Chapter 172: Dried Mushrooms
Si Xu had no idea that ninety percent of the wood-attribute spirit mushrooms here had been planted by the Dean of the Azure Dragon Academy. He happily drank a huge pot of mushroom soup, feeling that having a younger brother was wonderful—an older brother with a younger brother was truly treasured.
His soul pets were just as delighted. The Sky-Shrouding Eagle and the Medicine Spirit Bird stood on the rim of the pot and lowered their heads to drink. The former drank eagerly, practically burying its head in the soup and reluctant to lift it even after a long while.
The Medicine Spirit Bird was smaller and didn’t eat as much as the Sky-Shrouding Eagle, so it drank less hurriedly, its movements elegant and refined.
Besides those two birds, Si Xu had also recently contracted a Green-Haired Longevity Turtle, which he had chosen the last time he entered the turtle pool.
The turtle was entirely green, with green hair growing all over its shell. Si Xu had named it Green Algae.
Since it had only recently hatched and was still small, it couldn’t stand on the rim of the pot like the two birds to drink the soup.
Si Xu had originally planned to finish his own bowl before feeding it. But the little turtle couldn’t wait. When no one was paying attention, it climbed up to the rim of the pot and jumped straight in.
Si Er was shocked. “Isn’t it afraid of getting scalded?”
“It’s really not,” Si Xu replied. “Its constitution is a bit special. It’s not afraid of cold or heat. It can go through water and fire alike.”
“But…”
Si Xu looked down at his bowl helplessly. “Good thing you made two big pots of soup. It didn’t jump into the one I was drinking from, or I wouldn’t be able to keep drinking.”
“I don’t want to drink its bathwater.”
The Sky-Shrouding Eagle and the Medicine Spirit Bird cast resentful glances at Si Xu. They thought it would’ve been fine if he hadn’t said that—now that he had, they suddenly felt they couldn’t quite drink anymore either.
But such delicious mushroom soup was something they rarely got to enjoy. If they really stopped drinking, it would be too wasteful—and would only benefit that green-haired turtle.
So the two birds resumed gulping down the soup, only to realize that the green-haired turtle was absorbing it even faster than they were. In no time, the soup was nearly gone.
The two birds panicked. Afraid they wouldn’t get their share, they began pecking at the turtle. The three of them almost started a full-on fight.
Si Er knew Si Xu couldn’t possibly finish all the wood-attribute spirit mushrooms in one go. So while stewing soup, he was also making dried mushrooms, planning for Si Xu to snack on them along the way.
Unexpectedly, amid his busy work, he even got to watch a good show. The fight between the two birds and the turtle was quite entertaining.
Beside Si Er was another large pot, stewing non-attribute spirit mushroom soup. Everyone except Si Xu was drinking from that one.
Holding her bowl and slurping her soup, Wu Li asked curiously, “Classmate Si Er, why did you bring so many big pots?”
“I saw that the other students only brought nutrient potions. I only brought that.”
Si Er smiled. “I brought nutrient potions too. But since there’s a wilderness assessment, I figured we might as well use local ingredients when it’s time to eat.”
“So I didn’t just bring big pots—I also brought a grill, a fish spear, and other things.”
“You’re really well prepared, Classmate Si Er,” Wu Li said, full of admiration.
She had already guessed that both Si Er and Si Xu were Si Yi’s younger brothers. And somehow, she felt that these two younger brothers both seemed more reliable than Si Yi.
Although she hadn’t yet discovered any particular trait in Si Xu, he gave off an impression of being intelligent, gentle, and attentive at first glance.
Whether that impression was accurate or not, he certainly looked more dependable than Si Yi!
As for Si Er, even more so. First, he was powerful—he had managed to gather so many spirit mushrooms at once.
Second, he was incredibly caring toward his older brother, stewing soup and making dried mushrooms for him. He was thoughtful to the extreme.
Compared to Si Er, Wu Li even felt like throwing her own younger brother away.
As for Si Yi—when Wu Li first met him, she thought he looked like a vagrant.
The second time, she thought he looked like a lunatic.
After all, with his soul damaged at the time, Si Yi had truly been mad.
The third time she saw him, he seemed like a somewhat crazy vagrant…
But Si Yi was truly handsome, so Wu Li believed he was a good person and was still willing to help him.
Moreover, at the time she had thought he had been harmed by his uncle.
Now, looking at the Si family’s two brothers—who clearly looked like the kind of children other families boasted about—Wu Li couldn’t help but feel puzzled. How could siblings from the same mother be so different?
Still, she didn’t ask. She simply continued drinking her mushroom soup in silence.
Meanwhile, Yu Beixuan felt that Si Er was working very hard—stewing soup while also making dried mushrooms.
He watched Si Er’s process for making the dried mushrooms and quickly learned it, attempting to help.
But the moment he tried, the dried mushrooms turned into dark mushrooms. If Si Xu ate them, he’d be poisoned.
Yu Beixuan: “……”
Guagua nearly burst out laughing, but managed to cover its mouth in time.
Si Er patted Yu Beixuan’s shoulder. “Xuanxuan, don’t be upset. Everyone has their own specialty.”
“Actually, your talent isn’t the problem, and your technique isn’t either. This tiny margin of error is completely acceptable.”
Si Xu raised his eyes. “This is a tiny margin of error? Then what would a big one look like?”
Si Er thought for a moment. “At least Xuanxuan can eat the dried mushrooms he makes himself. His soul pets can eat them too.”
“And those dark-attribute spirit beasts could definitely eat them as well.”
“So I think a big margin of error would be the kind that no one can eat. Xuanxuan is already great.”
Si Xu shook his head helplessly. “Just keep praising him.”
Si Er shook his head as well. “I’m not praising him. I really mean it. Look how quickly Xuanxuan learned! That’s talent!”
Yu Beixuan lowered his head in embarrassment. This talent of his…
Being unable to help Si Er made him feel dejected for a moment. But he soon cheered up and began helping with something else.
Yu Beixuan started grilling mushrooms for Si Er. This went much more smoothly, since he didn’t need to use his soul power. The mushrooms he grilled came out normal, and they smelled quite fragrant.
He held a grilled mushroom up to Si Er’s mouth. Si Er took a bite, and his eyes immediately lit up.
He chewed and swallowed, his brows curving with delight.
“The mushrooms Xuanxuan grilled are so fragrant! These are the best grilled mushrooms I’ve ever had. Xuanxuan really is amazing.”
If Yu Beixuan had a tail, it probably would’ve shot straight up into the sky.
Even without a tail, however, the joy radiating from him was unmistakable.
The Yu Bei Wolf, Eagle, and Tiger all covered their eyes, feeling like they couldn’t bear to watch.
As for the Northern Turtle, who had been constantly shouting that it was hungry—well, it was now busy eating.
After finishing, it ran up to Yu Beixuan and poked right at his sore spot.
“Xuanxuan, can you make me more dried mushrooms? They’re tasty! I love them!”
Yu Beixuan couldn’t help but knock it unconscious again. “Get lost!”
Yu Bei Tiger said, “It’s already unconscious. It can’t roll anywhere now.”
