The leader of the hidden black people walked not far before he spotted Cheng Xiaofan sitting at the cave entrance, grilling fish on a stone slab and humming a little tune.
He kept saying to the people around him, "Eat to your heart's content! This is the authentic immortal fish I cultivated in Zhuxi!"
"What do you mean by immortal fish? It means that only celestial beings can enjoy such delicious and super-nutritious fish!"
"Mr. Cheng, this fish tastes truly amazing!" a special forces soldier immediately responded.
Another special forces soldier echoed, "Yes, in my life, I've never eaten such a fresh and delicious fish. After eating it, I feel like I have inexhaustible energy!"
The leader of the hidden black people heard this and couldn't stop swallowing.
To his astonishment, he saw that as soon as Cheng Xiaofan finished grilling one fish, a live, kicking fish immediately leaped out of an old bag beside him.
Cheng Xiaofan caught the fish with one hand, slit it open with a knife, removed the innards, and placed it on the stone slab.
The series of actions was as fluid as flowing water.
After one fish was grilled, another fish automatically jumped out of the bag.
Each fish was nearly two feet long, but the bag itself was only about a foot long. No matter how he looked at it, there was no way such large fish could fit inside.
Moreover, every fish that jumped out was dripping wet.
The leader was so stunned he was almost dumbfounded!
A thought immediately popped into his head: When I get there, I'll shamelessly ask Cheng Xiaofan for a piece of fish to try. Will he be willing to spare me some?
Whether he gives it to me or not, I have to try!
This immortal fish was too tempting.
With this thought, the leader immediately quickened his pace.
As soon as he reached Cheng Xiaofan, his legs went weak, and he plopped down, kneeling straight there.
"Oh, isn't this the leader among the hidden black people?"
Cheng Xiaofan deliberately put on a bewildered expression and asked, "I say, did your brain get flooded? Why did you come all the way to me and kneel down like this? What's the meaning of it all?"
The leader, wiping the sweat from his face, panted and said, "Mr. Cheng, I beg you, the aroma of your grilled fish is making me crave it to death!"
"Can you spare me a piece to try?"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiaofan couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Leader, you can't be joking, can you? This whole morning, I heard you in the cave talking about the 'spiritual victory method' as an infallible treasure. How could you possibly be dying of craving from my grilled fish?"
The leader's face was filled with embarrassment as he said, "Mr. Cheng, this infallible treasure is like nothing in comparison to the aroma of your grilled fish!"
"I beg you, Mr. Cheng, you are my living ancestor! Spare me a piece of immortal fish to try!"
Cheng Xiaofan noticed that the man was sweating profusely, and his face was as pale as paper, looking like he could collapse from weakness at any moment.
He nodded and said, "Alright, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. I'll spare you a piece to taste!"
Saying this, he took out a short knife, cut off a piece from a freshly grilled immortal fish, and handed it to him.
The leader took the immortal fish, eagerly stuffed it into his mouth, took a few bites, and swallowed.
"Ah, the taste of this immortal fish is too wonderful!" the leader exclaimed.
As soon as the immortal fish meat entered his stomach, his face immediately regained its color.
He felt completely revitalized.
Quickly, the leader finished the entire piece of fish.
He wiped his mouth, bowed to Cheng Xiaofan, and said, "Mr. Cheng, thank you. Just now, I thought I was going to die of craving."
"After eating this piece of fish, I feel like I've become a living immortal!"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiaofan couldn't help but raise his chin and laugh heartily, saying, "Just for your eloquent words, I'll spare you another piece of immortal fish!"
"Ah, Mr. Cheng, are you serious?" the leader asked, overjoyed.
Cheng Xiaofan smiled and said, "I always keep my word. Besides, I have plenty of immortal fish in this bag, and it's not like I owe you this meal!"
The leader quickly put on a smiling face and exclaimed, "I never thought Mr. Cheng would be so easy to talk to! You are truly a great person!"
Cheng Xiaofan laughed, "Heh heh, to be honest with you, everyone who has interacted with me says I'm a great person!"
"I not only have the face of a Bodhisattva, but I was born with a saint's heart. In my dreams, I often sit on a lotus, surveying the world!"
Zhou Zhizheng and the super soldiers couldn't help but want to laugh upon hearing this.
They had all spent time on the martial arts forums and had seen too many posts about Cheng Xiaofan. He was famous for his ruthlessness towards his enemies.
They had never seen him show any mercy.
Now, he was talking all about Bodhisattvas and saints. This kind of character reversal was simply too comical.
However!
No matter what he said, they could only listen attentively!
"Here, take this piece of immortal fish and eat it!"
Cheng Xiaofan handed the piece of immortal fish to the other man and said, "At any time, one should not mistreat oneself. When you are full, you won't miss home!"
The leader took the fish and said gratefully, "Mr. Cheng, you are right, you are absolutely right! Every word you speak is truly a maxim to me!"
After a while, the leader finished that piece of fish as well.
Cheng Xiaofan smiled and said, "Leader, you've eaten your fill, you can go back now!"
The leader hesitated and said with a bitter face, "Mr. Cheng, can I just stay here with you? I don't want to go back!"
Going back meant no food or drink. The disintegration of the "spiritual victory method" also made him realize that in this vast Gobi Desert, filling one's stomach was the only way to survive.
He had almost given up any hope of reaching the oasis.
On his way here, he had already felt the shadow of death looming over him.
Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiaofan resolutely shook his head and said, "Leader, we are not people on the same path. I cannot keep you here."
"I also know that if you go back like this, you won't be able to report back to Leird. After all, if he smells the scent of immortal fish from you, he will surely vent his anger on you, asking why you didn't bring him some to taste."
"That's easy. I'll cut you another piece to take back so he can taste it too!"
Saying this, Cheng Xiaofan immediately brandished his short knife, cut a piece of fish the size of a copper coin from a grilled fish on the stone slab, and handed it to the other man, saying, "Take this back to Leird!"
The leader was instantly stunned.
So small?
It wasn't even enough to fill the gaps between his teeth!
"This..." He took the small piece of fish, pouted his lips, and for a moment, didn't know what to say.
Cheng Xiaofan said with a sincere expression, "I say, my dear leader, as the old saying goes, a thousand miles send a goose feather, the gift is light but the sentiment is heavy. Although this fish slice is indeed small, it contains my deep affection and sincerity for your hidden black people!"