CHAPTER 226: CHAPTER 218: SECRET MUSHROOM AND FLORAL SCENTED MASK

An hour later, a well-fed and content Han Qiwu lay on the recliner, pulling out a red mushroom, two oyster mushrooms, and a king trumpet mushroom to start making his secret mushroom dish.

The information in the Shennong recipe revealed that this secret mushroom dish required stir-frying.

Slice the four types of mushrooms into thin pieces, prepare the seasonings, make a slurry, and stir-fry them in hot oil for several seconds before drizzling the sauce and slurry over them.

The finished secret mushroom dish had a glossy appearance, its aroma mouth-watering and appetizing. The umami of the four mushrooms seemed to compete, rushing into Han Qiwu’s nose.

[Secret Mushroom Dish]

[Stamina +0]

[Health +300]

[Special Effect - Fountain of Life: Surplus health will enable continuous status recovery for two hours]

[Special Effect - Illusion Resistance: Grants immunity to intermediate and lower-level hallucinogenic poisons after consumption]

[Note: Secret Mushroom Dish does not cause hallucinations]

"You won’t tempt me!" Han Qiwu quickly stored the secret mushroom dish in his inventory.

To be honest, he couldn’t bear to eat it.

The two special effects of this secret mushroom dish were obviously meant for combat, and they were incredibly practical. Better to save it for a fight.

However, upon seeing the special effect "Illusion Resistance" on the dish, Han Qiwu remembered something he had previously forgotten to do.

Make masks.

Mask crafting required fibers and petals. When he had learned the technique from Mr. Qi Ren, the flowers at home hadn’t bloomed yet, so it had been put off for a few days.

Since he didn’t have anything urgent to do now, why not craft a few for fun?

Han Qiwu walked over to the blooming flowers, gently plucking a few red Luoyang peonies and white orchid blossoms.

Each flower only had four or five usable petals for mask-making; the requirements were quite specific.

Taking out the fibers, Han Qiwu used the system’s function to directly craft six masks.

[Orchid Mask]

[Usage: Gas protection]

[Duration: One day (reduced if exposed to excessive gas)]

[Special Effect - Calm Mind: Wearing it soothes the wearer’s emotions]

[Note: The orchid scent is subtle and elegant]

[Red Peony Mask]

[Usage: Gas protection]

[Duration: One day (reduced if exposed to excessive gas)]

[Special Effect - Elegance: Wearing it boosts confidence]

[Note: "Noble grace unmatched by peers, all other flowers bow in admiration"]

"Special effects, too?" Han Qiwu was a bit surprised.

No wonder the mask’s notes specifically mentioned the importance of floral scents.

Now it seemed different scents could imbue masks with various unique effects.

The practical uses could wait for the right occasion.

After stowing away the two types of masks, Han Qiwu stood up, stretched a bit, and walked into the yard to strap on the sandbags.

"Seven-Color Sunshine! Here I come!"

After an hour of practice, Han Qiwu felt he’d reached the bottleneck of "Seven-Color Sunshine."

Just one more step and he’d master it.

"Huff, puff."

During his break, Han Qiwu pulled out his phone to search for birdhouse designs.

Little Spark needed a place to sleep at night.

Birds were meant to sleep on trees, right?

Life needed a sense of ceremony, didn’t it?

Han Qiwu glanced at the search results on the screen:

"Magpies build their nests by meticulously arranging thin twigs, requiring over a hundred small branches, and it might take several days?"

Over a hundred twigs?

Sustained over several days??

He glanced again at the height of the tree nearby.

Forget it. A pet bird doesn’t absolutely have to live on a tree.

Might as well make it a modernized birdhouse!

Without hesitation, Han Qiwu grabbed a foam box, layered it with hay and cotton stuffing inside, and wrapped the outside with rubber.

Considering Little Spark’s tendency to discharge electricity, which might cause a fire, he specifically got a foam box slightly larger than the birdhouse, filled it with water, and set the birdhouse afloat inside.

