Chapter 100: Old Fox, I Don’t Buy Your Lies

At this moment, Wang Keyue’s refined appearance did not suit approaching these people closely. Xiao Hongyu took the initiative to break the ice: “May I ask your esteemed surname? This is my master, the Taoist heir, Daoist Xuanqing of Jiushan. May I inquire which tribe you belong to? How did you fall into the hands of these barbarians?”

Upon hearing this, the group realized they were dealing with a Taoist immortal. Memories of the divine techniques just displayed flooded their minds, deepening their reverence.

“Thank you, immortal, for saving us!” someone in the group shouted with heartfelt gratitude, followed by everyone spontaneously kneeling in thanks.

“Please rise. I walk the path with a clear conscience and will draw my sword to aid those wronged whenever I see injustice.” Wang Keyue’s mind already buzzed with the system’s gratitude points being accrued.

Helping them to their feet, the honest second uncle began recounting the events, though Wang Keyue knew better than to fully trust his tale—truth and falsehood were entwined. Behind that sincere, simple face lay a cunning old fox.

“To be frank with the immortal benefactors, we are the Wang clan residing nearby. Our ancestors have lived on this border for generations, suffering persecution from the Qiang and Hu tribes. Forced, we retreated into the Yellow Mountains, unaware the barbarians would still find us.” The second uncle spoke slowly, his words smooth but suspicious.

Wang Keyue wore a serene expression but mentally scoffed, “This old man is full of lies—an old fox indeed! Not a word of it is true!”

Despite her doubts, she had to help these people; after all, they were the original owner’s cherished kin.

“Are these all your clan members?” Not seeing the pretend father or the pretend second cousin, Wang Keyue cautiously asked. “Since you are of the Wang family, and thus related, if you do not mind, you may come with me to live at my master’s sect.”

Her offer was tempting. Their homes were destroyed and discovered by the barbarians—not a safe place to stay. They had been lucky this time, but luck might not favor them next time. Any sensible person wouldn’t refuse.

The old fox frowned, thinking briefly before deciding. He bowed respectfully to Wang Keyue and Xiao Hongyu. “Thank you both for saving our lives, but I cannot decide for all the clan. The chief and other warriors are out hunting and should return by dawn. Perhaps you would accompany us to the tribe and wait for their return before discussing this matter?”

“Very well,” Wang Keyue said, stroking an imaginary beard with inscrutable calm and nodding.

With a flourish of her wide sleeves, she muttered a few words, and several large sacks of coarse grain appeared before them.

“Ah! What is this?” The group was stunned into silence, then once again dropped to their knees in awe.

“Rise, please. This is but a small spell of my master’s. Gather these grains and return to your tribe to rest. We will seek you at dawn.” Xiao Hongyu explained.

Without further words, the two turned and left, leaving the reverent group still kneeling.

They returned to their flying car and chose a spacious spot to park.

Wang Keyue then took out her intelligent bus, an act that astonished Xiao Hongyu anew. No matter how steady he was, her endless surprises overwhelmed him.

“Xiaoyue, can you warn me next time before you pull something like that out?” Xiao Hongyu rubbed his chest, his playful, startled expression making Wang Keyue laugh.

“Sure! Next time I’ll let you know, don’t worry.” She opened the bus door and climbed inside.

The bus was spacious. Wang Keyue laid out two warm sleeping bags in the aisle, making their night on the barren mountain safer and more comfortable.

Xiao Hongyu followed and saw her tidying the sleeping bags. The thought of sharing a confined space with this lively girl made him feel a bit awkward, shy, his heartbeat quickening with a hint of anticipation.

Though they had shared the flying car before, tonight felt very different.

Just as his imagination ran wild, an old, weathered face suddenly appeared before him.

“What’s wrong? Daydreaming?” Wang Keyue waved a hand, beckoning.

“Nothing… just a bit hungry…” Xiao Hongyu shook off his scattered thoughts. Facing this immortal-like visage, he found himself strangely calm and pure of desire.

Wang Keyue checked her inventory—there was still plenty of grain: rice, coarse grains, corn, flour, even fresh meats available for purchase in the system’s marketplace. Suddenly, she craved meat.

Now that money was no longer an issue, she decided it was time to treat herself. She instructed the system to buy one hundred pounds of meat.

The description stated it was low-grade spirit beast meat, priced at ten gold coins per pound—much higher than ordinary beast meat at one gold coin per pound.

Recalling novels that described spirit beast meat as fragrant, rich but not greasy, and able to invigorate the whole body, Wang Keyue was thrilled.

“Xiaoyue, this spirit beast meat is excellent. Eating more can even improve your small thunder curse skill,” said the system assistant.

Wang Keyue’s joy soared. If skills could be enhanced this way, she would no longer suffer the torment caused by high-level skill cards.

Recalling that soul-deep pain etched into her bones made her shudder involuntarily.

No more thoughts. Tonight’s food and drink were urgent.

She gathered the ingredients: an iron pot, a bag of flour, a large bottle of water, some greens, two large sweet potatoes, a pound of spirit beast meat, and various seasonings.

Xiao Hongyu watched hungrily, his deep brown eyes devoid of their usual ruthless gleam, instead filled with tenderness and satisfaction.

“You’re amazing, Xiaoyue. So many good things! I’ll go gather firewood right away,” he volunteered eagerly, heading off to collect wood.

Though the mountain was barren, many dead trees littered the area. Soon he returned with a large bundle.

Wang Keyue had already cleared a spacious area and built a simple stone stove. Her two years of wandering with her family in her previous world had taught her these basic wilderness survival skills.

Now, she was kneading dough in a large basin. The flour was pure white, flawless—whiter and finer than the best flour in this world. Xiao Hongyu swallowed hard; he had never seen such pristine flour before.

Watching Wang Keyue’s fair hands kneading and pressing, a smile lit his eyes, his gaze deepening with affection.