Douluo Dalu 2: The True God King-Chapter 209: [DD2]:

Credits: NovelReader

Su Yu rode Di Mingli back to their original camp.

He began processing the ingredients—skinning, deboning, and cutting them into manageable portions. Using the pure waters of the Lake of Life, he spent several hours preparing everything.

Since the amount of game was plentiful and Su Yu was the only one skilled in cooking, most of the work fell on him, naturally slowing progress.

Some of the ingredients for grilling were marinated in advance to ensure they absorbed flavor during cooking. For the soup stock and other tougher cuts, Su Yu had already started simmering them. Good soup requires time to extract its full flavor.

As the sun set, the world began to grow dim.

By the Lake of Life, large bonfires had already been lit.

Su Yu had crafted several oversized grills, each able to accommodate large quantities of meat. With his current strength, even multitasking across multiple grills was effortless.

Di Mingli quietly sat nearby, watching Su Yu's busy hands.

Her golden eyes reflected gentle ripples of light, as though carrying a soft glow of emotion.

For some reason, seeing Su Yu's bustling figure filled her with an inexplicable sense of ease and contentment.

It felt as if, as long as he was around, she could completely relax and feel secure.

She didn't understand this feeling, but she liked it.

Being with Su Yu made her genuinely happy.

As the fiery flames danced over the golden oil dripping from the meat, the rich aroma wafted through the air, making her salivate.

It had been three years since she last tasted grilled meat, and she'd been longing for it.

But she also understood that rushing wouldn't help. She had to be patient and wait.

Night fell, and after another half hour, the sky was completely dark.

Su Yu removed a roasted lamb from the grill. The whole lamb, over two meters long, was golden and crispy on the outside, sprinkled with various seasonings, and exuding a tantalizing fragrance.

"It seems I've arrived just in time. Young Master is almost done preparing," came a teasing voice.

The first to arrive was Zi Ji, dressed in her usual flowing purple gauze. Her long, white legs were dazzling under the firelight.

"Sister Zi Ji, you're just in time. Help me take down those simmering pots of stew," Su Yu said with a bright smile, immediately enlisting her help.

"Hmph, I just got here, and the Young Master is already ordering me around," Zi Ji grumbled, but her actions were quick and efficient.

She took down the pots of soup and stewed meat that Su Yu had been tending.

The soups were infused with special herbs, and even the stewed meats had been seasoned with secret spices.

As she lifted the lids, the rich aroma of the meat and the herbal fragrance blended into an irresistible temptation.

At that moment, Bi Ji arrived, carrying freshly washed fruits.

When she saw Zi Ji, she smiled and nodded in greeting. Zi Ji paused before returning a faint smile.

Soon after, Bear Lord arrived.

In his human form, Bear Lord was a burly man with dark golden hair, exuding an imposing aura.

When it came to feasting, Bear Lord was undoubtedly an expert—and he had an impeccable sense of timing.

Su Yu removed a roasted deer from another grill, placing it among the spread of food that already covered the ground, which was lined with long blankets.

The spread included not only beef, lamb, and venison but also fish, shrimp, fruits, and vegetables for a balanced feast.

As preparations neared completion, Di Tian finally appeared.

With a casual wave of his hand, several large wooden barrels appeared on the ground.

The barrels looked freshly made, and inside was a golden liquid with a rich, fragrant aroma.

"What kind of wine is this?" Su Yu raised an eyebrow, sensing the unusual energy within the wine.

"Monkey Wine, from a group of Silver Moon Monkeys," Di Tian replied nonchalantly.

Su Yu: "..."

So much wine—did you take their entire stock?

Monkey Wine was a rare natural treasure, brewed from various spiritual fruits. Its flavor and effects were exceptional, and it could fetch an astronomical price in the outside world.

Although Su Yu had been in the Star Dou Forest for years, he had never tasted Monkey Wine. Tonight, thanks to Di Tian, he'd finally get the chance.

"Alright, everyone, stop standing around—let's eat!" Su Yu announced, tearing a leg off the roasted lamb and handing it to Di Mingli.

Her golden eyes lit up as she eagerly took a bite.

Seeing Su Yu take the lead, the others also began to dig in.

Su Yu enjoyed a bowl of stewed beef tendons and a few sips of Monkey Wine, feeling utterly refreshed.

The Monkey Wine was sweet, smooth, and aromatic without being overpowering, leaving a delightful aftertaste. It was indeed a fine brew.

He drank several more bowls and still wanted more.

