Chapter 752: The Maiden Captain
Walking out of the Golden Leaf Bookstore, Lolan Hill had a bag in her hand containing the books she had just purchased.
She looked up at the sky surrounded by the tall eaves. It was probably not long past noon. Lolan Hill began to search for a place to eat.
Although she saw many familiar Western-style restaurants along the way, this time she wanted to try some Eastern dishes in Luo Capital. After walking and stopping for a while on the streets, she finally stopped at an octagonal pavilion building.
This pavilion was eight stories high, built entirely with light pink and white interlaced stone bricks. The eaves were covered with blue tiles, and below them hung strips of white jade stones. These stones had light gray patterns, looking very beautiful, roughly diamond-shaped, hanging in a line along the eaves. When the wind blew, they would make a clear sound, like water striking rocks in the mountains, making people feel comfortable.
After entering the pavilion, several attendants dressed in light white clothes came over, asked a few questions, and then led the maiden to the third floor.
“Please follow me, the third floor is relatively quiet.”
The maiden immediately stepped onto the stairs and walked upstairs.
After sitting down for a short while, the attendant brought a menu with colorful notes written on it, listing the dishes’ names, and small black letters beside each dish introduced its ingredients and features.
The maiden flipped through the new booklet and was soon amazed by the complex names and variety of dishes. These menus included not only common rice, porridge, snacks, pickles, sauces, dishes, soups, but also roasted, smoked, grilled, fried, steamed, boiled, and mixed meat dishes. The range of ingredients ranged from simple garden vegetables to precious delicacies from the mountains and seas, and even behind them were listed more than ten dishes with extraordinary effects.
It should be said that it was no wonder Luo Capital was so prosperous, as the most bustling city in the House of Plantagenet and the gathering place for the most officials and nobles, the richness of food here was beyond what many could imagine.
Looking at the dazzling menu, Lolan Hill put it aside for now and directly asked.
“Is there any seasonal dish recommendation? Also, bring me a bowl of stir-fried fragrant beans, my little companion next to me is hungry too.”
“Sure, it’s the season for autumn crabs right now. What do you think?”
Crabs? Lolan Hill recalled the scene last time when she and Ceti caught sea crabs on the beach. Although the taste was acceptable, they didn’t seem to have much meat.
“Let’s change to something else,” the maiden shook her head.
“How about the osmanthus mandarin fish soup?”
The mandarin fish has tender flesh, delicious taste, few bones, and rich nutrition, making it a fairly prestigious fish in the dynasty, loved by many.
“Okay, I’ll have this one.” Lolan Hill nodded, then under the attendant’s recommendation, she ordered a small plate of gold-silver flower flat slices.
“This dish is also made from fresh crab, but only the crab roe and meat are used, without having to peel the shell, making it more convenient to eat.” He continued introducing.
“Mm-hm, that’s all for now.” The maiden nodded, then quietly sat waiting at the table.
Since it was past the mealtime, the third floor was relatively quiet, with only three or four tables occupied, the rest were empty. Lolan Hill could easily overlook the bustling street below from her window seat.
Various styles of carriages passed through the street. Besides the common freight wagons, there were also many valuable carriages, often made of fine sandalwood, intricately carved with patterns, and pulled by dragons with scales, quite luxurious.
The sky above wasn’t empty either; occasionally, dragon riders riding giant dragons would fly down from the flowing clouds, patrolling overhead. These elite dragon riders wore bright red armor, their strength being at least Sequence 5. In combat, they could seamlessly combine with their dragons to easily handle Sequence 6 monsters. Even a Sequence 6 master disciple of a True Transmission Sect would find it challenging when facing several Crimson Sparrow Dragon Riders.
Crimson Sparrow Dragon Riders were the royal guards directly under the royal family. It was due to their presence that this massive city with millions of residents and countless extraordinary beings could maintain a good state of public security.
While Lolan Hill was feeling slightly bored waiting, a commotion arose below on the street, and she couldn’t help but turn her gaze.
A group of people with special appearances walked down the street. They were tall and muscular, their bones seeming much larger, appearing taller than the surrounding pedestrians. Their faces and shoulders were painted red or white, and the clothing they wore was mostly made of animal skins, which allowed for easy movement and was also cooler.
“Did you see those people over there? The ones who look a bit tanned.” The residents whispered on the street.
“Yes, where did these people come from? Why are their physiques so different from ours?” A companion questioned.
“It seems you haven’t been in Luo Capital for long. These people are probably from the Hundred Barbarian Continent. Their bloodline differs significantly from those in the heartland of Luo Capital.”
“Hundred Barbarian Continent, I haven’t learned much about it, but I heard that there are a lot of monsters there.”
