Xiao Xiaodong and the others moved through the forest, encountering several beasts along the way. Working together, they easily dispatched them.
Chen Xu got many opportunities to exert himself, looking unusually excited.
By evening, they found a place to rest.
“Chen Shao, you really like Fire Wolf pelts?” Xiao Xiaofan asked.
Chen Xu shook his head, “This is the first time I’ve killed such a powerful beast. I want to show the pelt to my grandfather.”
Xiao Xiaofan was speechless. It’s just a recently advanced Foundation Establishment Fire Wolf. Chen Xu didn’t realize how many talismans he had to use to kill it, leaving the pelt in tatters. Yet he still wanted to show it to his Nascent Soul stage grandfather.
Xiao Xiaofan thought to himself: Chen Xu’s combat skills are really poor. I’ve heard our father’s skills are just as bad.
Xiao Xiaodong was roasting wolf meat on the side. Chen Xu leaned in and asked, “When can we eat?”
“Very soon,” Xiao Xiaodong replied.
Chen Xu, full of excitement, said, “Great!”
Qiao Xiang looked at Chen Xu’s excited expression, feeling frustrated. He had come along hoping to win Chen Xu’s favor, but Chen Xu’s reaction was lukewarm. Despite helping Chen Xu several times, Chen Xu showed no appreciation, his attention solely on Xiao Xiaodong.
Qiao Xiang’s spirits lifted when he heard a roar in the distance.
“It sounds like a Horned Bear. The bear paws are delicious. Let’s get some for Junior Brother Chen to try. Wait here, I’ll be right back,” Qiao Xiang said, full of confidence.
“Senior Brother, Horned Bears are dangerous!” Chen Xu called out, looking at Qiao Xiang’s back.
Xiao Xiaodong watched Qiao Xiang leave and lazily poked the fire with a stick, “He’s overestimating himself. The Horned Bears in this forest are at the late Foundation Establishment stage.”
Lei Xuan frowned, “Should we go help?”
Xiao Xiaodong glanced at Lei Xuan, “If you go now, he’ll think you’re looking down on him.”
Lei Xuan nodded, thinking: True. Throughout the journey, Qiao Xiang has been eager to show his strength. If they tried to take his prey, Qiao Xiang would get upset.
Qiao Xiang’s impatience to rush out clearly showed he wanted to display his strength.
“Do you think Qiao Xiang will be alright?” Lei Xuan asked hesitantly. Being a single spirit root, Wushuang Sect must value him highly. If anything happened between him and Chen Xu, Wushuang Sect would probably kill Qiao Xiang to make amends.
“He has a life-saving artifact given by his sect elders. He won’t die that easily,” Xiao Xiaodong said nonchalantly.
“The Horned Bear’s roar sounds closer,” Chen Xu noted.
Xiao Xiaodong looked into the distance, seeing a massive bear chasing Qiao Xiang. The Horned Bear’s eyes were blood-red, indicating its fury.
“It’s gone berserk,” Xiao Xiaodong said, his face tense.
“Help me!” Qiao Xiang shouted as he ran.
Chen Xu threw a magical artifact at the bear, which emitted a blinding light, momentarily halting the bear’s advance.
Qiao Xiang, panting, rejoined the group, “This Horned Bear is not only at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage but also has extraordinary bloodlines. It’s very difficult to deal with…”
Xiao Xiaofan glanced at Qiao Xiang, “Senior Brother Qiao, you should rest and stop talking so much.”
Qiao Xiang’s face twisted. He had wanted to impress Chen Xu, but the Horned Bear was much tougher than expected. Not only did he fail, but he was also chased and embarrassed. He had intended to talk about the bear’s difficulty to regain some face, but was cut off.
Chen Xu’s attack had stalled the Horned Bear. Xiao Xiaodong, Lei Xuan, and Xiao Xiaofan then launched their attacks.
The enraged Horned Bear charged at them. Xiao Xiaodong stepped in front of Chen Xu, throwing several Thunder Pearls, pushing the bear back.
Xiao Xiaofan released a swarm of fiery red insects from his spirit beast pouch. The fire bugs swarmed the bear, gnawing at it.
Lei Xuan watched Xiao Xiaofan release the fire bugs, stunned.
The little flower chicken strutted up to the Horned Bear, let out a loud squawk, and a blue mist enveloped the bear’s head.
The Horned Bear staggered, and Lei Xuan seized the moment to unleash a lightning attack on the bear’s back.
Under the intense lightning, a wound opened on the bear’s back, and the fire bugs burrowed into the wound.
Using their respective skills, they soon wore the bear down.
Chen Xu, excited, said, “It’s dead. No more breath.”
Qiao Xiang watched Chen Xu’s excitement with frustration. If not for his initial effort, Xiao Xiaodong and the others wouldn’t have succeeded so easily. But Chen Xu paid no attention to him, focusing entirely on Xiao Xiaodong.
“Can I have the bear pelt? I want to show it to my grandfather,” Chen Xu said.
Xiao Xiaodong nodded, “Sure!” The bear pelt was much more presentable than the wolf pelt.
The noise from killing the Horned Bear was so loud that a Golden Core cultivator appeared at their location.
