"I saw him, the cultivator was injured!" Zhi Xuan replied, his voice a mixture of ragged breathing and an attempt to steady his breath. "Maybe there's something in that jade valley, I'm not sure."
Zhi Xuan took a long breath, calming himself. For him, seeing the cultivator was as terrifying as seeing a group of wild beasts; if wild beasts attacked with instinct, cultivators had brains that would not make for an easy escape.
"Ming, should we tell Grandfather Wu about this?" Zhi Xuan asked, looking hesitant to suggest informing Grandfather Wu, worried they would be scolded for passing through the forbidden area.
Mingling blinked for a moment, then tried to get up from the ground by leaning on his staff. He was calmer now and walked slowly toward Zhi Xuan.
"Zhi, I don't think we can tell Grandfather Wu," Mingling replied, his voice slightly urgent, serious, and calculating, despite his usual humorous nature. Mingling looked up slightly and thought, until he found an idea that might solve the problem.
"How about we tell Uncle Chen at the hunter's camp?"
Zhi Xuan glared at Mingling's suggestion. He patted Mingling's shoulder a little hard because his friend's suggestion would only make the problem bigger.
Mingling groaned softly and rubbed his shoulder where Zhi Xuan had patted him. The pain, although minor, was enough to pull him completely out of panic. He looked at Zhi Xuan with an annoyed gaze, but he saw a different gleam in his friend's sapphire eyes—a gleam not from humor, but from controlled fear.
"Aww, Zhi, why did you hit me?!" Mingling complained, although his tone was now more wary. "Is my idea that bad?"
"It's awful!" Zhi Xuan whispered, his eyes darting around, making sure no one was approaching. "Think, Ming! Uncle Chen and all the hunters in the camp are only Body Transformation stage two cultivators in our village. If they approach an injured cultivator, it's a disaster! Who injured that cultivator? Either it's a monster that can kill a cultivator, or another cultivator who will surely chase his blood! Uncle Chen might scold us!"
Mingling flinched, his face, which had returned to normal earlier, was pale again. Zhi Xuan's logic—however reckless Zhi Xuan was—was always sharp and piercing. He sighed, realizing his logical error. Uncle Chen and the hunters did possess greater strength, being in the Organ Transformation realm, but fighting an enemy capable of injuring a cultivator with gold embroidery on his robe—that was tantamount to asking Star Village to be annihilated.
"You're right. I'm stupid," Mingling admitted, his voice returning to a tense whisper. He touched the vines of the ancient tree beside him to steady himself. "So... should we ignore him? Just leave the cultivator there to be eaten by wild beasts? He could become a danger to Star Village if he recovers. And he could become a target that attracts a bigger enemy towards us if he stays there."
Zhi Xuan closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. He felt the pulse in his chest, exhaling calmly.
"Ignoring him... that's the safest thing," Zhi Xuan whispered, opening his sapphire eyes. His eyes implied a great internal dilemma. Philosophically, Grandfather Wu would order them to stay away from trouble; they had already been reckless by passing that prohibition.
"I know you won't ignore him, Zhi," Mingling said, his tone flat. "I know you. You won't be able to sleep thinking about that torn gold robe. You'll wonder why he was on the goat herding path. You'll wonder what injured him."
Zhi Xuan stared at Mingling with a surprised look, momentarily speechless because his friend had read his mind. Of course, he couldn't ignore it. The man was the answer to many questions. Who made his mysterious robe? Were they like this man? And most importantly: if this man was a cultivator, wouldn't he have something that could fix the wheel in his chest?
Zhi Xuan gently patted Mingling's shoulder, a gesture that conveyed the weight of the secret they now shared. He looked at Mingling with a serious gaze.
"Alright, listen to me," Zhi Xuan said, his voice very low, but full of determination. "We can't tell anyone. Not Grandfather Wu, not Uncle Chen. If they move, the whole village is in danger."
Mingling nodded slowly, swallowing hard. He knew this decision was difficult, but correct. Their strength, although enhanced by Grandfather Wu's hard training, was still too small to face cultivator-level problems. This was a secret they had to bury deep, under layers of mud and rotten leaves. Zhi Xuan took his heavy staff again, confirming the decision they had just made, and knocked four times on the ground: Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!
The loud knocks, which he now understood were driven by his internal energy, sent a deep vibration into the ground. The goat herd, which had begun to calm down, immediately understood. They started moving again, as if an invisible command had penetrated their indifference.
"Come on, Ming. We have to act as if nothing happened. We have to get to the hunter's camp. We need our portion of game meat. If we arrive at the village without the meat portion, Grandfather Wu will know something is wrong," Zhi Xuan commanded, his voice returning to a normal tone, but his eyes remained alert.
Mingling picked up his staff. He tried to smile, but the result was only a tight grin. "You're right. Game meat! I want a double portion today to wash away my fear!"
They immediately organized the goat herd, walking away from the jade valley, returning to the winding path. Every step took them further away from the blood and white smoke they saw, but closer to the safe routine of Star Village. They both kept their distance among the goat herd, occasionally talking about trivial things, but their eyes constantly glanced backward.
