A few days later...
---
Lie Zhanfeng trudged along the narrow dirt path that meandered through the dense underbrush of Westmount. He wiped his brow with the back of his hand, a weary sigh escaping his lips. The journey had taken its toll—his legs ached from hours of walking, his stomach growled incessantly, and his head felt light from hunger. He glanced at the empty pouch tied to his waist and muttered, "I should've packed more food."
He winced at the thought of his current predicament. He was, after all, just a mortal, and surviving out here was no small feat. His journey thus far had relied on sheer luck and a good dose of shamelessness. Lie Zhanfeng grimaced, remembering one particular incident involving a stolen piece of roasted meat and a distracted peddler. The memory made him flush with embarrassment. "Bah! Let's not dwell on that," he grumbled, shaking his head.
Lie Zhanfeng sometimes wondered if these cultivators were just all talk. Otherwise, how could someone like him—stealing things left and right—still be alive to tell the tale?
As his stomach growled louder, he scanned his surroundings for anything edible. It was then that he heard it: a rhythmic clucking sound.
Cluck. Cluck. Cluck.
He froze, his ears perking up. His eyes darted around, seeking the source of the sound.
"Is that… a chicken?" he whispered, a spark of hope igniting in his chest.
Moments later, the underbrush rustled, and an iridescent rooster strutted out, its feathers gleaming a vivid red and gold. Its comb was sharp and upright, and its beady eyes glared at him with what could only be described as disdain. The bird held its head high, puffing out its chest as if it owned the entire forest. Lie Zhanfeng blinked at the sight, momentarily dumbfounded.
"A rooster?" he muttered. His stomach growled again, this time with such ferocity that it startled even him. "No, dinner!" His eyes lit up with determination as he unsheathed the rusty blade strapped to his back. "Alright, little guy, don't take this personally. A man's gotta eat!"
The rooster cocked its head, staring at him with what could only be described as a mocking glint in its eyes. Then, without warning, it took a step back, fluttered its wings, and dashed into the brush.
"Hey! Don't you run from me!" Lie Zhanfeng bellowed, charging after it.
The chase was on.
The rooster darted left and right with an agility that defied logic, easily evading Lie Zhanfeng's clumsy attempts to corner it. Every time he lunged, it sidestepped with a taunting cluck, its tail feathers swishing provocatively.
"Come back here, you feathered demon!" Lie Zhanfeng shouted, panting heavily. He swung his blade wildly, only for the rooster to leap effortlessly out of reach.
He stumbled over a root, catching himself just before faceplanting into the dirt. The rooster paused a few paces ahead, turning back to regard him with an almost smug expression.
"You think this is funny?" he growled, his face red with exertion and embarrassment.
The rooster let out a sharp cluck as if answering in the affirmative before darting off again.
---
The "battle" continued for what felt like an eternity. Lie Zhanfeng tried everything—pouncing from behind trees, flinging loose rocks, even attempting to outsmart the bird by feigning retreat. Nothing worked. The rooster was always one step ahead, dancing just out of reach.
By the time Lie Zhanfeng was drenched in sweat, the rooster was still as pristine and arrogant as ever. His frustration boiled over. "That's it! No more Mr. Nice Guy!" He threw his blade to the ground and reached for the dented frying pan strapped to his pack. "If I can't slash you, I'll swat you!"
The rooster, sensing a change in tactics, paused. Its beady eyes narrowed, and it crouched slightly, readying itself for another dodge.
Lie Zhanfeng took a deep breath, steadied his grip on the pan, and charged. This time, instead of swinging wildly, he waited for the rooster to move. As it darted to the left, he adjusted his aim and brought the pan down with all his might.
THWACK!
The pan connected. The rooster squawked loudly, flapping its wings in protest before collapsing in a heap. Lie Zhanfeng stood over it, breathing heavily, his heart racing with a mix of triumph and disbelief. "Finally," he gasped, wiping his brow. "Dinner is—"
Lie Zhanfeng was just about to grab the rooster when, with a sudden burst of movement, it sprang up from the ground. The force of its leap was enough to startle him, and he staggered back, his hand missing its target by mere inches.
