Chapter 4

The children had been walking through the forest for three or four hours and were already starving.

With evening approaching, they urgently needed to find something to eat.

However, finding food proved to be a major problem.

Feng Yan was a member of the imperial family and had been pampered since childhood, so naturally, he had no idea how to obtain food.

Rong Niefeng and the other two were descendants of prestigious clans who had never had to lift a finger to do household chores.

Jin Xiaochi was frail, and Huang Zikui was too young, so neither was considered suitable for the task.

Thus, the responsibility of finding food fell upon the six village children and Lin Lin, a future martial arts master.

Although Lin Lin was only thirteen, he had already practiced martial arts for ten years. His swordsmanship had reached a respectable level, and he was accustomed to traveling through the martial world and sleeping outdoors. Hunting a wild boar or catching a pheasant was well within his abilities.

After a brief discussion, they decided that Lin Lin would take Read on BaiLianTalesZhang Chao, He Jing, and Tang Xiao into the forest to hunt.

Bian Li was too young, Han Ting was a girl, and Qin Ming was still recovering from his injuries. None of them would be particularly helpful on a hunting trip.

Watching Lin Lin and the others disappear into the forest, Qin Ming sat beside Feng Yan, feeling somewhat worried.

Could four boys barely old enough for middle school really catch anything to eat?

Even if children in ancient times matured faster than modern children, they were still minors.

His eyes darted around before he leaned closer to Feng Yan and whispered, “Your Highness, don’t we have Fasting Pills?”

That’s right, Fasting Pills!

The essential miraculous pills that cultivators always carried when traveling in cultivation novels.

As a gaming enthusiast, Qin Ming was quite familiar with Fasting Pills from cultivation stories.

Depending on their quality, Fasting Pills could sustain a cultivator without food for different lengths of stolen contenttime. Some lasted ten days or half a month, others six months or a year, while those of exceptional quality could last three to five years.

According to the Immortal Master, they would reach the territory under the sect’s jurisdiction after traveling for a little over a month. In that case, the Fasting Pills he’d given them should at least be able to sustain them for a month.

With Fasting Pills available, why go through the trouble of hunting and worrying about meals?

Feng Yan glanced at him but didn’t answer immediately.

Although the others appeared busy with their own affairs, they had all pricked up their ears, paying close attention to the conversation.

Qin Ming thought he’d spoken quietly enough, but in the stillness of the evening forest, every sound seemed to be amplified. Apart from the two youngest children, the three young nobles were all remarkably shrewd. As for the village children, their lowly upbringing had taught them to appear humble while quietly keeping their thoughts to themselves.

These children with spiritual roots were about to embark on the path of cultivation. Regardless of whether their backgrounds were noble or humble, once they entered the sect, they would all become fellow disciples. Their standing would be determined by their spiritual roots, talent, abilities, and cultivation.

If they managed to find a good Master and become a direct disciple, their status would naturally rise even higher.

There had even been cases of imperial princes who, despite their noble status in the mortal world, ended up as mere sweeping attendants in immortal sects because of their poor aptitude.

Although everyone currently accepted Feng Yan as their leader, each had their own calculations.

Feng Yan took out the storage pouch the immortal had given him and placed it before everyone. He said calmly, “Once Lin Lin and the others return, we can discuss how to distribute its contents.”

The storage pouch the immortal had given Feng Yan was a low-grade one that even mortals without divine sense could open. Its storage space was limited, and it couldn’t hold many items. Feng Yan had already examined its contents when he received it.

Just as the immortal had said, the pouch contained more than a hundred guide tokens. Since so many people had died, the thirteen survivors would have to search through them to find their own tokens.

There were eight Fasting Pills, not enough for all thirteen children.

The pouch also contained three low-grade treasures: an iron sword, a pair of bells of unknown purpose, and a fan.

As for the clothing, there were five sets of magical robes that offered a small degree of protection.

That was everything. There simply weren’t enough supplies to satisfy all thirteen children, and some would inevitably receive nothing.

People were less troubled by scarcity than by unfair distribution. This was precisely why Feng Yan hadn’t immediately taken out the “equipment” the immortal had given him and divided it among everyone.

Hearing Feng Yan’s words, the other children felt somewhat reassured.

The village children were accustomed to physical labor. They gathered dry branches and fallen leaves nearby to build a campfire, cleared a patch of ground, and covered it with freshly pulled tender grass to make temporary bedding.

Qin Ming hadn’t fully recovered from his injuries, so no one asked him to do anything for the time being.

However, as a qualified little follower, Qin Ming felt he ought to make himself useful.

For example, he could take off his outer robe, spread it over the grass bedding, smooth it out, and say to Feng Yan, “Your Highness, please sit here.”

Gou’er had already found himself someone powerful to cling to. As the newcomer who had taken over his body, Qin Ming was unfamiliar with both the people and the surroundings. If he wanted to integrate into this small group as quickly as possible, he needed to establish his place among them.

Feng Yan walked over to the bedding, crouched down, picked up the neatly spread outer robe, and draped it over Qin Ming’s thin little body.

“The nights are cold,” he said.

Qin Ming froze, looking at the noble-looking boy in confusion.

Where was the domineering aura befitting an imperial prince? What happened to [read the original at bailiantales.com]the distinction between nobles and commoners? Although this boy had an aloof bearing, his personality was surprisingly easygoing.

Feng Yan sat down casually and stared at the campfire without saying another word.

Qin Ming lowered his head and quickly put his outer robe back on. Come to think of it, the temperature had dropped after sunset, and sitting around the campfire really did make things much warmer.

The other children also settled onto the grass bedding, gathering close to the fire for warmth.

By the time darkness had completely fallen, Lin Lin and the others still hadn’t returned. The children began to worry.

