“Where is the gift?” Tang Fei held out his hand toward Phoenix.
“You’re cheating,” Phoenix said angrily.
Both of them had a fruitful day; they each caught one Mountain Chicken and one Red-eyed Rabbit, resulting in a draw.
Just as Phoenix thought they would end up in a tie, Tang Fei stabbed a Field Mouse that had just poked its head out of a cave.
Tang Fei won!
Phoenix panicked and searched everywhere for Prey—Mountain Chickens, wild rabbits, Field Mice, forest frogs.
It was as if the animals of Hen Shan held a grudge against her, or perhaps the commotion they made earlier scared them all away; she couldn't catch a single one.
“How am I cheating?” Tang Fei asked.
“Does a Field Mouse count as Prey? That thing isn't even edible.”
“Who says Field Mice aren't edible?” Tang Fei looked towards Phoenix with a grin and said, “There are many ways to eat Field Mice. You can stew them, roast them, or even make Field Mouse sashimi. Peel it, slice the meat thinly, arrange it on a plate, and eat it wrapped with perilla leaves…”
“…”
Phoenix glanced at the Field Mouse with a hole punched through its head and imagined the sight of it being sliced up and put into someone’s mouth; a strong sense of discomfort washed over her stomach.
Why does this guy always like to stab heads?
“The best way is roasted Field Mouse. When I get back, I’ll roast one for you to try,” Tang Fei said aloud. “If you think it’s delicious, then this competition counts as your loss. How about that?”
Only then was Phoenix satisfied, saying, “Deal.”
She thought to herself, even if it tastes good, I’ll say it doesn't.
Want to beat me? No way.
Huh, why am I being so effeminate?
She only spoke and interacted this casually with her closest friends.
Could Tang Fei already be her friend?
Impossible, right? It’s only been a few days. She isn't someone who makes friends easily.
Phoenix stared at Tang Fei with surprise. Tang Fei was bewildered by her gaze and asked, “Are you captivated by my good looks again? I’m telling you, don't think that just because you’re out in the wilderness you can do whatever you want to me. Even if my body can’t resist, my heart will never yield to you.”
“Tang Fei, why is your skin so thick?”
“It’s not my skin that’s thick; it’s because I haven't washed my face in a long time,” Tang Fei explained seriously. “That outer layer isn't skin; it’s face-ash.”
“…”
Seeing Tang Fei’s sly smile, she knew he had tricked her again.
That wasn't face-ash; it was just his skin.
The two carried their Prey home. The Old Man’s face split into a wide smile upon seeing the day’s haul. He scurried over to greet them and asked, “How did you manage to catch so much today?”
“Phoenix and I had a competition to see who could catch more, so we both caught quite a bit,” Tang Fei replied.
The Old Man then looked at Phoenix with satisfaction, his expression suggesting, *You’re finally not a useless freeloader anymore.* He praised, “This is good, this is good. Didn’t I tell you? Competition leads to progress. Every time I let you go hunting with Little Fatty, it was so you two could improve together. But you two not only didn't improve, you came back empty-handed.”
“Can you blame me for that?” Tang Fei said angrily. “You know Little Fatty’s build. When he runs, he’s like a small mountain… The animals are gone before we even arrive.”
Little Fatty, who was busy smashing Stones, smiled honestly. He knew Tang Fei was telling the truth. Whenever he went hunting with Eldest Brother, they were highly likely to return empty-handed that day.
So later, the Old Man only let Tang Fei go hunting alone, while he was left at home smashing Stones.
Phoenix didn't want Little Fatty to feel bad and comforted him, saying, “Little Fatty, it’s okay. In the future, I’ll go hunting with Tang Fei, and you stay home and smash Stones well. Everyone has their specialty; you smash Stones very well.”
As she spoke, she realized something sounded off about her words.
What did praising someone for smashing Stones well mean? What was the difference between that and complimenting Little Fatty by saying, *Little Fatty, you are really fat*?
“Thank you,” Little Fatty replied, unconcerned, smiling shyly at Phoenix.
Phoenix felt healed again; what a kind child.
After Tang Fei cleaned the Prey, he said to Phoenix, “I’ll roast Field Mouse for you. After eating it once, you’ll want a second time, and after the second time, you’ll want a third…”
“I don’t believe you,” Phoenix pouted.
