My ancestors were spiritual plant growers, so it's not surprising that I hunt demons every day,

Cui Yue raised her little face, pointed to the five-colored deer at her feet, and asked:

"Then, Brother Chaoyun, did you hunt this spirit deer as well?"

"That's not it."

"My third sister is still the best! This Fire Cloud Chicken is so small, but the Spirit Deer that my third sister hunted is so big! Our pot can't even hold it all."

Cui Yue stretched out her hands, gesturing with a proud expression.

"Yes, yes, my third sister is the best."

Cui Yan poked the already cold corpse of the five-colored deer and echoed the sentiment.

"Well, we're all in cahoots."

"Move your things in."

Hearing Wang Rong's calls, Zhu Chaoyun stopped trying to make a fool of herself and helped Cui Zhengming move the five-colored deer into the kitchen.

"Go, go, let's play."

Wang Rong, carrying a large wooden basin, chased away the two little ones who had followed her in to join the fun, and then looked at the five-colored deer on the ground and said:

"What should we do? I've killed spirit chickens and slaughtered spirit rabbits, but I've never dealt with something this big."

Standing to the side, Cui Zhengming was also somewhat embarrassed: "This spirit deer hide is extremely precious. It would be a waste if it wasn't peeled properly."

He brandished the knife a few times, but never dared to actually use it.

It's not that he's timid; he's been a spirit plant grower for half his life, and hunting demons is something he's only done out of necessity in the last two years.

In the past, they only did small-scale dabbling, but when they actually encountered something good, they became a bit hesitant.

"Father, Mother, let me do it. You two go and deal with those two Fire Cloud Chickens first."

Cui Ying took the knife and first asked her elder brother Cui Cong to help her hang the five-colored deer on the roof beam of the kitchen, with a large wooden basin underneath to catch it. Then she prepared to start skinning it.

Under the glow of the luminous pearl, the entire five-colored deer reflected a faint, multicolored light, dazzling and captivating.

The value of spirit deer hide is several times that of spirit deer meat. Its hide can be used in medicine and made into various objects. In particular, the magical artifacts made from five-colored deer are especially sought after by female cultivators and are extremely expensive.

Fortunately, Cui Ying only injured its head both times, preserving the complete spirit deer skin.

After peeling the skin, Cui Ying no longer did the rest herself.

In no time, Cui Zhengming disemboweled the five-colored deer and deftly removed its internal organs.

These foul-smelling entrails would have been beneath Cui Ying's notice in her past life, but now, as she watched her brother and sister-in-law pack them away, she turned to Zhu Chaoyun and asked:

“These internal organs, once properly prepared, can also be a delicious spiritual food. You can take them back with you later.”

With most of the items dealt with, it was time to divide the spoils.

"Do it."

Unexpectedly, Zhu Chaoyun glanced at it disdainfully and waved her hand in refusal:

"I'll just take the Fire Cloud Chicken I hunted! I went into the mountains to help my sister recover, not to be their free laborer. I'd rather feed it to the dogs than let these ungrateful wretches get away with it."

Cui Ying paused for a moment, then handed him the remaining three Fire Cloud Eggs: "Then you should hurry back, or Wanqiu will come looking for you later."

"Row."

"Put your things down."

Zhu Chaoyun smiled gratefully at Cui Ying and was about to take the Fire Cloud Chicken home when Wang Rong stopped him.

“Go back and bring your sister over so she can eat with us! Bringing this Fire Cloud Chicken back will probably cause quite a stir, and if it alerts your stepmother, she probably won't be able to eat it.”

Hearing Wang Rong's words, Zhu Chaoyun quickly realized what she meant and nodded hurriedly, saying, "Auntie is so thoughtful. I'll go back and pick up Wanqiu right away."

"Wait a minute."

But before he could leave the Cui family compound, he was called back. Cui Ying, holding a knife, deftly severed one of the hind legs of the five-colored deer and handed it out, saying:

"While you're at it, deliver this leg and the Cold Light Crossbow you used today to the Zhao family."

"No problem, leave it to me."

Zhu Chaoyun took the heavy spirit deer leg, tucked the cold light crossbow into his lower back, carefully covered it with his outer robe, and then asked helplessly:

"Is there anything else? If not, I'm leaving."

"That's all, get out of here."

