Looking at the sleeping girl on the bed, Xiao Feng smacked his lips. Achieving the rank of Dou Practitioner in a month and a half... he really didn't know what kind of creature this Magical Beast Mountain Range would eventually nurture.
Manni and Tieshan were guarding outside the house; the fluctuations of Dou Qi just now had alerted them.
Xiao Feng pushed open the door and told them to continue with their work. He then summoned a few wolves to guard the entrance. Having nothing to do for the moment, he simply started walking aimlessly through the forest.
He had been busy all these years. From initially just wanting to survive, to now having an additional protective affection for Xiao Xun Er, he rarely let his mind relax and enjoyed any leisure time.
Picking up a leaf in passing, Xiao Feng looked toward Wutan City and whispered in his heart: "I originally wanted to play some tunes for you when I had some free time. Can you hear them?"
[Writing to this point, I hope readers remember our domain name. Reading Taiwan novels is super convenient.]
Placing the green leaf against his lips, a graceful melody echoed through the woods.
Xun'er... I miss you... Wutan City.
"Sister Xuner, have you seen Brother Xiao Yan?" Xiao Mei knocked on Xiao Xun Er's door.
Stopping her longing for Xiao Feng, Xiao Xun Er opened the door. "Brother Xiao Yan went out this morning and hasn't returned yet. Isn't he with you all?"
Xiao Mei shook her head. "I've searched the Dou Technique Hall, the square, and several places on the back mountain, but I haven't seen any sign of Brother Xiao Yan. Why is he always avoiding me?"
The young girl spoke with a sob in her voice. Having not seen Xiao Yan for several days, she was incredibly worried.
Xiao Xun Er smiled and comforted her, "Don't worry. When I see him tonight, I'll ask for you."
"Mhm, thank you, Sister Xuner."
Xiao Mei left with her head bowed.
Looking at Xiao Mei's dejected back, Xiao Xun Er sighed and said to the interior, "She's gone."
The sound of footsteps rang out as Xiao Yan walked out of Xiao Xun Er's room.
At this moment, his hair was messy, his eyes were lifeless, and he walked somewhat dazedly.
He squeezed out a faint smile for Xiao Xun Er. "Sister Xuner, thank you."
Xiao Xun Er was a bit worried. "Brother Xiao Yan, what exactly is wrong with you?"
Xiao Yan gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
He didn't know what was wrong with him either, but he was clear on one point: his past glory no longer had anything to do with him. Not only that, but overwhelming ridicule and insults would follow one after another.
Suddenly, he laughed. "Only at a time like this can I see the gap between me and Brother Feng."
Xiao Xun Er's worry deepened. "Are you really alright?"
Xiao Yan shook his head and said nothing more, walking toward his own courtyard.
Even if ten thousand insults were heaped upon him, he could still remain unperturbed, peacefully sweating in the courtyard. Then I, Xiao Yan, can naturally do the same!
If Xiao Feng saw this scene, he would probably smile with relief: the salted fish is finally starting to flop... Xiao Linger had already woken up. She closed her eyes and felt her surroundings again; the world seemed to have changed.
"Xiao Feng..." she murmured softly, her heart filled with all sorts of complex emotions.
Creak... The door opened, and Xiao Feng walked in from outside. Xiao Linger twitched like a rabbit and then turned fierce. "What do you want to do?!"
"This is my room." Xiao Feng glared at her. "Sit properly and familiarize yourself with the path of the circulation technique."
"I won't!"
"You won't?"
Xiao Feng began to roll up his sleeves. The small wooden stick had long been prepared.
Five minutes later, Xiao Linger became obedient, except for muttering under her breath, "Just you wait. Sooner or later, I will avenge Xiao Zi!"
An hour later, Xiao Feng interrupted Xiao Linger. "How is it? Are you a bit more familiar?"
Xiao Linger curled her lip, just about to say "none of your business" when she suddenly saw the wooden stick in Xiao Feng's hand. She could only stare with her big eyes and say fiercely, "It's alright. Why?"
"Nothing. Go eat first; we'll start tonight."
After dinner, Xiao Linger came to knock on the door.
