As the first rays of sunlight filtered through the dense forest canopy, Xiao Feng stretched lazily, leaning against the tree he had slept under. Su Mei stirred beside him, her head still resting on his chest. Her soft breathing was calm, but Xiao Feng's stomach growled loudly, shattering the peaceful moment.
He glanced down at her, his silver eyes glinting mischievously. "Hey, I'm starving. I haven't eaten or drunk a single thing since I got here. Can you do something about it?"
Su Mei sat up, rubbing her eyes as she processed his words. "You're hungry?" she asked, blinking.
"Obviously," he replied, smirking. "Unless you want me to go hunting myself and burn the whole forest down in the process, I'd suggest you take care of it."
She rolled her eyes but stood up, brushing the dirt off her robes. "Fine. Stay here. I'll get something."
The Hunt
Su Mei disappeared into the forest with surprising agility, leaving Xiao Feng alone by the campfire. He leaned back, his mind wandering. This world was fascinating, but its rules were brutal, and he had no intention of playing by them.
Before long, Su Mei returned, carrying a couple of small beasts over her shoulder. Their blood still dripped onto the ground, a testament to her efficiency.
"You're back already?" Xiao Feng said, raising an eyebrow.
Su Mei smirked, kneeling by the fire. "Hunting small beasts like these is nothing. I'll have something ready in no time."
She expertly skinned and cleaned the beasts, skewering the meat on sticks and setting them over the fire. As the smell of roasting meat filled the air, Su Mei gathered a few nearby plants and leaves, crushing them into a paste.
"What's that?" Xiao Feng asked, intrigued.
"A sauce," she replied proudly. "It'll add some flavor to the meat."
A Meal Worth Remembering
After some time, Su Mei handed Xiao Feng a skewer of perfectly roasted meat, dipping it in the sauce before passing it over. "Here, try this."
Xiao Feng took a bite, his eyes widening in surprise. The tender meat was bursting with flavor, complemented perfectly by the tangy, slightly spicy sauce.
"I didn't expect this from you," he admitted, taking another bite. "This is actually good."
Su Mei's chest puffed out with pride. "Of course! I was always the best at housework when I was a child. Even though I was the patriarch's daughter, I didn't want to learn martial arts or train like the others. I just wanted to live like a normal human being."
Her proud expression faltered, sadness clouding her face. "But… If I had trained harder, if I had taken cultivation seriously, I might have been able to save them."
Xiao Feng's chewing slowed as he noticed her change in mood. He swallowed his food and leaned back. "Well, no point dwelling on the past. What matters is what you do now."
Su Mei nodded silently, trying to shake off her grief.
A Shocking Revelation
After finishing his meal, Xiao Feng suddenly remembered something. "Oh, by the way, what's your cultivation level?"
Su Mei looked at him in surprise. "You don't know? You're the one who saved me. How could you not sense it?"
Xiao Feng shrugged. "I can't sense it because my cultivation level is lower than yours."
Her eyes widened. "Lower than mine?" She hesitated, then said, "I'm at Spirit Realm, second stage. If your level is lower than mine, how could you defeat me so easily? And how can you even stand against those beasts in this forest?"
He smirked, his silver eyes glinting with amusement. "Because I'm special."
Su Mei frowned, not satisfied with his vague answer. "But… If your cultivation level is lower than mine, I shouldn't have been unable to sense it. Something doesn't add up."
Before Xiao Feng could respond, a familiar chime echoed in his mind as a system notification appeared.
[System Notification: No one below Nascent Soul Realm can sense the host's cultivation due to system protection.]
Xiao Feng's smirk deepened as he read the message. That explains it.
"Well, let's just say I have my secrets," he said cryptically, leaning back against the tree. "Don't think too hard about it."
Su Mei narrowed her eyes, clearly frustrated by his refusal to explain. But at the same time, a part of her couldn't help but trust him. He had saved her life and given her strength, even if his methods were unorthodox.
"Fine," she said finally, crossing her arms. "Keep your secrets. But I'll figure them out eventually."
Planning Ahead
As the morning wore on, Xiao Feng and Su Mei began preparing to delve deeper into the forest. Su Mei's newfound strength and confidence made her eager to test her abilities, while Xiao Feng was itching for a real challenge.
"We'll head north," Xiao Feng said, pointing toward the densest part of the forest. "If there's anything worth fighting, it'll be there."
Su Mei nodded, determination gleaming in her eyes. "Let's go, then."
As they walked side by side, the forest seemed to grow darker and more foreboding. Xiao Feng's mind raced with thoughts of what lay ahead—stronger beasts, powerful cultivators, and perhaps even a chance to test the limits of his abilities.
Su Mei, meanwhile, couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking beside someone far more dangerous and mysterious than she could comprehend.
One thing was certain: their journey was only just beginning, and the path ahead promised to be anything but dull.