After Zhu Chaoyun left, Cui Ying cut off a spirit deer leg and said to Cui Cong beside her, "Brother and sister-in-law, do you think this spirit deer leg is enough?"

"That's enough! That's enough!"

"With such a large deer leg to take back, I imagine Auntie will be very proud."

Thinking of her birth mother's situation, Yang felt a little sad, but she quickly adjusted her mindset and smiled gratefully at Cui Ying.

After skinning and cleaning a five-colored deer weighing over 200 jin (approximately 100 catties), only a little over 100 jin (approximately 50 kg) remains. After cutting off the hind legs, which make up the majority of the meat, only 70-80 jin (approximately 35-40 kg) of meat is left.

It doesn't look like much, but it's actually quite a lot; the Cui family couldn't possibly finish it in one meal.

Cui Ying took the initiative to cut off a piece of meat as an extra meal for tonight, and together with her brother and sister-in-law, they made the rest into dried deer meat.

After she finished all that, she saw her fourth sister, Cui Yue, and fifth brother, Cui Yan, standing anxiously at the door.

Cui Ying smiled and took out the last two Fire Cloud Eggs, handing them to Yang Shi: "Sister-in-law, boil two eggs for the two little ones first."

"We're not hungry, Third Sister!"

Cui Yue shook her head vigorously, clutching her stomach with both hands, and said, "I want to save room for the spirit deer meat."

Cui Yan, who was standing next to him, nodded vigorously and echoed, "Me too."

The family spent a full half hour preparing this meal.

The bright moonlight was already hanging overhead, and Shuangling Village was quiet.

But in the Cui family's courtyard, there was only laughter and joy.

On the octagonal table, marked by the passage of time, steaming hot food was already laid out:

Stewed Fire Cloud Chicken Soup, Braised Spirit Deer Meat, Steamed Spirit Egg Custard, Stir-fried Spirit Deer Kidney and Liver... In Cui Yue's words, this meal was even more sumptuous than the New Year.

"Father, as you instructed, the Spirit Deer Whip has been prepared for you."

"What do you want that for?"

Before Cui Zhengming could speak, Wang Rong gave him a disgruntled glare.

Cui Zhengming looked at the table full of delicious-looking spiritual food in front of him and felt incredibly happy.

He leisurely picked up his wine glass, took a small sip, and said:

"This thing is a real treasure; plenty of cultivators outside are vying for it. Once it enters the city the day after tomorrow, it's sure to fetch a good price."

After saying that, he glanced back at his wife with a smile and said:

"What? You think I wanted to keep it for myself?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Rong's cheeks immediately flushed red.

She reached out and pinched Cui Zhengming's waist, then lowered her head and cursed through gritted teeth:

"That old scoundrel who never keeps his mouth shut, his children are still alive!"

"Hahaha"

Cui Zhengming laughed a few times before putting down his wine glass and looking at Cui Cong and his wife, asking, "When are you going back to see your mother-in-law?"

"My lady, the deer meat is warm and nourishing, you should eat more of it."

Cui Cong placed a piece of spirit deer meat in Yang's bowl, and replied with a smile, "Father, we'll go tomorrow."

"Okay, I've asked your mother to prepare some things. Remember to bring them with you."

Cui Zhengming nodded, then picked up his wine glass and looked at Cui Ying.

Ever since Cui Ying chased him into the Phoenix Cry Mountain Range that day, he had a vague feeling that his third daughter had changed.

In the dead of night, he tossed and turned, worried that his daughter might be possessed by those old monsters. But after observing her for the past two days, he found that apart from being a little more talkative, his daughter was otherwise normal.

Moreover, since that day, their family's life has gotten better and better. Not only was his long-standing ailment cured, but even deer meat became a common dish.

Cui Ying placed a flaming chicken leg on Cui Yue's plate, and then put one in Zhu Wanqiu's bowl across from her.

"Don't be shy, help yourself to whatever you want to eat, just like you're at home. If you really can't reach it, ask your brother for help, he really helped out today."

Cui Zhengming observed all of this, downed his drink in one gulp, looked up at Cui Ying, and said:

"I'll be busy tomorrow, so please take some spirit deer meat and deliver it to the Gu family."

"I know, Dad. I'll go tomorrow."

Cui Ying felt helpless; this was truly a case of one lie leading to countless others to cover it up.

But she still nodded and agreed to it.