Chapter 14 — First Steps Outside
Cold mist lay heavy over Cloud Veil Outer Mountain.
Drops clung to roofs, wood piles, even to thin spirit herbs growing near broken fences.
Roosters cried weakly.
Children yawned and rubbed their eyes.
A few tired women swept dirt floors.
Same morning.
Same struggle.
Long Tan stepped out, tying his saber belt.
His breath looked like smoke in the cold air.
He checked the small pack one more time:
dried meat
three throwing knives
small gourd of healing wine
poison-clearing wine
qi-nourishing wine
rope
flint
old iron saber
Simple things.
Maybe enough to live.
Maybe not.
Su Lan walked out too.
She held her bag tight to her chest like a shield.
Her fingers trembled, but her back stayed straight.
Her clothes were old — patched twice at the elbows.
But her eyes… they were trying hard.
Long Tan glanced at her quietly.
> "Follow my steps. Don't rush. Don't fear noise."
"I… I will," she whispered.
They shut the hut door.
Inside were only wooden bowls and a blanket.
Nothing worth stealing.
Two aunties near a well whispered, glancing at them.
"Husband and wife going together? Rare."
"They must be desperate."
"Hope they return."
Long Tan pretended he didn't hear.
Su Lan lowered her eyes but didn't stop walking.
> This world liked to watch, but never helped.
---
Deeper into Trees
Forest swallowed sound quickly.
Moist soil.
Rotten leaves.
Light broke through branches like thin swords.
Su Lan kept half a step behind Long Tan, copying his footsteps exactly.
He hid his aura.
She tried.
Not perfect — but effort mattered.
Inside her chest, her heart beat fast.
> Is this really right? Can I survive?
I don't want to be a burden… I will try. I must try.
He already works hard. I don't want him to carry everything alone.
Long Tan spoke softly, without turning,
> "If you fear, breathe slow. Fear is normal. Panic kills."
"I'm not afraid," she whispered — though she was.
But she tried anyway.
And that mattered more than any talent.
---
Lesson From Shadows
A rustle.
Long Tan stopped instantly, hand raised.
Two cultivators fought ahead — struggling with a weak qi boar.
They hid behind a tree trunk.
The boar rammed one man.
He shouted in pain.
His friend slashed wildly, almost hitting him too.
Su Lan stared, shocked.
> They look strong… but they are barely holding on…
Blood splashed on leaves.
The boar died.
The men panted like dying dogs, then started arguing who deserved the core.
Su Lan's lips trembled.
> "They almost died…"
"Mn." Long Tan's voice was steady.
"There is no easy killing here. Even weak beasts kill careless cultivators."
He added softly,
> "And remember — others always watch.
If you bleed and weaken, someone may stab you for your spoils.
Survive the beast, then survive the humans."
Su Lan's grip tightened on her little knife.
> This world… really has no mercy…
She nodded slowly.
"...I will be careful."
"Good."
---
Tigers and Roots
They walked deeper.
Air grew colder, trees thicker.
Suddenly, a striped shadow passed through bushes — muscles rippling beneath fur.
Tiger beast.
Qi stage.
It sniffed, then moved away.
Su Lan didn't breathe for five seconds.
When it left, her legs felt weak.
Long Tan whispered,
> "Don't fight tigers unless forced.
Pride kills faster than fangs."
Inside, she thought:
> Strength… I need more strength… I am too weak…
He picked berries and two herbs.
Left tiny sprouts untouched.
"Young sprouts mean future," he said.
Su Lan nodded.
> He thinks so far ahead… I just think of surviving today…
But thinking ahead was also strength.
---
First Kill
He felt qi shift.
"Hide," he murmured.
They crouched behind grass.
A rabbit hopped — red eyes, qi swirling faintly.
"Cute," Su Lan whispered, voice small.
"Cute starves you," Long Tan replied simply.
Her face hardened a bit.
She stepped slowly.
But her foot slid on wet leaves — the rabbit slammed into her knee.
She gasped and fell.
Rabbit ran again.
She chased, grabbed its ear, stabbed.
Blood touched soil.
Her hand shook hard.
Breath came sharp and fast.
> I killed something… I really killed something…
Long Tan gave a short nod.
> "Good. First time. Hard.
Today is first day — don't force too much.
Slowly heart becomes steady."
She exhaled shakily.
"I… did it."
"Yes."
> He didn't laugh at me… he didn't say I was weak…
She held the rabbit tight — not proudly, but firmly.
---
Treasure in Soil
Leaves shifted.
A faint smell — old root smell.
Long Tan uncovered soil.
Golden-skin ginseng.
Twenty-year.
Next to it — a ten-year one.
And a young two-year.
Su Lan's eyes brightened a little.
"We are really lucky today…"
Long Tan allowed a tiny smile.
> "Maybe you are my lucky charm."
She froze — then cheeks turned warm.
"I just… followed you."
"Still. You came. We found treasure."
Inside her chest, something warm pushed away fear for a moment.
> Maybe I can really help… even a little…
---
Rest & Resolve
They rested under a big stone ledge.
A safe view.
Cold wind touched their faces.
They ate dried meat.
Drank water.
Su Lan leaned back, quietly tired.
"Forest is cruel," she whispered.
"Mn," Long Tan replied.
"Cruel… but straightforward. Work, bleed, live. Or don't."
He looked ahead.
> "One day at a time.
Survive today.
Grow tomorrow."
Su Lan breathed slowly.
> I came today… I killed today… I didn't run away… That counts.
They stood again.
Not heroes.
Not geniuses.
Just two poor cultivators trying to survive.
But they walked forward — together.
They began walking back slowly.
Sunlight fell through branches like thin threads, warming their faces a little.
Their shoes were wet. Their bodies tired.
But neither complained.
Somewhere far away, a crow screeched once, sharp and lonely.
Su Lan held the rabbit in one hand and touched her knife with the other.
Her fingers still shook slightly… but her steps were firmer than morning.
Long Tan noticed without looking.
> One day, she won't shake at all.
---
End of Chapter 14