208: Exploring the world of gastronomy

"It's me."

Lin Luo looked at Toriko's expression, which looked as if he had seen a ghost. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, revealing a faint, somewhat helpless smile. He said no more, simply raising his hand and making a grasping motion toward the paralyzed Toriko from a distance.

A soft yet irresistible invisible force instantly enveloped Toriko, gently "pulling" his soaked, heavy, and scarred body out of the waterfall.

Immediately after, a warm, milky-white energy, like the spring sun, surged from Lin Luo's palm. Like a living stream, it was precisely injected into Toriko's body.

Wherever this energy passed, the various negative states within Toriko's body—caused by poisoning, high-temperature dehydration, excessive consumption, and the erosion of the Gourmet World's abnormal environment—melted away like snow under a scorching sun.

The bloodshot color in his eyes began to fade, and his pupils returned to their normal size. Though he was still exhausted, he finally regained his focus and spirit. His breathing was no longer so painful and difficult, and the violent trembling of his body subsided.

Lin Luo flipped his palm and released his fingers gently, as if plucking the strings of a zither.

Buzz—

A layer of energy halo, flowing with five-colored brilliance and as thin as a cicada's wing yet exceptionally stable, instantly covered Toriko's entire body.

This halo was not intended for defense against attacks, but specifically to shield him from the abnormal external environment!

Toriko immediately felt that the omnipresent, terrifying gravity of the Gourmet World, which had nearly crushed his bones, had vanished. The abnormal radiation and "Super-oxygen" pressure permeating the air, which could erode cell vitality, were also blocked out.

It was as if he had instantly returned from a purgatory to a relatively "normal" environment. His body felt light, and even his remaining pain seemed to have lessened by half.

Everything happened too fast. From the moment Lin Luo raised his hand to Toriko being enveloped in energy, his condition recovering, and receiving protection, only two or three seconds had passed.

Toriko floated blankly in the air, feeling the long-lost lightness within his body and the warm protection on his skin. He looked down at his still-wretched but no longer deteriorating body, then back up at the composed Lin Luo, who looked as if he had just performed a trivial task. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.

Shock, relief, doubt, lingering fear, and a complex emotion of having been "saved" intertwined, finally turning into a dry sentence:

"...How are you here?"

"What do you think?" Lin Luo didn't answer directly, instead tossing the question back to Toriko with a look that playfully suggested, 'Don't you have some idea?'

Toriko was caught off guard by the question. He subconsciously touched his still-aching head, his brow furrowed beneath his blue hair. Recalling the details of how he had sneaked out, a name came to mind: "It couldn't be... that guy Sunny tipped you off, could it?"

Lin Luo was noncommittal, simply saying calmly, "Yes, but not entirely. It was your gourmet partner—Komatsu—who asked me to 'bring' you back."

"Komatsu?!" Toriko's eyes widened suddenly, his voice involuntarily rising. The person he least wanted to worry during this mission was Komatsu, which was why he had deliberately hidden it and only asked Sunny for the route... wait, Sunny!

With a turn of thought, he immediately understood the cause and effect. Sunny had provided the route, and only the two of them knew about it. If the news had reached Komatsu and then Lin Luo, who else could it be but Sunny? That guy... did he realize he couldn't talk me out of it, so he just found the person who could best 'handle' me and was also absolutely reliable? Toriko's heart was filled with mixed emotions.

At that moment, an enticing aroma of grilled meat wafted over. Toriko only then noticed that Lin Luo had somehow set up a simple campfire on a nearby clearing. Several skewers of plump meat from an unknown source were sizzling in his hand, golden grease dripping into the fire and releasing an even richer fragrance.

Lin Luo handed a perfectly grilled skewer to Toriko: "Here. Your physical energy consumption is too high. You won't last long without replenishment."

However, looking at the fragrant skewer right in front of him, Toriko didn't immediately reach out to take it.

He lowered his head, biting his lower lip hard, his hands unconsciously clenching into fists. His body trembled slightly from the exertion.

It wasn't because he wasn't hungry; on the contrary, his stomach was already empty, screaming with a craving for food. But a deeper emotion overrode his physiological needs—it was frustration, unwillingness, and the pride of being a Gourmet Hunter and one of the Four Heavenly Kings at play.

He had ambitiously charged into the Gourmet World, only to end up in such a wretched state. Not only had he failed to find what he wanted, but he had also nearly died here. In the end, he had to rely on someone else to save him and even needed food provided by them to recover his strength... This realization caused him a pang of embarrassing pain.

Lin Luo saw Toriko's reaction and understood instantly. He didn't force him, simply pulling back his hand calmly. He took a bite of the skewer himself, chewing and swallowing slowly before speaking. His voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear, striking directly at Toriko's heart:

"Toriko, your current strength has not yet reached the point where you can conquer the Gourmet World alone."

"Go back to the Human World. Continue to polish your power and cultivate a deeper rapport with your partner, Komatsu. True strength never comes from charging ahead alone."

He paused, looking at Toriko's lowered face. His tone softened a bit, carrying a rare touch of gentleness:

"Komatsu... he has been worrying about you and praying for you. Don't keep those who truly care about you in a constant state of anxiety."

The firelight reflected Lin Luo's calm face, as well as the struggling, reflecting, and finally slowly softening expression on Toriko's face.