"Go take a bath first, wash yourself clean!" Xiao Feng's voice came from inside the room.
"What do you want to do?" Xiao Linger pushed open the door and asked with a look of vigilance.
In the room, Xiao Feng had cleared things away. There was only a table and a bathtub. Xiao Feng was still busy, constantly repairing the gaps in the wooden house.
"I told you to go, so go. Why so much nonsense?" Xiao Feng glared at her.
Seeing his serious expression, Xiao Linger didn't think he was going to do anything bad. She gave an "oh" and left.
"Wait." Xiao Feng called out to her again.
"What else is there?" Xiao Linger became impatient.
"Wash your hair clean, too."
"Oh."
"Also, wash the hairy parts clean too..."
"Get lost!" Xiao Linger's face turned red with anger, and she slammed the door.
When Xiao Linger returned with water dripping from her head, Xiao Feng had already made the entire wooden house airtight. The table was covered with medicinal herbs, including those her adoptive mother had warned her not to eat.
Xiao Feng poured hot water into two tubs and pointed at one of them. "Take off all your clothes and wash again."
Xiao Linger glared at Xiao Feng, her face full of disdain. "You just want to see me without clothes, don't you?"
Xiao Feng slapped her on the head, sending water droplets from her hair flying far away. "What's so good about a salted fish? Hurry up and strip."
Glancing at Xiao Feng, Xiao Linger took off her clothes with her back to him and slipped into the water.
"I'm not looking. After washing, go directly into the tub next to it. Don't step on the floor." Xiao Feng had no interest in looking at a salted fish; he began to get busy at the table.
Marrow Cleansing Liquid, his most proud creation from his previous life. It was condensed from hundreds of herbs and integrated into the body via arterial infusion, eventually being discharged along with waste blood to achieve the goal of refining the Physical Body.
Currently, sanitary conditions were insufficient, but with Dou Qi as an aid, Xiao Feng had eighty percent confidence. The reason he had tricked Xiao Linger into coming was also because he felt this girl was too weak; once he left, she would only have death awaiting her.
Xiao Feng was unwilling to let the effort he had invested go to waste.
The sound of splashing water came from behind, followed by Xiao Linger's muffled voice, "Okay."
Xiao Feng slowly turned around. The young girl sat sideways, her right side facing him. Amidst the rising steam, her fierce expression had softened slightly.
Taking a breath, Xiao Feng shattered the romantic thoughts rising in his heart and began to put the medicinal herbs into the bathtub.
Occasionally touching the salted fish's skin—it was slippery and tender—made Xiao Feng's heart feel slightly warm.
"Circulate the Cultivation Technique I taught you. Don't worry about anything. I will cut a few wounds on your body; endure it."
After finishing his instructions, Xiao Feng poured the prepared medicinal liquid into the bathtub. The clear water turned multicolored, covering the salted fish's graceful figure, which allowed Xiao Feng to breathe a sigh of relief.
'Damn puberty, why do people in this world mature so early?'
Xiao Feng cursed under his breath, calmed his restless heart, and began to reach into the water.
Xiao Linger's body trembled slightly like a pitiful kitten. Her eyelids twitched continuously, and she tightened her face, forcing herself to continue circulating the technique.
Suddenly, she blushed.
"Uh... sorry. Since I can't see, I touched the wrong place." While apologizing, Xiao Feng continued to feel downward.
Xiao Linger trembled even more violently.
As if thinking of something, he cursed himself for being an idiot and then spread out his Soul Power... His breathing suddenly became a bit heavier; he could even see the opening and closing of every pore.
No matter how good she looks... she's still a salted fish!
Adjusting his breathing, Xiao Feng steadied his mind again. Then, he used a dagger to quickly make incisions along the wrists, ankles, and shoulders; blood surged out.
"Don't panic. Just keep circulating the technique. Leave the rest to me."
Xiao Feng sealed the wounds with Dou Qi and pushed the medicinal liquid into Xiao Linger's body.
In an instant, the girl's brows furrowed, and a look of pain appeared on her face.
"If you can't bear it, just say it." Xiao Feng spoke.
