A Breakfast in the Wild

Her heart leaped with joy. "Be careful!" she shouted.

Huo Xuan kept his eyes locked on the lion, his voice calm. "Relax. It's just an injured old tomcat."

Man and beast stood in tense silence. A glint of ferocity flashed in Huo Xuan's eyes as he fully mobilized his qi and blood, ready for battle. The lion, sensing his formidable presence, hesitated—its animal instincts warned against attacking.

The standoff lasted ten minutes before the weakened lion let out a desolate roar and slowly turned away. It had wisely chosen retreat over confrontation.

As the lion disappeared into the grass, Shangguan Meixue exhaled in relief and tried to stand—only for her legs to buckle beneath her. Just as she was about to collapse, strong hands steadied her. That familiar voice teased in her ear, "Useless woman. Scared stiff by a lion?"

For once, she didn't snap back. "I am a woman," she murmured. "Being timid is only natural."

Huo Xuan was taken aback. Had she retorted, he would've fired back with more sarcasm. But her unexpected meekness left him speechless. He could only shrug.

"When will backup arrive?" she asked, gradually regaining her composure.

"Hard to say," Huo Xuan replied. "But definitely within ten hours."

"What now?"

"Sleep." He stretched lazily. "Till sunrise."

Shangguan Meixue gathered dry reeds from the marsh to make a makeshift bed, then covered her face with her clothes to ward off mosquitoes before curling up to sleep.

Huo Xuan, however, remained awake all night, meditating to circulate his qi and blood. Since reaching the An Jin level, an internal force had taken root within him. He needed to nurture it, refine it, until it could permeate his entire being.

Dawn crept in unnoticed. When Shangguan Meixue awoke, she found her head resting on Huo Xuan's thigh—yet he sat unfazed, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

A warmth blossomed in her chest—she realized Huo Xuan was the type to show kindness through actions rather than words. Though he mocked her openly, his care was undeniable.

The moment she stirred, his eyes snapped open. "What do you want for breakfast?"

Shangguan Meixue blinked, then deliberately said, "Fried eggs and milk."

Huo Xuan glared. "How about elephant meat while we're at it?"

Her delicate brows arched. "You asked. I'm just answering. No need to be so grumpy."

With a snort, he stalked off without another word.

Yet she wasn't worried. Somewhere along the way, she'd developed an unshakable faith that this infuriating yet extraordinary man would always return.

Sure enough, thirty minutes later, Huo Xuan reappeared—and Shangguan Meixue's jaw dropped.

Under his left arm nestled an ostrich egg the size of a soccer ball. His right hand carried a flat stone slab, while around his neck hung strips of animal fat, meat, and the water bladder—now filled with wild buffalo milk.

Obtaining the milk had nearly sparked a brawl with the herd. But after reviving a dying calf, its mother had regarded Huo Xuan with unexpected trust.

Perhaps due to the Buddha Eye's influence, he could sense animals' emotions—and they, in turn, perceived his intentions. Without words, an unspoken understanding flowed between them.

Buffalo milk, richer and more nutritious than cow's milk, made for a perfect breakfast drink.

The fat had been "borrowed" from a cheetah's fresh kill—a gazelle. Coincidentally, this particular cheetah had once witnessed Huo Xuan wrestle a crocodile to death. Reluctantly, it abandoned its hard-won prey and slunk away.

Huo Xuan took only a portion of fat and some choice cuts, leaving the rest. Soon enough, the cheetah returned to claim its meal.

As for the ostrich egg? Sheer luck. A pair of foxes had slaughtered several adult ostriches, leaving their eggs unattended. Huo Xuan simply... relieved them of one.

And so, breakfast was secured—eggs and milk, just as requested.

Huo Xuan built a fire and propped up the thin stone slab with rocks, creating a makeshift griddle. He cracked the ostrich egg onto it, carefully spreading the yolk before adding seasonings.

Soon, the sizzling aroma of fried ostrich egg filled the air, making Shangguan Meixue's mouth water.

But that wasn't all. Huo Xuan then sliced the gazelle's breast meat into thin strips, laying them on the stone. The fat rendered with a satisfying ​sizzle, releasing an irresistible fragrance.

A Swiss Army knife was disassembled, its components repurposed as cutlery. Breakfast began in earnest.

Shangguan Meixue speared a piece of egg with her makeshift fork—delicious. She devoured over a dozen slices before washing them down with buffalo milk, which tasted surprisingly good—no worse than store-bought.

After the meal, Huo Xuan patted his stomach. "Time to move."

Shangguan Meixue, stuffed to the brim, let out an unladylike burp. "Haven't eaten this well in ages. Thanks for breakfast."

"That meal would cost at least 500 bucks in a restaurant. You owe me," he deadpanned.

She scoffed. "I'll pay you 5,000, you miser!"

They followed the river until noon, when a grim scene halted them—a tragedy unfolding on the savannah.

A young male lion was mauling a cub, choking the life from it. Three small corpses already littered the ground. The last surviving cub crouched low, snarling defiantly at its attacker.

The cub's mother had tried—and failed—to protect her offspring. Now she positioned herself between the young lion and her final child.

"They're so pitiful," Shangguan Meixue whispered, voice trembling.

Huo Xuan frowned, recalling a nature documentary. A dominant male ruled a pride for years until challengers arrived. The defeated elder would exile himself, likely dying alone. The victor? He'd slaughter all existing cubs to ensure only his bloodline survived.

That scarred, ailing lion they'd encountered earlier—perhaps it was the dethroned king, already living on borrowed time.

"Run, little one! Run!" Shangguan Meixue clenched her fists, willing the last cub to escape.

Huo Xuan sighed. "That won't help." Then he strode toward the pride.