Above New Star, what kind of delicacies or alien beasts hasn't this young lady eaten? Would I actually like a roasted Field Mouse that looks like a rat with a weasel’s head?
Tang Fei found a large stove, tossed in several flammable charcoal chunks, and lit them to burn. He skinned the Field Mouse and removed its entrails. He threaded it onto two red willow skewers as thick as chopsticks and placed it over the fire, turning it constantly.
Soon, the Field Mouse, which was about the size of a basketball, began to sizzle and smoke, and a rich meaty aroma filled the air.
Phoenix watched from the side. Seeing the Field Mouse’s skin turning yellowish-brown, she wondered, *Maybe this thing really is delicious?*
The Field Mouse’s skin grew increasingly yellow, eventually turning golden because of the excessive oil. Phoenix became more convinced of this idea.
After all, she had started secretly swallowing her saliva.
Tang Fei heard Phoenix’s stomach rumble, realizing she hadn't had Dinner yet. Smelling the aroma of the Field Mouse, her body reacted naturally.
The Field Mouse meat had already been rubbed with salt during the marinating process. Once fully cooked, he sprinkled it with pepper and his own secret spices, then tore off a large piece of Field Mouse leg and handed it to Phoenix, saying, “You try this. Field Mice run very fast, so their leg muscles are the most developed. This piece is the most fragrant and tender; it’s delicious.”
Phoenix didn't stand on ceremony and took a bite of the Field Mouse leg.
Spicy, savory, fresh, crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside.
“Delicious!” Phoenix exclaimed without restraint.
“You lost!” Tang Fei looked at Phoenix with a beaming smile and said aloud.
Phoenix then remembered the bet. She had clearly devised a strategy—even if it tasted good, she absolutely wouldn't say so—but she had accidentally shouted it out.
Of course, Phoenix couldn't reveal her petty scheme. She gave Tang Fei a proud glare and said, “If I lost, I lost. It’s just a small gift, right? I keep my word; I will definitely fulfill my promise.”
“Then I am relieved,” Tang Fei said.
Little Fatty smelled the aroma of the Field Mouse, his appetite was greatly stimulated, and he dropped the Hammer he was holding and ran over, pleading, “Eldest Brother, give me a leg too.”
“One leg won’t be enough for you to eat,” Tang Fei said, placing the Field Mouse on a tray and cutting it in half with the Meat Cleaver.
He handed half the Field Mouse to Little Fatty and said, “Take this and eat.”
“Thank you, Eldest Brother.” Little Fatty’s eyes lit up, and he squatted on the ground gnawing on half a Field Mouse.
“You two brats, you don’t even save a little for me. No respect for your elders,” the Old Man grumbled.
Tang Fei then chopped the remaining half of the Field Mouse into three portions, giving one to the Old Man, keeping one for himself, and dividing one for Phoenix. This little glutton had already finished the Field Mouse leg from before and was looking over eagerly.
“This little bit won’t even fill the gaps between my teeth,” the Old Man said, taking his portion with a look of disdain.
Phoenix still retained the good habit of respecting the old and cherishing the young from New Star. She handed over the Field Mouse meat in her hand and said, “Uncle, you eat my portion.”
When she first arrived, she politely called him Mr. Now that she was eating at his place and living there, their relationship had become much closer, so she called the Old Man Uncle in her capacity as Tang Fei and Little Fatty’s friend.
“Don’t give it to him,” Tang Fei intercepted, saying, “There’s a pot of porridge simmering in the kitchen. If he’s not full, he can go drink some porridge. Old people shouldn't eat too much meat, or they’ll have indigestion at night.”
“Oh!” Phoenix nodded and took back the Field Mouse meat in her hand.
They had a similar saying on New Star; many elderly people practiced health preservation this way. Her Father was the same; he dared not eat too much meat every night, fearing poor digestion would keep him from sleeping soundly.
“You ungrateful brat, you forget your father as soon as you have a wife,” the Old Man scolded angrily.
“Let’s go eat over there; ignore him,” Tang Fei said to Phoenix, not even bothering to refute the Old Man’s words.
He couldn't bear to refute them.
*You forget your father as soon as you have a wife*…
What did that imply? It implied he had a wife.
For some reason, hearing the Old Man scold him like that actually made him feel quite pleased.
It was like those students experiencing First Love; they hated rumors about themselves, but when someone actually spread them, they felt a bittersweet happiness.
