“As for his specific origins and goals, that’s not something traveling merchants like us would know. Lord Bai Xuan, do you... know him?”
Bai Xuan didn't answer directly. He silently poked at the bonfire, the dancing flames casting flickering shadows across his face.
“I have a score to settle,” he eventually muttered vaguely, but the icy tone of his voice spoke volumes.
The atmosphere inside the cave stagnated for a moment, leaving only the crackling of the bonfire.
Nora, keenly sensing the shift in Bai Xuan’s mood and the brief, strange look on her father’s face, quickly tried to change the subject.
She pointed at the roasting meat and asked, “By the way, what kind of meat is this? It’s not... goblin, is it?”
Her face twisted with undisguised disgust and nausea, clearly traumatized by her earlier ordeal with the pack.
“No, I wouldn’t dare eat those. This is Dreadboar meat.”
Thinking of the goblins, Bai Xuan felt a wave of revulsion himself. “I hunted it in the forest earlier.”
Nora let out a sigh of relief and immediately volunteered, “Then let me handle it. I’m used to traveling, so I’m fairly confident in my seasoning and timing.”
She pulled a small metal tin from her father’s pack and gave it a gentle shake. The mixture inside made a fine, rustling sound.
“This is a secret blend my father and I put together during our trade runs. It’s delicious if you sprinkle a little on.”
Bai Xuan watched her as she handed him the tin. He took it and weighed it in his hand; it was surprisingly heavy. “You mixed this yourself?”
“Mhm!” Nora nodded. As she reached for the meat skewers, her hand inadvertently brushed against the back of his.
It felt like being lightly singed by a tiny spark. She quickly pulled her hand back, pretending to be focused on adjusting the meat’s distance from the flames.
“Whenever I see useful spices on the road, I collect them. It took many tries to get the proportions right.”
With a light flick of her wrist, she evenly sprinkled the seasoning over the sizzling meat.
The pale gold powder landed on the charred skin, instantly releasing a rich aroma that made the air in the cave mouth-watering.
As she reached the last bit, the tin wobbled slightly, sending a small cloud of powder toward Bai Xuan.
“Oh!” Nora gasped, instinctively reaching out to shield him. “Careful, don’t breathe it in!”
Bai Xuan looked at her face, so close he could see her long eyelashes, and his heart skipped a beat for some reason.
He quickly raised his hand and handed the empty tin back to her. “It’s fine. This seasoning smells amazing.”
Nora took the tin and lowered her head to put it away, unable to stop her lips from curving upward.
Once the meat was glistening and golden, she carefully handed a branch over, her eyes full of expectation. “Try it? It should be just right.”
Bai Xuan took the skewer. The steam hit him, carrying the savory scent of the spices and the rich aroma of roasted fat.
He took a bite. The juices rolled over his tongue, offering a savory flavor with a hint of spice.
“It’s delicious. Much better than when I roast it myself.”
He praised her sincerely. When he looked up, he happened to catch Nora’s gaze, and she immediately looked away in a panic.
“I’m glad you like it...” Nora said softly.
This was the first time since transmigrating that he had eaten something with so much flavor.
“It really is better when someone who knows how to cook does the roasting!” Bai Xuan thought as he ate heartily.
“Never mind whether the meat I roast tastes good—sometimes it isn’t even cooked through.”
A sense of fullness and warmth rose from his stomach, dispelling the chill of the night.
Colin watched all of this quietly.
He slowly ate the meat his daughter had roasted, his gaze shifting back and forth between the focused Nora and the quietly eating Bai Xuan.
Nora would steal glances at Bai Xuan from time to time, and whenever he seemed to notice and looked up, she would quickly look away, her ears turning red.
A knowing smile appeared at the corners of Colin’s mouth.
The food made the atmosphere much more relaxed.
After searching through his pack for a while, Colin pulled out a folded parchment map, a charcoal pencil, and a neatly folded, high-quality plain white robe.
“Lord Bai Xuan.”
Colin handed over the map and the pencil. “Thank you for saving us. This is the map we use for our travels.”
