"Lin Feng, what are you doing?"
Chang Gong Xiaojing's voice sounded from behind. Lin Feng turned to see her standing there, now clad in a fresh aqua-blue dress. She tilted her head curiously, likely startled by Xiao Qiu's recent "grenade" explosion.
Lin Feng grinned, gesturing to the fish flopping at his feet. "Just fishing... Hungry? How about grilled fish?"
"..." Xiaojing blinked, then broke into a soft laugh. "Now that you mention it, I am starving. Grilled fish sounds perfect—but you're cooking."
Lin Feng had only joked, but her agreement caught him off guard. "Deal! Just wait—it'll be ready soon!"
After surviving multiple life-or-death crises, the lighthearted moment felt like a balm. Lin Feng rummaged through his spatial ring, pulling out firewood, kindling, and even skewers. He cleaned the fish Xiao Qiu had blasted ashore, seasoned them expertly, and arranged them over the crackling flames.
Perched on a nearby rock, Xiaojing rested her chin in her hand, watching Lin Feng's focused movements. Her gaze drifted, lost in thought.
Soon, the cavern filled with savory smoke. Five golden-brown fish sizzled around the fire. "Done!" Lin Feng announced, glancing up. "Xiaojing? Earth to Xiaojing! Come try these—they're spirit-beast fish! Unbelievable..."
"Hmm?" Startled from her reverie, she joined him. Admiring the glistening fish, she teased, "Who knew you had this talent? You'd make a fine spirit chef."
Lin Feng chuckled. "Nah. I'm already an artificer and an alchemist. Stealing another profession's glory would be greedy."
"Conceited," she retorted, though her eyes sparkled with amusement. Settling beside him, she took a delicate bite.
Lin Feng froze. Her teasing glance sent his pulse racing like a drumbeat.
Noticing his stare, Xiaojing dabbed her lips with a handkerchief. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he half-lied. "Just thinking how different you are from when we first met. You seemed... fiercer back then."
Xiaojing's eyes narrowed. "Excuse me? I've always been a refined young lady! When was I ever 'fierce'?"
Lin Feng countered, "Refined? What 'refined lady' storms into a brothel, kicks down doors, and tries to 'catch' someone?"
"You deserved it!" she shot back, cheeks flushing. "Sneaking into that place like some—"
He interrupted innocently, "Tingting had every right to drag Zheng Kai out—he was her fiancé. But you grabbed me... As if you were my..."
"Y-your wife?!" Xiaojing sputtered, scarlet rising to her ears. "Who'd marry you?!"
"Uh..." Lin Feng rubbed his neck awkwardly. "Right. Bad joke..."
...
Silence thickened between them. Xiaojing stared stubbornly at her fish, while Lin Feng searched for words.
Finally, after finishing her meal, Xiaojing broke the tension. "Earlier... after I passed out. What happened? I remember more river beasts surfacing... Did you wake up just in time?"
Lin Feng shook his head, swallowing a bite. "No. I woke up later."
"Then how—?"
He pointed to Xiao Qiu, perched on his shoulder and gnawing a spirit stone. "Xiao Qiu protected us. By the time I opened my eyes, it had slaughtered most beasts. I burned the rest." He gestured toward ash piles nearby.
"What?!" Xiaojing gaped at the furry creature. "It did that? Impossible..."
"SQUEE!!!" Xiao Qiu huffed indignantly. With a flick of its paw, it hurled its half-eaten stone into the river.
BOOM!
Water erupted like a geyser, showering them with fish once more.
"You little spendthrift!" Lin Feng scolded, tapping Xiao Qiu's head. To Xiaojing's stunned expression, he explained, "This is its ability—detonating spirit stones. That's how it held them off."
"Chiii..." Rubbing its head, Xiao Qiu retrieved another stone from its coiled tail and resumed chewing.
"Detonating stones..." Xiaojing breathed. "I've never heard of such a power... What is Xiao Qiu? A treasure-hunter shouldn't..."
Lin Feng shrugged. "No clue. It finds treasures and blows things up."
"Astounding..." She leaned closer. "How did you even find it?"
A proud grin spread across his face. "Believe it or not? It chose me. Destiny, I suppose."
Xiaojing rolled her eyes. "More like absurdly good luck."
"Hey! 'Refined young ladies' shouldn't say 'dog luck'—I'm eating here!"
"Too bad," she sniffed. "I'm already done."
...
The banter eased the lingering awkwardness. Xiaojing's smile faded as she eyed the raging river. "Where are we? Do you think Senior Yan and the others...?"
Lin Feng's expression sobered. "The Crimson Loong beast chased us. Zhang and the rest should be fine—though they're probably frantic. They might think we're..." He snapped his fingers. "The Crimson Loong carcass! Almost forgot!"
Dropping his fish, he waded into the river. Minutes later, he returned, storing the prized beast into his ring. Evaporating water from his robes with true energy, he declared, "We need to find them fast."
Xiaojing nodded. "Leave now?"
Lin Feng checked a timepiece. "It's nighttime. We'll rest here—you must be exhausted. Meditate and recover. Besides..." His eyes gleamed. "I have an upgrade to finish first."
"Upgrade?"
"I've collected Solarflame Crystal and Crimson Ember Crystal," he revealed, summoning a molten-orange flame into his palm. "Time to evolve my Molten Flame. It'll be indispensable against stronger beasts."
Xiaojing's eyes widened. "Ah... I'll cultivate over there, then."
...
They settled apart. Xiaojing unfolded a meditation mat, while Lin Feng instructed Xiao Qiu to guard the perimeter. Centering himself, he activated the Molten Flame. With a flick, he tossed both crystals into the blaze.
Whoosh!
The fire roared, engulfing the crystals and swelling into a floating orb before him. Lin Feng closed his eyes, channeling his energy into the flame. Slowly, meticulously, he guided it to absorb the crystals' essence.
Hours slipped by in silence. The cavern warmed, bathed in the flame's pulsing heat. Finally, the swirling fire contracted, condensing into a fist-sized orb—deeper in hue, fiercer in energy, radiating volcanic intensity.
Lin Feng opened his eyes, satisfaction curving his lips. The Molten Flame had ascended to Mid-Grade.