Chapter 457: Loss of Control Warning
“Master, the nearby Exotic Beasts have been cleared out. Zeng Yu is leading a patrol on the perimeter, and Qinghe has a few people boiling water and cooking. Are you hungry? Are you feeling better now?” Di Youlin asked softly, looking at Ning Xuan as she rested with her eyes closed, her head pillowed on his lap. His long, strong fingers gently kneaded her shoulders and neck.
“I’m okay,” Ning Xuan replied in a low voice, nestled lazily on his lap, seemingly unwilling to move.
They had chosen to make camp on a flat meadow deep within a mountain hollow, surrounded on three sides by gentle slopes. The slopes were densely covered with a myriad of unknown wildflowers. A crystal-clear stream meandered past the eastern side of the camp, its water gurgling softly. Occasionally, a few small, silver-white fish would leap from the water, creating tiny splashes. As the sun set, it painted the sky with vast swathes of orange-red clouds, creating a scene of peace and serenity.
Ning Xuan’s tent was pitched in the very heart of the camp. It was made from a state-of-the-art new material with extremely high defensive properties, and from the outside, it had a beautiful, silvery-gray sheen.
The interior of the tent was spacious. In the very center stood a luxurious, large bed, which was surrounded by screens, creating what looked like a small, separate room.
The ceiling of the tent was adorned with a few luminous stones, which emitted a soft, hazy glow.
Di Youlin carried the sleeping Ning Xuan and placed her on the freshly made bed. Just as he laid her down and was about to leave, he felt a tug on his clothes.
“Come up. Sleep with me for a bit,” Ning Xuan mumbled, her eyes heavy with sleep as she tugged on Di Youlin’s clothes.
“As you command, Master.” Di Youlin gazed down at her with an indulgent smile on his face. He removed his outer tunic and got into the bed.
When Ning Xuan woke from her nap, she found her head resting on Di Youlin’s arm, her hands wrapped tightly around his waist, and one of her legs thrown over his lower abdomen.
As Ning Xuan’s leg shifted slightly, she felt Di Youlin’s body instantly tense up. He spoke softly, “Master, you’re awake?”
Ning Xuan smelled the aroma of roasting meat drifting through the air, mixed with the faint, charred scent of a bonfire. It gave her a sense of cozy domesticity, and she instantly felt hungry.
“Mm, I’m hungry. Let’s get up and eat.” Rubbing her eyes, Ning Xuan gave a lazy stretch and sat up.
Di Youlin got up and helped her put on her outer clothes, then wiped her face with a towel. After a quick freshening up, the two of them left the tent.
Qinghe was standing by the grill, using long chopsticks to turn large chunks of beef on the rack. The charcoal fire licked at the surface of the meat, making it SIZZLE. As fat dripped down, it sent up puffs of fragrant white smoke. Nearby, the dozen or so three-meter-tall bull-like Exotic Beasts had been almost completely processed. Some people were still using sharp blades to disjoint the skeletons and strip off the entire hides. Others skillfully sliced the large pieces of bright red beef into thick steaks or chunks suitable for grilling, while still others were skewering the meat on special iron rods, sprinkling them with coarse salt and wild mountain pepper powder. Everyone had their own task and worked together in perfect harmony.
The grilled meat was arranged neatly in preservation boxes. These boxes would keep the meat fresh. Their original food reserves were already gone, and besides, with so many new people, their daily food consumption had increased significantly.
When Qinghe saw Ning Xuan approaching, he immediately stood up, handing a plate of just-grilled, spicy meat to Di Youlin. “Master, this is the spicy meat you like, fresh off the grill. Would you care to try some?”
To ensure Ning Xuan could eat her favorite foods even out in the wild, both Qinghe and Di Youlin had studied cooking under Nine-tailed. Qinghe knew Ning Xuan’s dietary preferences like the back of his hand, and the spicy roasted meat was what he made most often.
“Yes, please. I was just starting to feel hungry.” Ning Xuan had been in a tense and dangerous environment for the past few days and hadn’t had a proper meal. Now, smelling the fragrant roasted meat, she was famished.
Di Youlin placed the large cut of meat on the table and evenly sliced it into small, centimeter-sized cubes. The meat was cooked to perfection—tender and juicy, with a crispy outside and a succulent inside. As the knife cut through, amber-colored juices immediately welled up along the grain. The sight alone was enough to make one’s mouth water.
Ning Xuan picked up a piece with a bamboo skewer. The moment she put it in her mouth, it was filled with the rich aroma of the fat. The meat was tender, springy, and left a lingering, delicious flavor. Combined with the spice, it was enough to make her break out in a sweat and her lips turn red. Besides the spicy version, Qinghe also made a honey-glazed fruit-flavored roast that was absolutely divine. The sauce for this version was made from wild honey, crushed berries, and a hint of lemon juice, giving it a unique flavor all its own.
Ning Xuan ate with great satisfaction.
Everyone else, aside from those on watch, gathered around to eat. The camp filled with lively chatter, enveloped in a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere.
The peace was shattered when the alarm on Ning Xuan’s wristband suddenly went off. A piercing siren instantly cut through the rare moment of tranquility. Everyone immediately dropped their food, drew their weapons, and went on high alert.
Ning Xuan activated her wristband and saw a red dot flashing incessantly. Next to the dot was an arrow and a distance indicator.
“Master, what is it?” Di Youlin asked uneasily, seeing her grave expression.
“It’s Yun Han. His Mutated Value has crossed the warning threshold. I need to find him as soon as possible,” Ning Xuan said, not hiding anything.
“See if you can contact him,” Ning Xuan ordered.
“Can’t get through. There must not be any base stations nearby. The Light Computer can’t find a signal,” Di Youlin replied quickly.
“Then we’ll have to follow the alarm’s indicator.”
‘Perhaps because the alarm has a singular function, it still works even when the Light Computer can’t find a signal.’
“Zeng Yu, you take half our people and stay here to provide support. Qinghe, Youling, bring everyone else and follow me.” Ning Xuan summoned the Vermilion Bird’s Wings and took off in the direction the arrow indicated.
Night had fallen. To travel more efficiently, Qinghe used a Flame Sprayer. The sprayer shot out a fan-shaped blaze, its white-hot light illuminating the mountain path for a hundred meters ahead.
Scorched leaves were swept up by the heatwave. Di Youlin silently rushed to the front of the group, shielding Ning Xuan behind him.
Ning Xuan pushed forward at full speed, following the indicator’s direction. The light from the Flame Sprayer dyed the rugged mountain path, the jagged rocks, and even the faintly visible forest in the distance a hazy orange-red. Any Exotic Beasts drawn by the flames were eliminated one by one by Qinghe and the Undead Warriors.
The carcasses of the Exotic Beasts were not wasted, either. Qinghe casually collected them into his Space Ring.
Thirty minutes into their journey, they encountered a large pack of wolf-like Exotic Beasts.
Not wanting to get entangled with the wolf pack, Ning Xuan directly released her Companion Spirit, the Vermilion Bird. A searing wave of fire erupted from her position. The Vermilion Bird beat its wings and dove, and flames swept over the pack like a tide.
Over a third of the wolf-like Exotic Beasts were reduced to ash by the Vermilion Bird True Fire before they could even howl. The remaining beasts seemed to have all their ferocity instantly drained from them. The alpha let out a shrill, mournful howl, and the pack scattered in all directions, disappearing into the dark mountain forest in the blink of an eye, leaving behind only scorched earth and the lingering smell of burnt flesh in the air.