Seeing Chen Xu, the Golden Core cultivator frowned, “Chen Shao, why are you here? Come back with me.”
Chen Xu nodded, reluctantly, “Alright.”
…
Xiao Jingting served a plate of Bear Paw with Chestnut to Xiao Xiaofan, who inhaled deeply, looking enchanted. “Smells so good.”
Xiao Xiaojin looked at Xiao Xiaofan and asked, “Second Brother, did you guys go hunting beasts?”
Xiao Xiaofan nodded, “Yes.”
“By the way, I heard from Big Brother that you have some strange bugs. Where did they come from?”
Xiao Xiaofan, while eating, mumbled, “In the sect, there’s a Flame Cave. It’s very hot inside. Sometimes, sect elders send me there to cultivate. It’s boring, so I found some bugs and raised them.”
Xiao Jingting stroked his chin, “So, those bugs live in magma.”
Xiao Xiaofan nodded, “Yes.”
Xiao Xiaojin blinked, “Sounds interesting! Second Brother, give me a couple to play with.”
Xiao Jingting glared at Xiao Xiaojin, “Don’t be ridiculous. Those things aren’t for playing. Your second brother has a single fire spirit root, so he can handle them. You could easily get hurt.”
Xiao Xiaojin nodded, “Alright!”
“Xiaofan, are those bugs easy to raise?” Xiao Jingting asked.
Xiao Xiaofan nodded, “Yes! Just throw them in the magma. There’s fire spirit stones under the magma. They’re hard to mine, but if I put the bugs in, they’ll gnaw on the stones themselves.”
“That’s good. Since they’re easy to raise, keep more of them,” Xiao Jingting said.
Xiao Xiaofan nodded, “I think so too.”
Xu Muan remained silent.
…
Xie Wanran walked on the stone steps, watching Xiao Xiaodong and Chen Xu chatting and laughing together.
“Isn’t that Chen Xu?” Xie Wanran asked.
“Yes, that’s Chen Shao.”
Xie Wanran’s eyes narrowed as she saw Xiao Xiaodong with Chen Xu. Xiao Xiaodong’s flower chicken had eaten Xie Wanran’s Azure Feather Swallow. Though she didn’t show it, she was very unhappy. Seeing Xiao Xiaodong and Chen Xu together now made her even more upset.
“Does Chen Xu fancy Xiao Xiaodong?” Xie Wanran asked.
Zhu Jin nodded, “It’s possible. Since the mining trip, Chen Xu has had a good impression of Xiao Xiaodong. Despite his innocent appearance, Chen Xu is very cautious due to his status and isn’t easily approachable. Xiao Xiaodong got lucky.”
“Qiao Xiang came over, showing that the Wushuang Sect hasn’t given up on this marriage,” Xie Wanran said thoughtfully.
Zhu Jin sighed, “Wushuang Sect won’t give up.”
Xie Wanran nodded, thinking: Yes, Qiao Xiang’s marriage isn’t just his personal matter.
“But with Xiao Xiaodong close to Chen Xu, Qiao Xiang will have a hard time succeeding,” Zhu Jin said.
Xie Wanran nodded, “Indeed.”
Watching Xiao Xiaodong, Xie Wanran couldn’t help but think of Xiao Jingting. It was clear to her that Xiao Jingting was entirely on Qiu Yun’s side, always opposing her. If Xiao Jingting’s son really got together with Chen Xu, Xiao Jingting would be even more arrogant.
…
In Xiao Jingting’s residence, Xiao Xiaojin stood on a stool, cooking, with Mu Yun beside him, taking notes on a jade slip.
Qiu Yun thought Xiao Jingting had too much free time teaching Mu Yun to cook, so he increased Xiao Jingting’s workload.
Xiao Jingting had to work overtime, and the task of teaching Mu Yun to cook fell to Xiao Xiaojin. Despite his young age, Xiao Xiaojin already showed the demeanor of a master chef.
Chen Xu watched Xiao Xiaojin standing on the stool, wielding a spatula, cooking seriously while explaining to Mu Yun. Admiringly, he said, “Your brother is really amazing!”
Xiao Xiaodong smiled bitterly, “He only knows how to do this.”
Chen Xu looked at Mu Yun and whispered to Xiao Xiaodong, “Elder Mu Yun is really serious about learning.”
Xiao Xiaodong nodded, “Yes.”
“I heard Elder Mu Yun is doing this for a Manager Qiu from your Qingyun Immortal Sect,” Chen Xu said.
Xiao Xiaodong nodded, “It seems so.”
Rumor had it that Mu Yun had cooked for Manager Qiu several times, but Manager Qiu wasn’t satisfied and always flipped the table. Still, Elder Mu Yun, being persistent and determined, maintained a good attitude despite repeated rejections.
Mu Yun was patient, but his disciple Xie Wanran was indignant on his behalf. Unfortunately, no matter how much Xie Wanran felt for him, Qiu Yun remained indifferent.
R : Sorry for being laaaaate the week was busy ! See you tomorrow ♥
Thank you so much for support ♡(´･ω･)(･ω･`)♡ :Ko-fi
