Deep in the forest, the embers of the campfire were still warm.
Loa contentedly slurped down the last mouthful of rich, fragrant oxtail soup, let out a long belch, and felt warm all over. As for where the "pot" for the soup had come from? It was nothing more than a thick rock with a suitably sized hollow, roughly trimmed with sword qi and propped over the fire. When people were starving in the wilderness, the ingenuity of working folk always exceeded your imagination.
"All-natural beef really does taste different." He wiped his mouth, sounding somewhat reflective.
After carrying that yak for an entire day, he had finally left the open plains behind and reentered the more densely wooded mountains. Then came lighting a fire, preparing the beef, and stewing himself a hearty meal. Judging by the distance, another month or so would take him out of the Magical Beast Mountain Range. He would return to Fenlai City in early April, right on time.
After a brief rest, Loa extinguished the campfire and continued on his way.
Late that night, he found a sheltered clearing in the woods and lit another campfire. Two plump wild rabbits he had hunted along the way were skewered over a rack, sizzling in the flames. Fat dripped into the fire, sending up tiny sparks as the rich aroma of meat spread.
Sitting cross-legged beside the fire, Loa picked up a rabbit leg roasted to a crisp golden brown and took a deep breath.
"Whew-smells great!"
Just as he opened his mouth to bite!
Something suddenly changed!
Behind him, from darkness that seemed completely fused with the shadows, a streak of black shot out without warning! It was a pitch-black short blade that reflected no light, its tip gathering an extremely restrained yet incomparably sharp