The two boys froze, looking up in unison.
Above them stood a lone figure, poised atop the treetops. Her presence was otherworldly, untouched by the mundane world.
Just as the massive wild boar was successfully frozen in place, Xiangling came bounding over, holding two wild mountain chickens in each hand. Guoba followed close behind, clutching a nest filled with freshly gathered eggs.
She'd caught the chickens during the boar hunt—they'd panicked and fled straight into her arms. The eggs came from their abandoned nest.
And that wasn't all—Hu Tao had also returned, dragging along a dazed mountain fox, which had been knocked out cold by a falling branch.
"A bountiful harvest, a bountiful harvest!" Xiangling beamed. With so many ingredients, she was practically glowing with joy.
As they approached, noticing that Xingqiu and Chongyun were staring upward, both Hu Tao and Xiangling followed their gaze with curiosity.
"Shenhe!" Hu Tao immediately recognized her.
She jumped up and waved enthusiastically. "Shenhe! Come down and play!"
Chongyun heard the name and looked momentarily confused. But the next second, realization dawned—and he shouted in astonishment:
"Auntie!"
That shout turned every head—including Shenhe's.
She stepped lightly off the treetop and descended, her posture graceful, as if she didn't disturb a single mote of dust.
Xingqiu looked from the elegant, ethereal Shenhe to the very ordinary-looking Chongyun and gaped in disbelief. "This goddess-like big sister is your aunt?!"
Chongyun scratched his head, a little unsure himself. "My elders always said I had an aunt named Shenhe who trained under the adepti… but I've never met her before."
"I am," Shenhe replied with a faint nod, her expression as cool and distant as ever.
Years of cultivation in the mountains had left her unaccustomed to worldly interactions. She didn't show much emotion and spoke with a calm detachment.
Hu Tao stepped in warmly, "Want to stay for roasted boar? Your big nephew's here too!"
"Roasted boar?" Shenhe turned to the frozen beast she had just subdued.
Seeing a flicker of interest, Xiangling jumped into her sales pitch.
"Yup! We'll roast it whole—skewer it on a spit, score the skin, brush it with sauce, and turn it over an open flame until the fat sizzles and the meat's crispy outside and juicy inside! Then I'll finish it with my signature blend of spices… Even the Geo Archon himself wouldn't be able to resist!"
"Lu-luu~!" Guoba raised the egg nest like a sacred offering—an enthusiastic endorsement on Morax's behalf.
"…That does sound appealing," Shenhe murmured, rare desire flickering in her gaze.
"Xiangling's cooking is the best!" Chongyun added quickly. "You've been cultivating up in the mountains all this time—you probably don't get to eat much worldly food. It's a good chance to treat yourself!"
For once, the normally tongue-tied boy came through.
His family had long hoped to reunite with Shenhe, but she'd been impossible to reach. Now that fate had brought them together, he had to seize the moment.
"Very well," Shenhe agreed. She was, admittedly, curious what roast boar tasted like.
"Let's go! We'll find a nice open spot and get cooking!" Hu Tao waved them forward and led the charge.
Chongyun and Xingqiu were about to hoist the boar between them when Shenhe casually picked it up with one hand.
It was nearly as tall as she was—and she lifted it like a sack of flour. The others could only gape.
They chose a broad clearing near a stream. Xiangling tied up the chickens and the fox, donned her apron, and began gutting the boar with practiced precision.
"Xiangling, mind if I borrow the crane for a bit? I'm gonna go wake Jiang Bai."
"Sure!"
After a quick rundown of the controls, Hu Tao soared into the sky aboard the mechanical crane.
Flying really is so much easier than climbing...
...
When she arrived, Jiang Bai was still fast asleep, buried deep inside his coffin.
Hu Tao pried off the lid and gave him a good shake.
"Rise and shine! Time to work!"
"Mmm… What time is it?" Jiang Bai mumbled, struggling to open his eyes.
"It's half past nine!"
"Still early… Let me sleep a bit more…"
"Sleep?! Everyone's already here—we're all waiting on you!"
"Huh? Everyone's here?" That woke him up a little.
"Xiangling and the others. They flew here."
Jiang Bai's eyes flew open.
"They what? How?!"
"Flew, duh," Hu Tao huffed, hands on her hips.
If only I could've flown too…
"Wait… you can just fly here?!" Jiang Bai looked utterly defeated.
Why the hell did I bother walking all that way…
"Where are they?"
"Down in the forest, roasting a whole boar," Hu Tao pointed toward the rising smoke.
"I'm gonna go wash up first. Meet you there!"
---
Back at the stream, Shenhe was quietly observing Xiangling as she worked.
Despite her youthful, cheerful appearance, Xiangling was clean, swift, and methodical in her butchery—her knife never missed its mark.
She laid the opened boar beside the water and carefully removed each organ, setting them aside in bowls. These, too, were precious ingredients—perfect for stir-fries.
Guoba helped nearby, using his flames to sear and clean the pig's skin.
Xingqiu and Chongyun were lighting the fire, coaxing embers from kindling and feeding the charcoal. Smoke curled lazily into the sky.
"Everyone's here, huh?"
Freshly bathed and tidied up, Jiang Bai emerged from the trees, flashing a bright white grin.
"Took you long enough! You're on stove duty!" Xiangling called without looking up, already assigning roles.
"What kind of stove?" Jiang Bai was unfazed—constructing things with Geo was his specialty.
"This big, enclosed shape—like this…" Xiangling described the size and layout.
Jiang Bai got to work. In just a few moments, he'd crafted the perfect stone stove—and even whipped up some tables and benches to match.
Watching everyone working together, Jiang Bai couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
Elemental powers really are amazing.
"Alright, alright! Try the Director's special drink!"
Hu Tao emerged with a tray in hand, each cup holding a beautifully layered beverage.
The drinks had little wildflowers tucked into the rims, and the liquid inside shifted from pale yellow to white, topped with tiny floating seeds.
Jiang Bai picked up a glass, looking uncertain. "What is this…?"
"Picked the flowers myself! Then chilled coconut milk with Chongyun's Cryo, added fresh raspberry juice—it's guaranteed to taste great!"
Skeptical, Jiang Bai took a sip… and was surprised to find it actually wasn't bad.
Hu Tao handed out a drink to everyone, then personally delivered one to the chef herself.
Xiangling took a quick sip through a straw, smiling as the cold, sweet-tart flavor spread through her mouth. It took the edge off the heat from cooking near the flames.
"Not bad at all!"
"Anything this Director makes is top quality!"
"Lu-luuu~" Guoba downed his drink in one gulp, burped, and turned his eager eyes to Hu Tao.
He wanted more.
"That's all! One glass per person!"
Guoba drooped, disappointed—until a fresh cup was suddenly placed in front of him.
"But I haven't had mine yet—so it's yours!"
"Lu-luuu~!" Guoba leapt up with joy.
Watching her friends laugh and chatter, Shenhe sipped her drink, a rare and gentle smile gracing her lips.