Chapter 171 Ning Rongrong's Heart Flutters! Lu Ming is Omnipotent!
Click!
"Ah!!"
A scream echoed across the riverbank.
Liu Erlong, who was preparing the ingredients, and Lu Ming, who was standing to the side, both looked over at the same time.
Ning Rongrong was shaking her hand when the large crab clamped tightly onto her finger, causing her to cry and jump around in the water.
"Damn beast!"
Upon seeing this, Liu Erlong's fiery temper flared up instantly.
She moved swiftly and instantly appeared beside Ning Rongrong.
"You dare bite my student? Die!"
Liu Erlong didn't even think; he instinctively slapped out with his palm.
boom!
A burst of crimson flames erupted instantly.
The giant crab didn't even have time to scream before it turned into a pile of black ash under the terrifying heat, leaving not even a trace.
But the problem is, the crabs are gone, but Ning Rongrong is still here!
Although Liu Erlong deliberately controlled the flames so that they didn't directly burn Ning Rongrong, the shockwave from the explosion still knocked Ning Rongrong into the water, leaving her soaked and in a sorry state.
"this..."
Looking at Ning Rongrong, who was sitting in the water in a daze, Liu Erlong scratched his head awkwardly. "Well... Rongrong, I didn't mean to. It's just that these crabs are too fragile."
Ning Rongrong felt so wronged that she wanted to cry.
The crabs are gone, but that pinch hurt so much!
And now I'm completely soaked, and my clothes are sticking to my body, it's so uncomfortable.
Just then, a pair of long, strong hands reached out to her.
"Get up."
Lu Ming's voice rang out from above.
Ning Rongrong looked up and met Lu Ming's eyes, which were filled with a smile.
She sniffed and offered her hand to Lu Ming.
With a little effort, Lu Ming pulled her out of the water.
"Hold out your hand," Lu Ming said.
Ning Rongrong obediently stretched out the hand that had been pinched earlier.
On her once fair and delicate fingers, there was now a deep red mark, and in some places the skin was even broken, with beads of blood seeping out.
Lu Ming frowned slightly and grasped her wrist.
His palms were large and warm, with soul power surging within them.
A gentle yet vibrant soul force flowed slowly into Ning Rongrong's body from the point of contact between the two, eventually converging at the wound.
The burning pain vanished instantly, replaced by a tingling, comfortable sensation.
Ning Rongrong stared blankly at Lu Ming.
The afterglow of the setting sun shone on his profile, giving him a golden edge.
Her heart suddenly started beating faster than usual.
"alright."
Lu Ming released his hand. "It's just a minor injury. Be more careful next time."
Ning Rongrong looked at her fingers, which had completely recovered, and her cheeks felt a little hot.
"Th...thank you."
She was usually a mischievous little devil in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, always arguing with everyone, but in front of Lu Ming at this moment, she was as obedient as a little rabbit.
"Want to eat crab?" Lu Ming found her expression somewhat amusing.
Ning Rongrong nodded, then shook her head. "I want to eat them, but they're too fierce."
"fool."
Lu Ming chuckled, "That's not how you catch crabs."
As he spoke, he walked to a rock and pointed to another crab that was strutting around arrogantly below.
"Watch closely."
Lu Ming did not use any soul power; he simply seized the opportunity and struck with lightning speed.
His fingers precisely pressed against the back of the crab's shell, and with a quick pinch of two fingers, he lifted the large, menacing crab up.
No matter how much those two large pincers waved, they couldn't touch Lu Ming's fingers at all.
"See that? We need to grab the people behind us."
Lu Ming picked up the crab and shook it. "Here, you try it."
Ning Rongrong hesitated for a moment, "What if I get pinched again?"
"I'm here, what's there to be afraid of?"
Lu Ming's words were simple, yet they exuded a powerful confidence.
Ning Rongrong bit her lip, and the fear in her heart seemed to dissipate a lot.
She walked to another rock and spotted a target.
Just as she was about to reach out, Lu Ming walked up behind her.
"Don't rush, watch its movements carefully."
Lu Ming's body was very close, so close that Ning Rongrong could clearly feel his body temperature and his faint, pleasant scent.
His hands did not touch Ning Rongrong directly, but hovered on either side of her arms, as if ready to rescue her at any moment.
This ambiguous contact made Ning Rongrong's breathing somewhat erratic.
"Now, hold it down!" Lu Ming whispered.
Ning Rongrong instinctively obeyed the command, suddenly reaching out to press down on the crab shell, and then grabbing it forcefully.
It was a success!
She was holding a plump crab in her hand.
"I caught him! I caught him!"
Ning Rongrong jumped up excitedly and turned around to share her joy with Lu Ming.
As a result, she turned around and bumped right into Lu Ming's arms.
Their eyes met.
The two were very close.
Ning Rongrong could even see the reflection in Lu Ming's eyes.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still.
"Cough cough!"
From not far away came Liu Erlong's deliberately amplified cough, "Hey you two, you have to hug and cuddle even when catching a crab? Do you think I don't exist?"
Ning Rongrong, like a startled fawn, suddenly pushed Lu Ming away, her face as red as a ripe apple.
"Who...who was hugging and cuddling!"
She picked up the crabs, turned and ran, throwing them into the bucket, her heart still pounding.
Lu Ming watched her flustered figure as the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.
This little witch is quite cute.
Just then, a commotion came from the woods.
We're back!
Xiao Wu skipped and hopped out, carrying a large pile of unidentified wild fruits and vegetables in her arms.
Behind her, Zhu Zhuqing was carrying two cleaned pheasants and a rabbit. Although her face still had a slight blush, her expression had returned to its usual cool and aloofness.
Wow! So many ingredients!
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up as she looked at the mountain of premium meat piled on the ground. "Sister Erlong, hurry up and grill it! I'm starving!"
"What's the rush? Let's get started."
Liu Erlong skillfully lit the charcoal fire and placed the prepared soul beast meat on the grill.
The charcoal crackled under the grill, and orange flames licked the meat on the grill. Sizzling oil dripped down the meat's texture and into the fire, creating an enticing puff of white smoke.
Xiao Wu squatted beside the grill, her hands supporting her chin, her pink eyes fixed on the sizzling meat skewers on the grill, her throat bobbing involuntarily.
"I'm so hungry..."
Xiao Wu let out a wail, looking like a wilted eggplant, "Sister Erlong, is it ready yet? Rabbit is starving."
"What's the rush? Haste makes waste."
Liu Erlong held a brush in his hand and skillfully brushed a layer of golden honey onto the meat skewers, then sprinkled on some cumin and chili powder. "This is the tenderloin of a ten-thousand-year-old earth dragon beast. If it's not cooked properly, it will be tough and tasteless, which would be a waste."
Ning Rongrong, standing to the side, also had her eyes shining, clutching the handkerchief that had gotten wet while catching crabs, wiping away non-existent drool from the corner of her mouth every now and then.
After all that commotion, plus most of the day's competition and training, everyone's stomachs were rumbling.
(End of chapter)