The air in the small house grew still after Miss Xu's words, but Yang Feng's mind was far from calm. He sat quietly, lost in thought, until something strange broke through the haze of his contemplation. It was faint at first, a peculiar scent that drifted into the room like an unwelcome guest. His nose wrinkled as he caught it—an eerie, smoky smell that seemed out of place in the peaceful village setting. Miss Xu noticed it too. Her nose twitched, and her brow furrowed as she sniffed the air.
"Is something burning?" she asked aloud, more to herself than to Yang Feng.
Yang Feng's eyes widened slightly as the scent grew stronger, its acrid presence filling the space. He leapt to his feet at the same moment Miss Xu did. They exchanged a quick, panicked glance before both cried out in unison, "The food!"
Without another word, they bolted out of the house, their feet pounding against the wooden floor as they rushed outside. The warm daylight greeted them, but neither had time to appreciate it. The smoke, dark and thick, was rising from the direction of the cooking pot.
Yang Feng was fast, but Miss Xu wasn't far behind. Together, they sprinted toward the pot that sat near the edge of the garden. Their hearts raced, imagining the food turning to ash, the flames licking at the sides of the pot. But as they arrived, skidding to a halt, they both froze.
The cooking pot wasn't burning. The smoke that had filled the air moments ago was nowhere to be found. There was no fire, no scorched food, no sign of anything wrong. The pot sat still, untouched by the flames they had expected.
Yang Feng looked at Miss Xu, his confusion mirrored in her wide eyes. "What…?"
She shook her head, speechless, her gaze darting from the pot to the air around them. The eerie smell had vanished just as mysteriously as it had come. Both stood in silence, unsure of what to make of it.
As they were about to speak, the sound of footsteps on the garden path interrupted them. They turned to see the village elder, his hunched figure shuffling toward them with a broad smile on his face. "Yang Feng!" he called out cheerfully.
The old man's appearance broke the tension in the air, and Miss Xu quickly composed herself, stepping forward to greet him. Yang Feng, still perplexed by the vanishing smoke, simply nodded as the elder approached. His curiosity about the strange event lingered, but it was clear the elder wasn't concerned. Instead, the elder patted Yang Feng on the back with a familiar warmth.
"Come along, everyone," the elder said with a chuckle, motioning for them to follow. "Let's sit in the garden and have some tea."
Yang Feng and Miss Xu followed the elder to the garden where a small table with wooden chairs awaited them. The sun filtered through the leaves of nearby trees, casting dappled shadows across the stone path leading to the table. Flowers in vibrant hues bloomed along the edges of the garden, their sweet fragrance replacing the strange smoke from earlier. A slight breeze rustled the leaves, adding to the peaceful atmosphere of the village.
Miss Xu poured tea for the elder, her hands moving gracefully as she set the cups down. The elder sipped slowly, savoring the warmth of the tea as he gazed at Yang Feng with twinkling eyes. After a long sip, he set his cup down and turned to Miss Xu.
"So," he began with a light tone, "have you explained everything to young Yang Feng, or do I need to fill him in myself?"
Yang Feng leaned forward slightly, eager to hear what the elder had to say. He wanted the old man's perspective—perhaps he could provide some insight that Miss Xu had missed. He opened his mouth, ready to ask a question, but before he could speak, Miss Xu intervened.
"I've explained everything," she said smoothly, a small smile on her lips. "Yang Feng understands."
The elder looked at Yang Feng again, this time with an appraising eye. "Is that so?" He reached out, placing a firm but gentle hand on Yang Feng's shoulder. There was something comforting in the elder's touch, a reassurance that all was well, even when nothing seemed to make sense.
"Well then," the elder continued, "it looks like we've taken good care of you today." He turned to Miss Xu once more. "Give him the money for the wood he brought."
Miss Xu nodded, excusing herself politely as she left to retrieve the payment. Yang Feng waited in silence, his mind still buzzing with questions. The village elder's words were light, but Yang Feng sensed there was something deeper behind them. He wasn't sure what it was, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was being left unsaid.
When Miss Xu returned, she handed Yang Feng a small pouch of money, along with two empty baskets. "For your wood," she said, smiling. "You've done well today."
Yang Feng accepted the pouch and baskets with a nod, offering a polite smile in return. But inside, his thoughts were racing. Why hadn't they mentioned the spiritual academy again? The entire day had been building up to it, yet now it seemed like they were deliberately avoiding the subject. He had expected more, but perhaps this was part of some larger plan.
Miss Xu and the elder waved him off, bidding him farewell as he started the walk back home. The sun hung lower in the sky now, casting long shadows across the path. Yang Feng's steps were slow and measured as he headed toward the mountain slope. The village was a peaceful sight behind him, but his mind was far from settled.
As he climbed the slope, the weight of the day's events pressed down on him. His thoughts were tangled, a mess of questions and uncertainty. Why hadn't they discussed the academy? What was holding them back from telling him more? Did they think he wasn't ready to hear the full truth?
When he reached the top of the slope, he stopped and turned, looking down at the village once more. The houses were small from this height, the people barely visible as they went about their day. The smoke from earlier seemed like a distant memory, though the strange event still nagged at him.
Shaking his head, Yang Feng sighed deeply. "In the end," he muttered to himself, "it wasn't all in vain." He had learned something today, even if the answers weren't as clear as he had hoped. He would find out more, piece by piece, bit by bit.
With a soft whistle, he looked around the forested path, his eyes scanning the horizon. Just as he was about to continue walking, a familiar figure emerged from the trees. Xiao Zhan, his spiritual wolf, appeared silently, his sleek white fur shimmering in the fading sunlight.
Yang Feng couldn't help but smile as Xiao Zhan padded over, lowering his head so Yang Feng could pat him. A laugh escaped Yang Feng's lips as the wolf playfully nudged him, its tail swaying happily behind it.
"Good to see you," Yang Feng said warmly, running his hand through Xiao Zhan's fur. The wolf's presence was a reminder that, even in this strange new world, he wasn't alone.
Yang Feng swung onto Xiao Zhan's back with practiced ease, feeling the strength of the beast beneath him. With a command, the wolf took off, moving swiftly through the trees, the wind rushing past Yang Feng's face. The thrill of the ride made him feel alive, his earlier confusion melting away in the joy of the moment.
As they raced through the forest, Yang Feng smiled, his hair whipping in the breeze. He felt a sense of freedom, of control, even as the world around him remained a mystery. If this truly was a new world, he thought, then he would have to discover it bit by bit. And nothing, not even the uncertainty of his new life, would stop him.
"Nothing will stop me," he murmured to himself, a quiet resolve forming in his heart.
With Xiao Zhan beneath him and the wind in his hair, Yang Feng felt ready for whatever lay ahead. This was only the beginning.