681: Chapter 681 A Familiar Taste

"Mm-hmm."

Qing Lan nodded. "This is my secret base. No one has ever been here before; you are the first."

"Am I that honored?"

"Of course!"

Qing Lan tilted her head, her waterfall-like black hair brushing against Xiao Chen's cheek, the faint scent of her hair lingering at the tip of his nose.

"Brother, please put me down. I don't feel any pain anymore; I should be able to move around if I try."

"Alright."

Xiao Chen slowly crouched down.

Qing Lan carefully slid down and hopped around a few times. "Brother, how is your medical skill so amazing? I'm really fine now!"

"That goes without saying!"

Xiao Chen said proudly, "I am a famous miracle doctor within a hundred miles. Any bumps or bruises are no problem for me."

"Hee hee."

Qing Lan happily pulled him into the wooden house. "Wait for me here. I'm going to the kitchen to prepare some food, and I'll be back soon."

Xiao Chen's eyes darted around as he held his forehead. "I feel a bit dizzy."

"Ah?"

Qing Lan looked startled and hurriedly came over to support him. "Brother, what's wrong?"

"I'm a little drunk."

"Did you drink any alcohol?"

"No!"

Xiao Chen leaned in close, staring into her eyes, and said softly, "I became drunk the moment I saw you."

Upon hearing this, Qing Lan suddenly turned her gaze away, her cheeks immediately flushing red down to her neck. "Brother, please rest here for a moment. I'll be right back."

"Alright."

Xiao Chen nodded and walked over to the wooden table to sit down, noticing again that eight teacups were neatly arranged beside the teapot on the table.

"Could it really just be a coincidence?"

Xiao Chen muttered to himself, perhaps he was just overthinking it!

Before long, wisps of smoke drifted from the chimney of the wooden house, and the rich aroma of food wafted out through the cracks in the door.

Xiao Chen froze for several seconds because that food aroma was too familiar—so familiar that it instantly awakened his dormant memories.

It was indistinguishable from the taste of his hometown on Blue Star!

Given the concentration of Spiritual Qi in this world, even a casually picked spirit plant is thousands of times more precious than the dishes on Blue Star.

Yet, those ordinary, mundane dishes are extremely hard to find.

He forcibly suppressed his surging emotions, his palms trembling slightly as he slowly walked toward the kitchen door.

He wanted to see Qing Lan's cooking process. Just as he pushed open the kitchen door, a rich and familiar aroma of food rushed to his nose.

"Wow, this smells so good!"

Xiao Chen couldn't help but exclaim. Since his Transmigration into this Cultivation World and stepping onto the path of the Dao twenty-four years ago, he had barely eaten any meals.

And that long-lost aroma of food made him think of his life on Blue Star; he hadn't experienced this worldly, human touch in a long time.

"Oh my..."

Qing Lan, wearing an apron with a shy, feminine demeanor, hurriedly ran over and pushed him out.

"Brother, don't come in yet. Be a good boy and wait for me outside."

"I want to watch you cook."

"It's not ready yet, you aren't allowed to look! Wouldn't it be better if you just wait for me to bring it all out and taste it slowly?"

"Alright."

Xiao Chen had to retreat. Looking at her flushed cheeks, he was somewhat dumbfounded—why couldn't cooking be watched?

Could it change the flavor?

He had no choice but to sit calmly on the stool, but as soon as he smelled the spreading fragrance, he couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

Finally.

The kitchen door creaked open, and Qing Lan walked out slowly carrying a tray, her pretty face filled with a charming flush.

She looked every bit the image of a virtuous wife and loving mother.

She carefully placed the dishes one by one on the wooden table, saying softly, "These are just simple methods; I don't know if they suit your taste."

Xiao Chen glanced over them roughly. There were eight dishes in total, all of which only existed on Blue Star, and every dish was perfect in color, aroma, and taste.

They even far exceeded the skills of five-star chefs on Blue Star.

How could she know about the dishes from Blue Star? A fog of mystery shrouded Xiao Chen's heart; this was definitely not a coincidence.

"What's wrong?"

Qing Lan was a bit at a loss, feeling anxious. "Do these dishes not suit your taste?"

"No, of course not."

Xiao Chen smiled knowingly and gave her a reassuring look. "These dishes suit my taste very well; it's just that I haven't eaten them in a long time."

"Hee hee... Then Brother must eat a lot today."

"Mm-hmm, is there any wine?"

"Of course."

Qing Lan blinked her beautiful eyes and smiled sweetly. "Brother, you start eating first. I'll be right back."

"Alright."

Xiao Chen picked up a leaf of vegetable and put it in his mouth. As he chewed, the aroma of the food permeated his mouth, and memories of the past flooded his mind.

His eyes moistened involuntarily.

Before long, Qing Lan walked over carrying a jar of wine. "This is wine I brewed myself; I don't know..."

Noticing the moisture in the corners of Xiao Chen's eyes, she very tactfully remained silent.

Xiao Chen also suppressed the undercurrents in his heart and a smile appeared on his lips. "Since it is fine wine brewed by a Beauty herself, tonight we must drink until we are drunk."

"Hee hee..."

Qing Lan carefully poured him a full cup.

Xiao Chen brought the wine cup to his lips. Just a light sniff with his nose was enough to know that this was the unique wine aroma of his hometown.

These coincidences raised heavy doubts in his heart, like an invisible net binding him tightly.

How could such a thing happen? If she had never been to Blue Star, how could she make such authentic Blue Star cuisine? Or perhaps, could this really be a dream?

He asked subconsciously, "Do we know each other?"

"Of course we do."

Qing Lan replied readily, "Didn't you just save me? Not only do we know each other, but you are also my savior!"

"Alright."

Xiao Chen did not continue to press the matter. Perhaps in their hearts, they also had unspoken difficulties, just like the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox and the Mystic Sky Fire Phoenix.

"Hee hee, Brother, let's toast."

"Mm-hmm, cheers."

He picked up the wine cup and clinked it gently; the jade cups touched, making a crisp sound.

He then downed it in one gulp. The spicy and familiar taste reached his taste buds, and the warmth of the alcohol flowed down his throat.

Qing Lan also held her wine cup, her jade hand supporting the bottom of the cup, and downed it in one gulp with an elegant posture.

Her pink lips became moist as they touched the wine.

As she put down the wine cup, the tip of her tongue brushed across her lower lip, seemingly unintentional, yet also seemingly on purpose.

Looking at her skillful movements and provocative gaze, Xiao Chen couldn't help but sigh inwardly—she really was a charming and affectionate woman.

"Do you drink often?"

"Mm."

Qing Lan replied softly, her cheeks flushing with a slight blush, her gaze landing on the man's high-bridged nose.

"The world in the mountains is like this all year round. When I'm alone, I often miss the past, so I have a few drinks."

"It seems you are like me, a nostalgic person."

"Mm-hmm."

"Then, for our meeting today, we must drink until we are drunk."

"Alright."

She responded softly, a charming smile spreading from the corners of her eyes as she picked up the wine jar again to fill his cup.