Two days passed in the hidden camp like quiet breaths in a long meditation slow, steady, but full of hidden currents.
The ancient forest around them remained watchful, its thick canopy filtering sunlight into soft, dappled patterns that shifted with the wind.
The air was cool and damp, carrying the scent of moss, old wood, and faint rain from nights past.
Birds called in the mornings, insects hummed through the afternoons, and at dusk, the nocturnal creatures stirred with soft rustles.
No hunters came. No beasts disturbed their perimeter. The steank root powder worked its silent magic, and Anna's restrained aura kept the wilds at bay.
David trained.
Every morning, as pale light filtered through the leaves, Anna guided him with calm, patient words.
They started with basic qi circulation sitting in lotus position, breathing deep and slow, drawing faint strands from the air to refill his depleted dantian.
"Breathe in... hold... out," Anna said on the first morning, sitting across from him, her voice soft but firm. "Feel the qi enter your meridians like water into dry soil. Don't force it. Let it flow."
David nodded, eyes closed, following her rhythm. "Haaa..." he exhaled slowly, feeling the thin threads of qi trickle in. "It's slow without death energy or cores."
Anna "hmm"ed in agreement, her hand resting lightly on his back to guide the flow. "The wilds are stingy. But steady is better than fast and unstable. Remember foundation first."
He grinned faintly, peeking one eye open. "Heh... you're sounding like one of those old sect elders from the stories."
Anna chuckled softly, a warm "hehe" that made the tent feel cozier. "Maybe I am. But those old elders weren't wrong about everything."
They trained Void Step in the afternoons.
Short distances first teleporting rocks ten meters, then twenty. David focused on intent, shortening the preparation from seconds to heartbeats.
"Again," Anna would say, tossing him another stone, her eyes sharp but encouraging.
David huffed, wiping sweat. "Ahh... Mom, my head's spinning."
She smiled, ruffling his hair. "Good. Means you're pushing. One more."
He laughed lightly. "You're ruthless."
"Practical," she corrected, winking.
Evenings were for recovery eating cloudberries or dried meat, talking quietly as the sun set.
David lamented inwardly during those moments.
God... I want to kill those bastards.
The thought came hot and sudden, fists clenching as he stared at the tent wall.
Because of William's men the pursuers he couldn't hunt freely. No new beast for breakthroughs. No rare materials for a proper blade. His mortal knife was dulling, and the bone blade from the boar was good, but not enough. He wanted something that could channel qi perfectly, cut through mid-level beasts like paper.
Those idiots... forcing us to hide. Delaying everything.
But then guilt followed, cooling the anger.
Hah... can't really blame them.
Because of the pursuit, he had revealed Void Step and death consumption to Anna. The huge burden of secrecy the fear of her finding out, worrying, rejecting the forbidden inheritance was lifted. She knew. She accepted. She trained him.
The relief was immense, like shedding heavy armor.
If not for them... I might still be hiding it. Carrying it alone.
He sighed softly, a long "haaa..." as he lay back.
When will I reach Earth Immortal? Gain the next abilities?
The inheritance whispered promises higher realms unlocking more of the death path. But Earth Immortal was far beyond Nascent Soul, into the legends. Stages upon stages, trials upon trials.
Huh... one day.
He looked at Anna across the fire one evening, her face calm in the flickering light.
"Mom," he said quietly, "you think we'll ever go back to a sect? Or a city? Live normal?"
Anna poked the small, smokeless fire with a stick, eyes distant. "Normal?" She "hmm"ed thoughtfully. We never had normal, David. But safe? Yes. One day.
He nodded, leaning on his elbow. "Heh... with Void Step and death consumption, maybe sooner."
She smiled, pride in her eyes. "Maybe."
On the third morning, David felt the boredom creeping in.
Training was good, but the camp was small. The same trees, the same routines.
He stretched, groaning dramatically. "Ahhhh... Mom, I'm bored. Sitting here all day my legs are going numb."
Anna looked up from sharpening her spear, eyebrow raised. "Bored? In the wilds? With pursuers out there?"
David grinned sheepishly, rubbing his neck. "Heh... yeah, I know. But come on. A short walk? Just to stretch."
Anna stared at him, speechless for a moment.
Here they were, hiding for their lives, and he wanted a stroll?
She shook her head slowly, a long "ahhh haa" sigh escaping—half exasperation, half fondness.
"You... will never change," she muttered, but her eyes softened. "In front of me, you always do something stupid."
David laughed, easy and light. "Mom, I'm not stupid. Just... restless. Promise I'll be careful."
She gazed at him, worry flickering behind the calm.
"Don't go far," she said finally, voice firm but warm. "Return before dusk. Okay? I'll meditate now.
David nodded seriously. "Promise."
He stood, stretching with a satisfied "mmph," then slipped out of the camp.
The forest welcomed him with cool air and dappled light.
He walked carefully steps light, senses sharp, avoiding dry twigs that might snap. The wilds were full of beasts, and he wasn't looking for trouble.
Yet.
He moved at a steady speed, sightseeing as he went admiring massive trees with trunks wider than three men, vines hanging like curtains, flowers blooming in hidden spots with faint spiritual qi.
Nice place, he thought, a small smile on his lips. If not for the hiding... could be a good training spot.
Then he found it.
Moonshine Weed.
Growing in a small patch of sunlight, leaves silver-blue, glowing faintly even in day.
David froze.
No way...
Moonshine Weed is rare, precious and has Properties to recover qi rapidly, especially at night under moonlight. And it aided breakthroughs in Qi Refining, stabilizing meridians during advancement.
Worth up to 500 coins in any market.
He had searched for years scouring hills, valleys, forests near the base. Nothing.
Now, on his first real outing after breaking through...
What luck, he thought sarcastically, shaking his head with a dry "heh." Couldn't find it when I needed it most. Now that I'm past the bottleneck... here it is.
But he didn't mind.
In fact, he was thankful.
Those pursuers... because of them hiding here, I found it.
A grin spread.
Heh... silver lining.
Then he noticed the guardian.
A Dustpaw.
Cheetah-like body, lean and fast, but paws massive wide, padded, built for grip and silence even in old age. Dustpaws lived long if not hunted, their paws letting them chase and tearing the prey till the end.
This one was lazily curled near the weed, eyes half-closed, Stage 1 beast.
David pondered.
Stage 1... easy.
He shot forward.
The Dustpaw reacted eyes snapping open, body tensing but.
Too late.
David's fist, qi-reinforced, crushed its head with a crunch.
No struggle.
The beast died instantly.
David exhaled, wiping his hand.
Quick. Clean.
He stored the core small but useful and the paws, prized for boots or gloves (silent steps, strong grip).
Left the body for scavengers.
Then meticulously harvested the Moonshine Weed carefully cuts, wrapping in special cloth as Anna taught him. The herb was sensitive; once damage it releases its essence into air, losing value.
Perfect.
He was ready to return.
Then his ears picked up a sound.
Faint.
Rustle too deliberate.
His body tensed, heart thudding.
Hunters?
Beast?
In a second
He used Void Step.
Teleported a few meters away, landing silent behind a tree.