Chapter 41: An Arrow Returning to Its Target

Lu Chengfeng meditated for about an hour, feeling a gentle warmth spreading through his chest, like soaking in a hot spring. His previous minor injuries were now fully healed.

He slowly withdrew his inner energy and stood up. Looking around, he saw that the pile of firewood had burned to ashes, and the massive snake carcass was now reduced to a pile of scales, a tattered snakeskin, and a few poisonous fangs.

The remains of the demon snake were gathered neatly to one side. The fire had left behind a thick layer of black ash, remnants of the burned poisonous insects.

"Awake, Junior Brother Lu?" Tan Xiong was munching on some dried beef he had brought along, washing it down with a swig from his wine gourd, thoroughly enjoying himself.

Noticing Lu Chengfeng had awoken, Tan Xiong took out a few pieces of dried beef and offered them. "I figure you didn't bring food along, did you? Any wild animals around here are likely tainted with demonic energy, especially during a beast tide, so it's better not to eat them. Here, have some to fill your stomach."

After an intense fight and using his energy to heal, Lu Chengfeng indeed felt quite hungry. Grinning, he took the offered food. "Thank you, Senior Brother. I'll gladly accept."

Nearby, the other three also had rations, mostly dried meat. Practitioners like them had high energy demands, and fighting in the forest was taxing, so they typically carried dried meat and some wine—simple yet effective for replenishing their strength.

"Junior Brother Lu, care to try some of our Fire Spirit Brew and Ice Spring Mead? A mouthful of fire, a mouthful of ice—it's an experience you don't often get." Xu Changge grinned as he handed over two wine gourds, one red and one jade green.

"Then I'd love to give it a try!" Lu Chengfeng's eyes lit up as he accepted the gourds. First, he took a sip from the red gourd holding the Fire Spirit Brew.

The initial taste was smooth, but as it went down, it turned into a blazing heat, igniting his insides, reaching all the way to his organs and bringing a flush to his cheeks.

"Haha, Junior Brother, don't just stand there. Quickly, have some Ice Spring Mead!" Xu Changge chuckled, clearly having expected this reaction, and urged him to drink the other wine.

Quickly, Lu Chengfeng took a swig from the jade green gourd. The chilled liquid was refreshing, with a hint of herbal fragrance, and as it reached his stomach, a cool sensation spread, balancing the fiery warmth.

After about ten breaths, the heat and chill subsided, leaving a comforting warmth that rejuvenated his energy.

"Fantastic wine! Truly exceptional!"

He couldn't help but exclaim. Beyond the unique sensation, he felt his internal energy subtly improve. This wasn't ordinary wine but rather a valuable brew.

Tan Xiong, seeing his excitement, warned, "Junior Brother Lu, don't overdo it. Three sips max—no more."

"These two brews are special elixirs unique to White Rainbow Peak and Red Sky Peak, made by combining two rare mountain springs—one icy, one fiery—with precious herbs. They're essential for inner cultivation among their disciples."

"Drinking one alone would throw off your balance of yin and yang. The two together are safe and have a slight benefit to inner strength, but any more would be wasteful, and the aftereffects linger—you'll get drunk easily."

Realizing their value, Lu Chengfeng quickly returned the gourds. "With such treasures, I'd hate to waste them. Please, take them back."

"Hey, hey, no need to be so formal! Wine is best enjoyed together!" Xu Changge laughed, pushing the gourds back. "We fought side by side, didn't we? What's a few sips of wine among comrades?"

Lu Chengfeng couldn't help but smile. "Drinking alone isn't as enjoyable anyway. Let's all have some."

He handed the jade gourd to Duan Li, holding the red one himself. "Senior Brother Duan, a toast to you."

Duan Li, though a quiet and proud man, wasn't arrogant. He accepted the gourd, tilted his head back, and took a hearty swig.

"Haha!" Lu Chengfeng also took a large gulp of Fire Spirit Brew, feeling a furnace-like heat in his chest. "Refreshing!"

They exchanged gourds and tasted the blend of fire and ice, relishing the unique flavor.

"Come on, Senior Brother Tan!" Xu Changge teased, snatching the gourd from Tan Xiong and gulping down a few mouthfuls.

Their laughter and camaraderie deepened, sharing drinks and banter after having fought alongside one another.

Lu Lingxi, with her reserved demeanor, did not join the drinking. She merely nibbled at some pastries she had brought, sipped water, and meditated nearby, refraining from participating.

After resting, the group packed up the demon snake's remains. Tan Xiong said, "The remains are valuable materials. The scales can be used for armor, the teeth for weapons. Plus, with the demon's scent on us, other beasts and monsters will keep their distance."

"Let's head back to submit the materials. We'll receive merit points for it."

Understanding this as an explanation for him, Lu Chengfeng asked in surprise, "So we're returning already? Isn't it a bit early?"

Xu Changge chuckled. "Did you really think all the teams manage to slay a demon beast this quickly?"

"Without Senior Brother Tan, we'd normally face dozens of beast waves, tracking our target for days before even sighting it."

"You saw how tough that demon snake was. Without Senior Brother Tan, we'd rely on our formation to weaken it gradually, exhausting it over several days until it succumbed."

"Under normal circumstances, demon hunts can take anywhere from three to five days, or even half a month."

Lu Chengfeng realized that taking down such a formidable creature so swiftly was indeed unusual. No wonder the sect mobilized everyone for the task.

"Luck was on our side this time, meeting the demon snake so close to the marsh's edge."

"Plus, I managed to catch its scent. That's the only reason we could locate it so quickly." Tan Xiong added, "Let's head back. Junior Brother Lu, remember to wash off the demon scent with soapberry and sulfur stone. The odor could attract unwanted attention."

"We'll regroup at the Dragon-Cutting Stone at the first light tomorrow. With this beast tide, we should take the chance to rack up more merit points."

Lu Chengfeng had no objections. Thinking of his beautiful wife worrying at home, he felt an urgent desire to return.

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