Lin Xue made a lot of sense, and Ye Tiancheng was indeed a bit too anxious, taking things too seriously and finding his own tightly strung nerves to be the most unbearable.
Sometimes, relaxing appropriately could also make the brain sharper, allowing for more organized thinking without making impulsive, strange decisions.
"Alright, then let's treat it as a trip. If there's danger, we'll turn and run. Don't overthink it. Going to Black Wind Mountain is just a formality anyway."
After the few people discussed it, they set off quickly. For Ye Tiancheng, this was a minor matter. He was used to being out and about all the time and didn't feel like he was drifting. It was just a matter of relaxing his mind. No matter what, starting a new journey always brought a sense of novelty, and the thrill of the unknown could sometimes make one feel that life wasn't static, and there were still many hopes.
The group set off in an off-road vehicle. Upon arriving at their destination, they stopped and immediately set up camp. Even if they got lost in Black Wind Mountain, they would at least have a place to meet temporarily.
"Fatty, your tent-pitching skills are getting better and better, and the tent is more spacious than before. It feels like everything has improved. It's really not easy."
"It's normal. I'm happy, and that's what matters. My experiences along the way have broadened my horizons, even though I don't cultivate. I've been running around outside so much, I should have gained some skills. I can't just wander around aimlessly like before, without any ambition, feeling like an idiot."
"It's good that you understand. We will all become stronger in the future."
Before entering Black Wind Mountain, Fatty decided to make a delicious meal to reward the three of them. They had endured quite a bit of hardship along the way and deserved a good meal. This way, they would at least have the energy to continue their journey. Otherwise, it felt too miserable to be constantly eating in the open, like refugees or ships adrift at sea, lacking a sense of security.
"Brother Ye, I know you need to maintain your figure, so I made some low-fat shrimp balls that you'll definitely like. I'll fry them for you, along with fried potatoes, and I'll stir-fry a couple of dishes. Let's have a good feast today, and then we'll head into the mountain."
"Okay, Fatty. Every time you're around, I feel particularly at ease. Every time I eat your cooking, I feel that as long as I'm alive, it's a very happy thing."
Fatty chuckled and scratched his head sheepishly, saying nothing. He and Ye Tiancheng were too familiar with each other, so there was no need for polite words, which would only make them seem distant. It was better to just say normal things.
"Yes, I'm happy too that you like my cooking. It shows that we brothers have a connection."
Looking at the meat simmering in the pot, Ye Tiancheng felt a warmth spread through him. The power of good food was still as strong as ever. Ye Tiancheng had to admit that at this moment, he felt a great deal of happiness.
"Brother Ye, it shouldn't take long. It'll be ready soon. You should get ready too. You must eat more today. I put a lot of effort into steaming this rice, so you have to eat more to show your appreciation."
"Alright, I'll do as you say."
Ye Tiancheng also prepared to have a good meal. After all, he hadn't had a proper meal in such a long time, and he constantly missed Hou Mingzhu and his daughter. He couldn't go on like this. The fatigue wouldn't appear all at once but would accumulate bit by bit, leading to a complete breakdown.
The meal hadn't been going on for two minutes when problems arose. The place where they had set up camp was suddenly surrounded by countless eyes. These were creatures that originally lived in Black Wind Mountain.
They were now eyeing these intruders menacingly, ready to pounce at any moment and snap a throat.
"Xue'er, can you tell me what these monstrous things are? And why have they come in such large numbers? Are they trying to surround us and kill us here?"
Ye Tiancheng spoke casually, but in reality, he had no intention of surrendering to these strange creatures as soon as he arrived. He naturally wanted to establish some prestige here, to deter the weaker monsters from appearing and making a fool of themselves.
"They should be animals from the rodent family. This area has been surrounded by black winds for years, so there might be radiation or something similar. That's why the animals here look strange, unlike ordinary rats. Rats affected by radiation are about 10 times the size of normal rats, and their teeth are sharper. The teeth of ordinary rats can gnaw through wood, but these rats are even more formidable. Steel cannot withstand their sharp fangs for long; each one is fiercer than the last."
Just as she finished her explanation, the phoenix suddenly let out a low cry and soared into the sky. What followed was natural. The phoenix flapped its wings and flew high, emitting points of spiritual energy. These points were surrounded by faint flames, quickly eliminating all the rats that hadn't had a chance to experience the world.
Starting from this point, the spiritual fire began to burn. These spiritual flames were something the monsters couldn't resist. Soon, amidst crackling sounds, cries of agony erupted.
Ye Tiancheng watched in amazement. All divine beasts were the same, yet Ye Tiancheng had never seen a divine beast grow as quickly as the little phoenix. It was almost carrying the entire team.
