The adepti escorted the people for more than ten days.
During this time, the Stove God created an ancient delicacy composed of flatbread and a meat paste that could ward off dampness and cold, making it easy to carry.
In the centuries that followed, as disasters and diseases struck the land, the Stove God appeared less frequently, instead pouring all his strength into the earth to quell these calamities.
Exhausted, his consciousness greatly diminished, and his form shrunk considerably, he was no taller than a person when he finally bid farewell to the adepti.
The Stove God shared the dishes that brought happiness and the secrets of the hearth with the Geo Archon and the adepti.
He then journeyed into the mountains and slept for a long, long time.
Guoba was born after the Stove God departed this world!
When he awoke, he tasted Xiangling's spicy meat stuffed buns. Though he couldn't recall his past, he was still moved and decided to follow Xiangling.
After the Stove God quietly disappeared, every morning, merchants began their stalls and hawked their wares, people went out to shop, light fires, and cook meals.
It was no different from any other day in the past.
May the wind and rain bless us, and the mountains and seas rejoice together; it is by the grace of heaven and earth.
Stars shifted, seas changed, and the human world remained.
But after living in peace for too long, the people of Liyue seemed to have forgotten the Stove God who sacrificed himself to protect Liyue!
This was the story of Guoba from Feng Yi's memory.
Guoba could have lived a carefree life, observing the myriad forms of human existence, yet he still chose to sacrifice himself without hesitation.
Such selfless spirit would move anyone, and Feng Yi was no exception.
As for why Guoba was so fixated on the Great Bear's paw?
Feng Yi guessed that the migration of Liyue's people might not have been as smooth as Granny Ushi described.
After all, a thousand years ago, the continent of Teyvat, without large-scale human hunting, was not lacking in ferocious beasts like the Great Bears.
When these beasts faced unarmed Liyue people, they undoubtedly saw them as a gift from nature and launched attacks.
The adepti and gods of Liyue would naturally not stand idly by, and conflict was inevitable.
Feng Yi speculated that Guoba had participated in the battles of that time, and his opponent might have been the Great Bear clan.
Therefore, Guoba remembered the Great Bears deeply, an imprint etched into his soul.
It was understandable that he would be stirred upon sensing that familiar aura again today.
If possible, Feng Yi was willing to help Guoba regain his senses.
He wanted Guoba to witness firsthand how Liyue, which he had sacrificed himself to protect, was now prosperous and peaceful, with favorable weather and timely rain.
Of course, there was a hint of selfish motive mixed in; if he could win over a god as an ally, it would be a profitable endeavor.
Referring to Xiangling's actions during the Moonlike Festival, it seemed that pure conviction arising from the creation of delicious food could help awaken Guoba.
And this cooking competition was a contest between two purest forms of culinary conviction (one of tradition, the other of innovation). Combined with ingredients that stirred Guoba's memories, Feng Yi felt it was worth a try!
While Feng Yi was contemplating, Master Mao's dish was nearing completion.
Just then, Xiangling and Guoba returned with their procured ingredients.
Seeing that Master Mao had finished cooking, Xiangling said no more and immediately set about preparing her own ingredients. She seamlessly took over the stove that Master Mao had vacated, and with Guoba's fiery assistance, her cooking speed far surpassed Master Mao's.
Two dishes were simultaneously placed before Feng Yi, awaiting his judgment.
On the principle of fairness and impartiality, Feng Yi tasted each one, carefully comparing them, and finally chose Xiangling's dish.
The texture was equally soft and delicious, but Xiangling's handling of the spice layers was superior.
Feng Yi had Master Mao and Xiangling taste each other's dishes to verify his impartiality.
Xiangling, you've done well! Your father is proud of you!
Master Mao's face broke into a satisfied smile after tasting Xiangling's dish, as if he had let go of something.
Guoba?! How could you steal food?
Xiangling joyfully accepted the praise, but her gaze suddenly fell upon Guoba stealthily eating the dishes, and she exclaimed in surprise.
It's not like I didn't prepare any for you! How dare you steal Feng Yi's portion! How rude!
Xiangling frowned, about to pull back the ravenous Guoba, but Feng Yi's hand stopped her.
Never mind! Let him eat. He looks ravenous!
Feng Yi smiled slightly, indicating he didn't mind.
Xiangling apologized profusely to Feng Yi for Guoba's behavior, not noticing a faint shimmer that flashed across Guoba's fur.
But Feng Yi, who was intently watching Guoba, did notice.