The forest at dusk was quiet except for the occasional rustle of leaves and the soft crunch of footsteps. Zhang Wei and Liu Qinglan had been hunting for only a short while when they managed to catch two young wild boars — not too big, but fat enough to provide good meat for several days.
Just as they finished tying the carcasses with vines for easier carrying, a familiar blue window appeared in front of Zhang Wei's eyes.
[Level Up!]Zhang Wei – Level 4
A new selection window followed right after.
New attribute available:
1. Qi
2. Wild Beast Knowledge
3. Wood Carving Knowledge
Zhang Wei didn't even need to think twice. He chose the first option without hesitation.
Qi – Unlocked
He didn't adjust the value yet. He wanted to understand what this new stat actually meant before playing with it. The window faded away quietly as they continued their walk back home under the moonlight.
On the way, Zhang Wei turned to Liu Qinglan and asked in a low voice, "Sister Qinglan, if someone who has never cultivated before suddenly has a lot of qi inside their body… what would happen?"
Liu Qinglan answered without looking at him, her tone matter-of-fact. "They would explode and die, obviously. Think of the human body as a glass cup. Qi is the water. If you place that cup directly under a powerful waterfall, what do you think will happen?"
Zhang Wei nodded slowly. "The glass would shatter."
"Exactly," she said. "That's why cultivation starts with breathing techniques — to slowly expand and strengthen the 'cup' so it can hold more qi without breaking. Without proper foundation, even the best pills become dangerous."
Zhang Wei stayed silent for a moment, digesting the information. He understood a little more now, but decided to leave the Qi stat alone for the time being. There was no rush.
When they finally reached the house, Uncle Li was sitting outside waiting for them. The moment he saw the two small wild boars, his eyes widened and he laughed heartily.
"Look at that! You two actually brought back meat again. Must be tiring. Come, drink some water first. Mei, bring the cups!"
Mei ran out quickly and handed them each a clay cup of cool water. Zhang Wei drank gratefully, feeling the tiredness of the day ease a little.
After resting for a short while, all four of them worked together to process the meat. They skinned the boars carefully, separated the good cuts, salted some portions for drying, and stored the rest in a cool corner of the house. The work went smoothly — Uncle Li's experienced hands, Zhang Wei's steady knife work, Mei's help with washing, and even Liu Qinglan lending a hand despite still recovering. Laughter and light chatter filled the yard as they worked under the lantern light.
The next morning, Uncle Li and Zhang Wei headed to the village market with bundles of dried boar meat and the cleaned hides. The moment they set up their small stall, people started gathering.
"Look at the quality of this meat!" "Such thick hides — perfect for winter!"
The crowd grew quickly. Haggling was fierce but fair. By the time the sun climbed higher, they had sold everything. In their pouch now sat one silver coin and fifty copper coins — more money than Uncle Li had seen in a long time.
On the way back, Uncle Li was smiling from ear to ear. "Today we're eating fish! Mei has been asking for it for weeks."
Mei jumped with joy when she heard the news. "Fish! Real fish! It costs thirty copper coins each — we can finally afford it!"
Back at the house, Zhang Wei took charge of the kitchen. He had bought two fresh river fish — silver-scaled and still twitching when he brought them home. He began preparing Steamed Fish with Lemon and Herbs using the simple ingredients they had.
First, he cleaned the fish thoroughly, scaling them and removing the guts. He made several shallow diagonal cuts on both sides of each fish so the seasoning could penetrate better. Then he rubbed the fish generously with salt, both inside and out, and let them sit for a few minutes.
In a small bowl, he mixed fresh wild herbs he had gathered earlier — chopped green onions, ginger slices, and a handful of mild aromatic leaves. He stuffed some of the mixture into the fish's belly and placed the rest on top. He then squeezed fresh wild lemon (small sour fruits from the forest) over the fish, drizzling the juice evenly. A light drizzle of sesame oil (traded earlier) and a pinch of ground pepper finished the seasoning.
He set up the steamer using a large pot with a wooden rack inside. After the water came to a boil, he carefully placed the fish on a plate and put it into the steamer. He covered it and let it steam for about twelve minutes — just enough time for the flesh to turn opaque and flaky while staying moist and tender. In the last two minutes, he sprinkled a bit more fresh herbs on top for extra fragrance.
When the fish was done, the entire house filled with a clean, appetizing aroma — sour, savory, and slightly herbal.
Zhang Wei brought the steaming plate to the table along with a simple vegetable stir-fry and rice. Everyone gathered around excitedly.
The four of them sat together under the warm candlelight.
Uncle Li took the first bite and nodded with satisfaction. "The meat from yesterday sold well. One silver and fifty copper — not bad at all for two small boars."
Liu Qinglan tasted the fish and raised her eyebrows in pleasant surprise. "This is really good. The sourness balances the freshness of the fish perfectly. Little brother, your cooking skills are getting better every day."
Mei, cheeks full of rice and fish, spoke with shining eyes. "Today I saw a lot of beautiful butterflies near the river! They were blue and yellow, dancing around the flowers. It was so pretty!"
The conversation flowed easily — Uncle Li talking about the price of dried meat in the market, Liu Qinglan sharing a funny story about a clumsy hunter she once met in the sect, and Mei chattering excitedly about the butterflies and how one landed on her finger. Zhang Wei listened quietly, a small, warm smile on his face as he watched the people around the table.
For a moment, the small house felt complete.
Outside, the night wind blew gently. Inside, laughter and the clinking of wooden chopsticks continued late into the evening.
Zhang Wei glanced at the Qi stat still sitting quietly in his status window. He hadn't touched it yet. But soon… he would start learning how to strengthen that "glass cup" so it wouldn't shatter.
For now, though, he simply enjoyed the simple happiness of good food and the sound of family talking around the table.
Life in Greenstone Village was slowly becoming richer — one hunt, one meal, and one small step at a time.