Just then, a knocking sound came from the courtyard entrance.
“Who is it?” Tang Fei asked aloud.
“Flame Shrine. Open up,” someone shouted from the door.
Tang Fei’s eyes narrowed slightly, the Old Man’s Killing Intent flared up completely, and Little Fatty had already swiftly rushed over to grab the Hammer from the ground.
Of course, he hadn't dared to drop the Field Mouse in his hand.
Due to extreme tension, he even took a fierce bite and chewed it loudly in his mouth.
Phoenix looked towards Tang Fei, her face full of panic. She hadn't expected people from the Flame Shrine to show up so quickly.
She could fight her way out, but she worried about implicating Tang Fei and Little Fatty.
But even if she fought her way out, where would she run to?
Should she still want the Escape Pod? Without the Escape Pod’s trajectory, how would her family ever find her?
In an instant, her Heart was in a Mess.
Tang Fei patted her shoulder, signaling Phoenix not to be nervous.
He then pointed towards the inner room, telling her to go inside and hide for a while.
After Phoenix left, Tang Fei made a gesture, signaling the Old Man and Little Fatty to lower their guard. “You two are being so full of Killing Intent; doesn't that look like protesting too much?”
Calm down!
Calm down!
Be elegant and composed at all times!
Then, Tang Fei took a large bite of Field Mouse meat, chewed it in his mouth, and casually walked over to open the door, asking aloud, “What is it?”
A group of Grey Robes stood at the door. Seeing that a young man opened the door, they asked, “How many people live here? Have any strangers visited your home?”
“There are three of us in the family. My father, my younger brother…” Tang Fei pointed to the Old Man and Little Fatty. “We don’t have any strangers here; everyone is family. In these times, who dares let strangers in?”
“Answer what you’re asked; why so much nonsense?” a Grey Robe scolded impatiently.
“Yes, yes, Divine Envoy Sir is right.” Tang Fei immediately switched to a fawning Smiling Face.
“Have you seen any strangers?”
“Strangers?” Tang Fei thought for a moment and replied, “This is a gathering area; we see strangers coming every day.”
“Any that left a particularly deep impression?”
“Yes, yes, there was one person missing an eye, and the other was covered with an eye patch; he looked terrifying… And another person had a monkey standing on his shoulder when he arrived…”
“Go inside and search,” the Grey Robe Leader commanded.
He smelled the meat aroma. His brothers were working on empty stomachs, yet these bastards were eating roast meat. Was there any justice left?
The Flame God would never allow such a thing. His venerable self absolutely would not allow his followers to starve.
“Yes!” Several Grey Robes tried to barge in; they wanted to eat roast meat too.
Tang Fei glanced around and understood their intentions.
He ran over, snatched the Field Mouse meat from Little Fatty and the Old Man, and offered it together with his own to the Grey Robe Leader standing before him. “Divine Envoy Sir, you must be exhausted from your hard work. Please eat something to replenish your strength first.”
Little Fatty looked wronged, staring longingly at the piece of roast meat.
The Grey Robe Leader was quite satisfied with Tang Fei’s behavior. He took a large bite of the Field Mouse meat, chewing until his mouth was slick with oil, and pointed at Tang Fei, saying, “This kid is quite sensible. But if I eat until I’m full, what about my brothers here?”
“Understood. Understood,” Tang Fei said, stepping aside to open the gate wide with a smile. “Gentlemen, please come in. I will roast meat for you. I dare not boast about anything else, but my roast meat is the best in the Hen Shan Gathering Area. Add my special spicy seasoning… I guarantee you all will eat to your heart’s content.”
“Good. Then let my brothers sample your skills,” the Grey Robe Leader said with a smile, leading his subordinates into the Small Courtyard.
Tang Fei winked at Little Fatty and said, “Little Fatty, go bring out all the meat we have at home. It’s a blessing accumulated over generations that the Divine Envoy Sir has come to visit us. We must treat them well.”
Little Fatty understood and immediately ran to bring out the large jar where they stored their meat, saying, “Brother, I brought it all out.”
Tang Fei looked into the jar; there was half a rabbit and one Mountain Chicken inside.
Tang Fei finally relaxed; Little Fatty was just fat, not stupid.
