Li Feng carried two wild pheasants to the upper reaches of the brook and began to clean and dress them. Afterward, he gathered some dry wood from the nearby thicket.
Cooking without any salt or spices, he relied on his past life’s experience of frequenting street-side barbecue stalls to get the job done; fortunately, neither pheasant was burnt.
Shan Yundi sat on a rock nearby, watching this man busy himself for her sake in silence, her thoughts unknown. Perhaps due to the earlier awkwardness, Li Feng, who had been a chatterbox, had transformed into a silent prince, focusing entirely on the task of roasting chicken.
Half an hour later, the two birds were finally ready. Li Feng wrapped one in a large leaf and handed it to her. "Fresh off the fire," he said warmly, "careful, it's hot."
Shan Yundi gave a soft "mm" but did not respond. She took a small, sharp knife from her storage pouch and began carving off pieces of meat. Unlike the starving-tiger intensity she had displayed when eating the fish earlier, she now ate with refined, slow bites, her hunger having been sated.
Li Feng remained unchanged, tearing off a drumstick and stuffing it into his mouth. He smacked his lips a few times and muttered, "I really miss KFC’s secret recipe roast chicken. This flavorless stuff is tough to eat."
He looked up and saw Shan Yundi watching him while eating her strips of meat.
"Immortal Fairy Shan," Li Feng said, "I know I am an exceptionally handsome young man, but please, don't just stare at me. 'Scenery worth eating' is a phrase meant for you women. Hurry up and eat; once you're done, I’ll see you back home."
Shan Yundi replied softly, "Are you truly so unwilling to stay with me? Do I disgust you?"
Li Feng shook his head hurriedly. "That’s not what I meant. You don’t understand the situation at our Changsheng Sect. I’ve been gone for so long that my junior brother and sister must be worried sick."
"It’s already been so many days," she said. "Surely a little more time won't hurt."
Li Feng’s eyes rolled for a moment. He stood up, drumstick in hand, and walked over to her, bending down to look directly into her cool, clear eyes.
Shan Yundi seemed momentarily flustered. Gritting her teeth, she asked, "What are you doing?"
"Miss Shan," Li Feng said, "don't tell me that because I risked my life to save you, you've taken a liking to me and want to repay me by pledging yourself to me?"
Her cheeks flushed slightly. She rolled her eyes and retorted, "You are not only lustful but also incredibly narcissistic. Countless talented young men have pursued me; why would I set my sights on you? I am simply… still physically weak, and I want to restore some strength before returning. Don't go getting any wild ideas."
Li Feng patted his chest with an exaggerated, dramatic expression. "That’s good, that’s good." He returned to his spot and sat back down.
Shan Yundi frowned. "What, are you relieved that I haven't taken a liking to you? Do you have any idea how many people want to marry me?"
Li Feng shrugged. "Of course I'm relieved. Your Yunhai Sect not only occupies our Changsheng Sect’s territory but has also oppressed us at every turn for hundreds of years. If you really liked me, given the years of animosity between our sects, I certainly couldn't marry you. Wouldn't that just leave you hurt and sad? And since you're such a beauty, I’d inevitably feel sad right along with you. Now that neither of us has to be sad, isn't that the best of both worlds?"
Shan Yundi’s eyes went round. She hadn't expected such bizarre, sophistical excuses from him. At the same time, she felt a flicker of disappointment. Having never spent so much time alone with a man, nor having been touched or held by one before, she found that her impression of Li Feng had undergone a massive change after their life-and-death ordeal. She realized he was very different from the men who usually flattered her.
Li Feng's eagerness to distance himself from her stung more than she cared to admit.
"The fact that your Changsheng Sect has fallen to its current state has nothing to do with our Yunhai Sect," Shan Yundi said coldly. "That is just the way of the world. Even without us, Tongtian Peak would have been occupied by other sects, and you would still have to pay them tribute."
Li Feng nodded in agreement. "That’s true. Oh, by the way, Miss Shan, there is one thing—"
She cut him off. "I don't like being called 'Immortal Fairy Shan.' Just call me Yundi, or Xiaozui."