"Komatsu..." Toriko looked up, and his gaze became firm.

At the edge of the Life Waterfall Pot cliff, strong air currents swirled up from the abyss of the Gourmet World below, blowing against their clothes.

With a thought, Lin Luo looked up and let out a clear, melodious whistle.

Soon, a responding cry came from the high heavens. A brilliant golden stream of light broke through the clouds and descended rapidly; it was Phoenix Feather, arriving after sensing its master's call. Its magnificent wings shimmered in the sunlight as it hovered steadily outside the cliff.

"Go back with Phoenix Feather," Lin Luo gestured to Toriko. "It will take you safely back to the Human World, directly to Komatsu."

Toriko looked at the extraordinary Radiant Phoenix before him, a flash of wonder in his eyes. He nodded and was about to step forward when he suddenly stopped. He turned sharply to Lin Luo: "Huh? Wait... aren't you coming back with me?"

Lin Luo's lips curled up slightly. He cast his gaze toward the bottomless, mist-shrouded dark green abyss below, which was filled with endless unknowns and dangers. His tone was calm yet carried a hint of unquestionable determination:

"Me? I plan to take this opportunity to... 'explore' a bit deeper."

Hearing this, Toriko was first stunned, then an undisguisable shock and envy erupted in his eyes! Exploring deep into the Gourmet World? That was a Domain he didn't even dare to easily think about right now!

Looking at Lin Luo's matter-of-fact, relaxed demeanor, as if he had just decided to go for a stroll in the countryside, a strong yearning surged in his heart. He couldn't help but blurt out: "When... will I be able to be like you!"

Lin Luo withdrew his gaze and looked at Toriko. He reached out and patted his sturdy arm. This time, there was no teasing, but serious encouragement:

"Don't be in a hurry. First, conquer and thoroughly polish yourself in those dangerous 'Training Grounds' of the Human World one by one. Then, you can try to challenge the outskirts of the Gourmet World."

He paused, his tone turning light: "Alright, go back now. If you dawdle any longer, I'm afraid Komatsu will really be jumping with anxiety."

Toriko took a deep breath, suppressing the emotions churning in his chest, and nodded heavily. He no longer hesitated, turning to walk toward the edge of the cliff. With the cooperation of Phoenix Feather lowering its body slightly, he somewhat clumsily but firmly climbed onto its broad, warm back.

Phoenix Feather let out a long cry, spread its wings, and slowly took flight with Toriko.

Sitting on the bird's back, Toriko took one last look at the figure standing alone on the cliff's edge, who seemed capable of supporting the heavens even as he grew smaller. He waved his hand forcefully.

Lin Luo also raised his hand and waved casually as a farewell.

Watching the golden light carry Toriko away until they completely disappeared, the relaxed look on Lin Luo's face slowly faded. He stood alone at the edge of the Life Waterfall Pot, the gale blowing his hair back.

Without the slightest hesitation, he opened his arms as if embracing this unknown world. Leaning forward, he fell straight toward the ten-thousand-foot abyss!

The wind whistled in his ears, and the sensation of weightlessness instantly enveloped his body. The primitive jungle below, which swallowed light like the open maw of a giant beast, rapidly approached. He closed his eyes, as if enjoying this ultimate free fall, feeling the unique and heavy gravity of the Gourmet World pulling him toward deeper and more dangerous regions.

However, this moment of "enjoyment" did not last long.

Boom—!

A dull explosion, like thunder, suddenly came from below and to the side! A visible, highly compressed air bullet tore through layers of leaves and shot toward the falling Lin Luo at an alarming speed! Wherever it passed, the air distorted, and even thick vines were instantly shredded!

The attack was sudden and fierce, aimed precisely at his trajectory, where it was difficult to change direction flexibly during a fall!

"Hmm?" Lin Luo suddenly opened his eyes, a cold light flashing within them. "Seeking death!"

The layer of warm five-colored halo around him instantly brightened, its rotation speed suddenly accelerating as it condensed into a slightly curved light shield in front of him.

Bang!

The air bullet slammed hard against the light shield, letting out a dull roar! The light shield rippled violently and dented inward, but it ultimately held firm, blocking the impact that was enough to shatter mountains. It skillfully dispersed and neutralized the violent air currents and kinetic energy. Lin Luo's downward momentum also came to a halt, his figure slightly stalling in the air.

He hovered in mid-air, his gaze like lightning, penetrating the layers of leaves to lock onto the source of the attack—

It was actually a colossal beast that looked remarkably like a Diplodocus!

Its neck was as long as a mountain range, and its head was small. It was leisurely chewing on the tender leaves of a canopy several hundred meters high. Its massive body was hidden among even larger ancient trees, almost merging with the forest. The blow just now, which was enough to collapse a small mountain, seemed like nothing more than a casual snort to it.

At this moment, the giant beast seemed to finally take notice of this tiny speck. It slowly turned its small head and "glanced" at Lin Luo.

Immediately after, its huge nostrils twitched slightly.

Whoosh—Shh!

Two even more condensed and faster high-pressure nasal breaths, like two invisible ultra-high-speed air gun bullets, instantly crossed the distance of several hundred meters, crossing each other as they shot toward Lin Luo hovering in the air!