Chapter 15: Ye Tian's Concern

Chapter 15: Ye Tian’s Concerns

“Alright then!” Ye Tian couldn’t persuade Ani and could only nod in agreement. At that moment, Grey and the others returned, all in high spirits. “Did you get anything?” Ye Tian asked with a smile.

“Hehe!” Gell grinned and handed Ye Tian a stone.

It was a blood-red magic core, filled with a dangerous aura. “A blood core, that’s a good thing. The essence blood of the magical beast is all inside.” “Is it really that powerful?” Ye Tian examined it carefully. It was beautiful, but he couldn’t understand its intricacies.

“I don’t understand it,” Ye Tian said with a smile, then tossed the magic core back to Grey. “It’s yours.”

Grey caught the core and prepared to throw it back. “Don’t throw it. It’s useless to me,” Ye Tian quickly stopped him.

“This is worth a lot, at least five thousand gold coins!” Grey replied with a wry smile.

“I told you, it’s no use for me. I’d rather use herbs found on the ground than carry something like this. You guys keep it,” Ye Tian insisted.

“You’re really a strange one!” Grey muttered, carefully storing away the magic core. It was high-grade and worth five thousand gold coins—he couldn’t afford to lose it.

“Jin, are you feeling better?” Ye Tian remembered that Jin had become quite drained after using his skills. He seemed improved now, but still looked a bit tired.

“Oh, I’m fine. Just need some meditation tonight,” Jin replied.

“That’s good. Shall we keep moving?” Ye Tian suggested.

“Sure, I’d like to return as soon as possible. The Magical Beast Forest truly lives up to its reputation,” Grey recalled the earlier scene, still somewhat shaken.

“Let’s move!” Russell got up and continued scouting ahead. The group pressed onward toward the city.

“Ye Tian, why didn’t you kill that beast?” Jin asked suddenly from behind.

“Kill it? Why?” Ye Tian asked, puzzled.

“That’s a magical beast. There might be a core inside,” Jin said quietly.

“The core? You mean that stone? It’s useless to me. Besides, I don’t like unnecessary killing,” Ye Tian explained.

“Why?” Jin voiced his inner doubts.

“Well, how should I put it? I believe that as long as someone exists in this world, they have a reason to live. No one else has the right to arbitrarily deprive them of that,” Ye Tian replied with a smile.

“So, to you, life is the most important thing,” Jin said suddenly.

“You could say that,” Ye Tian answered.

“Ye Tian,” Jin said, “I don’t think you’re wrong, but this world might be the opposite of your theory. In other words, life here may be the cheapest thing there is.”

“Is that so? It doesn’t matter. I’ll just stick to my beliefs,” Ye Tian said, turning his head. “Jin, thank you, and thank you all.”

“Why are you thanking me?” Jin asked, blushing.

“Haha, Jin, you’re truly a good person,” Ye Tian laughed.

“A good person?” Jin sighed quietly. “Good people have disappeared from this world.”

“No, aren’t you all carrying it forward?” Ye Tian smiled. “Grey doesn’t want anyone to be hurt, so he avoids combat whenever possible. You, Jin, secretly set up wards around us so everyone can sleep peacefully. Gell always steps forward and shields others, even silent Larton—when faced with danger—never backs down. So you’re a good person, Grey is too, all of you are.”

---

“You really are a strange one,” Jin said, his face hidden in his cloak, but smiling.

“Ugh! Am I really that odd?” Ye Tian was speechless.

“Very odd. Logically, someone like you shouldn’t exist in this world. But I like it,” Jin said.

“Forget it. I don’t like men!” Ye Tian scoffed.

“Ugh, get lost!” Jin’s face flushed red with anger. “I don’t like men either!”

“Hehe!” Ye Tian chuckled mischievously.

The long day finally drew to a close. Russell found a good spot, and everyone prepared to rest there.

“Tomorrow we’ll be back in the city. I’m so happy!” In the cave, everyone found a comfortable place to relax, waiting for Ye Tian’s dinner.

“Hey, hey, don’t just laze around! Come help!” Ye Tian grumbled as he washed and prepped some magical beast that looked like a dog—or maybe something else.

“Uh, Ye Tian, we’re really tired, so we’ll have to trouble you alone,” Gell replied, grinning. “Hurry up! I’m starving!”