After walking for fifteen minutes, they finally reached their first destination: the Star Village hunter's camp.
The camp was located on a small hill at a safe distance from the herding path, hidden behind a clump of giant oak trees. The buildings were made of solid wood logs, with roofs layered with thick wild beast hides and adorned with preserved wild beast heads—all trophies symbolizing the village's strength. A small bonfire circle was lit in front, providing warmth and emitting a faint aroma of wood smoke and roasted meat.
The atmosphere there contrasted with the tension Zhi Xuan and Mingling had just experienced. Loud laughter and the sound of knives being sharpened greeted their arrival.
In the middle of the camp, sitting on a large wooden bench, was Uncle Chen. Uncle Chen was the leader of the hunters, a large man with a thick salt-and-pepper beard. His muscles were visible under his worn leather shirt. His eyes were sharp, always observant, and his body radiated the calm aura of Organ Transformation strength—strength gained from organ purification, making them the most effective hunters in Star Village.
Around him, several other hunters were busy. Bao, a youth whose face was always frowning, was sharpening his long hunting knife with terrifying speed; and Liang, a calm adult man, was expertly processing bear hide.
Zhi Xuan first organized the goat line near the camp, leading them not too far from the camp, and also ensuring they weren't grazing haphazardly. After finishing with the goats, Zhi Xuan and Mingling walked toward the camp with calm steps.
Uncle Chen looked up when he heard the footsteps of Mingling and Zhi Xuan. His usually stern face softened slightly into a smile.
"Ah, the troublesome twins have finally arrived!" Uncle Chen greeted them in a heavy voice, interspersed with a husky laugh. "I thought you were lost or eaten by gophers. I smelled the one-eyed goat from afar. How was the herding?"
Mingling, despite having just experienced trauma, managed to compose himself. He stepped forward, forcing a wide smile.
"Of course not, Uncle Chen! We brought them back safely! Look, the one-eyed goat is even walking in the front, as if he knows how delicious your game meat is!" Mingling said with a slightly exaggerated cheerful tone.
Zhi Xuan followed behind, gripping his staff tightly. He kept his expression neutral, as Grandfather Wu taught him: when afraid, act as if you are a stone.
Uncle Chen observed them both for a moment, his sharp, eagle-like eyes examining every detail. His gaze focused on Zhi Xuan's slightly pale face and the heavy staff in his hand.
"Zhi Xuan, you look like you just saw a ghost. Did you encounter a low-level wild beast there?" Uncle Chen asked, his tone calm, but implying a command to speak honestly.
Zhi Xuan felt his heart pound, but he remembered Bashan's lesson: focus on internal peace.
"No, Uncle Chen," Zhi Xuan replied with a flat tone, keeping his voice steady. "We were just startled. We had to run hard because the One-Eyed Goat tried to drift into the deep river. And I'm just... tired from this morning's stance practice. This staff is heavier than I thought."
Uncle Chen snorted. "Your staff is indeed heavy, it's ironwood. But you have to get used to it. Grandfather Wu wants everyone in this village to have hard muscles. Later, you will replace me as a strong hunter."
Another hunter, Bao, who had just finished sharpening his knife, looked up with a frown. "That's right. That stance practice makes me want to cut that grain sack into ten thousand pieces. You need to focus more, Zhi Xuan. You are the fastest, but also the most easily distracted."
"I apologize, Uncle Chen," Zhi Xuan said. He quickly changed the subject. "We came to get the meat portion. Aunt Lian told us to pick up three portions from the latest game haul. She said she's going to try a new recipe tonight."
Uncle Chen smiled faintly, satisfied that Zhi Xuan had shifted the conversation away from his fatigue. He nodded toward Liang, the hunter who have in-depth knowledge.
"Liang, give them their portions. Get them the best jade wolf meat. They deserve it for keeping our goat herd intact," Uncle Chen commanded.
Liang stood up, his body slender, but his strength could not be underestimated.
Liang walked back from the shed, carrying a large bundle of jade wolf meat wrapped in wide leaves. The meat was dark red, indicating a high concentration of essence, and a faint aroma of fresh meat mixed with the smell of wood smoke.
Zhi Xuan welcomed the bundle with shining eyes. He could feel a pleasant coldness from the meat through the leaf wrapping—a coldness similar to the sensation of the pure jade stone in the jade valley, but this was safer and had been processed.
"Wow, jade wolf!" Mingling exclaimed, momentarily forgetting his trauma, his eyes showing a glint of hunger again. "Uncle Chen, you're the best! Aunt Lian will make a broth that will make all of us live at least one year longer!"
Uncle Chen laughed, a heavy laugh like cracking wood. "Of course. You deserve it. This Jade Wolf fell on the outskirts. Its jade essence is pure, good for strengthening your mortal foundation. But don't overdo it, alright! Jade essence should be eaten, not inhaled."