"Disciple, your little phoenix is too powerful! With such a divine beast, you don't have to worry about anything. You can just eat, drink, and have fun every day."
"Not at all. It's because the phoenix is inherently noble in bloodline. It doesn't need to do anything; other divine beasts can't compare. In fact, I haven't done anything. I'm just lucky to have such a high-level divine beast."
"It's good that you're happy. Look at your phoenix, it's causing chaos throughout Black Wind Mountain. These strange animals are all busy fleeing for their lives, terrified."
Lin Xue smiled gently. Recently, smiles had become more frequent on the face of this cold and aloof woman. Before, she always seemed aloof and inhuman. Later, she gradually realized that it was simply because she hadn't had gentle people around her since childhood, so she didn't know how to express herself. In reality, she had many things she wanted to say.
The sky suddenly became very bright, as if it were daytime in the night sky. Then, everything settled.
"Master, the phoenix has dealt with all the low-level monsters. Our journey will be much smoother from now on."
Ye Tiancheng had to thank Fatty for this. He had used his extraordinary culinary skills to attract the low-level monsters, and then had the phoenix deal with them. The entire process was indeed quite smooth.
"Alright, let's rest for now. I think Black Wind Mountain is quite sinister. We shouldn't be careless. We'll enter the mountain after daybreak."
Fatty, who was washing dishes nearby, came over after finishing and agreed with Ye Tiancheng's assessment.
"Brother Ye, I think what you said makes a lot of sense. We should proceed with caution. This place feels quite eerie. If we're not careful, the three of us could easily perish here."
Ye Tiancheng enjoyed seeing Fatty's timid and fearful demeanor. He didn't think being cowardly was a bad thing for a man; instead, he found it very real and endearing.
"Don't be afraid. As long as I'm here, I'll definitely protect you and make sure nothing happens to you."
Fatty ran over and hugged Ye Tiancheng's arm, then rested his head on his shoulder. "I know, Brother Ye. Then I'll rely on you for everything."
Lin Xue was accustomed to the banter between the two men and simply watched them blankly, completely unfazed.
Because of his extensive experience, the tent he pitched was incredibly beautiful, and the bedding inside was even thicker. Lying on it felt like lying on soft clouds, which was quite comfortable.
"It's so comfortable! Although Black Wind Mountain is full of strangeness, I feel like it's a bit like a theme park."
Perhaps because of the accumulated stress recently, he was finding ways to entertain himself. Ye Tiancheng's "Ah Q mentality" was becoming more pronounced. He hoped to think of things in a positive light and avoid pushing himself into a corner.
"You're right, Brother Ye. I'm even looking forward to tomorrow. It will definitely be fun to enter Black Wind Mountain. It will be another tourist attraction to check off the list."
In fact, there were always some encounters wherever they went. Last time, while looking for the snow lotus, he had met that little bear. Ye Tiancheng often thought about it and worried about how the bear was doing now.
Ye Tiancheng really wanted to go and see it, and he had already decided that if he had the chance, he would definitely go and visit.
"I've made so many friends along the way, I've even befriended a bear. When I have the chance, I'll take you to see it. If we go again, that little bear will probably have grown into a big bear. Just thinking about it is quite amusing."
"Brother Ye, that's great. Actually, I really enjoy coming out with you. Although it's always tough, and we have to eat in the open, you're always in such good spirits. I can feel your joy, and this is the real you."
Fatty's words made sense. Ye Tiancheng hadn't realized it before, but he was increasingly feeling it lately. Only when he was on the road could he find his true self, without the so-called anxiety and overthinking, just charging forward without hesitation.
"You're right. I've also come to understand that even if I wander for the rest of my life, this is my fate, and I will accept it."
He had become accustomed to this rhythm, and everything felt natural. Even sleeping outdoors, he slept soundly.
He woke up the next morning, and the morning in Black Wind Mountain was exceptionally peaceful. Looking from the outside in, except for a faint layer of black mist, nothing else could be seen.
As soon as Ye Tiancheng opened his eyes, he smelled the aroma of meat. When it came to food, Ye Tiancheng never had to worry, because Fatty always took care of everything.
"Making braised pork so early in the morning, that's typical of you guys, Fatty. But I'm craving meat too. I'll get up right away, wash up, and then I'll eat."
As the three of them were about to eat together, they suddenly saw a plump figure. This animal seemed out of place in Black Wind Mountain, being so fat and large, with a generally憨厚 appearance. Externally, it looked a bit like a round, chubby little bear.
"Brother Ye, that animal has been watching for a long time. Could it be the bear you mentioned? It came all this way to find you!"