Feng Zikang regarded Miss Wu's slender frame with interest, pulling a set of mortal-grade archery gear from his storage pouch. The bow was made of ox horn; its power was not great, but its accuracy was commendable. The arrowheads were fashioned from cold iron, considered high-grade even in the mortal realm.

"Do you know how to draw a bow?"

Miss Wu's eyes lit up. Born and raised in a military camp, while not an expert, she had practiced archery and horsemanship. She took the bow and arrows and went off in pursuit of game.

Feng Zikang smiled faintly, then glanced down at the little fox nestled in his arms, his brow furrowing once more.

He sighed, gently placing the small fox onto a seat within the carriage. He retrieved a bottle of Yangi Dan pills, picked one out, dissolved it in water using a jade bowl, and prepared to feed it to the creature.

"You're lucky," he murmured. "Though this isn't precious, it’s excellent for nourishing vital energy and settling the spirit. A single pill can extend the life of an ordinary mortal by ten or eight years, yet you treat it like milk..."

Tossed aside, the little fox had awakened. Smelling the medicinal fragrance, it let out soft whines, its large eyes innocent yet tinged with yearning. When Feng Zikang brought the bowl closer, it eagerly stuck out its tongue and drank it down with a series of small chirps.

Still wanting more, it gazed at Feng Zikang with a pitiful expression.

"There isn't any more!"

Feng Zikang stiffened his features and withdrew the jade bowl. Normally, one pill of Yangi Dan could sustain a person for seven days, serving as a fine remedy for nascent cultivators beginning the practice of abstinence from grains (Bigu). The little fox was certainly not hungry; its behavior was purely born of greed.

Realizing there were no more treats forthcoming, the fox pouted, glancing around. Its bright, bead-like eyes darted everywhere, finally settling on Feng Zikang's embrace. It nudged his arm, burrowed into the curve of his bicep, curled into a ball, and immediately fell asleep.

Feng Zikang felt a warm mass against his chest, which he paid little mind to. His trivial matters settled, he closed his eyes to cultivate, preparing to push into the second stage of the Miao Suan Xin Fa (Subtle Calculation Heart Method).

Having been busy for several days in the Southern Barbarian lands, he had only managed to consolidate the first level of mastery and could not delve deeper. Now, with leisure at hand, he naturally intended to press forward with forceful momentum.

While in the cloud carriage just moments before, he had already circulated his internal energy to impact the Yingxiang acupoint, moving the energy through three full cycles. The strain had been nearly unbearable, but he knew the subsequent nine cycles would only be more agonizing.

As expected, when the inner qi drilled into the aperture, it felt as though countless tiny blades were stabbing and pricking him—a sharp mix of pain and numbness. His eyes burned, and he could barely keep from tearing up.

"Martial Uncle!"

Miss Wu came running back in a flurry. She was delighted, having successfully hunted two rabbits, and intended to clean and roast them for dinner. She stopped short, stunned by the scene before her.

There was Martial Uncle Feng, who usually wielded his sword with decisive, battle-slaying force, now gently holding the little fox, his face calm, with what appeared to be tear tracks glistening at the corners of his eyes. What an unexpectedly tender sight!

"So... Martial Uncle is a man of deep feeling. Perhaps I shouldn't have been so afraid of him earlier..."

Miss Wu quietly backed away, taking herself off to build a fire and roast the rabbits.

Feng Zikang heard her mumbling and found it amusing. He cared little for the girl's assessment, focusing instead on circulating his qi, preparing to burst through to the second level of the Miao Suan Xin Fa in one go.

After twelve cycles of increasingly severe aches, the Yingxiang acupoint finally broke through, and the second stage of the Miao Suan Xin Fa naturally followed, achieved smoothly. Feng Zikang suddenly felt that the world of smells was sharply layered; every scent, no matter how faint or distant, was crystal clear to his nose.

Just as he was feeling refreshed and invigorated, a savory scent of roasting drifted over from nearby.

