Chapter 21: Don't Bully The Young And Poor

Westmount...

The dense forest on the outskirts of Westmount echoed with the sharp clang of metal against tusk and the dull thuds of fists meeting flesh. The air was thick with tension as two teenage cultivators, vastly different in build and style, faced off against a massive boar. The creature's mottled gray hide shimmered with a faint stony texture, its crimson eyes burning with aggression.

The Stonehide Boar, a beast of the Fourth Level of Qi Refining, charged forward with unrelenting ferocity. Each step it took shook the earth, kicking up loose soil and scattering leaves in its wake.

Lie Zhanfeng stood at the forefront. His arms were covered with a pair of black gauntlets, their edges etched with faint runic patterns. His relaxed posture contrasted sharply with the boar's wild energy. "Kid, stay sharp," he called out, his voice calm but commanding.

Not far from him, Xie Dongyi gripped his sword with both hands, his thin frame trembling slightly from exertion. Sweat clung to his brow, but his dark eyes remained resolute. His blade glinted under the dappled sunlight, a testament to his dedication despite his less refined cultivation level.

The boar bellowed and charged, its tusks aimed squarely at Lie Zhanfeng.

"Don't underestimate me!" Xie Dongyi shouted, darting forward. He swung his sword in a graceful arc, aiming for the beast's flank. The blade struck true, but it barely scratched the boar's stony hide. Sparks flew as the sword skidded off, leaving only a shallow mark.

The boar retaliated, whipping its head toward Xie Dongyi.

"Careful!" Lie Zhanfeng moved swiftly, interposing himself between the beast and Xie Dongyi. His gauntlet-covered fist met the boar's tusk with a resounding crack, halting the creature's momentum entirely. "Your timing is off. Don't just rush in—wait for the right opening!"

Xie Dongyi gritted his teeth, nodding despite the reprimand. "Understood."

The boar roared in frustration, shaking its massive head before lunging at Lie Zhanfeng again. This time, the physical cultivator didn't dodge. Instead, he braced himself, letting the beast slam into him. His feet dug into the ground, but he didn't budge. With a slight grin, he muttered, "Alright, now it's your turn."

Taking advantage of the moment, Xie Dongyi dashed to the side and leapt into the air, channeling his meager Qi into his sword. The blade gleamed faintly as he aimed for the boar's neck.

"Strike harder!" Lie Zhanfeng barked, still holding the beast in place with one arm.

Xie Dongyi roared and brought the sword down with all his strength. The blade pierced through the tough hide this time, sinking into the boar's flesh. The creature shrieked in pain and thrashed violently, breaking free from Lie Zhanfeng's grip.

"Good! Now finish it!"

Xie Dongyi hesitated for a split second, his energy nearly drained. But the sight of the injured boar spurred him on. He steadied his stance and thrust the sword deeper into the creature's neck, twisting it with a grunt of effort.

The Stonehide Boar let out one last roar before collapsing in a heap. Its lifeless body twitched briefly before going still.

Xie Dongyi dropped to his knees, panting heavily. His hands trembled as he pulled his sword free, its once-shiny surface now slick with blood.

Lie Zhanfeng chuckled, shaking his head. "Not bad! But you need to work on your endurance. Two days of travel, and you're already out of breath?"

Xie Dongyi shot him a glare but didn't have the energy to retort.

Two ago, the duo finally arrived at outskirts of Westmount. The journey was long and they fought beasts head on, making Xie Dongyi's exhaustion more evident. He tried to stand up, but his steps faltered and his face went pale.

"Oi, don't collapse now," Lie Zhanfeng said in a panic, catching him just as his knees buckled.

"I'm fine," Xie Dongyi muttered, though his shaking legs said otherwise.

Lie Zhanfeng sighed and pulled out a cup filled with spiritual water from his void bracelet. Handing it over, he said, "Here. Drink some water first. It'll help."

Xie Dongyi hesitated, but the faint scent of the water, rich and rejuvenating, was too tempting to ignore. He took a cautious sip and immediately felt warmth spreading through his body. His strength returned almost instantly, and his fatigue faded.

"This is... incredible," he murmured, staring at the cup in awe. Even until now, he couldn't help but marvel at the miraculous effect of this water.

"Get used to it," Lie Zhanfeng teased. "There's plenty more where it came from."

Before Xie Dongyi could respond, Lie Zhanfeng walked over to the Stonehide Boar's corpse. With a swift, casual punch, he shattered the creature's hard skull, reaching into the gore to extract a round, glimmering beast core.

He turned and tossed it to Xie Dongyi. "Here. You earned this."

Xie Dongyi caught it, his eyes wide with surprise. The core's warmth spread through his fingers, a testament to the energy contained within. "I… thank you," he said, his voice quiet.

"You did most of the work back there," Lie Zhanfeng said with a shrug. "Besides, you need it more than I do."

Xie Dongyi stared at the beast core for a long moment, his mind racing. He had always known Lie Zhanfeng was strong—his casual demeanor and restrained movements during the fight had made that clear—but the way he had handled the boar with such ease was humbling.

