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Chapter 16: A Stolen Feast and a Familiar Face
The scent of sizzling meat filled the cave. Ling Huai sat near the fire, carefully flipping the juicy strips of beast meat over the flames. She used the salty soil she had gathered earlier to season the meat, rubbing it in gently. The moment the soy leaf's oil mixed with the fat, a rich, mouthwatering aroma spread through the air.
She sniffed deeply, feeling proud of herself. "Smells amazing."
The golden-brown meat glistened under the firelight, the juices bubbling slightly. She hadn't eaten anything this good in a while. After her exhausting battle, she deserved a feast.
She tore off a small piece and popped it into her mouth.
The moment it touched her tongue, her eyes widened.
Delicious.
The salty soil balanced out the soy leaf's natural richness, making the meat tender and bursting with flavor. It melted in her mouth, leaving behind a lingering warmth.
Bai, lying lazily beside her, yawned. "You should make this more often."
She scoffed. "Then do the hunting."
Before Bai could reply, something rustled nearby.
Ling Huai tensed, her chopsticks hovering over her meal.
She slowly turned her head and spotted a tiny furball peeking from behind a rock.
It had fluffy white fur, round golden eyes, and a small nose that twitched as it sniffed the air.
She stared at it.
It stared back.
Bai's voice echoed in her mind. "That beast seems strange."
She frowned slightly but didn't dwell on it. It was just a small creature, not some deadly monster.
Shrugging, she continued eating.
Just as she reached for another piece—
WHOOSH!
A blur shot past her.
The next second, the entire plate of meat vanished.
Ling Huai froze, her chopsticks grasping at thin air.
"…Huh?"
She whipped around and saw the tiny furball running at an impossible speed, the meat clutched in its tiny paws.
Bai, despite his immense power, failed to catch it.
"WHAT?!" Ling Huai's jaw dropped. "STOP THAT THIEF!"
Bai lunged forward, but the creature dodged effortlessly, zigzagging between rocks before disappearing into the darkness.
Ling Huai sat there in shock, her empty plate mocking her.
Then, she clenched her fists.
Her shoulders trembled with rage.
"…You little bastard," she growled.
Bai snickered. "This is hilarious."
She turned on him. "Why didn't you stop it?!"
His tail flicked lazily. "I tried."
Ling Huai gritted her teeth. "I HOPE IT CHOKES."
She collapsed onto her makeshift bed, sulking. Her stomach grumbled angrily, adding insult to injury.
She rolled onto her side, hugging her pillow. "I hate this forest."
Bai chuckled but said nothing.
Eventually, exhaustion won over her anger, and she drifted into sleep.
---
A Familiar Face
Morning light filtered through the cave.
A soft pressure on her forehead woke her up.
She blinked groggily, adjusting to the dim light.
Then, her eyes focused on the black-furred figure in front of her.
Her breath caught.
A slow smile spread across her face before she could stop it.
"…Omen."
Before she knew it, she lunged forward and hugged him.
He let out a smug meow. "You missed me."
She stiffened.
Realizing what she had done, she quickly pulled back, coughing into her fist. "I did not."
Bai, ever the traitor, immediately ratted her out.
"She was sulking just yesterday."
Omen smirked. "Oh?"
Ling Huai shot Bai a glare. "Shut up."
Omen flicked his tail. "I wasn't expecting to return so soon."
She crossed her arms. "Why are you back early?"
He stretched lazily. "Handled things faster than expected."
Her eyes narrowed. "How?"
He grinned. "Secret."
She held his gaze for a moment before sighing. "Fine."
Omen suddenly stepped closer. "You know, you can't stay in this forest forever."
She frowned. "I'm training."
"That's good," he said. "But you need real challenges."
She tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
He smirked. "I know of a competition. Strong fighters gather there. If you really want to improve, you should join."
Her eyes lit up. A competition? That sounded—
Painful.
Exciting.
Perfect.
Omen's tail flicked. "But first… give me two strands of qi."
She blinked. "What for?"
"Training."
She hesitated but eventually nodded. She placed her hand on his fur and guided two strands of qi into him.
Her pink-and-gold energy flowed gently into Omen.
As soon as she finished, she turned to Bai.
"…You haven't taken any qi since the day we met."
Bai remained silent.
She gave him four strands without hesitation.
Bai looked at her, surprised, but didn't say anything.
Ling Huai simply sat down and closed her eyes. It was time to cultivate.
Her qi swirled around her, glowing soft pink with golden tinges. It flowed like a river, circling through her veins, filling her body with warmth.
The cave became silent as she focused.
She lost herself in the rhythm of her breathing, feeling her energy grow stronger.
---
A Brutal Sparring Match
When she finally opened her eyes, Omen was watching her with amusement.
He stretched. "Now, attack me."
She didn't hesitate.
She launched herself forward, aiming to beat him into a pulp.
Omen, of course, knew her plan immediately.
The next moment—
BAM.
She hit the ground face-first.
Pain exploded through her body.
Before she could recover, he swept her legs from under her, sending her flying.
She barely caught herself before crashing again.
Ling Huai gritted her teeth. "You—"
Omen disappeared.
Her instincts screamed.
She turned—
Too slow.
A sharp jab to her ribs sent her skidding backward. She coughed, clutching her side.
"Not bad," Omen said, grinning. "But not good either."
Her temper snapped.
She charged forward.
This time, she unleashed a flurry of strikes, aiming to overwhelm him.
Omen dodged every single one.
Effortlessly.
She was not amused.
Her next punch contained a burst of qi, but he sidestepped, grabbing her wrist mid-air.
Before she could react—
He flipped her over his shoulder.
She slammed into the ground with a loud THUD.
She lay there, seeing stars.
Omen crouched beside her, smirking. "Done?"
She groaned. "I hate you."
He chuckled. "Good."
Then, he healed her injuries, his qi washing over her like cool water.
As soon as she could move again, she sat up, scowling.
Omen patted her head. "You're getting stronger. But not strong enough."
She slapped his hand away. "I'll get you next time."
Omen laughed. "We'll see."
Bai yawned from the side. "That was entertaining."
Ling Huai glared at both of them.
This competition better be worth it.
*****
End of chapter