New novel chapters are published on freewёbn૦νeɭ.com.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, Su Yu smacked his forehead and hurriedly brought out Snow Empress.

He had almost forgotten about her.

The moment Snow Empress appeared, she glared at him with a look of grievance, clearly unhappy.

Di Tian, holding his wine, froze mid-sip, staring at the small girl in Su Yu's arms with surprise.

"Snow Empress?" he asked tentatively.

Snow Empress glanced at him but didn't respond, clearly acknowledging her identity.

At that moment, Bear Lord, who had just finished gnawing on a deer leg, stared curiously at Snow Empress.

"This is Snow Empress? The Ice Sky Snow Emperor? Just this tiny little thing?"

Bear Lord was baffled. How could such a small figure rank higher than him among the ferocious beasts?

Didn't he, Bear Lord, deserve some dignity?

"Stupid bear! Who are you calling a tiny little thing?" Snow Empress snapped, her expression full of indignant anger.

Even though she was still young and weak, her sharp eyes easily identified Bear Lord.

"You dare call me a stupid bear?" Bear Lord was displeased, his copper bell-sized eyes glaring at her.

If it weren't for the fact that Snow Empress was with Su Yu, Bear Lord would've taught her a lesson right then and there.

"Enough!"

Di Tian interrupted Bear Lord and gave him a stern glare.

Although Bear Lord was still disgruntled, he lowered his head, grabbed another lamb leg, and took a ferocious bite.

Su Yu, holding Snow Empress in his arms, gently poked her little face and asked with a smile, "What do you want to eat? How about some roasted meat?"

Snow Empress looked at him with an exasperated expression and replied, "No!"

She was a spirit born of ice and snow, naturally disliking greasy food. Moreover, her current physical form was less than three years old—was she even at an age to eat roasted meat?

Su Yu chuckled and said, "How about some meat soup, then?"

Snow Empress fell silent, fixing her gaze on Su Yu without speaking.

"Haha, just kidding," he laughed. "Here, try some Monkey Wine."

He poured a small bowl of the golden Monkey Wine and brought it to Snow Empress's lips. The wine, brewed from spiritual fruits, was clean, rich in energy, and gentle, making it suitable even for her.

"This is the bowl you used," Snow Empress said with a hint of reluctance.

Su Yu rolled his eyes. "Are you disgusted by me? Just tell me if you'll drink it or not."

"Hmph!" Snow Empress huffed softly, but she took the bowl and began sipping it.

On the surface, Snow Empress seemed displeased with Su Yu, but if she truly disliked him, she wouldn't have let him hold her so closely or treat her with such intimacy. Who wasn't a little tsundere at heart?

["Snow Empress! How can you use the same bowl as him? Ahhh!"]

In the spiritual sea, Ice Empress completely broke down at the sight, jumping in frustration.

Her feelings for Snow Empress ran deep, and this moment was like a dagger to her heart—not because of Su Yu, but because Snow Empress didn't refuse him.

This was something Ice Empress found hard to accept.

["Bing'er, you have to face reality,"] Sky Dream Iceworm chimed in mischievously. ["I think Snow Empress might have feelings for Su Yu. Maybe it's time to give up. And hey, what about me? Think about me for once!"]

Ice Empress exploded in rage. ["Scram! You worthless worm, get lost!"]

["You, a mere insect, dare to dream of me? Even that scoundrel Su Yu is a million times better than you! You're nothing but a delusional toad lusting after a swan!"]

She unleashed a storm of curses, venting all her pent-up anger on the unfortunate Sky Dream Iceworm.

Caught in the crossfire, Sky Dream was utterly bewildered. The intensity of Ice Empress's verbal onslaught was overwhelming, leaving him nearly speechless.

Even Su Yu, listening to the commotion in the spiritual sea, couldn't help but chuckle. A small scorpion-like Ice Empress dared to dream of competing with him. Ridiculous!

He looked at the little Snow Empress sipping her wine seriously.

Di Tian's golden eyes flickered slightly as he observed her.

He had encountered Snow Empress before, and they had even clashed.

In the extreme north, without using the Dragon God's Claw, he couldn't defeat her. Snow Empress was undoubtedly a top-tier opponent.

But to see the once-mighty, elegant, and domineering Snow Empress reduced to this tiny form piqued even his curiosity.

When Di Tian inquired about it, Su Yu smiled and explained the situation.

"I see," Di Tian murmured with a look of realization. It all made sense now—her transformation had gone awry.

