The next morning began much like the ones before it.
Mist drifted between the trees.
Birdsong echoed through the valley.
The Little Fairy Doctor sorted the herbs they had collected yesterday while Xiao Feng swept the small courtyard outside the cabin.
Life had settled into a peaceful rhythm.
After breakfast, she picked up a different basket than usual.
“We’re going farther today.”
Xiao Feng noticed the heavier tools inside.
“Rare herbs?”
She nodded.
“There’s one ingredient I’ve been waiting to collect.”
“It only blooms for a few days each year.”
The forest grew noticeably quieter the deeper they traveled.
Even the birds became scarce.
The Little Fairy Doctor slowed her pace.
“We’re entering the territory of a First-Rank Magical Beast.”
She glanced at Xiao Feng.
“If anything happens, stay behind me.”
Xiao Feng almost laughed.
A Foundation Establishment cultivator being protected from a First-Rank Magical Beast…
The scene was strangely amusing.
Still, he simply nodded.
“I’ll remember.”
Nearly an hour later, they reached a narrow cliff overlooking a small stream.
Growing beside the rocks was a cluster of silver flowers swaying gently in the wind.
The Little Fairy Doctor’s eyes lit up.
“Silver Moon Blossom.”
She quickly knelt beside them.
“They opened right on time.”
Instead of picking them immediately, she carefully examined every flower.
Some remained untouched.
Others had already begun to wilt.
She harvested only the fully matured blossoms, leaving the younger ones behind.
Xiao Feng watched quietly.
“You always leave some.”
She continued working without looking up.
“If I take everything…”
“There won’t be any next year.”
A sudden growl echoed through the forest.
Low.
Deep.
The Little Fairy Doctor froze.
The sound came again.
Closer this time.
Branches rustled nearby. This story is hosted at g.com.
A massive gray wolf slowly emerged from the undergrowth.
Its body was nearly the size of a horse.
Scarlet eyes fixed on the two humans.
The Little Fairy Doctor slowly stood.
“…Iron Fang Wolf.”
She whispered just loudly enough for Xiao Feng to hear.
“First Rank.”
“But stronger than most.”
She slowly reached for a pouch hanging from her waist.
Not a weapon.
Medicine.
Powder.
The wolf lowered its body.
Preparing to leap.
The Little Fairy Doctor stepped slightly forward, placing herself between the beast and Xiao Feng.
“Run when I tell you.”
Xiao Feng blinked.
“…You’re serious?”
“I’ll distract it.”
“You’ll never outrun it.”
“I know.”
She didn’t sound frightened.
Only determined.
For a brief moment…
Xiao Feng understood exactly why so many people trusted her.
Helping others wasn’t something she decided to do.
It was simply part of who she was.
The wolf lunged.
The Little Fairy Doctor immediately scattered a cloud of pale powder.
The beast twisted in midair.
Its nose twitched violently.
Instead of attacking, it landed awkwardly several meters away, sneezing repeatedly.
Xiao Feng raised an eyebrow.
“Interesting.”
She whispered quickly,
“Most beasts have sensitive noses.”
“It won’t stop it.”
“But it buys time.”
The wolf recovered almost immediately.
This time…
It circled them instead of charging.
Much smarter than ordinary animals.
Xiao Feng sighed inwardly.
He couldn’t let this continue.
At the same time…
Not here.
Not in front of her.
His spiritual sense spread quietly.
A single pebble resting near the stream floated slightly from the ground.
So subtly that even the Little Fairy Doctor failed to notice.
As the wolf prepared another attack—
The pebble shot forward.
Not fast enough to attract attention.
Not slow enough to miss.
Crack.
It struck a tree trunk several meters behind the wolf.
The sound exploded through the forest.
The beast spun around instantly.
Its instincts screamed danger.
Without hesitation, it abandoned the two humans and disappeared into the trees.
Silence returned.
The Little Fairy Doctor remained motionless.
“…It ran?”
She looked toward the damaged tree.
“…Strange.”
“Maybe it heard another Magical Beast.”
Xiao Feng shrugged.
“Looks like we got lucky.”
She slowly nodded.
“…Very lucky.”
On the journey back, neither of them spoke much.
The Little Fairy Doctor occasionally glanced toward the forest behind them.
Something about the wolf’s behavior bothered her.
Iron Fang Wolves were territorial.
They rarely retreated without reason.
Still…
She couldn’t find another explanation.
Perhaps luck truly had favored them today.
Back at the cabin, Xiao Feng placed the baskets beside the door.
His expression remained perfectly calm.
Inside, however, he made himself a promise.
From now on…
Whenever he secretly intervened, it had to look natural.
Not miraculous.
Not impossible.
Just enough to tilt fate slightly in the right direction.
That suited him far better than showing overwhelming strength.
A hidden expert did not solve every problem with force.
Sometimes…
A falling pebble accomplished far more than a drawn sword.