“Gentlemen, all the meat we have is right here,” Tang Fei said, pointing to the jar. “I will roast meat for the sirs; I guarantee you will eat comfortably and to your satisfaction.”
“Stop the nonsense and roast it quickly. If it tastes good, we will reward you handsomely.”
“Yeah, we’ve been searching for a day and a night; our stomachs are starving flat.”
“Damn it, where are we supposed to find a Qi Control Realm expert? How are we supposed to know what a Qi Control Realm expert looks like? You should at least give us a photo? If not a photo, even a rough sketch would do… We have nothing, how are we supposed to search?”
“Monkey, do you want to die? Do you know what you’re saying?”
“Just kidding, just kidding, I just said it casually… Brothers, you have to keep this a secret for me. I have a bottle of aged wine saved up—Bamboo Leaf Green. I’ll treat all the brothers to a drink then.”
“Damn Monkey, you have good wine and didn't say anything? You can’t trick your brothers this time, or else, hehe…”
“No, no, absolutely not…”
Tang Fei was busy cutting the meat, slicing the rabbit and Mountain Chicken into small pieces for easier grilling.
If he put them on the grill whole, how long would it take to cook?
He wanted to send these plagues away as quickly as possible; he truly didn't want them staying in his house for another second.
After all, there was an extraterrestrial guest hiding in the inner room; if they discovered her, it would be another disaster.
Tang Fei was inwardly annoyed. Ever since this woman arrived, every day had been spent in anxiety; it was too Exciting.
No, he couldn't let this anger go unaddressed.
He needed to charge extra!
While working, Tang Fei secretly listened to the Grey Robes chatting.
The moment he heard the name Flame Shrine, he was certain these people were here because of the Black Robe’s death.
He knew the Flame Shrine would make a big fuss over this matter, but he hadn't expected them to choose the most Foolish method.
The Hen Shan Gathering Area was so large, and there were so many people in the area… What was the difference between this kind of mass search and looking for a needle in a haystack?
What frustrated Tang Fei was that they had stumbled upon his door by sheer chance.
Why were they roasting Field Mouse right now? Why were they roasting Field Mouse? Wouldn't roasting sweet potatoes have been better?
If they had just brewed a pot of papaya porridge as usual, these Grey Robes probably wouldn't have intended to stay for a meal, right?
“Boss, should we look around?” one Grey Robe suddenly said to the Grey Robe Leader.
Tang Fei’s heart leaped into his throat. Little Fatty started to reach for his Hammer again but was quietly pulled back by the Old Man, stopping the dangerous action.
“It’s fine to take a look,” Tang Fei said with a smile. “It’s just these two shabby rooms. You can search around… If you don’t find anyone, it will prove our innocence. Don’t you agree?”
“Then you go take a look,” the Grey Robe Leader was busy gnawing on a Field Mouse leg and wasn't enthusiastic about such things. But since a subordinate suggested it, he would perform his duty by taking a quick look. This way, even if problems arose later, it wouldn't be his fault.
After all, he wouldn't take the blame.
That Grey Robe had no choice but to take on the task. He glanced into a few rooms and quickly returned to report, “Boss, we didn't see anyone.”
“Isn’t that obvious? It’s just this family—the old, the young, and one simple-minded Little Fatty. How could they possibly hide a Qi Control Realm expert?” The Grey Robe Leader burst into laughter, a glint of wisdom in his eyes. “Besides, if a Qi Control Realm expert were really hiding here, would the few of us still be alive? He would have chopped our heads off long ago.”
“The Boss is wise.”
“Brother Long’s insight is sharp; no wonder you are the Captain.”
“What’s a Captain? Boss will soon be an Adjutant. I heard Adjutant Chen Hu is being promoted to Black Robe… Wouldn't the vacant Adjutant position go to our Boss?”
“Then we congratulate our Boss in advance!”
“It’s still a long way off, a long way off!” The Grey Robe Leader waved his hands in extreme modesty. “The Captains are competing for that position, but you all know that I and Adjutant Chen Hu are sworn brothers… If he gets promoted to Black Robe, won’t he promote his brother?”
“That’s true.”
“Of course, we still need to achieve some results. If we can find the person who killed our Divine Envoy Bian, this matter will be settled.” The Grey Robe Leader said earnestly.
“Don’t worry, Boss. We brothers will definitely help you find the murderer.”
“Right, after we finish the barbecue, we’ll set out.”
