Xiao Jing's awakening was natural – derived from pure luck with no explanation whatsoever.
Zhou Hao was still training at home, and even with the G-tier strengthening potion, his constitution only increased by a little. It had not yet awakened into an Ancient Warrior's.
"I… I've awakened?"
Xiao Jing never imagined that her scrawny frame could lug around 60 kg of threadsnakes with ease.
"I've awakened. I really have… awakened," she cried as tears trickled down her overjoyed eyes.
Being awakened meant that she was confident that she could win more battles in the future.
"Let's go. It's getting dark!"
"Mm!"
The pair quickened their footsteps. Xiao Jing chewed on snake meat as she walked, replenishing and rejuvenating her as she went along. By the time they reached the assembly point, Xiao Jing was calm and completely relaxed.
When the soldier on duty saw the both of them, he was surprised, even more so when he saw Xiao Jing.
"Hmph!"
Xiao Jing raised her chin, deliberately slowing down as she walked, shifting the snake meat slung on her shoulder as if to show off.
After the initial shock had passed, the soldier gave her a small smile. He refrained from making any comments, whistling away as he turned his focus on the assembly.
Xiao Jing scoffed, her efforts to impress fruitless.
Night was approaching, and most of the combatants had returned. Some, though, would be spending the night in the wilderness.
"Close the gate!"
"Yes, captain!"
"Gather round!"
Boots clattered as the soldiers shuffled into position.
"He's their captain?" Xiao Jing stared at the smug, nose-flaring soldier giving commands.
"Let's go!" Qin Feng called out to her, leading her to a purchasing station.
Because the snakes they killed were the on the list of special species that the colony had singled out, there was an additional reward of 1,000 yuan for each. That all added up to 40,000 yuan. Combined with the price of the materials, Qin Feng earned a total of 240,000 yuan.
In the previous life, Qin Feng had managed to achieve a Rank-A Ancient Warrior status. He would hunt and kill large animals, which quickly earned him a few billion yuan. Today's earnings were just small numbers to him, but to Xiao Jing, this was a brave, new, and exciting world.
Her three materials earned her a healthy 18,000 yuan, and after selling two slices of snake meat, she gained 4,000 more.
"Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Qin Feng!"
"You've said enough thank yous for today!" Qin Feng found it a little awkward. He wanted to repay her kindness, but was instead left with her feeling indebted.
"Let me cook us something as payment for the opportunity you've given me," she said shyly. Xiao Jing was not the kind to make empty promises. She employed her culinary skills and cooked up a delicious meal of the snakemeat, one which Qin Feng could not stop praising after he had a bite.
Additionally, Xiao Jing even got a bowl of warm snakemeat to bribe the captain in the hopes he would lend them a vehicle. As long as they did not lose it, they did not need to spend a single penny on transports.
Of course, no one would dare steal an army vehicle!
Qin Feng secretly found himself impressed by Xiao Jing's streetwise stint!
Night had fallen, and the plantations were done for the day. As the peasants left for home, the buzzing of machinery had been replaced with a session of intense bragging by soldiers over their combat skills. Some complained about their yield today, whereas some of the teams were awfully quiet. These ones had clearly lost a lot in today's fight.
The soldiers did not rest but continued their training and went about their drills. Upon seeing the activity, Xiao Jing joined in with excitement.
Qin Feng, on the other hand, rested in the tent. Well, he said he was going to rest, but in reality, he secretly wanted to meditate and cultivate the Asteroid Assimilation skill.
Before that could happen, though, there was something else he needed to do first.
Xiaobai was jumping around inside the rather small tent, intrigued by everything in its new surroundings.
"Xiaobai! Stop moving around!" scolded Qin Feng as he gently held onto Xiaobai.
The creature looked at Qin Feng with quizzical glassy eyes.
Qin Feng looked a little hesitant. He wanted to wait until Xiaobai was a little older and stronger before the bond, but Xiaobai's skills had him thinking that it was better to get it done now.
Space ability was not one of the top ten abilities. It was too arcane, the root of all destruction, yet gave people a mysterious and mythical hope!
"You'll be following me next time. I won't treat you as a slave. We are partners forever!"
In the previous life, by a freak combination of events, Xiaobai saved Qin Feng's life. He was not about to let the loyal beast sacrifice its life for him again. As long as he was alive, he vowed to himself that he would never abandon Xiaobai.
All that backstabbing would not distort him nor make him cynical and embittered.
He was not a saint; neither was he a cold-blooded man.
"Please. Don't refuse. I won't hurt you!"
Qin Feng bit his tongue, which sent a sharp pain shooting through his mouth. Then he focused his consciousness, and soon, the blood floated subconsciously towards Xiaobai.
Xiaobai stared curiously at the blood, cocking its head to one side.
The drop of blood was drawing closer Xiaobai followed it with its eyes. This caused its eyes to cross each other, making it look more adorable than ever!
The cross-eyed creature nearly made Qin Feng laugh out loud.
The blood entered through Xiaobai's brows, and Qin Feng could sense that he had made contact with Xiaobai's soul.
Then, from the head, the drop of blood descended, entering its soul, thereby forming a bond.
Xiaobai made no protests throughout the entire process. It behaved exceptionally well. Thankfully.
Perhaps, it somehow knew that Qin Feng would never hurt it.
Once the bond was completed, Qin Feng felt a great understanding of Xiaobai flood through his heart.
He was also relieved to find out that Xiaobai was not a dog, but an obscure species of fox called a silver fox.
It had the solid bloodline of a nine-tailed fox. What's more, being a silver fox meant that it was extremely rare and could control space.
Qin Feng could also sense that Xiaobai had its own little private space measuring one square meter. The compartment was very stable and could store items. It was in all another way, a personal space receptacle.
Having that space increased Xiaobai's value exponentially, and if people knew about this, they would, without a doubt, fight over it.
"Next time, try not to use your space ability. You're still young. You have to protect yourself!"
Qin Feng nudged Xiaobai's forehead. Perhaps it was because of the bond that Xiaobai's dependence on Qin Feng became even more prominent. Qin Feng could also sense a part of Xiaobai's thoughts and feelings.
"Chirp!" Xiaobai answered. Everything was strange and new to it, and therefore, Qin Feng's words were teachings that it would never violate.
Qin Feng ruffled its fur and then sat down with crossed legs. Getting in a lotus position, he started cultivating his meditation and Asteroid Assimilation.
In the following days, Qin Feng and Xiao Jing went hunting. Because Xiao Jing's abilities had been awakened, she was no longer just collecting materials, but also joining the fight.
Even though they were in constant danger, Xiao Jing had proven herself capable of handling sticky situations. For that, she nearly had a hole punctured through her calf and earned herself more than a few scratches and bruises.
Those injuries, however, were nothing for in a matter of days, Xiao Jing had managed to accumulate upwards of 80,000 yuan. She did not keep the money but instead exchanged for a combat suit and a sword. Even though she still did not have the support of an Ancient Warrior's inner force, she was undoubtedly ferocious and brave.
Many people in the plantations were envious of Qin Feng's and Xiao Jing's grand yields. But after seeing how the both of them fought on the battlefield, they acknowledged defeat and stepped aside in the face of superior strength.
Those two fought with their lives.
Of course, what those people did not know was that to Qin Feng, that was all just child's play.