It was not false, but extraordinary beings who grew up in such an environment were particularly fierce. There was even a上门 [上门] among them.”
“上门? That’s impossible. Among the one hundred and thirty-four prefectures in the world, there are only thirty-six 上门 families, each with profound roots. How could such a remote corner possibly have an上门?”
The companion shook their head hastily.
“Sigh, this is indeed hard to explain, but it’s true.” After saying that, the two of them moved aside quietly and watched the group pass by from afar.
Lolan Hill held Dai Ju bird and looked at the group. Each of them had power above the fifth rank; most of them belonged to the Demon Sequence or War Sequence. The man leading the group had an incredibly thick power within him. In soul perception, he was like a dragon elephant, stepping over the street, instilling fear in people.
“Precious Barbarian Prefecture? I seem to have heard of it. Then they should be from Tiger Roar Nine Wastelands Mountain, right?” Lolan Hill recalled Gu Lie’s recent introduction. Although Tiger Roar Nine Wastelands Mountain was not well-known in the central plains, as one of the 上门, its members were incredibly resilient, fighting until death. It was quite astonishing.
“Hello, here’s your osmanthus mandarin fish soup, and ginseng flower flat slices.”
A female server carefully brought the dishes and then opened the lid of the white porcelain container, revealing steaming fish soup inside.
A mandarin fish lay across the bowl, with the surrounding soup like milk. It smelled faintly of osmanthus. If stirred with chopsticks, small, tender cubes similar to jelly could be found in the soup, tasting somewhat like tofu. Some green onions were sprinkled on top, adding a touch of color.
Beside it was a pile of ginseng flower flat slices. Apparently, they were made by steaming ginger and crab together, extracting the crab roe and meat. Afterward, the dough was kneaded into a ball, flattened, and the crab roe and meat were spread on top. They were then rolled up into strips and cut into small sections. Finally, these flat slices were steamed in a bamboo steamer and arranged on a plate.
After arranging the two dishes, another server brought a much smaller table and placed it next to the chair of the young lady. Then, a large bowl of stir-fried beans with fragrance was placed on this small table, emitting阵阵 fragrance.
“Please enjoy your meal.” Afterwards, the two servers slowly stepped back.
Lolan Hill looked at the two dishes, but before she could pick up her spoon, the Dai Ju bird in her arms couldn’t wait any longer. It flapped its wings and jumped out, landing on the chair prepared for it. It tilted its head to look at the bowl of beans and started pecking at them.
Being proficient in fire, it wasn’t afraid of the heat. Eating while it was still hot seemed to make it even happier. It took one bite and couldn’t stop. If not for the limitations of its body structure, needing to occasionally lift its head to swallow, it might have buried its head in the bowl.
“Take it easy, there’s no need to rush so much,” Lolan Hill said softly, then began to taste it herself.
First, she sipped a few mouthfuls of the fragrant fish soup, then picked up a small piece of the golden and silver flat slices with chopsticks. The soft and delicious texture was transmitted to her tongue.
“It’s really delicious~” A faint happiness rose in the young lady’s heart.
After eating several pieces of the steamed golden and silver flat slices, Lolan Hill finally began to eat the mandarin fish soup with the rice. The clean bowl contained rice mixed with light red and white.
This rice was also a specialty of the shop, called ‘Peach Bowl Rice.’ Large peaches were cooked with rice broth, peeled, de-seeded, cut into small pieces, and mixed into the rice when it was nearly done. Finally, everything was served together. This rice tasted sweet and refreshing, and even without dishes, it was easy to eat.
In the Treasure Tower, Lolan Hill ate her belated lunch. A gentle breeze blew past her ears. One person and one bird were immersed in the bustling yet peaceful streets of Luo Capital, enjoying the tranquil and comfortable moment.
—
Western Continent, Southern Archipelago.
The vast blue waves of the sea constantly slapped against the ship’s side, creating droplets and splashes. A girl around twenty years old stood at the bow of the ship, wearing a white blouse and long pants. She held a telescope in one hand, looking at the distant sea.
“Go faster~ Don’t let that big guy get away.”
“Captain Alena, the crew can’t pedal anymore. We’ve been going full speed for almost an hour now,” a first mate, wearing a headscarf, scratched his head helplessly behind her.
“How weak are you all? Aren’t you all supposed to be bragging about how strong you are?”
Alena’s brown-black hair danced in the wind, and she turned her head. If someone didn’t know her, they might mistake her for a captain or a great navigator.
The long, flat hat pressed down on her hair, with a golden knife handle at her waist, and a pocket watch and a pouch filled with small items hung beside it. Her clothes were fitting and practical, giving her a sense of purpose.
