Chapter 63: The City of Wanderers

Such wastefulness is indeed regrettable, but Yun Qing had no choice in order to level up. With a thought, she drew a pile of intact but contaminated blood-staunching herbs from her pack and explained, “It was merely a mistake just now, my mind wasn't focused.”

Ye Xiaolang disagreed, “If you know you're not in good condition next time, take a rest before collecting herbs. First, they're precious; second, you must beware of poisoning. Though your strength is just a step away from the postnatal stage, you’re still susceptible!”

Yun Qing felt nothing of the sort; perhaps the original body had once been soaked in poisonous fumes, granting her a certain resistance.

“But these toxic herbs fetch a low price in the village now.”

“The price is low here, but elsewhere it’s different.”

“But the surrounding area has all been shrouded by the Night, so they should be similar.” Suddenly, Yun Qing’s eyes brightened, remembering Ye Xiaolang was here to say farewell. She asked, “Are you heading far away?”

Ye Xiaolang smiled, didn't answer, and tapped his storage pouch. A heap of game appeared—mostly rabbits, wild chickens, and snakes.

“Collecting herbs is tiring. How about processing these first?”

If he wouldn’t say, so be it. The odd-job Yun Qing nodded, “Alright!”

The two found a nearby water source to handle the game, while Ye Xiaolang continued gathering herbs tainted by poisonous fumes.

Properly processed game was easier to store and donate at the relief station, making it more convenient for them.

Wild chickens needed plucking, so Yun Qing fetched an iron pot and charcoal by the riverside, built a fire, and boiled water.

With her level 30 gathering skill, handling these small animal carcasses was swift. Thanks to her skill, what would have been a grisly scene was instead pleasing to the eye.

For the mutated animals, Yun Qing used her purification skill first, then processed them.

While working on the other carcasses, the water in the pot boiled. Plucking and skinning yielded little experience now—though troublesome, the system handled it automatically, making it easy.

Ye Xiaolang watched Yun Qing process the animals and couldn’t help but remark, “Yun Qing, odd jobs really suit you.”

Yun Qing: …

She’d rather hunt monsters than do chores, but she quickly finished processing the game, packed up her tools, and the two set out for the next hunting ground.

Suddenly, Ye Xiaolang spoke, “I am indeed going far away.”

“Will you be gone for long? Can you tell me where?”

“Loose Cultivator City.”

Loose Cultivator City! A place for cultivation—Yun Qing silently committed the name to memory.

“Generally, those who reach the innate stage seek opportunities for cultivation in Loose Cultivator City. When your strength improves, if you wish, you can go there as well.”

“Can you tell me more about Loose Cultivator City?”

Ye Xiaolang wasn’t deeply versed in the city, but from his account Yun Qing learned that many people failed to meet sect recruitment standards or had secrets they didn’t wish to share with a sect, so they went to Loose Cultivator City.

However, the cultivators there weren’t recognized by the Cultivation Alliance, and many believed members of the Heavenly God Alliance mingled among them.

From Ye Xiaolang’s explanation, Yun Qing also learned that the outside world was mainly divided into four major factions: Cultivation Alliance, Half-Soul Alliance, Heavenly God Alliance, and Merchant Alliance.

The Heavenly God Alliance was formed by demons from beyond the domain. The other alliances were similar to their names, each composed of countless forces.

Loose Cultivator City offered cultivation methods, alchemy, and artifact forging—an ideal destination for those yearning to cultivate.

She also learned that Ye Xiaolang was heading there before reaching the innate stage to seek a cure for Ye Tao’s eyes.

After traveling two more miles, Ye Xiaolang once again asked Yun Qing to wait nearby as he ventured deeper in search of prey.

Ye Xiaolang was the main hunter; Yun Qing, the odd-job, dug herbs and processed the spoils.

By noon, Ye Xiaolang found Yun Qing diligently gathering herbs; her gathering skill was only a few hundred experience points from reaching level 31.

The odd-job Yun Qing prepared lunch for Ye Xiaolang; she had ‘worked’ as a cook in the relief station’s kitchen, so simple cooking posed no challenge.

This time, she would cook purified mutated rabbit meat. Thanks to her gathering skill, the innards and fur were already removed.

Could Yun Qing cook rabbit? Naturally not—this was her first attempt.

She believed as long as the meat was salted moderately and cooked through without burning, it would be a success.

She rubbed salt, and freshly picked scallions, ginger, garlic, and chili onto the meat. Unsure how long it would take the flavors to seep in, she cut open the thicker parts and applied the seasoning.

Lighting charcoal, she used refined iron tongs cleaned and sterilized by high heat, gripped the food, and began roasting.

Yun Qing slowly rotated the tongs. Her charcoal fire wasn't as professional as the relief station’s kitchen—the heat fluctuated—but this didn’t hinder her. With only one piece of meat, she watched it throughout, turning quickly when the fire was high, slowly when it was low.

As the rabbit meat heated, the fat began to sizzle, releasing a tempting aroma.

Ye Xiaolang’s nose twitched. Yun Qing’s cooking couldn’t match a chef’s, but she kept the food impeccably clean; even charcoal grilling, she avoided dust, and despite her weaker inner energy, the meal was appetizing.

Yun Qing steadily turned the rabbit, stretching it open as much as possible. When it was golden and fragrant, Ye Xiaolang swallowed and asked, “Little Yun Qing, is it done? It’s so big—do I get a share?”

Yun Qing felt it was ready, but shook her head, “This rabbit is large. How about we share? But it still needs a bit longer.”

“How much longer? I think it’s ready—any more and it’ll burn.”

Yun Qing chuckled softly, continuing to turn it. After a little while, she finally saw the system prompt:

Production experience +30;
Obtained: Roast Rabbit.

As soon as the system prompt appeared, Yun Qing promptly removed the rabbit from the fire. Its golden color, sizzling sound, and perfect doneness drew Ye Xiaolang closer.

“Roast Rabbit, Deliciousness 1, increases satiety by 100, restores energy by 30.”

It was a fine dish. Without comparison, it was naturally the best she’d ever made.

With a thought, she retrieved a chef’s knife from her system backpack, split the rabbit in two, handed the larger half to the eager Ye Xiaolang, and kept the smaller for herself.

Liuliu: “So hungry, I really want meat.”

With Ye Xiaolang present, Yun Qing couldn’t pull meat from her system backpack for Liuliu, so she ignored the request.

She blew on the edge of the rabbit to cool it, took a bite—her front teeth making a crisp sound as they met the meat. The succulent juices flowed into her mouth, the flavor instantly sensed by her tongue.

Yun Qing couldn’t help but praise, “Delicious!”

Crispy outside, tender within, the meat was fine and fresh—the subtle gamey taste of rabbit perfectly masked by scallion, ginger, garlic, and chili. Not a hint of unpleasantness.

“Mmm, it’s delicious!” Ye Xiaolang replied, grimacing as he was scalded.

Within a second, the memory was etched.