Sludge suction system

With the competition drawing ever closer, Fang Xiaobei and Xia Zhi are preparing to head to Xiangmao Capital to participate.

A light morning mist veiled the majestic and solemn mansion of the Fang family. In the square in front of the mansion, the clansmen were already lined up in two neat rows, their expressions a mixture of reluctance and anticipation. An elder with white hair, yet upright and vigorous, wearing a long robe embroidered with the family totem, walked steadily forward. His gaze first slowly swept over the crowd, finally settling on Fang Xiaobei and Xia Zhi, his eyes filled with earnest expectations.

"Xiao Bei, Xia Zhi, your journey to Xiangmao Capital for the culinary competition is no ordinary trip. You carry the long-held honor and expectations of our Fang and Xia families. The road ahead may be long and arduous, and you may encounter many difficulties and obstacles, but you must always remember that your family is your unwavering and warm support. No matter what, the family's strength will always be with you." The elder's voice was deep and powerful, echoing in the morning air.

He turned to look at Fang Xiaobei, a hint of barely perceptible pride in his eyes: "Xiaobei, you have shown extraordinary culinary talent since you were a child. Those pots and pans seem to come alive in your hands. In this competition, we must showcase the unique cooking techniques that our clan has passed down for hundreds of years without reservation, so that the world can appreciate the profoundness of Fang family culinary arts."

Then, the elder looked at Xia Zhi with eyes full of love and trust: "Xia Zhi, you are as meticulous as silk and have an exceptionally keen sense of ingredients. This is a gift bestowed upon you by heaven. In the competition, you will surely be able to use this advantage to accurately grasp the characteristics of the ingredients, create a unique flavor, and play a key role."

The elders of the Xia family stepped forward with steady steps, their expressions solemn as they said, “Children, this is a rigorous test, but also a rare opportunity. The culinary competition has gathered talents from all corners of the world. You must always remain humble, learning from the strengths of others, while also boldly innovating, perfectly blending the culinary culture of our two families with novel ideas. The stage in Xiangmao Capital is vast and boundless; you must shine brightly, making the names of the Fang and Xia families resound throughout the land at this culinary feast!”

Fang Xiaobei and Xia Zhi exchanged a glance, their eyes shining with determination and resolve. They replied in unison, "Please rest assured, elders, we will do our utmost and fulfill our mission!" With that, they took a deep breath, straightened their backs, turned to face the rising sun, and strode confidently onto their journey to Xiangmao Capital. Their figures gradually disappeared from sight, but the mission they carried and the hopes of their families lingered like an invisible force in the slightly cool air, slowly spreading and never dissipating.

At the crossroads of the town, Ye Keke carried a uniquely styled kitchen utensil on her back—a treasure passed down from her master. A pouch hanging from her waist swayed gently with her movements, filled with rare spices she had collected from all over. Her bright eyes were full of anticipation, and she would occasionally stand on tiptoe to gaze into the distance.

Gao He stood to one side, tall and straight, dressed in clean and neat black clothes, carrying a simple yet practical bag on his back, and tightly gripping a slender bamboo stick in his hand—his companion on his journeys through the martial world. His deep gaze was directed towards Xiangmao Capital, where unknown challenges awaited them.

Ye Keke excitedly jumped up to Gao He and said with a smile, "Brother Gao, this time when we go to Xiangmao Capital, I'll definitely let everyone taste my newly developed dishes!" Gao He nodded slightly, the corners of his mouth turned up, and replied, "Of course, with me here, I'll definitely protect you and let you show off your culinary skills in peace." After saying that, the two walked side by side, their figures gradually disappearing on the winding road, leaving only laughter and joy along the way, heading towards Xiangmao Capital, a place full of opportunities.

As dusk settled like a vast net, slowly enveloping the earth, Fang Xiaobei and Xia Zhi, dragging their weary bodies, stumbled upon a dilapidated temple in the mountains. The roof tiles were broken and incomplete, and the murals on the walls were faded and mottled, exuding a desolate atmosphere.

The two entered the dilapidated temple, quickly swept the ground, and sat down to rest against the corner of the wall. Moonlight streamed through the broken roof, casting patches of silver light on the ground. After a while, Fang Xiaobei's stomach growled. He scratched his head sheepishly and looked at Xia Zhi, saying, "I'll go find something to eat nearby. You wait here."

