They decided against eating.
"Um, we also brought some food. These are all emergency rations. Your Great Xia people are numerous and working so hard; it's better for you to eat more," Zuo Lin, standing nearby, felt that Song Lin's words made sense. It was better to refuse.
"Alright, if you don't eat, then you truly have no good fortune. This Nine-Headed Serpent Cypress absorbs a lot of unclean things, but extremes breed reversals. What's cooked from it is what humans desire most. Even if it doesn't prolong life, it can at least ensure good health."
"If you don't eat this, it's a pity."
Zhou Lin naturally knew their thoughts, but this was an excellent opportunity to make money. Now, they had to make some sacrifices.
"Hmm? It has such effects? Then will our injuries heal faster later?" Captain Zhao's spirits lifted upon hearing this.
"That's for sure. You'll know later," Zhou Lin said as he began to cook the noodles. The aroma was delicious, and it seemed to be guided by something, drawing towards their noses. The hunger pangs in their stomachs churned uncontrollably.
The people from Sakura Country, smelling the aroma, began to regret their earlier words. Why did they speak so early? Having something hot to eat was much better than eating these leftovers. They were filled with regret.
In the livestream.
"Damn, just looking at the Great Expert, I feel like everything he makes is incredibly delicious."
"It looks so appetizing, I wonder how it tastes?"
"No, no, no, I'm more concerned about whether Great Expert Zhou Lin is telling the truth. Can this thing really prolong life? If it can, can you bring some out?"
"Hmph, your Great Xia always likes to pull off mysterious things. Whatever you say, we just believe it? Don't you use your brains?"
"Exactly, whatever Zhou Lin says, you just believe it. Where's your evidence?"
"Are you idiots who believe everything you hear? Do you not use your own minds?"
"We don't believe the professor, should we believe you? Your Professor Jingxia didn't have that ability either, did he? Didn't he end up miserably dead?"
"You died yourself, and you have the nerve to talk about others?"
The netizens began to attack each other.
At this moment, Zhou Lin had no time to watch the livestream. He finished preparing the noodles and distributed them to the mercenaries. The mercenaries eagerly took a few bites. After finishing, they felt a warmth spread through their bodies, and their injuries seemed to have significantly reduced.
Professor Xuanxue and Professor Hodge, seeing their complexions improve, closed their eyes, as if making a great decision, and ate heartily. After they finished, their eyes lit up.
"It's truly delicious, and my body feels warm."
"Indeed, I haven't felt this comfortable in a long time. It's so pleasant."
"I was bumped earlier, and now it feels truly miraculous."
The students beside them were also overjoyed. The people from Sakura Country were filled with extreme regret, their intestines turning purple. But it was too late to express their remorse. A mix of emotions surged within them.
"It's not impossible for you to eat, but..." Zhou Lin then held up a few fingers.
"Three thousand yuan per bowl. What do you say... will you eat or not?" Zhou Lin didn't want to waste this. If he could make money, why not? Three thousand yuan was quite good.
"Professor Zhou Lin, what did you say? Three thousand yuan?" Zuo Lin thought he had misheard. Three thousand yuan for this? What kind of noodles were these, so precious?
"This is noodle soup that can heal injuries. Don't you want it? You should think carefully. Once this opportunity is gone, it won't come again. You must consider it carefully." Zhou Lin's words were veiled, causing the people from Sakura Country to feel a pang of dread.
This was indeed a rare item, but... they had no money. Even if they had money, it was already with Zhou Lin's diamonds.
"Alright, we'll give you these diamonds, and we'll eat," Zuo Lin handed a large diamond to Zhou Lin and then led everyone to eat the noodle soup. Zhou Lin looked at the diamond with satisfaction.
In the livestream.
"Haha, the Great Expert just wants to make money. He's earning it well. They gave it away earlier, and now they're probably getting it back."
"Indeed, indeed, haha, this is business acumen."
"Your Great Xia is despicable. You can do such a thing."
"You didn't eat it, and now you're eating it. Shouldn't you be charged? How ridiculous..."
"Exactly. You get to play both the good guy and the bad guy. You Sakura Country people are truly laughable."
...
After everyone had eaten their fill, Zhou Lin led them further down. Captain Zhao reached a tomb chamber below the Nine-Headed Serpent Cypress, but it was pitch black, and they couldn't see anything.
"You'll know when we go down, but be careful and don't make any noise," Zhou Lin took a careful look and then, looking at Captain Zhao, cautioned him with concern.
"Hmm? Why?" Captain Zhao was suspicious. These were mercenaries; how could they not make a sound?
"Don't ask why. Just remember what I say. It's very important." Zhou Lin didn't want to explain further. According to the records in the book, they should be encountering them soon.
They dared not disobey Zhou Lin's words. Captain Zhao, still uneasy, instructed his men. Zhou Lin went ahead and tied a rope to a pillar, then threw it down. He then descended. Following him were Captain Zhao and the mercenaries, as well as the professors and students, all descending in an orderly fashion. Everything around them was dark, and they could see nothing.
"What should we do?" Captain Zhao whispered to Zhou Lin.
"Follow me, and don't make a sound," Zhou Lin gestured to them and cautiously moved towards the interior, his footsteps lightened. The only sounds in the entire space were their faint footsteps; they dared not even breathe heavily.
In the livestream.
"What's going on? Why are they being so cautious? What's happening? Is it haunted?"
"It's probably more terrifying than a haunting. Didn't you see the Great Expert's solemn expression? This seems very serious."
"But it's so dark in here, what could be inside? Shouldn't it have appeared by now? What's going on?"
"Who cares? As long as Great Expert Zhou Lin says it, it's right."
"Exactly."