Now, she was on her father’s ship, chasing after a fleeing giant sea creature. This monster had recently injured many merchant ships, and the Berry Kingdom had issued a substantial bounty. Naturally, the money-hungry Alena wouldn’t miss this opportunity, so she borrowed a ship from her father, including the crew.
The reason this sea creature had repeatedly evaded capture was because it ran fast. Therefore, Alena used her knowledge to enhance this ‘seal’…
The modifications were made, and a pioneering propeller was added to the stern of the ship.
Indeed, the speed increased significantly, but the only drawback was how to get the propeller spinning. Since Alena couldn’t afford a mages’ power reactor, she came up with a manpower-driven solution.
After all, the simplest mages’ power reactor cost fifty gold coins, whereas manpower would only require a few more meals. Even a genius like Miss Alena could still do the math on this.
Stomping her foot, Alena tossed the telescope to the first mate beside her and quickly walked down to the lower deck cabin. She wanted to see what was happening down there.
The stuffy and humid cabin certainly wasn’t pleasant, but Alena didn’t mind. She had grown up by the sea and was long accustomed to it.
As her footsteps approached the aft compartment, the shouts and discussions gradually grew louder.
“Keep pushing, put your back into it. Miss Alena said that after we succeed, each of us will get a gold coin,” the second mate encouraged.
“Heave-ho, heave-ho, heave… stop.” A few rough voices shouted weakly.
“This thing is too exhausting; how can humans compete with machinery?” one complained.
“That’s not true. The New Moon Council has always said nature surpasses machines. Look at that demonic beast out there; it’s a natural-born mage beast.”
“Ah, you’re spouting more of your lame philosophy. All I know is I’m exhausted like a dog, and I can’t understand any of this.”
“Actually, dogs aren’t this tired,” a faint voice nearby commented.
“Then I might as well be worse than a dog,” the previous voice responded anxiously.
“Cough, cough, let’s not think too much about it, just make money,” the second mate interrupted.
Although their voices continued, these men were still struggling to turn the wheel, but how much effort they were really putting in was uncertain.
Bam—
The door swung open, and a nimble figure stepped inside, pressing his hat low over his eyes.
“Miss Alena.”
A few sailors saw the spirited girl and suddenly became nervous. Although they knew logically that the old captain’s daughter wouldn’t harm them, being caught in the act still made them uneasy.
“What? Keep going!” Alena planted her foot firmly on a wooden barrel, looking at these slippery sailors, all familiar faces.
“When you were drinking and chasing women, you acted like you were invincible. Now you look like dead cats, dragging your legs.”
“I taught you cultivation methods before. How come now none of you have reached Sequence 3, not even Sequence 2? If you drank less and worked harder, would you still be single for life?” Alena’s reprimands flowed like the sea, unending.
Since graduating from Emanas, this girl had become accustomed to life at sea with the crew, and her manner of speaking had changed. The refined aura she had picked up from her roommates quickly dissipated, becoming more direct and rugged.
However, with her still beautiful face and figure, Alena now had a certain charm.
Seeing these lazy, slippery, and greedy sailors, Alena grew angrier with each word until she finally drew her long knife from her waist. The blade gleamed sharply as she waved it through the air, sending cold gusts scattering around the cabin, causing the others to tremble.
“Forget it, forget it, Miss Alena. My aunt, please put away your knife. We can’t handle it,” the second mate pleaded, seeing his hair strands cut and feeling a chill run down his spine.
“Yes, yes, Miss Alena, please put away your knife,” others chimed in.
This young lady was a genuine Magic Sequence 5, and her strength was solid, on the verge of advancing. Few people on the nearby islands could match her, especially since she was young, so truly few dared to provoke the captain’s daughter.
“Hmph,” Alena glared at them and reinserted her enchanted blade into its scabbard at her waist.
She then quickly chanted a spell, and a refreshing breeze circulated in the cabin, dispelling the earlier heat.
“Come on, uncles and aunts, you’ll remember today,” Alena’s tone softened slightly.
“Because you’re following the future great mage, master of myriad mage beasts, lord of the seven seas, inventor of alchemical creations that sweep the world, the threefold great Alena.”
“Yes!” the sailors replied in unison.
Under the blazing sun on the vast sea, a sailing ship with a square sail sped towards the fleeing demonic beast, leaving a frothy white wake behind.
Note: The chapter mentions dishes originating from the Tang Dynasty’s “Banquet of the Tails Menu” and the Song Dynasty’s “Country House Vegetarian Dishes.” The honeysuckle flatbread is also the ancestor of the crab meat steamed bun.