“The locations of Blackcreek Town and Calais Town are both marked. You might find it useful.”
He then picked up the white robe. “Take this as well. Given your current attire... you might attract unnecessary questioning if you enter a town.”
“A clean robe can save you a lot of trouble...”
Finally, he produced a slightly worn leather pouch. Opening it revealed over a dozen coins shimmering with a dull gold luster.
“Thirteen gold coins. This is all the cash we have on us. The rest was in the luggage we lost.”
“We can never truly repay you for saving our lives, so please, you must accept this. It’s for emergencies on the road.”
Bai Xuan looked at the items but didn't take them immediately, calculating their value based on the memories of the original host.
Colin then pulled a yellowed, frayed piece of old paper from his tunic.
“Take this too. It’s a treasure map that has passed through who knows how many hands. I came across it by chance years ago.”
“I’ve carried it for years on my trade routes, but I never had the opportunity to seek it out.”
He shook his head and didn't elaborate further. “It’s just gathering dust with me. Better to give it to you; perhaps you’ll have better luck.”
Bai Xuan looked at the treasure map, and a panel appeared:
【Worn Treasure Map: Points to a location. It might lead to a few copper coins, an abandoned beast den, or even a great treasure hoard.】
Good stuff! Even if it depends on luck.
“Thanks.” He tucked the items away.
He first unfolded the map, seeing his current position clearly for the first time, as well as his goal: “Blackcreek Town.”
“Lord Bai Xuan,” Nora spoke softly, her eyes full of concern.
“Are you... going to Blackcreek Town? It might be very dangerous there right now. The Cross family...” She didn't finish, but her meaning was clear.
“Yes. There are things I must do.”
Bai Xuan didn't say much. His gaze fell on the marker for Blackcreek Town on the map, as if he could already see the place.
Colin patted his daughter’s hand and said to Bai Xuan, “In that case, we won't try to persuade you further. Tomorrow morning, my daughter and I will head to Calais Town to handle some matters, and then we will go to Myriad City.”
“If you ever pass through Myriad City, you can find us at the Icarus Magic Academy.”
The night deepened.
The exhausted Nora and the still-recovering Colin took the first watch and soon fell back into a deep sleep.
Bai Xuan sat by the bonfire and took the second watch.
He changed into the white robe, which fit surprisingly well. The coarse fabric hid the signs of battle on his body and seemed to settle his aura.
As the first light of dawn broke, Bai Xuan extinguished the fire and packed his things.
He didn't wake the sleeping father and daughter. Instead, he wrapped the remaining roasted Dreadboar meat in clean leaves and placed it beside them.
Then, to avoid raising suspicion about having spatial equipment, he took his pack out of the Space Ring. Gripping his Goldsand Iron rod, he stepped out of the cave.
Morning mist flowed through the trees, and the air was crisp and cold.
He took one last look at the cave that had provided him with brief warmth, information, and direction.
Unfolding the map, he identified his path and began walking toward Blackcreek Town.
The hem of his white robe fluttered through the forest, soon disappearing behind the misty trees.
Inside the cave, Nora woke up. She stared at the warm bundle of meat beside her and the cold embers of the fire for a long time.
She walked to the cave entrance, seeing only the lush greenery and the fading morning mist.
Colin had already been awake when Bai Xuan left. He walked over to his daughter’s side.
Looking out at the empty forest, he suddenly gave a light chuckle and nudged Nora with his elbow. “What, did you take a liking to that kid?”
“Father!”
Nora’s face flushed instantly. “I did not! I’m just... just grateful he saved us!”
“Oh—?”
Colin dragged out the word, the amusement in his eyes deepening. “Fair enough. He is quite handsome, his strength is unfathomable, and he’s a rare Healer...”
“Tsk, tsk. He’s got a bit of your old man’s charm from when I was young.”
“You’re talking nonsense again!” Nora stomped her foot in embarrassment and turned to pack her things, but her lips couldn't help but curve into a small smile.
In her mind, the silhouette of the figure by the bonfire once again flickered—a presence that had made her feel so safe.
Rate on N.U.