And thus, a modernized birdhouse with water cooling, fire prevention, temperature regulation, and insulation was complete!

After finishing, Han Qiwu retrieved Little Spark and placed it inside.

Little Spark hopped around the birdhouse, looked around, then jumped onto the edge of the foam box to sip some water, seemingly satisfied before settling down in the birdhouse.

Hmm, the setup was perfect—even included a water dispenser.

Truly ingenious, if I say so myself!

Feeling pleased with himself, Han Qiwu rested for a while. Then he chopped some wood, read a book, and went to bed early.

He had to head into the mountains with Mr. Tang tomorrow.

Gotta recharge and be at my best.

Meanwhile—

On a small city balcony, Tang Qingying sipped her QQ fruit milk with audible gulps, glanced at the time, and went back to reviewing materials.

For the love of food!

Go for it!!

Ducks?

If only Han Qiwu could make some fragrant roast duck...

Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside—it’d be so delicious!

——————————

March 6th Log

Farming Experience: +651

Foraging Experience: +384

Fishing Experience: +624

Combat Experience: +0

Mining Experience: +0

Character Affection Change:

None

Current Funds: 139 gold

Historical Income: 161,396 gold

"Moo, moo, moo!!!!!"

"Chirp, chirp, chirp!!"

"Crackle, crackle."

Early in the morning, Han Qiwu was woken up by the racket caused by a cow and a magpie.

Anyone hearing this would’ve thought some mad scientist’s evil experiment was underway.

Rubbing his bleary eyes, Han Qiwu got up and looked out the window of the Jilei Mountain cabin, only to feel both exasperated and amused.

Energetic Little Spark was perched on Angus the cow’s horn, whacking it with lightning-infused wing swipes.

Crackle, crackle.

Sparks were flying.

It looked oddly intense.

"Better let them out to play before they scare the other cows," Han Qiwu said, leading Angus the cow to a barren patch of land.

"You guys play here," Han Qiwu instructed.

"Chirp chirp!" Little Spark nodded, rubbing its tiny belly with its wing.

"Uh!"

Han Qiwu, feeling playful, teased it, laughing, "Had fun? If you’re happy, how about singing a little tune?"

"Squawk!!!"

Little Spark hopped up in anger, flapped its wing, and smacked Angus on the back.

Angus: "????? Why shock me when the boss teased YOU?"

Poor Angus jumped and shuddered, unable to absorb electricity fully except through its horns.

Han Qiwu sniffed the air. Was that the aroma of cooked beef?

"Alright, take it slow. And don’t feed Angus the fish," Han Qiwu said, taking out an electric fish and handing it to Little Spark, reminding it firmly.

"Chirp chirp!"

Little Spark happily pecked at the fish, munching away with zest.

Han Qiwu, holding a bronze jug, headed off to water the rice fields.

Once his master was out of sight, Little Spark generously tore off the electric fish’s head and brought it to Angus.

"Here, buddy. Give it a taste—this meat is amazing."

Angus wrinkled his brow and shook his head.

"I’m a vegetarian."

Little Spark put a wing around Angus’s head, donning the air of an experienced elder. "Don’t be silly. If you’ve never had meat, how would you know you can’t eat it? Just try—it’s electricly shock-tastic."

Angus, a little tempted, mooed twice.

"Really edible?"

"Trust me." Little Spark placed bits of fish on a clump of grass. "Here, eat it together. Balanced nutrition with meat and greens."

Angus hesitated, then wrapped his tongue around both the fish and grass, chewing cautiously.

"Tingly, tingly, ting-tingly."

"Good stuff, huh?" Little Spark, satisfied, took another bite and sprawled out on Angus’s back, staring at the sky comfortably.

What a cozy life.

Now, if only I had a mate.

But, ah, that might be tough.

After all, even my owner’s still single.

Guess I’d better think of a way to help him out.