Despite being technically unkillable by poison, Xiulan had standards.
And that standard was simple: if the food made him feel like licking dirt and crying for three days, it simply was not worth eating. Immune or not, he had a tongue. A refined one. He only likes things that tastes glowing and makes you float.
So, when Baby Po dropped a bubbling stew of centipede legs, fermented honeydew, some pretty bugs, and what appeared to be a frog's toenail into his bowl with a proud "TA-DA! Something that is authentic and non-poisoned."—Xiulan stared at it like it had insulted his entire self.
"Po," he said gently, "why does it smell like un-glowing?"
Po, upside down and grinning ear to ear from the branch above, chirped, "Because it's good for your spleen! And, Lan-Lan, there is nothing that smells like glowing."
"My spleen wants to cry shout."
"Why would you think that?"
Uncle Hei muttered from the side, sharpening his claws on a rock, "Just eat it. You once drank tarantula venom like it was tea."
Xiulan raised a solemn finger. "Taste. Matters. That was brewed tarantula venom that made me feel like floating and at the end I did fly for a day and it tasted sweet. This is... un-glowing soup."
Baby Po, bless his tail and overachieving optimism, was not offended. In fact, he looked even more excited.
"That's okay!" he chirped, flipping upright. "I'll make my special dish for you."
"Oh no," Uncle Hei muttered.
"YES!" Po beamed, puffing up proudly. "Made only during blood moons and birthdays. I call it: Moon-Blessed Rainbow Beetle Crunch."
Xiulan turned slightly hopeful. "Will it be glowing?" Uncle Hei cracked a wounded smile.
Po waved him over. "It glows. And it sings when you chew."
While Baby Po prepared this culinary... experience, Xiulan pulled out his most sacred belonging: the Leaf Diary.
He has two: One for records and the other for his daily journalling. Doudou taught him to journal his living, he is different and deserves recognition just like his pretty pink feather. (the pink feather didn't live to see the day, it was burned by divine thunder.)
Each page was made of carefully dried leaves, pressed under rock and vine. Every entry was written in charcoal, occasional flower juice, honey scented and sometimes various unmentionable liquids. He titled it:
"Observations of the Wild & Possibly Mentally Unstable, and very happy family of Xiulan"
Entry 1: Baby Po (Species: Unknown; Chaos Embodied)
Has a special physique. Very lucky. Very annoying. Has once fallen off a cliff and landed in a bird's nest, then got adopted by the birds for three days. He is immune to shame, pain, and recipes. One time fought a thundercloud and won by sneezing at it. His favorite thing to do is design clothes for Xiulan(me), his pretty handsome baby.
Food rating: Dangerous. Love rating: High (when not cooking).
Entry 2: Auntie Viper (Species: Viper; Status: Mildly homicidal yet affectionate, shows signs of instability when drinking glowing soups)
Says biting is love language, wanted to bite heads on birthdays, very traditional. Makes good soup. Is extremely invested in birthday rituals. Sings opera when drunk. Once threatened a phoenix because it insulted her scales. Keeps her shed skins to make him a nectar.
Food rating: 8/10 (needs less venom). Love rating: Coiled Comfort.
Entry 3: Uncle Hei (Species: White Wolf; Profession: Brooding Guardian)
Teaches me how to snarl properly. Calls me 'brat' but smells like warm snow. Probably has emotions. Once carried me for three days in his mouth when I had a cold and pretended it was just 'convenient transport'. He has 'tsundere' syndrome and is allergic to emotions. Sometimes constipated. (edited by doudou, the gossipy parrot)
Food rating: Safest (grilled meat specialist). Love rating: Grumpy Papa.
Entry 4: Elder Bear (Species: Big; Likes: Honey, naps, nap-time honey)
Dances surprisingly well. Teaches good hugs. Almost sat on me once, apologized with honeycomb cake. Approves of me wrestling cubs. Makes one fall for his soft soft fur. Best for nap times.
Food rating: Excellent pastries, just a bit too much honey. Love rating: Large and cuddly.
Xiulan hummed, flipping through his diary until the scent of burning optimism and grilled insect tickled his nose.
Po stood with glowing pride—and a glowing plate. Literally.
The beetles shimmered like stardust in soy glaze. The plate hummed softly, a haunting little tune that sounded suspiciously like the Forest Folk Anthem played backwards.
"Eat," Po whispered reverently, eyes wide.
Xiulan looked at the plate.
Looked at Po's trembling excitement.
Took a bite.
Paused.
Eyes widened.
"…This is… actually—"
"YES?!" Po leaned forward.
"—glow-worthy."
Po fell from the tree with joy.
By the time the moon rose, Xiulan had finished his glowing meal (the last beetle winked before being eaten) and added another new entry to the Leaf Diary that records his feelings.
Entry 19: Po's Cooking (Status: Possibly divine, occasionally cursed)
Tonight, I glowed. I do not know if it was joy or due to glowing food. Either way, it was real. 8.5/10. Might cry later. (will clarify tomorrow)
Later that night, curled under a blanket of wolf fur and bear fluff, Xiulan whispered to himself under the stars:
"Poison immunity is useful. But happiness immunity… that is even better."
Uncle Hei snorted. "Go to sleep, glowing fungus."
"Love you too, dad-wolf." A very weird growl. Blushing? Probably.
The trees rustled in laughter.
Somewhere, the mushrooms danced silently in the dark.