By the time the sun began to sink, both baskets were nearly full.
The Little Fairy Doctor adjusted the strap on her shoulder before glancing at the sky.
“We should head back.”
Xiao Feng looked toward the forest.
“You live nearby?”
“About half an hour.”
She hesitated.
Normally…
She never invited strangers near her home.
Not because she disliked people.
Because experience had taught her caution.
Mercenaries weren’t always honest.
Neither were adventurers.
Some came seeking medicine.
Others came seeking something else.
Yet after spending an afternoon with Xiao Feng…
She couldn’t picture him forcing his way into anyone’s home.
After thinking for a moment, she spoke.
“If you haven’t decided where to stay tonight…”
“…there’s a spare room.”
Xiao Feng looked at her.
“I won’t trouble you.”
“It isn’t trouble.”
“You’ve helped gather herbs.”
“And…”
She smiled awkwardly.
“…you saved me earlier.”
“It would feel strange pretending I never met you.”
Xiao Feng considered it briefly before nodding.
“Then I’ll accept.”
The path became narrower.
Soon it disappeared completely.
Without the Little Fairy Doctor leading the way, Xiao Feng doubted he would ever have noticed it.
The forest gradually grew quieter.
Not because fewer animals lived here.
Rather…
Few people ever came this far.
Finally…
A wooden cabin appeared between the trees.
It wasn’t large.
One floor.
A small vegetable garden.
Bundles of drying herbs hung beneath the roof.
Several clay pots rested outside the entrance.
Simple.
Peaceful.
The sort of place someone built with their own hands.
“So this is your home.” Visit g.com for the full chapter.
“It isn’t much.”
“I think it’s nice.”
She looked at him for a second before quietly opening the door.
The inside matched the outside.
Everything had its place.
Medicinal herbs occupied one wall.
Books filled another.
A wooden table stood beside the window.
No expensive decorations.
No unnecessary furniture.
Everything here existed because it served a purpose.
Xiao Feng immediately noticed something.
“You organize everything alphabetically?”
The Little Fairy Doctor looked surprised.
“You noticed?”
“The labels.”
She smiled.
“Most people never do.”
“They just ask me where everything is.”
While she prepared dinner, Xiao Feng wandered toward the bookshelf.
Almost every book concerned medicine.
Botany.
Poisons.
Medical notes.
Some looked so old that the pages had turned yellow.
He carefully picked one up.
“The handwriting changes halfway through.”
“It belonged to my teacher.”
She paused while chopping vegetables.
“The first half is his.”
“The rest…”
“…is mine.”
Xiao Feng nodded without asking more.
Some memories deserved silence.
Dinner was simple.
Vegetable soup.
Fresh bread.
A handful of wild mushrooms.
Neither complained.
After spending the entire day walking through mountains…
Even ordinary food tasted surprisingly satisfying.
Halfway through the meal, the Little Fairy Doctor suddenly asked,
“Why did you leave home?”
Xiao Feng didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he looked out the window.
“I always thought Wu Tan City was enormous.”
“It felt like the center of the world.”
He smiled faintly.
“Then one day I realized…”
“I only thought that because I’d never left.”
“So you wanted to see more?”
“I wanted to know whether the world matched the stories.”
“And?”
“I’ve only been here two days.”
“…ask me again in a year.”
She laughed softly.
“I will.”
After clearing the dishes, the Little Fairy Doctor stepped outside.
The sky had already darkened.
Countless stars covered the heavens.
She leaned against the wooden fence.
“You know…”
“Most people who come here only talk about money.”
“Or magical beasts.”
“Or treasures.”
“You’ve barely mentioned any of them.”
Xiao Feng stood beside her.
“There are enough people chasing treasure.”
“I don’t need to compete.”
She glanced sideways.
“You really are strange.”
“I’ve been told.”
The forest remained unusually quiet.
Then…
A sharp whistle echoed through the night.
The Little Fairy Doctor’s expression immediately changed.
She recognized that sound.
Mercenaries.
Emergency signal.
Someone nearby was asking for help.
Without hesitation, she turned toward the cabin.
“I need my medicine case.”
Xiao Feng stopped her.
“I’ll come.”
She frowned.
“It could be dangerous.”
“So could treating injured people alone.”
For a moment, she looked as though she wanted to argue.
Instead…
She simply nodded.
“…Thank you.”
Moments later…
The two figures disappeared into the darkness together.