Stars Waited Above Empty Streets by Lorin Wren 228

Chapter 228 Ava’s Pot vs The Guys‘ Cooking 

+5 Pearls 

After rinsing everything clean, Ava used her elemental power to purify the ingredients before heading back up the mountain. 

When she returned, the guys were already cooking–one makeshift stove was steaming with potatoes, while another held a pan where something was being stir–fried. 

The moment they saw Ava approach, and especially when they spotted the fish in her basin, Dario stared in disbelief. “How did you catch that?” 

Ava lifted her long blade and casually jabbed downward. “Like this.” 

Dario flinched from head to toe. It felt—as far as his imagination was concerned–like she’d just stabbed him. 

This girl… might be a little wild, he thought. 

Holly burst out laughing. “Ava, you’re hilarious! Is this your creative way of trying to get attention? I can’t believe you actually dare eat fish from a random stream! Hope you don’t drop dead! I swear, you’re like some kind of vagabond.” 

Ava stepped forward, planted her blade into the ground beside Holly’s foot hard enough to make the earth tremble, and said coolly, “Watch your mouth. Provoke me again, and the dirt won’t be the next thing this blade hits.” 

Holly jumped at the sudden burst of pressure. “Who are you trying to scare?!” 

Ava stared her down. “Don’t drag your nonsense over here. I’m not putting up with you.” 

The guys watched but didn’t interfere while Linden approached after a moment. “Ava, you can’t eat things picked up in the wild. They’re contaminated without proper processing. It’s bad for your body. We’ll handle gathering supplies–you girls won’t go hungry.” 

Ava met his gaze. “Thanks for the concern, Captain. If something happens, I’ll take responsibility.” 

At that, she glanced over at the guys frying food. Honestly, it looks like they’re brewing a witch’s concoction. One bite and I’ll be in the bushes all afternoon. 

“Can I use the cooking equipment later? And the seasonings?” 

Linden sighed–he clearly wasn’t going to change her mind. “Fine. But what I said is true. Even if it won’t kill you immediately, dark matter builds up in your system. Don’t just eat whatever you find.” 

His eyes drifted toward the distance. These three girls… none of them is easy to manage. 

Soon after, the guys were done cooking. The result looked terrible, but considering it was wilderness survival, no one complained out loud. They invited Ava to eat, but she refused without hesitation. 

She set up her own pot and calmly prepared her lunch: ish and mushroom soup. She blanched the mushrooms, then stewed the carp until the broth turned creamy white before adding the mushrooms back 

1. in. 

Meanwhile, the guys were eating with various levels of suffering, and more than one voice complained that the food was “barely edible.” 

Chapter 228 Ava’s Pot vs The Guys‘ Cooking 

+5 Pearls 

Soon, the fragrance from Ava’s pot floated across the camp, rich and savory, curling through the air so temptingly that stomachs began growling. Dario couldn’t hold back anymore. He swallowed his pride and walked over. 

“Ava… want me to keep the fire going for you?” 

Ava glanced at him. “No need. It’s almost done.” 

Dario backed off awkwardly but kept staring into the pot. The creamy broth simmered with tender mushroom slices. He swallowed again. One look at his own food–blackened chicken that was dry on the outside and raw on the inside–nearly made him cry. 

Ava removed the lid and sprinkled in some salt. To her surprise, the provided supplies were quite complete -even seasonings were included. 

She ladled out her soup and went to pick up potatoes. But they were all half–raw. One look back at the guys‘ cooking, and she had a full grasp of the team’s collective “culinary skills.” 

Malory finally gave up trying to choke down her meal. She walked over, noticing Ava’s untouched potatoes and the bowl of creamy fish soup. It looked delicious—too delicious. 

After a long struggle, Malory asked, “Ava… can I have some of your soup? I really can’t eat this stuff.” 

She poked the food in her bowl aggressively, stabbing and prodding without taking a single bite. 

Ava gave her a measured look. “You sure about this? I picked these mushrooms myself. If something happens to you, I’m not taking responsibility.” 

She understood perfectly well what they were thinking. If Ava didn’t have her secret little power–up, she wouldn’t dare eat wild ingredients either. Now that Malory was asking, Ava had to warn her. 

Malory stared at the bowl of milk–white broth and swallowed hard. “I know. But even then, I can’t eat this dark–age disaster. I’ll die of poisoning before the seven days are up. Give me a bowl. 

“And if anything happens, it’s on me–I won’t blame you. Even if it isn’t processed, it won’t kill you immediately. Sure, it affects your body, and the dark matter is worse for high–tier men, but I’m just an ordinary person. I’m not an Awakened. It shouldn’t hit me as hard. I won’t die from one bowl!” 

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10:48 Fri, Jan 23 (9) D