“Starving and still don’t help!” Ye Tian muttered, working swiftly to prepare the food, adding fire and starting the roast.

“I’m so hungry!” Before the meat even finished its first turn, Lisa’s voice rang out.

Ye Tian turned angrily, but seeing Lisa’s big, sparkling eyes, he was speechless. She was just a child—how could he be angry with her? Before the roast was done, Russell arrived with several chickens.

“Ye Tian, could you handle these too?”

“Is there no end to this?” Ye Tian wanted to cry. “Gell, go, clean and prep them. Otherwise I can’t cook!”

“Just roast them like last time, in the ground,” Gell suggested, unwilling to move.

“That was in the ground. This is a cave—try digging a pit here!” Ye Tian complained.

“Oh, it’s indeed hard to dig,” Gell glanced at the barbecue, reluctantly getting up. “Save a leg for me!”

“Ye Tian, does it just need a pit?” Jin, who was meditating nearby, suddenly opened his eyes.

“Yes, just like last time,” Ye Tian replied.

“That’s easy!” Jin walked over, muttered a spell, and a spiral ice drill appeared before Ye Tian.

“You’re going to bore a hole?” Ye Tian asked.

“Yes, I remembered your words: magic doesn’t have to be used only for attack,” Jin said, controlling the ice drill, which soon carved out a small stone pit.

Ye Tian said nothing this time, fearing Jin would be displeased. Jin summoned a stream of water and washed the pit clean.

“Is that enough?”

“Perfect,” Ye Tian turned and said, “Gell, go fetch some clay—yellow clay, not surface dirt. If you use surface dirt, the flavor will suffer!”

“Alright!” Gell realized he had no choice but to go out, but for the sake of good food, he went. Soon, Gell returned, carrying a pile of yellow clay on his large shield.

“Is this enough?” Gell asked, nearly in tears.

“Can I say it’s not enough?” Ye Tian looked at Gell’s eyes gleaming with a cold light.

“Then I want two drumsticks!” Gell immediately switched to a smiling face.

“Go to hell!” Ye Tian tossed a stick at him.

---

“Ha, missed me!” Gell dodged, but before he finished speaking, another stick hit his head.

“That’s impossible!” Gell exclaimed.

“Want to try again?” Ye Tian twirled another stick in his hand.

“If you don’t cheat, you’ll never hit me!” Gell declared confidently. Before he finished, another stick struck his head.

“You’re cheating!” Gell protested.

“Haha, in battle, enemies never warn you in advance!” Ye Tian laughed. “Watch out!” With that, he threw the stick.

Gell dodged, “See, as long as you don’t cheat, you can’t hit me!” Before he finished, Grey shouted, “Watch your back!” Gell turned, and a stick hit his face. “Impossible!” He dropped with a thud.

“Are you alright?” Ye Tian moved to check, but Russell pointed to the grill, “Ye Tian, the roast is burning!”

“Oh, oh.” Ye Tian quickly flipped it over. Gell got up, frustrated.

“You cheated!” Gell said.

“Gell, Ye Tian’s right. On the battlefield, the enemy never gives you warnings. You must be diligent—sometimes a tiny mistake can cost your life!” Grey said earnestly.

“Yes, Captain.” Gell sincerely accepted Grey’s words.

“All done!” Ye Tian pulled the roasted meat off the fire. The hungry wolves pounced, even Jin joining in, and in an instant, the enormous roast was devoured clean.

“Was that really necessary?” Ye Tian shook his head and began preparing the clay-baked chicken.

“Ye Tian, it’s so delicious!” Lisa ate happily, sighing, “What if we can’t have it again?”

“That’s not my concern!” Ye Tian grumbled. In just a few days, he’d become the group’s designated chef, and now they were worrying about future meals—how could he not be frustrated?

“Ye Tian, why not join our mercenary group?” Gell suggested around mouthfuls of meat.

“No way! I won’t be your chef, you big eater!” Ye Tian scoffed.

“Then I’ll eat less from now on, how about that?” Gell thought for a moment.

“Gell, Ye Tian has his own plans,” Grey interjected.

Gell shrank back and quietly gnawed on his roast.

“I want to investigate a bit more first. I’m still unfamiliar with this place. If there’s a chance in the future, I’ll join,” Ye Tian replied with a smile.

“Really?” Gell’s spirits immediately lifted.