ALL NOVEL Chapter 18: There's a First Time for Everything
Chapter 18: There's a First Time for Everything
After returning to the Xiao family with the supplies, Xiao Yan called on the other disciples and led them toward the back mountain.
"Cousin, how long are we staying on the mountain?"
On the way, Xiao Ning, carrying a wild boar on his shoulder, asked Xiao Yan, who was carrying a cow. Xiao Yan slightly raised his chin, thought for a moment, and answered.
"We'll see how it goes. For now, let's plan for three days. If there are no issues, we'll probably stay until the coming-of-age ceremony this year."
"Huh? That long?!"
Xiao Ning was stunned. The coming-of-age ceremony was still three months away.
"What's wrong, Cousin Xiao Ning? Do you have plans during this time?"
Xiao Yan looked at him curiously. Xiao Ning glanced at Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er, who were trailing some distance behind, and then replied helplessly.
"I had booked a spot at Ning Spring pavilion for the day after tomorrow. I was even planning to invite you along. The deposit is already paid."
"..."
Xiao Yan was speechless.
Xiao Ning was good in most aspects, but his love for playing around was his biggest flaw. Moreover, he always wanted to drag Xiao Yan along, despite having been beaten up by Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er multiple times. He still hadn't learned his lesson.
(I think you should actually go to such places sometimes. That way, you won't be easily deceived by women with ulterior motives in the future.)
Yao Chen teased in Xiao Yan's mind. Not knowing how to respond, Xiao Yan simply pretended not to hear her.
The Xiao family disciples followed Xiao Yan deep into the back mountain and soon arrived at the hot spring.
This place was familiar to everyone in the Xiao family. After all, it was dug out by them together when they were children.
"Alright, we'll train here for the next few days~" Xiao Yan casually dropped the cow he was carrying to the ground and glanced at the group. "Put down your things. Let's start with some physical training."
The Xiao family disciples responded in unison. Physical training was something they did daily, with the only difference today being the location.
Occasionally changing the training environment wasn't a bad idea—it felt refreshing.
Under Xiao Yan's leadership, the group began their daily training on the open ground near the hot spring. To Yao Chen, this routine looked like pure torture.
If the focus wasn't on Dou Qi, even the young elites of her own clan wouldn't be able to compare with these Xiao family youths, led by Xiao Yan.
Yao Chen never expected to find such an extraordinary family in this small Jia Ma Empire.
No. That wasn't entirely correct.
Yao Chen shifted her focus to Xiao Yan, who was training alongside the others.
The extraordinary one was only Xiao Yan. The rest were simply being led by him.
The group's physical training continued until noon. Xiao Yan glanced at the sun, now directly overhead, clapped his hands, and called everyone to stop.
"That's it for the morning. Let's gather the ingredients and start preparing lunch~"
"..."
The group fell silent at Xiao Yan's words. Xiao Mei raised her hand timidly.
"Um... Cousin Xiao Yan, do you know how to cook? Especially out here in the wild?"
"Not at all~"
Xiao Yan answered with complete honesty. Xiao Ning immediately stepped forward, pointing at the pile of ingredients.
"Then why did you bring all this stuff up the mountain? Why not just head back home for lunch and return afterward? Also, why train on the back mountain at all?"
Xiao Ning's three consecutive questions voiced the doubts shared by all the Xiao family disciples. Xiao Yan, however, waved his hand and smiled.
"There's a first time for everything. You'll learn to cook in the wild by doing it."
"This..."
"Besides, the coming-of-age ceremony is approaching. Consider this training a final sprint. Changing the environment might speed up our cultivation progress~"
Faced with Xiao Yan's cheerful smile, Xiao Ning had no choice but to give in. He scratched his head in resignation.
Only now did Xiao Ning realize that Xiao Yan was quite a reckless person at heart. His typically calm demeanor often made people overlook this fact. Otherwise, how could he have organized treasure hunts in the back mountain during their childhood?
"Well, since it's your idea, we have no objections."
Xiao Ning relented, and the others nodded in agreement.
"Alright then, let's assign tasks now. Work quickly, so we don't delay the afternoon training."
Xiao Yan divided the tasks—lighting the fire, gathering firewood, fetching water, and preparing the ingredients. He and Xiao Ning each took a knife and squatted beside the cow.
"Cousin, how do we even begin with this?"
Xiao Ning held the knife, comparing it to the cow's body, but hesitated to make a cut. Having never touched a knife before, let alone butchered a whole cow, he was at a loss.
Xiao Yan frowned slightly at the question.
Though there was a saying that determination could overcome obstacles, tackling something you'd never done before was inevitably tricky.
At that moment, Yao Chen's voice rang in Xiao Yan's mind.
(Boy, place your hand on the cow's body and guide your Dou Qi through it. You'll sense the gaps between the bones. Insert the knife into those gaps and cut along them. Just work through all the gaps, and the cow will be butchered.)
Following Yao Chen's guidance, Xiao Yan placed his hand on the cow, extending his Dou Qi into it. As Yao Chen described, he clearly sensed the gaps between the bones. Placing the knife at one of these gaps, he easily made a cut.
(Senior Yao, I didn't expect you to know how to butcher an animal.)
(When I traveled alone in the past, I had to hunt for my own materials. Over time, I picked it up.)
(I see.)
Understanding this, Xiao Yan turned to Xiao Ning.
"Cousin Xiao Ning, guide your Dou Qi into the cow's body. Once you feel the gaps, use the knife to cut along them."
Xiao Ning followed the instructions and soon got the hang of it.
"Haha~ This is actually pretty fun!"
Finding the process surprisingly entertaining, Xiao Ning became engrossed in the task.
Meanwhile, the others worked diligently on their assigned tasks. Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er joined a group of girls to sort vegetables.
Girls were naturally better at such tasks than boys, even someone as hot-tempered as Xiao Mei.
"Cousin Xiao Yan always comes up with weird ideas."
Xiao Mei grumbled while sorting the vegetables. Beside her, Xiao Xun'er chuckled softly.
"Isn't it nice, though? Like he said, changing the environment might really help us improve our cultivation."
As she spoke, Xiao Xun'er's gaze occasionally drifted toward the hot spring. Seeing the faintly greenish water, she had a hunch about Xiao Yan's intentions in bringing everyone here.
But that wasn't important.
Turning her eyes back to Xiao Yan, who was focused on butchering the cow, Xiao Xun'er's lips curled into a gentle smile.
This experience, like when Xiao Yan led everyone to dig out the hot spring during their childhood, was something she could never have in her own family. It was bound to become an unforgettable memory.
She resolved to savor every moment of it.
(End of Chapter)
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For every 100 power stones = 1 chapter
300 power stones = 5 chapter
500 power stones = 8 chapter