Fortunately, Su Yu had been there to help her. Without him, the once-proud Snow Empress might have faced a bleak fate.

"So that's why Snow Empress is now a tiny little thing," Bear Lord muttered under his breath.

Snow Empress, having finished her Monkey Wine, placed the empty bowl down and shot an annoyed look at Bear Lord. "I'm tired," she said crisply.

She had no desire to interact with these fierce beasts, many of whom had once been her equals on the ranking of soul beasts.

In her current state, appearing before them as a small child felt humiliating, something her proud nature couldn't tolerate.

"Alright, you can go rest," Su Yu said gently, kissing her on the cheek before storing her back in the treasure pouch.

Having spent years with Snow Empress, Su Yu understood her feelings well.

"Young Master, you and Snow Emperor..." Di Tian trailed off, a subtle hesitation in his voice.

Zi Ji, on the other hand, wore a mischievous smile, winking knowingly at Su Yu. She, too, had picked up on something.

Women were always more sensitive to these matters.

Only the clueless Bear Lord remained oblivious, happily munching on his food without a care.

"She'll always stay by my side," Su Yu said casually.

Di Tian's eyes glimmered with understanding. "Understood, Young Master."

This statement solidified Di Tian's perception of Snow Empress as part of their group, now under Su Yu's protection.

Zi Ji giggled. "Young Master, you're not as innocent as you seem~"

Whether Snow Empress liked Su Yu was uncertain, but it was clear she trusted and relied on him. Otherwise, she wouldn't have shared a bowl with him.

As for Su Yu's feelings, Zi Ji was certain—he had intentions toward Snow Empress.

Aside from Di Mingli, she had never seen Su Yu treat anyone with such tenderness.

The way he pampered Snow Empress couldn't be faked. At the very least, he had never looked at Zi Ji with those same gentle eyes.

Su Yu's gaze toward her carried a mix of admiration, a hint of desire, and a touch of heat.

That reaction was likely instinctive. If he saw another woman as beautiful as her, his eyes would show the same emotion.

But that didn't mean Su Yu liked her.

The way he looked at Snow Empress, however, was different—there was no mistaking it. It was pure affection.

If it wasn't, Zi Ji swore she'd wash her hair upside down.

Poor Rui Beast. She had barely realized it, and already a formidable rival had appeared.

"Zi Ji, you're talking too much," Su Yu said calmly. "Gossipy women often lose their tongues."

Hearing this, Zi Ji immediately covered her lips with her hand and put on a pitiful expression. "Young Master, you're so heartless. Weren't you just saying I hold a place in your heart?"

Unmoved, Su Yu rolled his eyes at her, silently telling her to figure it out herself.

Zi Ji quickly raised her hand in mock surrender, signaling that she'd behave.

Meanwhile, Di Mingli looked utterly confused.

Sure, Su Yu and Snow Empress were close, but Snow Empress was so small. She simply couldn't see her as an adult.

If Su Yu had kissed Zi Ji instead, Di Mingli might not have understood love fully, but her instincts would've made her explode with jealousy.

Snow Empress's childlike appearance made it hard for the prideful lion to perceive her as a rival.

"Who is she?" Di Mingli asked, nuzzling Su Yu with her head.

After all, Di MIngli was only 15,000 years old. In the soul beast world, that was still quite young.

She knew some secrets of the Star Dou Forest, but she was entirely clueless about the faraway Extreme North. Even if she heard Snow Empress's name, it wouldn't mean much to her.

"Someone very important to me. You'll understand one day," Su Yu replied casually.

"Oh~" Di Mingli nodded and then asked, "What about me?"

"You'll always be the most important one in my heart." Su Yu said with a smile.

"Okay."

Di Mingli responded with an "oh," but inside, she was overjoyed. In an instant, she forgot all about Snow Empress and happily dove back into the feast.

Su Yu sipped his Monkey Wine, a faint smile playing on his lips.

["Beast!"]

In the spiritual sea, Ice Empress was still ranting.

This time, though, her target was Su Yu.

From the Ice Empress's perspective, Su Yu was shamelessly taking advantage of the Rui Beast's innocence, tricking her completely.

Just look at the Rui Beast—how naive had she become under his influence?

This guy—did he even have a conscience?

"Hm?"

Su Yu's eyes narrowed slightly when he heard the Ice Empress cursing him in the spiritual sea.

This little scorpion was getting bold.

It seemed like he'd need to kiss Snow Empress a few more times later, just to teach Ice Empress a lesson.

Su Yu smirked to himself at the thought.