Yang Feng descended the final slope of the mountain and reached the village. His eyes widened as he took in the sight before him. The village bustled with life, a humble yet vibrant community nestled amidst the forest. Cobblestone paths wound through clusters of small houses, most made of sturdy wood and stone, their thatched roofs puffing smoke from small chimneys. Villagers in simple, yet colorful clothing went about their daily chores—some carried baskets of fruit, others hauled tools, and children chased each other through the streets.
Yang Feng marveled at the sight. Though it wasn't a grand city like the ones he had seen in his immortal life, it had a warmth and charm of its own. It was modest yet serene. He adjusted the basket of wood on his back, feeling the weight shift as he continued down the path. His gaze wandered from the people to the houses. Many had neatly arranged gardens in front of them, filled with vegetables and herbs, while others had small animal pens filled with chickens or goats. The faint smell of baked bread mixed with the scent of pine and earth.
Suddenly, a voice boomed from behind him. "Yang Feng! Yang Feng, my boy!"
He turned to see the village elder hurrying toward him, his wrinkled face lit up with joy. The old man's pace was surprisingly brisk for someone of his age. He wore simple robes, dark green with a rope tied around his waist, and a straw hat perched on his head. His long white beard swayed with each step as he approached Yang Feng.
The elder clasped Yang Feng's shoulder tightly, his face beaming with delight. "Ah, you really resemble him very well, you know!" the elder said, his voice filled with nostalgia.
Yang Feng's brow furrowed in confusion. Resemble who? He thought, but decided to let the comment pass. Smiling politely, Yang Feng asked, "How are you doing today, Grandpa?" He had always referred to the village elder as 'Grandpa,' a sign of respect and familiarity.
The village elder chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm doing just fine, lad. But tell me, how is Bai Feng?" There was a peculiar gleam in his eye, as if Bai Feng held some significance that Yang Feng wasn't privy to.
Yang Feng twisted his lips into a forced smile. He had too many questions about his father, especially after discovering his hidden Qi Sage-level power. "Father is doing fine," he replied, though a sense of unease lingered in his voice.
The village elder seemed overjoyed by this response. "That's wonderful news! Wonderful! You've come just in time, Yang Feng," the elder said, clapping his hands together as if an idea had just struck him. "We've been expecting a very important visitor today."
Yang Feng tilted his head in curiosity. "A visitor? Why is the wood needed so urgently?"
The elder's eyes gleamed with excitement. "We're expecting a counselor from the Spiritual Academy! They're coming to evaluate the children of our village to see if any of them have the potential to become Spiritual Masters!"
Spiritual Masters? Yang Feng had heard that term before, but he never fully understood its meaning. His thoughts raced—if this visitor was coming from a Spiritual Academy, could they be of a high enough cultivation level to answer his burning questions? Could they be a Qi Zun or even a Qi Huang? Perhaps this was his chance to learn where he was. Was he still in the Azure Domain, or was this a completely different realm? The mystery of his rebirth in this village gnawed at him.
"If the counselor turns out to be powerful," Yang Feng mused to himself, "I might finally be able to ask them which domain this is. Maybe even find out if I'm in another upper realm…" His excitement surged at the possibility of answers within reach.
The village elder's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Yang Feng? Are you listening, boy?"
Yang Feng blinked, snapping out of his daze. "Sorry, Grandpa. I was just thinking."
The elder chuckled, shaking his head. "It's fine. I was just saying, take this wood over to Miss Xu's house. She'll be needing it for today's big feast. We want everything to be perfect when the counselor arrives."
Yang Feng nodded, adjusting the wood on his shoulder. "I'll take it right away."
He followed the familiar path to Miss Xu's house, winding through the village, past the marketplace where stalls bustled with people selling goods. The village was alive with preparation for the visitor—people swept the streets, set up decorations, and prepared food. The closer Yang Feng got to Miss Xu's house, the stronger the smell of something burnt hit his nose.
His eyes widened as he saw thick black smoke billowing from the direction of Miss Xu's home. His first thought was fire, and without a second to lose, Yang Feng dropped the basket of wood and sprinted towards the smoke. His heart raced as he imagined the house engulfed in flames, but when he arrived, the sight before him was far less dramatic.
In the middle of the yard stood Miss Xu, staring forlornly at a massive cooking pot. Black smoke wafted from it, and the acrid smell of burnt food filled the air. Miss Xu, a kind woman in her twenties who was wringing her hands in despair.
"Oh no, no, no… I've ruined everything!" she wailed, her voice thick with emotion. "The village will hate me! I've burnt the food for the feast!" Tears brimmed in her eyes as she looked at the charred mess inside the pot.
Yang Feng approached cautiously, feeling both surprised and disappointed. He had expected something far worse. "Miss Xu… what happened?"
Miss Xu let out a heavy sigh, wiping her hands on her apron. "I left the pot unattended for too long. I was trying to prepare everything for the feast, and now look! Everything is ruined!"
Yang Feng looked at the big pot, the contents blackened and unrecognizable. He could see the worry etched in Miss Xu's face—this feast was clearly important to her. But he wasn't about to let her despair.
"Don't worry, Miss Xu," Yang Feng said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I'm here to help. The village elder sent me with the wood you need. We can still salvage this."
Miss Xu looked at him, tears still glistening in her eyes. "But what good is wood when the food is already ruined?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Yang Feng smiled, his determination unwavering. "I'll help you fix the food," he said confidently.
Miss Xu looked at him, surprised by his sudden offer of help. She handed him an apron, and Yang Feng quickly tied it around his waist, stepping up to the large pot. His mind raced as he considered the ingredients at hand. They could still make something work if they started fresh. The wood he had brought would give them enough heat to prepare another batch in time for the counselor's arrival.
"I need you to gather fresh ingredients," Yang Feng instructed Miss Xu, pointing to the vegetables and herbs scattered on the table. "We're going to start over."
Miss Xu nodded, quickly setting to work. Yang Feng stirred the remnants of the burnt food from the pot, discarding it into a nearby bucket. As he stood over the massive cooking pot, the temptation to use his double pupils gnawed at him. It would certainly make things easier, helping him calculate the exact amount of heat and ingredients needed to make the perfect dish.
But Yang Feng hesitated. If he used his double pupils now, he'd drain what little Qi he had accumulated over the past day. His cultivation was still weak, and he couldn't afford to exhaust himself, especially with the school counselor arriving soon. There was no telling what kind of questions or challenges awaited him.
"I'll use it after the counselor arrives," Yang Feng decided. He couldn't risk being vulnerable right now.
For now, he focused on helping Miss Xu, guiding her through the cooking process. As they worked together, Yang Feng's mind wandered back to the counselor. Who were they? And could they finally provide him with the answers he had been searching for?
As the new batch of food began to simmer and the scent of freshly cooked ingredients filled the air, Yang Feng's heart raced with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. Soon, the counselor would arrive, and with them, perhaps the key to unlocking the mysteries that surrounded his new life.