With his keen combat intuition, Xiao retrieved a black bead from within the monster.
After crushing it with force, the monster collapsed, its dismembered limbs losing their constraint and scattering on the ground.
"You all should come out with me first, and then we can discuss further!"
Xiao tore open a spatial rift and stepped through first, with Feng Yi and Keqing following closely behind.
Returning to the surface and breathing in the fresh air, Feng Yi surprisingly felt a sense of relief after escaping a great disaster.
"Feng Yi, what was that monster just now?"
Xiao removed his mask, sheathed his weapon, and immediately asked.
"It's like this..."
"So that's how it is. The sea monster Bā Qiú, a vanquished foe of old, coveting the incense offerings of the mortal world. Unforgivable!"
Xiao said fiercely. He had not been present when the Geo Archon sealed Bā Qiú.
Later, his green spear was crafted by the Geo Archon in imitation of Bā Qiú's seal, the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear.
In a way, Bā Qiú had once again been defeated by the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear.
"Xiao, have you eaten? Yuanbao wants to eat roast rabbit, do you want to join us? Keqing, you too!"
Feng Yi remembered the promise he made to Yuanbao and invited them both.
"Then we shall impose upon you!"
"I happen to feel a bit hungry, and I want to eat what Feng Yi roasts himself!"
Xiao and Keqing both agreed, though one did so for Yuanbao's sake, and the other for Feng Yi's.
Feng Yi brought them into the Serenitea Pot, where he saw Yuanbao playing with a group of cats and dogs.
These stray cats and dogs were sacrifices Feng Yi had rescued from Bā Qiú and were temporarily housed in the Serenitea Pot.
Yuanbao was overjoyed to see so many animals for the first time.
"Daddy, look, this rabbit has heatstroke. Why don't we roast it..."
Yuanbao, seeing Feng Yi return, quickly picked up a fat, unconscious rabbit beside him and ran to Feng Yi.
"Yuanbao has a good eye!"
This rabbit was large and plump, one of the best among all the rabbits.
After two days of training, Yuanbao had become increasingly skilled at selecting rabbits.
As for the rabbit's heatstroke and unconsciousness, if Feng Yi hadn't found traces of a heavy blow on the back of its head, he would have believed the child's tall tale.
Moreover, within the Serenitea Pot, where the temperature and humidity were normal, how could a rabbit possibly suffer from heatstroke?
However, Feng Yi didn't expose Yuanbao's little trick. He returned the bone whistle to Yuanbao, took the unconscious rabbit from his hand, and went to build a fire.
"Grandpa Xiao, are you also here to eat rabbit with Yuanbao?"
Yuanbao asked happily, looking at Xiao, who had come along.
"Yuanbao speaks the truth!"
Xiao forced a smile. He didn't care what he ate; seeing Yuanbao's happy smile was enough for him.
"Who is this big sister? My name is Yuanbao! I'm Daddy's good daughter!"
Yuanbao's gaze was then drawn to Keqing beside them. This young lady was so beautiful; if she could be coaxed into becoming a mother, it would be wonderful!
"Yuanbao is so cute! My name is Keqing, and I'm the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing! I'm your daddy's good friend!"
Keqing crouched down, smiling as she stroked Yuanbao's little head. So this was the daughter Feng Yi spoke of.
With her rosy cheeks and delicate, elegant features, it was clear she was destined to be a beauty.
Yuanbao's milky voice, coupled with her doll-like appearance, instantly melted Keqing's heart.
Keqing had always had little resistance to cute creatures.
"Sister Keqing, will you also be Yuanbao's mother? If you're Yuanbao's mother, you can eat rabbit roasted by Daddy every day!"
Yuanbao said with a serious expression, trying her best to look stern, which made Keqing chuckle.
"Okay~ But does your daddy know about this?"
Keqing thought of Shenhe who had used the excuse of being Yuanbao's mother to stay by Feng Yi's side. If she started now, she would also be Yuanbao's mother.
From then on, she would have a legitimate reason to approach Feng Yi and deepen their relationship!
After all, as Yuanbao's mother, it was reasonable for her to come and look after Yuanbao, right?
"Daddy doesn't know about Yuanbao's plan yet! Yuanbao plans to give Daddy a surprise!"
Yuanbao shushed them and glanced at Feng Yi, who was roasting the rabbit, whispering.
Finally, another mother was found, and the goal of ten mothers had advanced by another step!
"Yuanbao, go inside and call Shenhe over to eat. The rabbit is roasted!"
Feng Yi called out to Yuanbao, who was whispering with Keqing. They looked like they were plotting something.
Beside the fire, Feng Yi divided the rabbit's four legs among Yuanbao, Keqing, Shenhe, and Xiao.
He himself held the rabbit's head and began to gnaw on it.
While the others didn't fancy the rabbit's head, Feng Yi knew that it was actually the most flavorful part of the entire rabbit.
If he had had enough ingredients, Feng Yi would have loved to make a spicy rabbit head dish, just like in his previous life. That would have been perfect with wine!
Although the rabbit's head was only half the size of his palm, the meat was succulent. It was roasted until tender, sprinkled with cumin and spices, spicy but not overly so, fresh but not fishy, and rich in five-spice flavor, making Feng Yi lick his fingers.
Feng Yi remembered that in his previous life, there was a place called Zigong in Sichuan that specialized in various rabbit dishes.
There was a saying: Not a single rabbit could leave Sichuan alive.
Although the grilled rabbit meat was fragrant, he would eventually get tired of it. Feng Yi planned to ask Xiangling for some spices in a few days and put spicy rabbit head on the agenda.
"Grandpa Xiao, why aren't you eating? Daddy's roasted rabbit legs are delicious!"
After finishing her rabbit leg, Yuanbao stared intently at the uneaten rabbit leg in Xiao's hand, swallowed and asked in confusion.
"If Yuanbao likes it, I'll give this to Yuanbao too!"
Xiao smiled gently. He didn't care about his appetite; his fondness for Almond Tofu was merely a reminiscence of past feelings.
Yuanbao seemed to really want to eat the rabbit leg in his hand, so he handed it over.
"I like it, I like it! Yuanbao likes it very much; Yuanbao can eat several at a time!"
Yuanbao happily took the rabbit leg and began to eat with gusto.
But Yuanbao soon noticed that everyone else was eating, and only Grandpa Xiao was watching.
Yuanbao thought that Grandpa Xiao must be pitiful because his rabbit leg had been snatched away.
"Yuanbao is a sensible child. Daddy taught Yuanbao to share. Grandpa Xiao, come and eat with Yuanbao!"
Yuanbao held the half-eaten rabbit leg to Xiao's mouth, inviting him to share.
Yuanbao's cuteness and thoughtfulness warmed Xiao's heart. He didn't mind the half-eaten rabbit leg and found a spot to take a gentle bite.
"Mmm! Delicious!"
Xiao felt that he had fallen in love with this warm feeling.
From this day forward, in addition to protecting Liyue, he had another objective to protect.
"Of course! Daddy's roasted rabbit legs are definitely the best in the world!"
Yuanbao spread his arms, gesturing, and said with a proud expression.
Xiao just smiled faintly, saying nothing more. Only he understood that he wasn't concerned with the taste of the rabbit leg.