Chapter 134 - The Taste Of Meat
Urien furrowed his brow in thought, staring at the fried rice before him.
He couldn’t remember how many years he had stayed away from meat. Maybe 30 years, maybe 50, or maybe it was after he had caught a band of ogres devouring villagers—he was only 20 at that time.
He had killed those hideous monsters. After several years, he went to the Demon Islands, and almost slaughtered the whole ogre tribe.
He still remembered that scene even after nearly 100 years. Normally, the sight of meat was enough to turn his stomach.
Oddly, though, he didn’t find the grain-sized ham in the rice disagreeable. On the contrary, the pleasant smell of eggs and other ingredients really whetted his appetite.
He usually ate boiled vegetables every day, and occasionally an egg. He felt repulsed by grease. Now, however, he found himself attracted by this greasy dish cooked with many ingredients.
He had only followed Krassu in to bond with Amy.
Should I try it? Urien wondered, hesitant.
“Waitress, I’d like a second plate of Yangzhou fried rice, please! It’s amazing!” a young man said, putting down his spoon on the empty plate and smiling contentedly.
“Sure. Please wait a sec,” Yabemiya replied with a smile, and walked into the kitchen.
Urien turned to glance at that young man. His plate was glistening as if it had been licked clean.
“Master Turtle, do you not like rainbow fried rice?” Amy asked as she looked at Urien.
“He can’t eat meat. He hasn’t tasted meat for almost 100 years, I think,” Krassu said, looking at Urien with pity in his eyes. He knew what he had been through. He was on the Demon Islands too when Urien massacred the ogres, and most of those that had escaped were killed by him.
He didn’t hate demons, but he decided that those who preyed on humans didn’t deserve to live in this world, because they wouldn’t have stopped in war or peace.
The fight between ice and fire had attracted a lot of attention. People had known them to be enemies to each other, but few were aware that they had wiped out the ogre tribe together. That case was never solved.
“That’s a shame,” Amy said, casting a sympathetic look at Urien.
Urien could feel their eyes on him. “Who told you I can’t eat meat?!” he snapped, spooned some rice, and brought it before his mouth. He stopped.
The tantalizing aroma tickled his nose. The tofu pudding had stimulated his appetite. He took a glance at Amy’s expectant face, gritted his teeth, and ate it.
His eyes widened immediately. How can meat taste so good?! The eggs melted in his mouth almost instantly; the ham which had been cured for years released savory juice as he bit into it. He had lost memory of the taste of meat. His taste buds were cheering and dancing now, just as if they had been revived.
The ham cubes were small and not many, but their flavorful taste really astounded him. Something inside him was awakening.
He had liked anything with meat in it before he met those ogres.
Besides ham, he also tasted shrimp, mushrooms, winter bamboo shoots, and green onions. The flavors of all the ingredients blended perfectly together, bringing enjoyment to his taste buds.
The mild taste of the Spring of Life didn’t escape him. Most people might mistake it for some kind of seasoning, but he had tasted it before. He was surprised that Mag could get his hands on the water from the Spring of Life, and that he added it into the dish like it was nothing.
Urien gave a wordless cry of joy after he swallowed. He was now totally absorbed in eating the fried rice in front of him. He spooned another spoonful into his mouth, and then another, and another…
Amy smiled. “It seems Turtle Grandpa really likes it.”
“Because Mag’s cooking is fantastic,” Krassu said with surprise in his eyes. He hadn’t expected Urien to eat it. And he quite enjoys it by the look of him.
Then, he realized he had only eaten half a bowl of rice for every meal in Rodu, but now he ordered two plates of Yangzhou fried rice every time he came here.
“Ding!”
The spoon clattered on the plate. Urien realized he had finished it already.
He had eaten a dish with meat in it.
He didn’t feel repelled by it; instead, he wanted more.
This feeling had been lost for he didn’t know how many years. His heart started racing. He saw the roujiamo on his table.
It was also a new dish to him: a loaf of white bread stuffed with meat. He had found it too greasy when he first laid his eyes on it.
However, after a plate of Yangzhou fried rice, he suddenly craved meat. The ham in the fried rice could no longer satisfy him. He needed more meat.
He picked the roujiamo up. Will this meat taste different? he wondered, hesitant. The strong aroma of stewed meat smelled different than the ham, but they were equally inviting. He couldn’t help but take a bite.
Some gravy had seeped into the soft, sweet bread, making it slightly savory. The meat was so soft that it melted in his mouth. It was streaky pork, but it tasted agreeably greasy. The delicious gravy made his taste buds go wild. At last, the food turned into a violent current rushing around his body.
“Ah…” Urien let out a satisfied cry in delight. He looked at the roujiamo in his hand, his eyes shining, his blood pumping, and his heart pounding.
He felt alive again! When he was young, he had always worn a white robe and considered himself a hero who fought for justice.