“We’ll dig three zhang deep to find him…”
“Dig what? Do you think a Qi Control Realm expert is a Field Mouse? Do they like burrowing in caves?”
While these Grey Robes were chatting and joking, Tang Fei had already finished roasting the rabbit and Mountain Chicken.
He first brought a large skewer to the Grey Robe Leader, saying, “The freshly roasted ones taste the best. Sir, please try the flavor first. If you think the taste isn't strong enough, I can add more chili powder for you.”
“This young man knows how to behave.” The Grey Robe Leader became increasingly satisfied with Tang Fei. He even raised his noble, grease-covered right hand to pat Tang Fei’s shoulder and asked, “How old are you?”
“Fourteen,” Tang Fei replied.
He shamelessly shaved off a year and a half, after all, the younger one was, the less likely they were to use Qi Manipulation, right?
“I see you have a bit of cleverness in you. Are you interested in joining our Flame Shrine?” The Grey Robe Leader unexpectedly extended an olive branch to Tang Fei.
Tang Fei showed an expression of utter disbelief and asked excitedly, “Sir, are you serious? You’re not lying to me?”
“Brat, how can you speak like that? What kind of place is our Flame Shrine? What kind of person is our Boss? Would he lie to you?”
“Exactly! I’m telling you, don’t be ungrateful for the good fortune you have. We used to have to beg everywhere and pull strings to get introduced to someone just to enter the Flame Shrine.”
“Our Brother Long is a Captain and will soon be an Adjutant. If he looks out for you, you’ll have a good life in the Flame Shrine—you’ll be set, kid!”
After hearing the introductions from the people around him, Tang Fei realized even more how rare this opportunity was. He was moved to the point of tears, saying, “Thank you, Sir, thank you, Sir. Our whole family thanks you. Eat more meat, Sir, eat more meat…”
The Old Man also came over to offer polite words, thanking the Grey Robe Leader for valuing Tang Fei.
The Grey Robe Leader was flattered to the skies, and the roast meat in his hand tasted even more flavorful.
Tang Fei looked at the Grey Robe Leader and said humbly, “Sir, I overheard you looking for someone just now… Who are you looking for? I am very familiar with this area; perhaps I can offer a small bit of help.”
“What help can a little brat like you offer?” The Grey Robe Leader clearly didn't believe Tang Fei could actually help, but he was very pleased with his enthusiastic and proactive attitude. “An expert like that could kill you with a single finger. You should just focus on staying alive. Once you get to our Shrine, you can just be responsible for roasting meat for this Lord.”
“Yes, yes, I will listen to you, Sir. I will listen to everything you say.” Tang Fei smiled with genuine sincerity.
The Grey Robe Leader finished the chicken skewer in his hand and called out, “Alright, alright, brothers, eat quickly. After you’re full, we’ll get back to work. There are still many houses we haven't checked.”
“Yes, Sir,” the Grey Robes began to wolf down their food.
The Grey Robe Leader looked back at Tang Fei one more time and asked, “What is your name?”
“Tang Fei,” Tang Fei said aloud.
“Tang Fei, a good name.” The Grey Robe Leader nodded, looked at the Old Man, and said, “Your father looks like an Honest and simple fool who couldn't even manage a decent grunt, yet he managed to give you such a nice name.”
“It was given by the Mr. in the village. He was literate,” Tang Fei said.
“No wonder.” The Grey Robe Leader found it reasonable then and said to the subordinate beside him, “Stick a Flame Talisman on their door. From now on, they are one of us. The brothers from other teams don't need to check them again.”
“Yes, Big Brother.”
So, a subordinate pulled a Spirit Talisman with a flame pattern from his pocket and slapped it onto the main door.
This way, other Flame Shrine squads or Predator Organization members would see the Flame Talisman on the door and wouldn't check again.
Why check your own people?
Tang Fei was even more grateful, watching the Grey Robe brothers off until they were far away, displaying a loyalty so intense it seemed he wished he could immediately join the Grey Robe Leader in life-or-death battles on the frontier.
“Big Brother, come visit when you have time!” Tang Fei shouted, his voice choked with emotion.
（ps: Too lazy to split it, I’ll post two chapters at once.
Also, everyone, feel free to toss over some votes. Old Liu is as easily satisfied as Tang Fei.
Big Brothers, come visit when you have time!（ choked ）