So, Park Su immediately flashed a cheeky grin and said, "With my limited ability, the supplies I can gather are indeed not enough for such feasts every day. But after witnessing your prowess, I think if you were to join in collecting supplies, we could probably enjoy such meals daily even in these times. So, do you want to continue eating like this, or would you prefer to go back to the days of simpler fare? The decision is yours."
If anyone else had tried such small tricks in front of Xu Nuo, he would have found it highly irritating. He was already skeptical of human nature, filled with distrust, and rather than believing in the inherent goodness of people, he leaned towards their inherent malice.
Therefore, if he discovered someone exploiting him or playing smart, he would gradually distance himself from that person, even if he didn't say anything outright. Unless it was necessary, he wouldn't even bother talking to them.
But now, even though he knew Park Su was trying to outsmart him, he wasn't the least bit upset. Instead, he found Park Su's demeanor somewhat endearing.
However, he didn't immediately respond to Park Su's suggestion. He would let Park Su stew a bit more on whether he would join in. After all, every time Park Su meticulously tried to scheme him into doing things he was already inclined to do, those little expressions were indeed too adorable to resist!
He was also curious to see what kind of expression Park Su would make if he knew that what he was seeking was something Xu Nuo had already planned to do for him.
Park Su hadn't really expected Xu Nuo to be so lenient with him, so when he made his suggestion and Xu Nuo didn't immediately respond, he wasn't surprised.
But what was Xu Nuo staring at him so intently for? Didn't he realize that looking at someone with such an expression and gaze made them feel uncomfortable? Park Su quickly coughed awkwardly to change the subject, "You know we're about to set out for the S base. So, I think it's best to prepare more. It's for our comfort on the road, isn't it? Besides, we're in the early stages of the apocalypse, and there are still plenty of resources available. Zombies aren't too strong yet, so we should take advantage of this time to gather more supplies.
I've already collected from the nearby supermarkets and markets, so I'm thinking of going a bit further, closer to the city center, to gather more supplies and perhaps seek a way to break through my abilities. As for lunch, I'll prepare it for you in the morning, and you can just heat it up at noon."
Upon hearing that Park Su wanted to seek a breakthrough in his abilities, Xu Nuo swallowed back the words "I'll go with you." Because everyone on the path of cultivation understood that sometimes, the more dangerous the situation, the more it could push one's potential to the limit, aiding in breakthroughs.
Yet, knowing Park Su was doing nothing wrong, Xu Nuo still felt an unwillingness in his heart to let him go alone. This emotion made him frown. He had seen Park Su's capabilities before, and though they weren't as great as his own, Park Su was certainly capable. As long as the zombies didn't appear in large numbers, Park Su should be able to retreat safely. So why was he so uneasy?
To soothe his own anxious feelings, he finally took out five talismans from his spatial ring and placed them in front of Park Su, explaining, "Here, these three are defensive talismans, and these two are attack talismans that summon lightning. I've already infused them with ample spiritual energy; just throw them out to use them. If you encounter a situation you can't handle, use them, don't try to be brave."
Park Su was taken aback by Xu Nuo's gesture. He had been thinking about how to ask Xu Nuo for some talismans for self-defense, especially after seeing their effectiveness. These were treasures, after all.
But knowing Xu Nuo's temperament, he expected it would take a lot of effort and persuasion to get them. He had even planned to find the right moment in the next few days to ask.
Yet, here Xu Nuo was, giving him talismans without him even asking.
Park Su was touched, and when he looked at Xu Nuo's stern face, he found it more appealing, without the previous sense of aloofness.
More importantly, the fact that Xu Nuo was willing to give him talismans proactively suggested that all his efforts to build goodwill hadn't been in vain. If he continued to accumulate favor, wouldn't it mean that someday Xu Nuo might teach him the method to craft spatial rings?