Perhaps it provoked Xiao Linger's temper, for her almost knotted brows actually smoothed out.
An hour passed.
Xiao Feng let out a long breath, only then realizing he was covered in sweat.
"Alright, come out." Xiao Feng turned around. "The water is full of foul blood; it's no good to soak in it."
Xiao Linger opened her eyes and touched the several places that were about to scab over. Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say.
She silently stood up from the water, put on her clothes, and whispered behind Xiao Feng, "It's useless no matter how good you are to me. I will always remember that you killed Xiao Zi!"
Xiao Feng didn't turn around, but his Soul Power, which filled the entire room, could see that there was no hatred in Xiao Linger's expression at this moment, only a strange panic.
Only after the girl left did Xiao Feng sigh softly. "I actually forgot to ask about the effects. Her Heart-Nature still needs further tempering."
Indeed, the effect of the Marrow Cleansing Liquid was excellent. Later, according to Xiao Linger's description, she felt her strength had nearly doubled.
"Do you know why the effect is so good?" Xiao Feng looked at Xiao Linger with disdain. "It's because you were too weak."
For the following period, Xiao Feng occasionally went to exchange pointers with the Mountain Ape.
Returned heavily injured.
Five days later, went out of the forest.
Returned heavily injured.
Four days later, went out of the forest.
Returned heavily injured... Two months later, when the mercenary group had almost built a castle here, Xiao Feng led everyone out toward the forest.
"Young Master, have you broken through to Dou Ling?" Tieshan was blunt and had a look of disbelief.
Xiao Feng waved his hand. "How is that possible? I've just reached the point where the Mountain Ape can't do anything to me."
In two months, having consumed a quantity of medicinal herbs that would make any Alchemist beat their chest in frustration, Xiao Feng was already able to withstand a frontal strike from the Mountain Ape.
It wasn't to say he was equal to the Mountain Ape in terms of Physical Body—taking a few more punches would likely still be fatal—but Xiao Feng's progress wasn't limited to his physique... A dark shadow fell, gales rose from all sides, and the earth shook.
Xiao Feng, Manni, and Tieshan were already used to it, but those mercenaries were seeing such a large creature for the first time. Previously, they had only heard that the commander-in-chief was tangling with a Demonic Beast and needed some time. Now that they saw the Demonic Beast with their own eyes, the way they looked at Xiao Feng changed.
You were tangling with this kind of existence?
The Mountain Ape seemed somewhat expectant. This little thing was annoying, but that final hammer blow was quite satisfying. Moreover, in this kind of fighting, its own reaction speed seemed to have improved. In any case, it was more interesting than staying on the mountain alone.
"Why are there so many people?" the Mountain Ape asked in confusion.
The three familiar with it looked as usual; after all, it normally spoke in that tone. But the rest of the people didn't think so. With your booming voice and breath full of bloodlust, are you going to eat us?
"They have other things to do. The ones fighting will still be the two of us," Xiao Feng said.
"What are they going to do?" the Mountain Ape suddenly became alert.
"Look for a Secret Realm. Don't worry, they won't disturb those few creatures you mentioned before," Xiao Feng explained.
The Mountain Ape was a bit conflicted. Its duty was to guard this place and prevent outsiders from disturbing the lives of the Demonic Beasts. Letting one or two through was fine, but letting a whole group through suddenly... it couldn't explain it to the higher-ups.
"You didn't fail to stop them on purpose; you were just stretched too thin." Xiao Feng had already found an excuse for the Mountain Ape.
"That's right..."
"Even if it's not okay, it has to be okay."
Today, Xiao Feng didn't plan on just coming to reason. He stomped his feet hard against the ground, and his whole body flew toward the Mountain Ape's eye like a cannonball, giving it no chance to speak.
The Mountain Ape's reaction was not slow. It blocked Xiao Feng's path with one hand while simultaneously reaching out to grab him.
However, Xiao Feng was swift. Before it could tighten its palm, he had already jumped over the Mountain Ape's head and latched onto its back.
"Go!"
Seeing the two of them fighting, Manni and Tieshan hurriedly led the team to sneak into the depths.