Bok Taejin nodded in agreement.
By now, the wild chickens and rabbits they had been roasting were dripping with oil, sizzling as the fat dripped into the fire, releasing an even richer aroma.
Someone had roasted a smaller chicken, and it was already cooked through.
Without hesitation, they tore it apart.
Bok Taejin wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but even through all the conversation, the sound of chewing seemed exceptionally clear.
He had thought he wouldn't be able to eat anymore, yet now he actually felt a little hungry.
Gradually, more roasted chickens and rabbits were ready.
When someone offered him food, he didn't refuse and biting into the meat with large, eager bites.
Finally, the moon rose high, and everyone began returning to their homes.
Im Beomhyeon's house was at the edge of the village, set apart from the others.
The closest house was Aunt Seo's, making it easy to recognize.
Upon arriving, Im Beomhyeon let Bok Taejin sleep in the same bed as before, while he went to another room.
Bok Taejin noticed that the room Im Beomhyeon went to was clearly much less comfortable than the one he was in.
It seemed obvious now—he was sleeping in Im Beomhyeon's own room.
Perhaps noticing that he still hadn't laid down, Im Beomhyeon suddenly turned back and asked, "Why aren't you sleeping yet? Do you have trouble sleeping in new places? Feel awkward? Afraid to sleep alone?"
Bok Taejin smiled wryly, shaking his head.
He lay down while closed his eyes, and replied, "I'm sleeping now."
Im Beomhyeon didn't seem to care much.
He pulled the door closed and went to sleep as well.
It wasn't long before Bok Taejin could hear Im Beomhyeon's snoring from the other room.
Drowsiness gradually crept up on him, but a small glowing point hidden in his consciousness quivered slightly.
He had no choice but to focus his mind on it, sensing the information it contained.
As soon as his thoughts reached out to it, he was suddenly pulled into a chaotic void.
There, only the voice of the One Flower Sect's Ancestor—the one who had passed down the inheritance—echoed.
"Little one, you have something unique about you. You are a good inheritor of my Life and Death Technique. Your body can generate death energy, which will be enough for you to cultivate for a while. But your physique is very strange—you cannot sense the spiritual energy of the world. Absorbing vitality will be difficult for you. However, I do have a method to help you with this."
Bok Taejin was startled.
The voice continued, "I have unlocked a small portion of the functions of the Sect Leader Token for you. The distance is vast, so even I can only help you to a limited extent. If you wish to unlock more of its functions in the future, you will have to rely on your own efforts. Hmm… If you encounter certain opportunities, I might be able to assist you further."
"Go back and examine the Sect Leader Token yourself."