"I need to get stronger," Xie Dongyi muttered, clutching the core tightly.

Lie Zhanfeng rubbed his head, turning hair into a mess, "That's the spirit. Now, let's cook thing first. I'm starving." Although the outer layer of the Stonehide Boar's skin is hard, its flesh is still edible.

Despite his exhaustion, Xie Dongyi managed a small smile. He couldn't help but glance at the beast core again, its appearance a reminder of how far he still had to go.

-----

Lie Zhanfeng and Xie Dongyi rested for a while, preparing their lunch leisurely. The savory aroma of roasting Stonehide Boar meat wafted through the air, teasing their appetites. The two dug into the meal with relish, the crispy exterior and tender meat earning their nods of approval.

While eating, Lie Zhanfeng found his thoughts drifting back to the first time he visited Westmount. At that time, he was even more disheveled than Xie Dongyi. Hungry and penniless, he'd wandered for days and nearly starved to death. The memory of stealing food and sleeping on dirt to survive, still stung.

The embarrassing memory fueled his appetite as he gnawed aggressively at the roasted boar leg in his hand. Xie Dongyi couldn't help but smirk at the sight, remarking with a chuckle, "Are you taking revenge on the boar now, Zhanfeng?"

Before Lie Zhanfeng could retort, a sound interrupted them.

Cluck. Cluck. Cluck.

Lie Zhanfeng froze mid-bite, his ears pricking up. His eyes snapped toward the direction of the sound, narrowing as he spotted the intruder: a rooster.

It wasn't just any rooster. It stood there with an unmistakable air of arrogance, chest puffed, head held high as if it were the ruler of this mountain. Its feathers gleamed with a faint fiery glow, and its talons clicked menacingly against the rocks.

"A rooster?" Xie Dongyi blinked, his tone laced with amusement.

The rooster responded with another loud cluck, as if to declare, 'Yes, and I'm your superior.'

Lie Zhanfeng shot to his feet, the piece of meat in his hand falling to the ground unnoticed. His face darkened with a mixture of anger and embarrassment. "Don't do anything," he said to Xie Dongyi, his tone dead serious. "I have to handle this myself. This chicken... owes me a debt."

Xie Dongyi raised an eyebrow, watching as Lie Zhanfeng squared off against the rooster. He couldn't suppress his curiosity. How had a mere chicken at the first level of Qi Refining managed to offend someone like Lie Zhanfeng?

The man and rooster locked eyes, tension thick in the air.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the rooster let out a loud cluck, scattering tiny embers as it turned and sprinted in the opposite direction.

Lie Zhanfeng's instincts kicked in. Without hesitation, he bolted after it.

The chase was on.

The rooster was quick and crafty, darting between trees and leaping over rocks with surprising agility. It zigzagged unpredictably, leaving a trail of singed grass and tiny scorch marks. At first, it seemed to enjoy the game, its fiery feathers shimmering as it clucked mockingly.

But this time was different. No matter how fast or cleverly it moved, Lie Zhanfeng was right behind it, his longer strides and higher cultivation allowing him to keep up effortlessly.

"You're not getting away today, you overgrown feather duster!" Lie Zhanfeng bellowed, dodging a low-hanging branch with practiced ease.

The rooster, realizing it was no longer in control of the situation, began to panic. Its once-taunting clucks turned into frantic squawks as it darted left, then right, only to find itself cornered each time.

Xie Dongyi watched from a distance, arms crossed, an amused smile tugging at his lips. The sight of the rooster running in terrified circles with Lie Zhanfeng hot on its heels was too much.

Finally, with a well-timed leap, Lie Zhanfeng grabbed the rooster by the neck. The bird flapped its wings furiously, letting out a series of desperate clucks, but it was no use.

Lie Zhanfeng held it up triumphantly, his expression a mix of victory and indignation. "You damn chicken! Don't you know the saying, 'Don't bully the young and poor'? Did you really think you could keep mocking me forever?"

The rooster clucked weakly in response, as if to plead for mercy.

Xie Dongyi strolled over, his smile widening. "Lie Zhanfeng, are you seriously holding a grudge against a chicken?"

Lie Zhanfeng snorted, his grip tightening. "This isn't just any chicken, kid. This bird humiliated me the first time I came here!"

Xie Dongyi's laughter rang out, his shoulders shaking as he doubled over. "So... this is your great nemesis? A first-level Qi Refining chicken?"

Lie Zhanfeng was embarrassed, he stuttered as he tried to defend himself, "I... Back then, I was weak..."

The rooster squawked indignantly, but Lie Zhanfeng only smirked. "But not anymore. This 'great nemesis' is about to become my lunch."

Xie Dongyi wiped a tear from his eye, his grin irrepressible. "You truly are the hero of the weak."

Lie Zhanfeng ignored the jab, turning to their campfire with the struggling rooster in hand. "Enough talk. Let's see how this arrogant feathered fiend tastes roasted."