"Xiaozui?"
"Yes, that was my childhood nickname before I joined the Yunhai Sect."
"Xiaozui? Yundi? Yundi sounds smoother."
"What was it you wanted to say?"
Li Feng brightened up immediately. "In the tomb chamber, you said if you lent me five thousand taels of silver for our sect's rent, I wouldn't need to pay it back. The half-month agreement I have with your Elder Li Yunchen is already halfway over. Although our trip to the Wild Goose Ridge was fruitful, we didn't manage to hunt a single Beast Demon. Even if I go back tomorrow and join my juniors in carrying cargo for others, I couldn't earn five thousand taels in a few days..."
Shan Yundi picked up her storage pouch and took out several banknotes and some loose silver. "I don't have that much on me right now—only about eight hundred taels. But since I promised, I will not go back on my word. Once I return to the Yunhai Sect, I will send someone to deliver the spirit crystals to you."
As she spoke, she tucked all the banknotes and silver into a delicate white pouch embroidered with red plum blossoms on one side and the character 'Di' on the other.
Li Feng didn't stand on ceremony and accepted it all. He grinned, "Immortal—oops, Yundi, you’re truly righteous. Many thanks! I will definitely pay you back once I earn some silver."
"Li Feng," she said, "you don't need to pay me back. But there are some things I need to tell you."
Seeing Li Feng actually call her Yundi, she stopped calling him "Young Master Li" and addressed him by his name, "Li Feng." Neither of them noticed that by changing the way they addressed each other, they had drawn a little closer.
"What is it?" Li Feng asked, seeing her solemn expression. A flicker of suspicion crossed his mind: did this girl really fall for his handsome looks and want to buy him as her private consort? Well, considering how beautiful she was, he supposed he could suffer through that.
As he let his imagination run wild, Shan Yundi spoke: "Though you obtained the Golden Core and some lost cultivation techniques in the tomb, you also said that for a sect to grow, it requires long-term accumulation and grounding; it is not a matter of a single morning or evening. Especially your Changsheng Sect—you were once immensely glorious, ruling over the Mortal World, standing against the Demonic Path for thousands of years, and even saving the world from disaster. The fact that the Changsheng Sect is now weak is something that the various sects of Tianyu Mountain and the Jiulong Mainland are willing to accept. But once you show signs of rising, those sects will strike. They fear the Changsheng Sect becoming powerful again. It will be incredibly difficult to revive your sect. Li Feng, you could defect to our Yunhai Sect. I will introduce you to my master. Your future would be limitless."
Her words were sincere, though she had some selfish motives as well. Being a "steel-straight" man with little romantic experience, Li Feng did not grasp her true intent.
He shook his head. "Thank you for your kindness, but I didn't leave the Changsheng Sect during its most difficult time, and I certainly won't leave now. After these events, I am even more certain that I am the 'chosen one' from those web novels. I believe I came into this world for the sake of reviving the Changsheng Sect."
Li Feng didn't understand the deeper meaning in her words, and likewise, Shan Yundi didn't understand the strange implications of his. Looking at his determined eyes, she sighed inwardly.
"In that case, I respect your choice," she said. "However, I must warn you. The peerless techniques, the ancestor's Golden Core, and the Duannian Divine Sword you inherited are all relics of immense power. Your cultivation is not high, and your sect is weak. If others find out, they will surely try to seize them. Until you are truly capable of self-protection, it is best not to disclose this to anyone, including your master. Otherwise, you will bring mortal peril upon yourself and the Changsheng Sect!"
Li Feng nodded silently. He knew she was looking out for him. "I understand the concept of 'the innocent man, yet he treasures a ring.' Don't worry, I'm not that foolish. And please, Miss Yundi, keep your promise—do not spread word of this, and do not pass on the techniques you learned to anyone else."
Though they had only known each other for a few days, they felt like old friends. They chatted as they finished the roast chicken. Unwittingly, the night grew late. Seeing the moon high overhead, Li Feng shook his head helplessly, knowing they couldn't head back tonight.