The rooster stood still for a moment, glaring at him with fiery eyes that seemed to burn brighter in the daylight. Then, before Lie Zhanfeng could react, the bird let out a sharp, defiant cluck and dashed off into the deeper part of the forest, leaving a trail of hot embers in its wake.
The ground beneath the rooster's claws sizzled where the embers touched, and the heat radiated in waves. Lie Zhanfeng stood frozen for a moment, staring at the disappearing figure of the Emberclaw Rooster, his mouth hanging open in disbelief. The only thing left behind was the faint smell of scorched earth.
Lie Zhanfeng collapsed onto the ground, laughing despite himself. "Of course. Even the chickens in Westmount are cultivators."
The rooster was already long gone, disappearing into the shadows of the forest with a speed and grace that left Lie Zhanfeng to stew in frustration.
He rubbed his knees, clutching the pan like a lifeline. "Curse you, feathered spawn of hell!" he shouted after it. "Mark my words, I'll get you next time!"
---
Meanwhile, Farther Into Westmount
The Xie family had stopped in a small clearing, taking a brief rest during their journey through the dense forest. There were five of them, gathered together under the dappled sunlight that filtered through the trees.
Xie Ruyue stood at the front, her demeanor gentle and composed, a serene smile gracing her lips as she addressed the group. Her soft voice carried the weight of authority, though she spoke with kindness. "We need to move swiftly. The deeper we go, the more dangerous it becomes."
Her tone was so measured, so pleasant, that no one thought to question it. She was always the one who took charge, and her words were received with unquestioning obedience.
Xie Dongyi, standing quietly off to the side, gave a small nod. He rarely spoke, preferring to remain silent and observe the others. His gaze, though calm, seemed distant as his attention lingered on the path ahead.
Next to him, Xie Lingzhi crossed his arms, clearly uninterested in the conversation. "What's the rush?" he muttered, his tone bored.
Without missing a beat, Xie Ruyue turned to him, her expression still serene. "Lingzhi, sometimes you must think before you speak. We cannot afford to waste time when there is danger ahead."
Xie Lingzhi didn't reply, but his eyes narrowed slightly. There was a hint of frustration in his gaze, but he wisely held his tongue.
Xie Min, eager as always to stay in Ruyue's good graces, smiled broadly. "Yes, we should hurry! We wouldn't want to be left behind, right, Ruyue?"
Xie Ruyue's smile deepened, and she nodded at him in approval, her eyes soft. "Thank you, Min. You're always so attentive."
Behind them, Xie Yuming spoke up in his usual gentle manner, his voice carrying the slightest edge of sweetness. "Ayue is right. We must be cautious but quick. Everyone should stay close."
Xie Ruyue gave him a kind glance, acknowledging his words. "You're all very dependable," she said, her voice full of warmth.
As the group began to move again, a small moment of tension passed unnoticed. Xie Lingzhi, ever the arrogant one, snorted but didn't challenge her further. Xie Min continued to trail eagerly behind, and Xie Yuming kept pace with the others, offering occasional smiles. Xie Dongyi, though silent, stayed close enough to the group, his presence barely noticeable.
–––
As the Xie family moved further into the forest, Lie Zhanfeng continued on his path, frustrated by his failed attempt to catch the rooster. His stomach growled, and fatigue dragged at his limbs, but he pressed on, unaware of the small group not far ahead.
The Xie family, hidden deeper within the trees, continued their journey without encountering him. Had Lie Zhanfeng taken a different route or ventured a little further off the path, he might have crossed paths with Xie Dongyi, though neither would have likely noticed the other. But as the distance between them grew, so did the chance of their meeting slip further away.
And so, as the day passed, Lie Zhanfeng remained blissfully unaware that, somewhere in the forest, a chance meeting with someone was quietly fading into the distance.