Chapter 81 - 81 Delicious Yellow Melon

81 Delicious Yellow Melon

“Come, come, come. They’re all yellow melons that have been growing for three months. They’re delicious.”

Then, they enthusiastically brought them to the fields. They dug out a lot and stuffed them into Fang Ping and the others’ arms.

“Take more. This yellow melon has just been dug out. It’s the best.”

“This isn’t worth much. Take it, take it. Eat it on the way.”

In the end, everyone carried seven or eight yellow melons back.

Fang Ping was also stuffed with a pile.

“Fang Ping, you don’t know this. Yellow melons are the best when they’re freshly harvested. The longer they’re out of the soil and exposed to the light, the taste will be much worse,” Qing Niao said as he licked his lips.

Walking back to the resting area, Qing Niao placed the soil-stained melon on the ground and began digging. Fang Ping saw that the others who had returned were doing the same.

“Fang Ping, help me pick up some hay and branches.”

“Yeah, sure.”

There was a lot of hay around now, so he casually brought a large handful over.

Qing Niao’s pit was already dug. He picked up a handful of hay and placed it at the bottom of the pit before spreading a layer of soil evenly and placed the yellow melon on it. Then, he covered it with grass and spread soil on it. Finally, he placed a pile of hay branches on it.

Qing Niao did his work with a faint smile on his face. “I loved eating yellow melons like this when I was young.”

After lighting the fire, the pile of grass instantly ignited, attracting many people’s attention.

“Be careful. Don’t cause a fire.”

Hearing Elsa’s voice, they cautioned.

“Okay,” Qing Niao replied. Then, he looked at the red fire and said, “When I was young, the happiest moment was that the yellow melons were ripe.

The melon field is big enough that I won’t be discovered. I can sleep in the melon field. When I’m hungry, I’ll dig up a few yellow melons so that I can roast them. Eat one and lie in the melon field. That’s when I’m the happiest.”

Qing Niao’s eyes were red as he spoke.

“You… aren’t you from the Red Cloud Chamber of Commerce? Is the treatment of the Red Cloud Chamber of Commerce so bad?”

Qing Niao shook his head. “It was before I was picked up by the Red Cloud Chamber of Commerce. At that time, I was wandering the streets and couldn’t eat my fill every day. Fortunately, there were yellow melons and they were cheap. Even if I was caught, they wouldn’t do anything to me.

Actually, compared to the days of cleaning in the Red Cloud Chamber of Commerce, I’m more willing to wander outside. I don’t have anything to eat or wear, but everyone I met is kind. There aren’t so many schemes and plots. I can do what I want…”

“Now that you’ve awakened and joined the Elite Team, you have the Light of Faith Cross and the Excellent-grade Awakening Stone. Aren’t you doing what you want to do now?”

The hay in front of him had burned out, leaving only a layer of black grass ash and crackling charcoal.

Qing Niao nodded. “Yes.”

Fang Ping found a wooden stick, broke off the branch, and plunged into the dry and hot pit.

“Yellow Melon Nirvana.

“Only after experiencing intense flames and high temperatures can ordinary yellow melons become delicious. Isn’t it the same for us?”

“Hey, Fang Ping, wait! It’s not cooked yet!”

They only rested for about an hour at noon before setting off again. Only when they set off did Qing Niao dig out the yellow melons from the soil.

The yellow melons were all black. Because they were dehydrated, they were much smaller. However, as soon as they were pried open, there was a strong fragrance.

Qing Niao handed half of it to Fang Ping. “How is it? It smells good, right? Take a bite quickly. The yellow melon is the sweetest when it is first dug out. After putting it in for a day or two, it won’t taste that great anymore.”

Fang Ping took a bite. There was indeed a faint sweetness.

Be it pancakes, yellow powder pancakes, or porridge, they were not as delicious as this.

He took another bite. It was sticky and gooey, and the skin had a charred fragrance. It was quite similar to the roasted sweet potatoes he had eaten in the past, but the taste was lighter.

Other than Qing Niao, many working students had also roasted yellow melons. However, be it in terms of appearance or fragrance, they were not as good as Qing Niao’ss.

“Put these away and they can be stored for two to three days. When you want to eat them, roast them over a fire. They’re still very delicious.”

Qing Niao stopped for a moment, wrapped the yellow melon in paper, and put it in his backpack.

“Wuwu.”

He vaguely heard something.

Fang Ping and Qing Niao were already at the back of the team. With Qing Niao stopping, they were even further away from the team.

“Qing Niao, let’s follow them. I think I heard something.”

“Mm.” Qing Niao quickly carried his backpack. Although the surroundings were wilderness, there were still some places where the grass was especially tall. Could there be something hidden inside? He really didn’t know.

“Wuwu.”

Fang Ping and Qing Niao looked at each other. He nodded. “I heard it too. I think it’s over there.”

Looking in the direction of Qing Niao’s finger, it was a fallen withered tree that was mostly covered by weeds.

“Characteristics failed. Target: Rock Beetle, not the person.”

“It’s a Magical Beast, a Rock Beetle.”

Fang Ping was still considering what rank it was and whether he should give it a try when he saw Qing Niao run away. Fang Ping quickly followed him.

Fang Ping did not know what the Rock Beetle was, but Qing Niao seemed to know.

After catching up to the team in front, Qing Niao shouted, “Rock Beetles, there are Rock Beetles behind us!”

The people in front stopped. Fang Ping could vaguely hear Elsa giving orders. As he was too far away, he could not hear what she was saying.

Everyone put down their backpacks and took out their weapons.

After running a few more steps and entering the team, he heard Elsa’s voice. “Fang Ping, you’re in charge.”

Ah? Why me again? I don’t even know what the Rock Beetle is.

Putting down his backpack and holding the cross in his hand, Fang Ping whispered to Qing Niao, “What’s a Rock Beetle? Is it very powerful?”

“Rock Beetles. Specialty Heavy Armor 1. Skill: Summoning its kind. If you don’t kill them quickly, the number will increase.”

Qing Niao also put down his items. He had no armor, only a cross.

There were more and more voices around him.

“Wuwu.”

“Wuwuwuwu.”

Fang Ping activated the special characteristics around him and realized that the feedback around him was all Rock Beetles.

“Line up. Close combat in front, ranged soldiers behind. They’re coming.”

Soon, the grass rustled, and a large insect that was 30 to 40 centimeters tall crawled out. It looked like a magnified version of a weevil, but compared to other Magical Beasts, they were still relatively small.

The grass rustled, and another crawled out, and another, and another…

“Wuwu.” A Rock Beetle shook its nose and made a wuwu sound. Soon, another Rock Beetle appeared out of thin air beside it.

So this voice meant that he was using a skill.

Fang Ping listened to the whimpers around him. How many Rock Beetles were there!

“Kerosene! Qing Niao, throw kerosene and burn all the grass. Warriors, hold the defense. Rangers, wait.”

Qing Niao threw out a bag of kerosene and smashed it on the ground. Then, he broke a piece of firewood and threw it over.

Firewood was something that moved with the wind. In autumn and winter, withered grass was everywhere. It was already flammable, and there was also kerosene.

The fire spread wider with the grass, and the wind helped the fire grow bigger.