"Yundi," he said, "it seems we’ll have to wait until dawn to leave. You should meditate and rest; I’m going to go wash up."
"You should have washed long ago. Don't you realize how much you stink? Remember to go downstream." She gave him a sharp-tongued rebuke and insisted he go far away.
Li Feng chuckled. "Of course I'll go far away. If I let you peek, wouldn't I be the one at a loss?"
Shan Yundi glared at him, and Li Feng hurried off. He didn't go truly far, however; she was still injured, and there might be wild beasts or demons lurking nearby. If she ran into trouble, he needed to be close enough to help.
Bathing was simple for a man; he stripped down to his boxers and soaked his mud- and blood-stained clothes in the water. Within half an hour, he returned, wearing his boxers and carrying the wet clothes.
Shan Yundi, who had been meditating, opened her eyes and saw him. She couldn't help but gasp, her cheeks instantly turning as red as a monkey's bottom. Turning her head away, she snapped, "You… you scoundrel! Why aren't you dressed? Go away!"
The Jiulong Mainland was much like ancient China; relations between men and women were quite conservative. In the wilderness, alone together, it was easy to spark trouble. Li Feng sighed helplessly. "Do you think everyone is as wealthy as you? I don't have a storage pouch, and this is the only set of clothes I have. Besides, I'm a man, not a maiden; I'm not afraid of being looked at."
He found some branches, built a simple drying rack near the fire, and hung his clothes to dry. Seeing her still facing away, he smiled to himself, fell silent, and sat down to meditate.
After a full meal, meditation was twice as effective. The Golden Core he had swallowed provided a steady stream of vital energy. After just one cycle, his meridians were surging, and his power returned to its peak. He couldn't directly activate the ancestor's core; the best method was to absorb it as his own energy. He began guiding the spirit power into his dantian.
Finding that Li Feng had gone quiet, Shan Yundi, blushing and emboldened, turned her head. His tattered clothes blocked her view, but through the gaps, she could see him meditating, his sturdy physique and abdominal muscles vaguely visible. Her heart began to flutter.
What girl doesn't dream of romance? Though she was a cultivation fanatic, she was still a normal, healthy woman in her twenties. Looking at his masculine form, she felt a strange, unprecedented sensation. Usually, it was men who stole glances at women, but tonight, there was a 180-degree reversal: Shan Yundi kept sneaking peeks at Li Feng.
A night breeze blew, insects chirped, and the quiet night was filled with the subtle scent of spring.
When Li Feng awoke from his meditation, dawn was breaking. The morning chill in the mountains was biting, and the fire had died out, causing him to shiver. He reached out and touched his clothes; they were dry. He stood up and was just about to dress when he realized Shan Yundi was gone.
Startled, he dressed quickly and grabbed the Duannian Divine Sword to search nearby. After calling out a few times without response—and seeing no signs of a struggle or wild animal attack—even a fool like him knew that this woman had slipped away while he was meditating.
"Hmph, not even a goodbye. How rude."
Her cultivation was far above his; now that she had recovered, she could easily fly using her sword. Since Tongtian Peak wasn't far, he wasn't too worried. He gathered the game he had hunted the day before, strung them on a bamboo pole, stepped onto his divine sword, and took to the sky, heading toward the Changsheng Valley.
***
In the Changsheng Valley, a peeled coffin sat in the middle of the clearing. Yang Mo, the second senior brother, dressed in patched robes, was whittling wood, seemingly crafting a tombstone and spirit tablet. Situ Fuyao, dressed in mourning white, sobbed as she placed Li Feng’s old, tattered belongings—worn-out clothes and broken shoes—into the coffin.
It had been seven days since Li Feng disappeared. Yang Mo and the others had long since lost hope. Last night, Qi Shisan had spent the night building the coffin, and early this morning, the little fatty had carried a shovel to dig a grave in the bamboo forest where the fifth brother and Wangcai lived.
"Second Senior Brother," Situ Fuyao sobbed, "can we wait a little longer? Maybe Senior Brother isn't dead..."
