“That is a razor-leaf vine,” Master Brightflame said dully. He did not even pause, as he began walking away from the riverbank.

Clearly, he was planning on walking around the vine and avoiding conflict.

Lem’s simulated self did not question his words and he quickly followed along, but Lem was surprised.

Even if the martial elder was afraid of killing beasts for fear of disturbing their ancient patriarchs, surely that was not the case with plants.

Where was the domineering figure who had shouted at him earlier?

Where was the majestic and powerful cultivator?

The only thing that Lem could think of was that the martial elder wanted to avoid making noise and attracting attention.

Still, Master Brightflame was far more meek than he had expected.

[You reach the razor-leaf vine. You are surprised when the martial elder does not attack it, but tells you to avoid the area…

You take a broad path around the vine…]

They continued traveling along the riverside for a few more hours.

Lem was lost in the monotonous motion, walking step by step while scanning the terrain around him, when Master Brightflame stopped him.

The sun was beginning to fall.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Master Brightflame looked up and studied the sky.

“Let's make camp.”

“Where should we…” Lem’s simulated self trailed off, as he looked out into the forest.

“We do not need to move very far from the river. The water is safe.”

Lem’s simulated self did not ask for clarification but he was puzzled.

What had the martial elder meant?

The water was safe…

Safe from beasts?

Safe from anomalies?

He dutifully followed Master Brightflame, as the martial elder walked away from the river.

Once they had moved a few dozen meters, the martial elder chose a relatively clear patch of ground. He stopped, and easily slung his bag down from his back.

“Here is as good a place as any,” Master Brightflame said, tucking his crimson robe in and taking a seat on a rock.

The sound of the river was still present in the background.

[As night begins to fall, the martial elder stops you. You walk away from the riverbank and begin to set up camp.]

Lem’s simulated self sat down in the brush.

A few light flies darted around a nearby tree, causing streaks of brightness in the darkening forest.

The distance from the river was similar to the camping locations he had chosen before, but the selection was entirely different. Since the beginning, he had always chosen concealed parts of the forest with many bushes and tall grasses, where he could tuck himself out of sight for the night.

He had never slept out in the open. It felt too exposed.

However, he was not going to argue, as Master Brightflame had already chosen to make camp.

As he sat, Lem’s simulated self held on to his bag, unsure of whether it was appropriate to begin eating in front of the martial elder. He did not want to begin his first attempt at cultivation on an empty stomach.

Master Brightflame seemed supremely untroubled.

He had simply folded his robes and was sitting serenely, staring up past the canopy and into the dusky sky. In the dim light, his features were cloaked in shadow, and barely visible.

“What did your intuition tell you today?”