Hao Qi knew Lan Linger’s temperament all too well. Though she appeared perfectly well-behaved, she was actually quite mischievous. It was clear she had been egging him on to jump off the ship by painting such a tempting picture of how delicious the "gourmet octopus" was, while conveniently omitting any mention of the precautions required. Even though she could have found an excuse to brush it off later, Hao Qi knew exactly what she was up to. With a playful grin, he reached out to tousle her hair, leaving it a tangled mess. Only then did he stop, turning around to head for the ship's galley to consult the cooks about the proper way to prepare this culinary prize.
Cooking the gourmet octopus was a troublesome affair. The meat itself was toxic, and while the toxin levels weren't extreme, the presence of stimulants and aphrodisiac properties made it difficult to manage. Consuming too much could lead to a lethal accumulation of poison. Fortunately, the cooks on board were top-tier professionals personally invited by Lan Linger, including several renowned chefs from the Red Sea. After being briefed on the characteristics of the octopus, they knew how to prepare it, but the process required various medicinal herbs and antidotes that would need to be purchased at a nearby port. Consequently, the crew wouldn't be enjoying this feast just yet.
Later, once the tasks were winding down, Puzhi pulled Hao Qi aside and asked seriously, "You... have you reached the Three Spirits Realm? Was…
Chapter 212