Yang Mo sighed. "Little Junior Sister, I know you don't want to accept this cruel reality, but it is what it is. Senior Brother was a good man, a hero. He died for the Changsheng Sect; he died bravely and heroically. Even if the sect ceases to exist in the future, his heroic deeds will be remembered by the world forever..."
Situ Fuyao cried even harder. For years, her parents had been away, and her Senior Brother had been her backbone. With him gone, she felt endless pain and despair.
Suddenly, a streak of light appeared in the southwestern sky. Tianyu Mountain was a sacred land for cultivators, where streaks of light from those flying were common. At first, Yang Mo and Situ Fuyao paid no mind. But then, the light lowered its altitude and flew straight toward the Changsheng Valley.
Yang Mo held his brush, his foot resting on a finished wooden tablet that read: *Tomb of Li Feng, First Disciple of the 48th Generation of the Changsheng Sect.*
Seeing the light heading toward them, Yang Mo frowned. "Who could be coming at a time like this?"
Situ Fuyao looked up, wiping her tears. "Could it be Third Senior Brother, coming to see Senior Brother off one last time?"
Yang Mo shook his head. "The glow of the Third's magical treasure is white. This one is cyan. It shouldn't be him."
Situ Fuyao’s eyes widened. "Could it be… Senior Brother?"
Yang Mo rolled his eyes. "Senior Brother doesn't even have a magical treasure."
The light arrived in a moment and landed in the valley. Li Feng hopped off the Duannian Divine Sword, carrying a large bundle of wild game. Yang Mo and Situ Fuyao froze, unable to process the sight.
Li Feng tossed the game onto the ground and looked at the coffin and the two stunned figures. He gave a wry smile. "You actually made me a coffin? What’s wrong… don't you recognize me? I’m your dear Senior Brother!"
"Ah!" Situ Fuyao shrieked, charging forward to embrace him. "Senior Brother! It’s really Senior Brother! Wuu wuu wuu, you didn't die! That’s wonderful! Where have you been these past few days? You had me so worried!"
Looking at her tear-stained face, Li Feng felt a warmth in his heart. There were still people in this world who truly cared for him. He cupped her face and grinned. "Silly girl, how could I die? I went out to find food for you all!"
Yang Mo walked over, eyeing the pheasants, rabbits, and small wild boar on the ground, then circled Li Feng. "Senior Brother, are you… are you really not a ghost?"
Li Feng kicked him. "You're the ghost!"
Yang Mo didn't get angry at the kick. He was genuinely happy to see his brother home. Pushing Situ Fuyao aside, he hugged Li Feng and wailed theatrically, "Senior Brother! My Senior Brother! You’re finally back! I was so worried!"
Qi Shisan, the little fatty covered in dirt and carrying a shovel, emerged from the bamboo forest to the east. "Second Senior Brother, Little Junior Sister, it’s getting late, let’s hurry up and bury Senior Brother..."
He stopped short, seeing Li Feng standing there. He was dumbfounded.
Situ Fuyao shouted happily, "Senior Brother didn't die! He's back!"
*Clang!* The shovel hit the ground.
Qi Shisan’s body shuddered as he hammered his small fists together in frustration. "The pit was dug for nothing!"
Of course, his frustration was only momentary. He immediately plastered an nauseatingly sweet smile on his face and ran toward Li Feng. "Senior Brother! Where have you been these days? Not a word! I thought you’d died again!"
***
Tongtian Peak, headquarters of the Yunhai Sect.
Compared to the desolate Changsheng Sect, the Yunhai Sect was bustling. From the foot of the mountain to the waist, houses were built into the slopes. At the summit stood a massive, luxurious palace. In the early morning, disciples practiced sword flight in the air, while elders rode clouds or cranes. It was a true vision of a celestial paradise.
The Yunhai Sect boasted thirty thousand disciples, and their sect leader, Master Xuanzhi, was over four hundred years old—a peak Nirvana Realm powerhouse ranked fifteenth on the Tianji Pavilion's 'Heavenly Human List.'