On their way back, they encountered a few more Level 7 magical beasts.
With no desire to drag out a fight, Bai Xuan immediately unleashed 【Concussive Field】 to force them back.
Grabbing Phoebe, he sprinted all the way, finally making it back inside the barrier.
As they crossed the invisible barrier, the familiar stone house came into view, and both of them finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Bai Xuan leaned his back against the stone wall of the house, closing his eyes in deep thought for a long time, his expression remaining grave.
Phoebe stood quietly by his side, silently handing him a waterskin.
Bai Xuan took the waterskin and threw his head back to gulp down a few mouthfuls. The cool water trickled down the corner of his mouth, slightly soothing the anxiety in his heart.
“Over there...” he began slowly, his voice laced with gravity.
“There are magical beasts close to the Hero Rank.”
Phoebe watched him quietly, her eyes calm and placid, yet harboring a trace of concern.
Bai Xuan shook his head gently.
“I thought Level 8 magical beasts would be the absolute limit here, but I never expected... the Practitioner Rank is nothing more than a marginal presence in this place. The Transcendent Rank is the norm here.”
Phoebe reached out and gently patted his shoulder, offering quiet comfort.
Leaning against the wall, Bai Xuan gazed out at the dense forest shrouded in thick mist beyond the barrier.
With their current strength, reaching their destination was completely out of the question.
“We won't go for now,” he said, slowly letting out a breath.
“We'll stay here, focus on leveling up, and continue forward once we're strong enough.”
Standing behind him, Phoebe didn't speak, only nodding slightly in agreement.
She turned and walked into the stone house. Bai Xuan could clearly hear the sound of a wooden cabinet opening and closing.
A moment later, Phoebe stepped out of the house.
In her hands was not the Rock-Crushing Mountain, but an old wood-splitting axe.
The handle was worn smooth and shiny, and the blade had several chips. It had clearly been used for many years, bearing the marks of time.
Walking over to the woodpile outside, she stood a thick log upright, raised the axe, and swung it down.
The thick log split down the middle, the two halves flying apart.
Phoebe bent down to pick up one of the halves, raised the axe again, and split it once more.
Her movements were practiced and fluid. Gone was the fierce sharpness of swinging her giant battleaxe, replaced by a touch of homely warmth.
Watching her from behind, Bai Xuan suddenly recalled the stone crest, and the long years she must have spent living here all by herself.
In all likelihood, this wood-splitting axe was the tool she used most.
No wonder she had taken to the Rock-Crushing Mountain so naturally when she chose it; she was already long accustomed to the motion of swinging an axe.
He stood up, walked over, and squatted down to help her gather the split firewood, stacking the pieces neatly one by one.
Phoebe glanced at him, then lowered her head to continue chopping wood.
Right next to the woodpile was a vegetable patch. After stacking the wood, Bai Xuan stood up, walked over to the edge of the patch, and squatted down.
Fortunately, Phoebe hadn't been gone for too long, so the crops in the garden were still relatively healthy.
The vegetables had broad, thick leaves and crisp, upright stalks.
Bai Xuan couldn't name them, but he could tell they had been exceptionally well cared for. The soil was turned, loose, and moist.
Having finished chopping the wood, Phoebe walked over and squatted down beside him.
She pointed at the vegetable patch, then at the pot inside the house, gesturing as if she were cooking.
“Did you grow all of these yourself?” Bai Xuan asked, looking up.
Phoebe nodded gently. She then stood up, walked to the edge of the patch, and carefully harvested a few vegetables.
She shook the dirt off their roots and placed them in a nearby bamboo basket.
Bai Xuan stood up as well, copying her as he pulled up a few of his own.
The damp, loose soil clung to his hands, feeling warm and gentle—a stark contrast to the cold, sticky blood of battle.
At that moment, he suddenly felt that such a peaceful, stable life was a form of happiness in its own right.
“I'll prep the meat.”
Bai Xuan retrieved the carcass of the Shadowmane Wolf he had slain earlier from his Space Ring.
By now, the wolf's body had stiffened, its fur stained with dried blood and smelling faintly of game.
Squatting by the stream, he took out a dagger and skillfully began skinning and butchering the beast.
Phoebe walked over and squatted beside him, silently picking up another dagger to help clean the wolf's entrails with swift, efficient movements.
