Night gradually fell, and the stars began to twinkle in the sky.
Under the moonlight, Ning Xue carried Shion according to the map and came to a place with a wider view as a camping site for tonight.
Due to the battle in the afternoon, Ning Xue was not worried that the enemy would attack again, so he decided to set up a bonfire here.
"You stay here while I go find some firewood."
His voice was still cold, with a hint of command.
Shion nodded when he heard this, indicating that he understood.
When Ning Xue saw this, his figure quickly disappeared into the dense forest nearby. Shion, who stayed on the spot, found a boulder to sit on and gathered his coat at the same time, trying to dispel the cold night.
After a while, Ning Xue came back with a small bundle of dry branches and dead leaves.
He skillfully cleared a small area in the center of the clearing, surrounded it with stones, set fire to dead leaves and twigs, and then slowly put up thicker branches.
The flames quickly rose, dispelling the chill of the night and illuminating a small area around the two people.
"Rest here tonight." Ning Xue said while adjusting the fire.
After the bonfire stabilized a little, he took out the seal scroll again and spread it flat on the ground.
Just hearing a "bang", the large and small bags of luggage prepared by Ashitaba appeared here.
He first took out a tent from inside and briefly set it up, then took out clean and soft bedding and spread it on it.
"Yours." Ning Xue said concisely and comprehensively to Shion.
Shion looked at the bedding and was stunned for a moment.
She didn't expect this cold-looking guy to be so attentive.
"... Thank you." Shion thanked him softly.
But Ning Xue did not respond, but continued to rummage in the luggage.
Should I say that Ashitaba's preparations are indeed very comprehensive. If they follow up early in the morning, they may even carry a sedan to escort... No, they should definitely do so.
Soon after, he took out a few rice balls left over from lunch, but they were cold.
He thought for a while and realized that it would not taste good after all because it was cold.
Finally, he rummaged through and found a package of well-preserved rabbit meat carefully sealed with oil paper, and a small jar of powder that seemed to be seasoning.
He skewered the rabbit meat with clean branches, placed it next to the campfire and roasted it slowly while turning it skillfully and steadily.
Shion sat by the fire holding his knees.
The warmth of the bonfire dispelled the coldness of the night, and she was so bored that her eyes couldn't help but fall on the busy Ning Xue.
"You seem... very proficient in these." After looking at it for a while, she finally said with some curiosity.
Ning Xue Hearing this, the movements of his hands did not stop, but he just made a slight "hmm" in response.
"How often did this happen before?" Shion asked again, but his eyes were fixed on the rabbit meat, which gradually gave off an alluring aroma.
"Well, I used to be outside alone."
His answer was still normal, there was no emotion in his tone, he just stared at the food on the fire intently.
"A person?" Shion asked.
"Where is your family? Or... companions?" After asking, she felt that it might be a bit abrupt, but she couldn't take it back.
Hearing this question, Ning Xue paused for a rare moment, then continued roasting rabbit meat and said calmly.
"Dead."
The two words were brief and calm, without revealing too much emotion, as if asking what to eat today.
The atmosphere instantly fell into stasis.
Shion looked at the other party's cold mask and seemed to realize that he seemed to have asked a question that he shouldn't have asked.
"I'm sorry..." She apologized softly, her fingertips unconsciously pinching the corners of her clothes.
"Nothing." Ning Xue responded calmly, seemingly not caring.