In the depths of the mountain stream, Hou Yi had already healed from his wounds. He was roasting an unidentified demon beast’s leg over a fire, the slightly pungent sll of raw at wafting around, but Hou Yi didn’t mind at all and instead had a look of enjoynt on his face.
"This aty scent is really nice. It’s best to roast it only halfway; those fools always overcook the at, completely losing the joy of eating it," Hou Yi muttered to himself, staring at the at roasting over the fire, evidently almost unable to resist taking a bite.
At this mont, Hou Yi’s expression changed, he looked warily at the narrow mountain path not far away.
"Could it be those guys from Divine Saber Pavilion found their way here? Hmph, as long as that old fellow Wei Yangtian doesn’t co personally, let’s see how I deal with you," Hou Yi thought coldly, grabbing the big bone club beside him.
Just then, a person walked out from the narrow mountain path: dressed in a green robe, appearing to be in his thirties, apart from his extraordinary deanor, there was nothing particularly special about him.
Seeing only one person had arrived, and without sensing any particularly vigorous aura, Hou Yi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, yet his cautious gaze did not disappear.
"Are you here roasting at?" the newcor asked with a smile after looking at the fire on the ground and then at the wary Hou Yi.
"It’s obvious, why are you asking ?" Hou Yi replied irritably, eyeing the newcor.
Though unable to feel a strong aura from the man in the green robe, Hou Yi’s instincts, sharper than even a beast’s, told him that this seemingly unremarkable fellow was likely no ordinary character.
"Can I have so?" the man in the green robe asked.
Hou Yi shook his head decisively: "No way, I don’t have enough to eat myself, how could I share with you."
The man in the green robe seed a bit helpless, smiled wryly: "Okay, if I can’t have your at, can I rest here at least?"
Not knowing what this guy was up to, Hou Yi felt that he wasn’t soone with ill intentions, so he didn’t say anything.
The man in the green robe then calmly sat beside the fire, stared at the not-too-vigorous flas, and fell into silence.
Hou Yi also remained silent, grabbed the half-cooked at, and started biting into it with bold and unrestrained manner.
Most of the half-raw at, with blood still seeping out, was soon devoured by Hou Yi, leaving only a small piece in his hand.
Hou Yi hesitated for a mont, glanced at the man in the green robe sitting beside him who hadn’t said a word, and asked proactively: "I’ve eaten most of it. Do you want this piece?"
The man in the green robe glanced at the half-raw roasted at, his mouth twitching slightly, politely declined.
"Tch," Hou Yi rolled his eyes at the man in the green robe. He didn’t really want to give it away anyway, and this guy didn’t want it, so fine, he wasn’t full yet anyway.
In three or two bites, Hou Yi finished the remaining roasted at, patted his belly with a satisfied look.
"Where did you co from?" the man in the green robe suddenly asked.
Hou Yi answered casually: "I ca from the southwest."
The man in the green robe, upon hearing this, said: "There’s a lot of Great Wasteland in the southwest, did you co from there?"
"Yeah, what about it?" Hou Yi replied casually.
The man in the green robe said: "Nothing, it’s just that it’s sparsely populated there, and it’s rare for people from the Great Wasteland to co here. Moreover, judging by your appearance, you are sowhat different from ordinary people."
"That’s natural," Hou Yi said proudly, "I’m going to be the number one person under heaven, of course I’m not like others!"
Fortunately, there was no one else around other than Hou Yi and the man in the green robe, otherwise Hou Yi’s statent might have made people laugh.
The man in the green robe did not laugh, nodded in agreent.
"Being number one under heaven is quite an ambitious goal. What do you want to be number one at?" the man in the green robe continued to ask.
Hou Yi smirked: "Of course, it’s being number one in martial arts under heaven. What could be more badass than that?"
The man in the green robe chuckled: "You are right. Being number one in martial arts is indeed terrific, but there is sothing even more terrific."
"What? Sothing more terrific than that? Impossible," Hou Yi looked puzzled.
The man in the green robe pointed to the night sky: "More terrific than being number one in martial arts under heaven is to live longer than anyone else. That is the most terrific."
Hou Yi frowned, feeling there was sothing wrong with this, but his strength was great whereas his intelligence was not, unable to figure out where exactly the problem lay.
"Even if you beco number one under heaven, once your lifespan ends, you’ll still disappear from the world. If you can live longer than anyone else, could achieve immortality, then you’d be the most terrific person," the man in the green robe continued, observing Hou Yi’s reaction.
After thinking for a while, Hou Yi shook his head and said: "Sure, living longer is good, but I still think being number one in martial arts is more interesting. As long as a person lives enough, it’s fine. Why live so long? Rather than lingering around, it’s better to leave freely without worrying whether people rember later, as long as I live happily and freely."
The man in the green robe was sowhat surprised, didn’t expect Hou Yi to say such a thing.
Seemingly simple and straightforward reasoning, but it is sothing many struggle to understand: in the path of life and death, ultimately, no one can break through. Spending all efforts trying to live longer in this world may not be as aningful as living a limited lifespan.
"Are you not afraid of death?" the man in the green robe asked.
Hou Yi snorted: "Of course I am. I’m still so young, I want to beco number one under heaven, of course I’m afraid of dying. Even if I had to die, I’ll wait till I beco number one, live carefree for hundreds of years, then even if I die, I’ll have no regrets."
The man in the green robe showed a slight smile, whether in agreent with Hou Yi’s words or satisfied with Hou Yi’s insight into life and death.
"Hey? You asked so much, and I haven’t asked you yet. Who are you? Where did you co from? Where are you going?" Hou Yi asked, his eyes fixated on the man in the green robe.
The man in the green robe thought for a while, then said: "Maybe when you beco number one under heaven one day, we will et again."
With that, the man in the green robe stood up and left the way he ca.
Hou Yi was bewildered. How could this guy just leave like this? Without explaining anything, he found himself sowhat curious about this guy.
However, Hou Yi’s nature was carefree, he didn’t dwell on these things. After eating his fill, he lay down to sleep. For him, even while sleeping, he could cultivate, and when he woke up, his power would increase greatly, making others envious.
···
At Pill Saint Palace, within the Sinking Abyss, Fang Lin suddenly felt sothing, a ssage transmitting jade slip given by the Old Palace Master appeared in his hand.
"Qi Liansheng’s ntal state has declined, his alchemy Tao skills crumbled by a thousand miles."
ps: Fourth update, finally done. Continuing tomorrow.
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