Zhi Xuan hugged the bundle of meat with both hands. A small curiosity began to rise in his mind. He looked at Uncle Chen, then at the meat in his hands, and finally at the small bonfire burning calmly in front of the camp.
"Uncle Chen," Zhi Xuan asked, his tone hesitant. "What does it feel like to be a hunter? I mean, not just having strong muscles, but... what does it feel like to be able to control that power?"
Uncle Chen was about to answer with a joke, but he was interrupted. A man sitting behind Uncle Chen, a hunter with a slender body but very lively eyes, laughed loudly.
That man was Fourteen, one of the youngest but most talented hunters. His real name was forgotten, but he was nicknamed Fourteen because he managed to bring down fourteen wild boars consecutively in one expedition.
Fourteen stepped closer. He wore a leather chest protector painted with bold red stripes. As he walked, he dropped his large hunting axe onto the ground, right next to Mingling's feet.
THUD!
Mingling jumped high, letting out a small shriek. He immediately turned around and scowled at Fourteen. "Fourteen! Your axe is heavier than yourself! Can you not give people heart attacks? That's not a funny joke!" Mingling protested, clutching his chest.
Fourteen just laughed, a spirited laugh. He clapped Mingling's shoulder strongly, almost making him stumble. "You have to be strong, kid! Hunters shouldn't be startled just because an axe falls! Later, you and this sapphire boy will become strong hunters. You will replace us. Star Village needs a younger generation that can cut more meat and withstand more impact."
He then turned to Zhi Xuan, grinning, and raised both his hands. Fourteen's hands were not large, but strong and skillful.
"You ask what it feels like to control power, Zhi Xuan? It feels like this!"
Suddenly, from Fourteen's palms, a small, transparent wisp of energy appeared. The energy shimmered faintly, shaped like a calm, miniature flame. It was not a hot fire, but controlled spiritual energy.
Zhi Xuan and Mingling were stunned by the sight. Although they often heard stories from the hunters, seeing a direct demonstration of spiritual energy control was a rare thing. It was a manifestation of the controlled First Ember realm, a limit far surpassing the mortal Human Wheel.
Fourteen moved his finger. The flame-shaped spiritual energy twisted like an obedient little snake. With a light flick, he threw the spiritual energy into the small bonfire burning nearby.
The bonfire, which was initially only emitting a gentle flame, suddenly reacted. The flame leaped high, increasing almost twofold in size in an instant, providing deep warmth and emitting thick smoke. Then, with a mental command from Fourteen, the fire quickly shrank again, returning to its original size, looking tame and controlled.
"See?" Fourteen said, a proud smile adorning his face. "We hunters, we master this energy. We purify our organs to control what we eat. We can make the fire bigger for roasting, or smaller when we have to hide. This is not magic, Zhi Xuan. This is willpower and concentration. This is control over the energy inside you."
Mingling, still mesmerized, mumbled softly, "I will never be able to make such a big grilled sausage..."
Zhi Xuan, conversely, stared in awe. Inside his chest, if he could control fire, could he control the wheel in his core?
Liang, who had been observing with amusement, slowly shook his head with a smile. He returned to his bench, picked up a slender carving knife, and began slicing the remaining game meat.
"Don't listen to Fourteen, kids," Liang said, his voice calm and mature. "He always exaggerates. That's just a small fire, not a dragon. But the point is right. That power exists for those who dare to take it."
Liang looked at Zhi Xuan and Mingling, his gaze gentle yet serious. "One day, you too can gain this power. We, the hunters, have passed through Blood Transformation and reached the second Organ Transformation. But it is a difficult path full of risks."
Liang put down his knife for a moment, leaning forward. "If you feel doubtful, then listen to Grandfather Wu. Living as a healthy and happy mortal in Star Village for 80 years, seeing your grandchildren, and eating delicious meat is enough. We chose this path because we had no other choice—the village needs a shield. You don't have to be like us."
He smiled again. "It's up to you and your determination. Your determination to live longer, your determination to become strong, or your determination to remain within the safe mortal limit. There is nothing wrong with any path, as long as you don't regret it."
Zhi Xuan tightly held the bundle of jade wolf meat in his hands. He nodded, absorbing every word. The atmosphere at the hunter's camp, with the warm bonfire and occasional bursts of laughter, felt like a safe harbor, a contrast to the cold blood and husky whisper he heard in the jade valley.
"Thank you, Uncle Chen. Thank you, Fourteen, Liang," Zhi Xuan and Mingling said in unison.
Mingling immediately pulled Zhi Xuan away from the bonfire, afraid Fourteen would try to drop his axe again. "Come on, Zhi! We got the meat! Grandfather Wu is waiting! And I need Aunt Lian to get rid of my grilled sausage fear!"
They immediately walked away from the camp, carrying the precious bundle of jade wolf meat, back to the path that would take them home. The laughter and the aroma of wood smoke from the hunter's camp slowly faded behind them, replaced by the damp silence of the forest. Zhi Xuan stepped forward, letting Mingling lead.