He smiled faintly, holding the little fox, and stepped out of the carriage to observe.

"Martial Uncle! The rabbit is ready!"

Miss Wu, seeing him emerge, waved her hands joyfully, proudly displaying a rabbit leg roasted to a beautiful golden brown. Her pretty face was smudged with streaks of charcoal dust, but her eyes, illuminated by the firelight, seemed bright and lively, like scattered starlight.

"Martial Uncle, try some!"

Miss Wu pressed the rabbit leg into Feng Zikang's hand. He accepted it with a smile, took a bite, and confirmed the flavor—rich, fragrant, and utterly delicious—nodding his praise.

A practitioner of military arts does not shy away from the smells of the wild. Even when dedicated to Bigu and secluded cultivation, occasionally indulging the desires of the palate was not an issue.

Pleased by his compliment, Miss Wu made no demurrals, accepting the praise gracefully. She tore off a piece of rabbit meat herself, chewed, swallowed, and was clearly satisfied.

"Truly, the capable are capable of anything! This is my first time driving a carriage, and I managed it steadily; my first time cooking, and I've made such a delicious meal. I must be a genius!"

She beamed with self-satisfaction, finally showing a spark of girlish spirit.

"Since you enjoy it so much, you can manage the meals for the next few days!" Feng Zikang thought privately, amused. Still, for a girl attempting grilling for the first time, she controlled the heat and flavor remarkably well. Moreover, this was her first time driving the carriage, and she hadn't caused any mishaps. Even if not a genius, she was undoubtedly clever and quick-witted.

Observing her, her spiritual energy was abundant. Though not fully grown, she was agile and sharp, her meridians flowing smoothly. If she could settle her temperament, she might become a figure akin to Luo Lianxin in cultivation.

Feng Zikang had no intention of taking her as a disciple, so the thought was merely a fleeting idea. If this girl possessed the karma for immortality, figures from various sects would come to guide her; it was not his concern.

He suddenly recalled the Nine-Tailed Fox's original purpose in capturing her, which remained a complete mystery. Now that the fox was gone, it would likely remain an eternal enigma.

Miss Wu, however, was completely unaware of the flurry of thoughts that had crossed her Martial Uncle's mind in that brief moment. She simply chewed her rabbit meat happily, feeling ever more confident in her own path.

After flying for two days straight, Feng Zikang finally reached Hanshan Cave at noon on the third day.

This area was desolate, located in the southernmost reaches of the Southern Borderlands. Two mountain hollows faced each other from a distance: one was Great Cold Mountain, where Hanshan Cave was situated, and the other was Little Cold Mountain, the destination of Feng Zikang's current journey.

The smoothness of the journey thus far was beyond his expectation. Elder Yun had warned him about the ferocity of the Southern Barbarian beasts, yet for some reason, wherever the cloud carriage traveled, the monsters automatically retreated three she (a unit of distance), and he encountered no trouble whatsoever. He marveled inwardly, scrutinizing the structure of the cloud carriage, yet found nothing extraordinary.

Mo Li had once told him the carriage possessed the ability to repel all forms of wickedness, but that was limited to the solar essence contained within the canopy, which was only effective against spectral or ghostly entities. It offered little defense against these beasts born of pure Yang energy.

Perhaps he would ask Mo Li about it carefully when they next met on his return journey.

Miss Wu had driven the cloud carriage for three days and now handled it respectably. Her maneuvers, turns, ascents, and descents showed proper method. Upon sighting Hanshan Cave, she gradually decelerated and brought the vehicle slowly down.

Clarifying the route with the tribesmen in the cave to find the path to Little Cold Mountain would save some effort.

The cloud carriage, descending from the sky enveloped in rays of multicolored light, had already terrified the tribesmen into a state of shock. When it finally landed within the cave settlement, the clansmen gathered their neighbors, bringing the old and the young to come forward and pay homage.

"Great Immortal! Great Immortal!"