Neither of them spoke. The only sounds by the stream were the gentle babble of the water and the soft slicing of blade through flesh, creating a serene and harmonious atmosphere.
Half an hour later, the wolf meat was cut into uniform chunks, thoroughly washed with water, and neatly arranged on clean leaves.
Bai Xuan stored the wolf pelt back into his Space Ring, thinking it might come in handy later.
Carrying the chunks of meat, Phoebe returned to the hearth, seamlessly building the fire, boiling the water, and tossing in the meat.
First, she blanched the meat in the pot, carefully skimming off the foam that rose to the surface.
Then, she scooped the meat out, replaced the water with clean spring water, and set the meat to stew alongside the freshly harvested vegetables.
Bai Xuan helped out by passing things to her by the hearth, his eyes resting on Phoebe the entire time.
He watched her nimbly chop vegetables, boil water, and stir the ingredients in the pot with practiced ease.
No wonder Phoebe never hesitated when it came to harvesting the magical beasts they killed.
The broth in the pot gradually came to a boil, bubbling merrily.
Billows of white steam rose, carrying the savory aroma of meat and the sweet fragrance of vegetables, drifting all around the stone house.
Beams of light filtered down through the cracks in the cavern ceiling, illuminating the steam like a thin, hazy white veil, soft and dreamlike.
Smelling the aroma in the air, Bai Xuan's stomach let out an involuntary growl.
Hearing the sound, Phoebe turned to look at him, and Bai Xuan gave a sheepish smile.
The corner of Phoebe's mouth curved up slightly. Without a word, she lowered her head and continued to stir the stew, her movements growing even gentler.
Once the stew was done, Phoebe ladled out a bowl and handed it to Bai Xuan first.
Taking the bowl, the rising steam warmed his face. He blew on it gently and took a sip.
The warm broth slid down his throat, the rich savoriness of the meat blending perfectly with the sweet freshness of the vegetables.
Though seasoned with nothing but simple salt, the heat had been managed perfectly. The meat was tender and flavorful, while the vegetables retained a crisp, fresh texture, making it exceptionally delicious.
“I didn't know you were such a good cook,” Bai Xuan couldn't help but ask.
Phoebe pointed to herself, then gently touched the pendant at her chest, her gaze softening considerably.
This culinary skill was something her mother had taught her long ago.
He looked at the small pendant shimmering faintly in the light and chose not to pry further.
Instead, he simply lowered his head and slowly finished his bowl of soup.
After they finished eating, Phoebe took the initiative to clean the dishes while Bai Xuan sat on a rock by the doorway to rest.
The light filtering down from the cavern ceiling had dimmed considerably compared to when they first arrived, resembling twilight in the outside world.
Though he didn't know if there was a true cycle of day and night here, the temperature had definitely dropped, bringing a noticeable chill.
Bai Xuan took out the blankets he had purchased earlier and spread them across the floor of the stone house.
Phoebe retrieved an old quilt from the cabinet. Though the fabric had faded to a pale shade from countless washes, it was folded neatly and was spotlessly clean.
That night, the two sat by the entrance of the stone house, warming themselves by a fire.
The campfire was built from the logs split earlier that day. The flames licked at the wood, casting a warm glow over their faces.
Beyond the barrier, the thick fog churned endlessly like a living entity, and the distant, low growls of magical beasts echoed from time to time.
Yet, kept at bay by the barrier, they could not disrupt this fleeting moment of peace.
Just then, Phoebe spoke up, her voice very soft and carrying a hint of hoarseness.
“Mother...” She pointed toward the distant tombstone, her eyes dimming.
“Gone... long time.”
Bai Xuan listened quietly, not interrupting her, simply offering his silent companionship.
Phoebe gently touched the pendant on her chest again. Her lips parted, and she murmured, “I... wait.”
Having spoken, she slowly closed her eyes and leaned her head against Bai Xuan's shoulder, gradually drifting off to sleep.
Her long silver hair fell loose, a few silky strands resting coolly against Bai Xuan's arm.
Her breathing was soft and even, her body curled up slightly as if seeking a sense of security.
Bai Xuan kept his shoulder stiff, not daring to move a muscle for fear of waking her.
A log in the fire suddenly popped with a sharp crack.
Sparks drifted up into the night sky, quickly winking out in the darkness.
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