Feeling a glimmer of hope for the future, Park Su excitedly examined the talismans from every angle before carefully storing them in his spatial ring. Seeing how much Park Su cherished the talismans he had given him, Xu Nuo felt a peculiar sense of satisfaction.
However, he was also worried that Park Su might treasure them too much to use them when needed, so he added, "I've given these to you to use, not to save. Don't hoard them; I'll be drawing more talismans these few days at home, and I'll set some aside for you."
At the same time, he thought perhaps he should make a high-spirituality peace talisman for Park Su to carry, which, while not able to avoid major calamities as in peaceful times, should help him steer clear of particularly dangerous areas, as long as Park Su wasn't plagued by bad luck.
Park Su, absorbed in his own excitement, didn't notice Xu Nuo's reverie. Xu Nuo's expressions were usually not very varied, and Park Su was too surprised to hear that Xu Nuo was setting aside talismans for him over these days, and it moved him deeply.
It was the first time someone had expressed genuine concern for him, other than his mother. Xu Nuo hadn't said it explicitly, but his actions made it clear, didn't they?
When someone is moved, they are prone to making mistakes. By the time Park Su realized what he had done, he had already embraced Xu Nuo and even nuzzled him a few times. If Xu Nuo hadn't stiffened and remained motionless, Park Su might have forgotten that the person in front of him was someone of great importance, with a peculiar temperament.
He quickly and awkwardly let go, turning to check Xu Nuo's expression, only to find that his face hadn't changed much. He let out a sigh of relief and stammered an explanation, "Uh, I was just, too, too happy. I didn't expect you to be so good to me. Um, don't mind me; I just got carried away. Uh, thanks."
With that, he turned away to clear the table, not daring to look back at Xu Nuo, who was sitting behind him. His neck and face gradually turned a shade of pink.
What Park Su didn't know was that while he felt embarrassed, Xu Nuo, who had been hugged, was quite taken aback. This was the first time someone had embraced him since he could remember. His master had always emphasized independence and strength, saying he wouldn't be with him forever, so there had never been any hugs.
Later, due to his own cold disposition, naturally, no one would approach him closely, and no one would dare to do something so impolite.
When he was in school, he had seen others embrace their parents or friends, and he had thought he wouldn't envy them, even finding it somewhat melodramatic. But now he realized he actually quite liked hugs. After a while, he finally looked at the young man busy in the kitchen, his eyes darkening slightly, a faint red creeping up his neck. He could still feel Park Su's warmth and unique scent lingering in his nose. He swallowed, not saying anything more, and went upstairs.
Park Su, who hadn't turned around, heard Xu Nuo leave and let out a long sigh. He had been too impulsive earlier, knowing full well that Master Xu Nuo was the least fond of close contact, yet he had done just that. He could feel Xu Nuo's stiffness, wondering if he had lost any favor.
Ah, that face really gave no hint of whether he was angry or not. However, even though it was just a simple hug, Park Su had to admit Xu Nuo's physique was even better than what he had observed.
Though he had been hasty, the feel of those well-defined muscles under his hands made him somewhat envious. If it weren't for the example of Sun Mu Yang, who had broken his heart, or if they weren't in the apocalypse, where he needed to fight for survival and his mother's future, he might have developed feelings for this master. But now, he knew what was most important to him, and he didn't want to repeat past follies and give his heart away so easily, only to be hurt again.
He didn't consider himself strong enough to endure such pain once more, so it was better not to touch upon those feelings.
Park Su quickly redirected his thoughts, focusing solely on collecting supplies and seeking a breakthrough.
With Xu Nuo's permission, for the next few days, Park Su would get up early, prepare their lunch, leave a note for Xu Nuo, and head out, returning only late in the evening, with each day coming back later than the last.
Xu Nuo had expressed his disapproval with a cold face, but Park Su explained that the supplies in the areas with fewer zombies were almost depleted, so he needed to venture further. Moreover, he wanted to kill more zombies to collect more crystal nuclei for his cultivation.