The moment Lin Feng crossed the boundary of Broken-Soul Peak, the mountain exhaled a long, eerie breath.
The fog thickened.
The air chilled.
The lantern on the altar flickered awake like it sensed new gossip.
Lin Feng set the sack of rice on a rock and inspected it with the satisfaction of a man who believed this was a major achievement.
"One day of survival secured."
The ghost child drifted proudly around the rice, circling it like a guardian spirit protecting treasure.
A soft chime sounded in Lin Feng's mind.
[SYSTEM]
Food acquired.
Mission progress: acceptable.
Host luck: dangerously erratic.
He ignored the last line.
Lin Feng opened the sack and poured a small amount of rice into a cracked pot. He added water, placed it over a tiny fire, and watched the pot wobble as if protesting the workload.
The ghost child floated closer and dipped its head inside the steam as if checking on progress.
"No tasting until it's done," Lin Feng said.
The ghost backed up, embarrassed.
From the corner of the courtyard, the Chained Woman watched silently.
Chains rested at her feet, but each link held a subtle tension—as if even she found this domestic scene… unusual.
Lin Feng waved at her casually.
"Stay for dinner, Elder. First meal of our revived sect."
She didn't move.
But her presence didn't feel hostile.
In ghost language, that was practically affection.
The pot began to bubble violently—more violently than water ever should.
Lin Feng nudged the lid open.
Inside, a face appeared.
A ghost face.
It screamed.
Lin Feng calmly slapped the lid back on.
[SYSTEM]
Caution: pot possessed.
Solution: strong slap.
Host response: appropriate.
After a moment, the pot returned to normal bubbling.
Ghost cuisine required patience.
When the rice finished cooking, Lin Feng scooped a bowl for himself and set another bowl on the altar. He placed a third bowl near the Chained Woman.
The ghost child stared between all three bowls, unsure which was its.
Lin Feng pushed a small stone bowl toward it.
"This one is yours. Child's portion."
The ghost child brightened—literally—a faint blue glow bouncing in excitement.
Lin Feng took a bite.
It tasted… edible. Barely.
The ghost child mimicked him, phasing its mouth through the bowl.
It tasted nothing, but the gesture made its form shimmer with happiness.
The Chained Woman didn't eat, of course.
But her chains shifted once—
as if acknowledging the offering.
For a moment, Broken-Soul Peak felt… peaceful.
As peaceful as a haunted mountain could be.
---
The wind suddenly cut through the courtyard.
A cold whisper spiraled around them.
Another presence.
A hostile one.
Lin Feng didn't turn. He simply took another bite of rice.
[SYSTEM WARNING]
Spirit approaching.
Cultivation: Phantom Pulse Realm (Low)
Threat Level: Serious
Advice: Consider survival.
A tall silhouette formed at the gate of the sect, crooked and swaying like a burned tree given life.
Its aura pushed the mist aside.
Its eyes glowed with sharp hunger.
The ground cracked under its dragging steps.
The ghost child shrank behind Lin Feng.
The Chained Woman lifted her head slowly.
Her chains stirred in warning.
The spirit stretched its neck unnaturally and hissed,
"Yoooou… shouldn't… be… here…"
Lin Feng calmly blew on his rice.
"I live here."
The ghost staggered closer, aura thickening.
"You… mortal… leave… or… be… consumed—"
Lin Feng looked up at it.
Just once.
A simple, unimpressed glance.
The ghost's voice cracked mid-threat.
[SYSTEM]
Host intimidation success rate: Impossible.
Yet… successful.
The Phantom Pulse ghost stumbled backward instinctively.
Lin Feng stood up slowly.
"You interrupted dinner."
The ghost froze.
Behind him, the Chained Woman's chains rose like cold iron serpents.
The ghost child hid behind Lin Feng's leg, trembling.
Lin Feng took one leisurely step forward.
"Apologize."
The ghost opened its mouth—
—and the Chained Woman moved.
She didn't sprint.
She didn't lunge.
She simply appeared in front of the enemy ghost, chains coiling around its torso with crushing force.
The ground split.
The ghost let out a distorted screech as the chains tightened.
[SYSTEM]
Chained Woman: Cultivation Wraith Core Realm
Enemy Ghost: Heavily Outclassed
Outcome: Predetermined
The enemy ghost thrashed, but the chains dragged it down like judgment itself.
It shattered into a black mist, evaporating into the cold night.
Silence fell.
The Chained Woman lowered her chains and slowly returned to her place under the lantern, as if nothing happened.
Lin Feng sat back down, picked up his bowl, and resumed eating.
"Good. Now the flavor feels balanced."
The ghost child stared at him in awe.
Its tiny form flickered with absolute devotion.
[SYSTEM]
Event logged:
Sect Master calmly faced higher realm spirit.
Morale of local ghosts: increased
Host's delusional confidence: stable
Lin Feng tapped his bowl gently.
"First dinner in our reborn sect… complete."
Broken-Soul Peak answered with a deep, distant rumble—
not threatening,
not angry—
but approving.
The mountain was waking up.
---