“Xiaochi, why haven’t Brother Lin and the others come back yet?” Huang Zikui whispered, sitting close to Jin Xiaochi.

“Are you hungry, Xiaokui?” Seeing the worried expression on her little face, Jin Xiaochi reassured her, “We have to trust Brother Lin. He’s a martial arts expert, after all.”

“Mm.” Huang Zikui rubbed her stomach and nodded firmly.

Rong Niefeng, the young noble, approached Feng Yan and bowed slightly. “Your Highness, what should we do if something really has happened to Lin Lin and the others?”

Feng Yan stood and returned the greeting. “We’ll discuss it after daybreak.”

Seeing how composed Feng Yan remained without the slightest trace of panic, Rong Niefeng understood that he already had a plan in mind. Having received little satisfaction from the exchange, he returned to Long Mu and Li Piaomiao.

The corners of Li Piaomiao’s lips curved into a smile. “Aren’t you being a little too impatient?”

“You!” Rong Niefeng glared at her.

Li Piaomiao shrugged, then casually lay back on the grass bedding. Folding her arms behind her head, she gazed up at the starry sky.

She had been born into a prestigious clan and possessed a beautiful, delicately pointed face. She should have grown into a refined young lady, intelligent and gentle by nature. However, because she was born to a concubine, she wasn’t particularly favored. As she grew older, her temperament became increasingly boyish. She was decisive, straightforward, and carefree, and she absolutely refused to let anyone take advantage of her.

Rong Niefeng was different. As the legitimate son of his family, he was handsome and had been adored and pampered by everyone around him since childhood. Consequently, he’d developed an arrogant personality and looked down on nearly everyone. His only redeeming quality was his close friendship with Long Mu.

Long Mu was the cherished young daughter of the Long family’s main lineage. When she was born, an extraordinary phenomenon appeared in the sky. At sunset, five-colored auspicious clouds suddenly drifted above the Long residence, and a golden beam of light descended. At that very moment, the Long family’s little daughter came into the world.

The common people exclaimed that an immortal had descended to the mortal world. The Long family adored their little daughter beyond measure and named her Mu, conveying the auspicious meaning of basking in the sun and bathing in the moon, bringing forth countless treasures.

Long Mu was kindhearted and treated everyone well. Even the stolen content arrogant Rong Niefeng spoke sweetly to her and took particularly good care of her.

Long Mu and Li Piaomiao, meanwhile, were naturally compatible in temperament. The three were always inseparable, becoming a favorite subject of amusement among their elders.

Someone had once remarked that if the three remained just as close when they reached marriageable age, they could simply let young Rong marry both young ladies. Having both a wife and a concubine would surely be an extraordinary blessing.

However, while their elders entertained such wonderful fantasies, the three children had no such intentions.

In Long Mu’s eyes, Rong Niefeng was no different from Li Piaomiao. She made no distinction between them on account of gender.

Rong Niefeng and Li Piaomiao frequently came to blows, and his feelings for Long Mu were purely those of an older brother toward a younger sister. Naturally, this left their elders rather disappointed.

Now that all three had been selected by immortals to pursue cultivation together, they had even less interest in romantic relationships. Their lifelong ambition was to achieve success in cultivation, attain the Dao, and become immortals.

By the light of the campfire, Qin Ming kept observing his surroundings. After glancing at the three young nobles a few times, he suddenly met Long Mu’s gentle gaze. Startled, he lowered his head and edged closer to Feng Yan.

After another half hour of waiting, Hero Lin finally returned with the others.

The children, who had long been suffering from hunger, rushed toward them in delight.

“Brother Lin, you’re finally back!” Huang Zikui pulled Jin Xiaochi along as she circled excitedly around Lin Lin.

Lin Lin tossed the two pheasants and three wild rabbits he was carrying onto the ground, patted his chest, and laughed. “I haven’t let everyone down. Dinner is taken care of!”

Tang Xiao said admiringly, “Big Brother Lin is amazing! He didn’t even draw his sword! He just threw a little pebble and hit a rabbit. That silly rabbit stayed completely still! Hahaha—”

“That’s called striking an acupoint!” He Jing, who had also gone hunting, exclaimed while waving his arms excitedly. “Big Brother Lin said he’d teach us how to strike acupoints in the future!”

“You? You think you can learn how to strike acupoints?” Zhang Chao snorted at He Jing.

He Jing didn’t mind at all. He chuckled and replied, “Well, I’m still better than someone who started whining about being scared and wanting to cry the moment we entered the forest.”

Zhang Chao’s face turned livid. He wanted to argue back but couldn’t find the words.

He admitted that he was somewhat timid. He hadn’t wanted to accompany them into the forest to hunt in the first place, but since His Highness the Prince had arranged it, he’d been forced to summon his courage and follow them.

Walking through the forest during the day hadn’t been frightening with so many people around. However, once darkness fell, the forest became eerie. Strange cries sounded from time to time, and insects, snakes, and other creatures would suddenly dart out of nowhere. Danger seemed to lurk everywhere.

The hungry children completely ignored Zhang Chao’s displeasure. Several village children swiftly took the pheasants and rabbits, and they were even more enthusiastic in their praise when they noticed the bamboo tubes filled with water hanging from Lin Lin and the others.

Before long, they had plucked the pheasants, skinned the rabbits, removed the internal organs, and rinsed everything with clean water. They then skewered the meat on clean branches and placed it over the fire to roast.

As the aroma of roasting meat drifted through the air, every child’s eyes lit up, and they couldn’t help swallowing their saliva.

There were thirteen children in total, most of them boys with hearty appetites. After dividing up the two pheasants and three rabbits, everyone was only half full, but they were all thoroughly satisfied.