"You two seem new to traveling far from home," remarked the man guarding the goods for the Wangcai Trading Company, his tone carrying a hint of amusement. "Didn't bring even a scrap of food, huh? We're still miles away from the next town, and you won't make it without eating something. Skipping a whole day's meals—your bodies might not handle it."
Xiao Chen, startled by the comment, realized his oversight. Though his cultivation had advanced to the point where he could survive ten days without food, the mention still caught his attention. Smiling, he turned to his newfound companion. "Little brother, it seems we've been so engrossed in our talks that we forgot to prepare even a simple meal. What shall we do now?"
"Ah, big brother, I just realized the same!" Li Xiaoyi groaned, smacking his forehead in mock despair. "What a disaster. Looks like we're in for a rough day."
Across from them, a middle-aged man with a kind face and calloused hands chuckled. "If you don't mind the taste, I've got a few extra flatbread cakes packed by my wife. It's not much, but it'll fill your stomachs."
The guard from the trading company sneered, cutting in with a disdainful look. "Ha! Do you think these young masters, dressed all fancy, would stoop to eating coarse food like yours? You'd best keep that to yourself unless you want to embarrass yourself further."
With a flourish, he retrieved a food box from beside him, his tone shifting to one of false enthusiasm. "Now, this here has six dishes—chicken, duck, fish, and all the good stuff. Still warm, too! Young masters, care to try a taste? Just a modest price for such fine food."
The middle-aged man, visibly embarrassed, shrank back into his corner, cradling his small bundle of provisions.
Xiao Chen raised an eyebrow at the guard, his expression neutral. Before he could reply, Li Xiaoyi snorted coldly. "We're perfectly happy with simple flatbread. You can peddle your fancy meals elsewhere—we're not interested."
The guard's face darkened, his attempt to profit dashed. After lingering awkwardly for a moment, he huffed and moved on, carrying his food box to another wagon in search of more willing customers.
Turning back to the man with the flatbread, Li Xiaoyi smiled warmly. "Big brother, how about this? We'll buy a few pieces from you—one silver coin for each cake. What do you think?"
The man, flustered, waved his hands vigorously. "No, no! These are just simple cakes, nothing worth paying for. Please, just take them."
"Nonsense," Xiao Chen said firmly. "We don't take food for free. Take this."
With that, Li Xiaoyi handed the man a silver ingot—far more than the flatbread was worth. The man hesitated before accepting, his hands trembling as he tucked the silver securely into his pocket. Gratitude shining in his eyes, he handed over almost his entire bundle of flatbread, keeping only a couple for himself.
"And here's some homemade wine to go with it," the man added, offering a small jug. "It's not much, but it's something."
Taking a swig from the jug, Xiao Chen smiled. The rough wine paired with the coarse bread had an oddly charming flavor. Passing the jug to Li Xiaoyi, he said, "You should try this, little brother. It's surprisingly good."
Li Xiaoyi hesitated, his cheeks tinged red. "I rarely drink, big brother. I might embarrass myself if I get tipsy."
"Hah, are you worried about losing face in front of me? Come now, drink!" Xiao Chen laughed.
Encouraged, Li Xiaoyi took a bold gulp and immediately choked, his face flushing redder than before as he coughed violently. Xiao Chen laughed heartily at the sight, his previous wariness melting away as he enjoyed the moment.
Unbeknownst to him, a sudden warmth spread through his body, calming his tense nerves. His spiritual sense, which had long stagnated at its current level, stirred faintly, as if teetering on the edge of a breakthrough.
Leaning back against the wagon, Xiao Chen's vision unfocused, his mind drifting. Within his sea of consciousness, his spiritual sense surged, shedding its former limits.
Moments later, he blinked back to awareness, a faint smile on his lips. "It's done. My spiritual sense has grown stronger—more refined. I'd wager it's on par with a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator now."
"Big brother, are you alright?" Li Xiaoyi asked, noticing Xiao Chen's sudden shift in demeanor.
"Just lost in thought for a moment," Xiao Chen replied casually, brushing off the concern. After all, this was not something he could share.
Suddenly, shouts erupted from the front of the caravan.
"Bandits! It's the bandits!"
The previously calm procession descended into chaos, voices rising in fear and panic.
Xiao Chen's brow furrowed as he stood, gazing toward the source of the commotion. In the distance, a massive cloud of dust marked the approach of several hundred mounted figures, their weapons gleaming ominously in the sunlight.
"Calm down!" the caravan leader barked, his voice steady despite the panic around him. "Form up in a circle! Wagons to the front, guards to the rear, and civilians in the center. Stand your ground!"
The experienced merchants and guards quickly fell into formation, their initial terror giving way to grim determination. But as the bandits closed in, their ruthless aura pressing down like a storm, Xiao Chen's eyes narrowed.
"Let's see what happens next," he muttered, his expression calm despite the looming threat.