Xia Zhi stood up and dusted herself off: "I'll go with you, so we can look out for each other."

They followed a path to the riverbank. Under the moonlight, the water shimmered, and occasionally, fish could be seen swimming across the surface, creating ripples. Fang Xiaobei found a calm spot, rolled up her trousers, and carefully stepped into the river, her hands poised to catch a fish. Xia Zhi watched nervously from the bank, whispering a reminder, "Xiaobei, be careful."

Fang Xiaobei stared intently at the water's surface. Suddenly, his eyes sharpened, and he swiftly scooped the water with both hands, catching a fish thrashing about in his grasp. "Haha, I caught one!" he shouted excitedly. After several more attempts, they caught a total of several fish.

The two returned to the dilapidated temple with the fish. Fang Xiaobei gathered some firewood and started a fire. Xia Zhi skillfully cleaned the fish and skewered it with a branch. Fang Xiaobei took the fish and placed it over the fire to grill, turning the branch as she grilled and sprinkling in seasonings she had taken from her bag. Soon, the aroma of the fish filled the air, and the sizzling, oily fish meat turned golden and crispy.

Fang Xiaobei handed the grilled fish to Xia Zhi, smiling and saying, "Try it, this fish is sure to be especially delicious today." Xia Zhi took a small bite; the fish was tender and juicy, with a delicious flavor. She smiled contentedly, "Xiaobei, your cooking skills are getting better and better." The two sat in the dilapidated temple, eating the grilled fish while discussing their upcoming journey. The moonlight shone on them, seemingly adding a touch of warmth to their tiring journey.

Just as Fang Xiaobei and Xia Zhi were enjoying the delicious grilled fish and sharing this moment of peace and satisfaction, the atmosphere inside the dilapidated temple suddenly turned gloomy.

First, a faint, almost imperceptible sound came from the corner. It sounded like someone's suppressed breathing in the darkness, or the creaking of an old window frame being gently moved by the wind, but there was clearly no wind. Xia Zhi felt a chill run down her spine. She raised her head alertly, her eyes scanning nervously for the source of the sound. At the same time, Fang Xiaobei stopped what she was doing, put down the grilled fish, held her breath, and listened intently.

In an instant, a dark figure darted out of the deep darkness like a ghost, moving with astonishing speed, heading straight for the grilled fish on the ground. In the flickering, dim light of the fire, they vaguely saw that the figure was neither human nor inhuman; its body was tall yet hunched, emanating an indescribable eeriness. Its movements were mechanical and stiff, as if controlled by some unknown force; every bend and extension of its joints appeared extremely unnatural, yet its speed remained undiminished.

Its head was shrouded in shadow, obscuring its face; only two eerie green lights flickered in the darkness, like will-o'-the-wisps, sending chills down one's spine. The figure swiftly bent down, snatched a piece of grilled fish, and then turned in an extremely bizarre manner, as if its joints hadn't bent, its entire body shifting horizontally to change direction. It then raced deeper into the dilapidated temple, its feet making no sound, as if floating on the ground.

Fang Xiaobei was startled by this sudden and bizarre scene, his scalp tingling with fear. He instinctively stood up and shouted, "What is that? Stop!" His voice trembled with terror. He mustered his courage and chased after the dark figure. However, the mysterious figure darted left and right through the dilapidated temple, its movements swift and unpredictable. Fang Xiaobei only saw a blur before it vanished into a dark corner, as if it had never been there, leaving Fang Xiaobei standing there, panting heavily, his back already soaked with cold sweat.

Xia Zhi also stood up, gripping a wooden stick tightly in her hand, her voice trembling slightly as she said, "Xiao Bei, what... what is this? It's terrifying." Fang Xiao Bei swallowed hard, looked around at the dark corners, and whispered, "I don't know either. This dilapidated temple doesn't seem simple. We have to be careful." At this moment, the entire dilapidated temple was shrouded in an inexplicable fear. Only the nearly extinguished fire stubbornly flickered with a faint light, but it couldn't dispel the chill in their hearts.