Chapter 22: A Meal with the Hidden Expert

The golden morning light filtered through the wooden windows, casting warm shadows across the small but well-furnished room. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of fresh dew and the faint aroma of roasted meat from the kitchen.

I stood at the doorway, glancing at the woman who had just woken up. She looked much better than before—her complexion had regained some color, and the traces of exhaustion on her face had lessened. It seemed my rudimentary medical skills weren’t entirely useless after all.

"You seem to have recovered," I said, leaning casually against the frame. "I made a simple meal, so please come and have some."

The woman, who had been lost in her thoughts while gazing at the calligraphy on the wall, suddenly turned toward me. Her deep, clear eyes flickered with emotions I couldn’t quite place—gratitude, respect, and something else, something hesitant.

Without warning, she quickly bowed, her expression serious. "Senior, I’m really sorry for causing you trouble!"

I blinked. Senior?

A chuckle almost escaped my lips. What’s with this lady?

I sighed and waved my hand. "What senior? I’m not some senior," I said, shaking my head. "And it’s not a problem. I run a tavern, so if you feel guilty, you can just pay me for the meal. That would be enough."

She straightened up, her face tinged with an odd shade of pink. Her gaze shifted slightly downward, as if hesitant to meet my eyes.

"Senior… thank you for saving me," she said softly, almost shyly. "But I don’t even know your name."

I shrugged, keeping my tone casual. "My name is Li Wei. You can just call me by my first name."

There was a pause. She seemed to consider my words carefully, before responding in a voice filled with quiet determination.

"Then… I’ll call you Senior Li."

I stared at her.

Is something wrong with her mind? I literally just told her to not call me ‘Senior.’

I sighed internally. Whatever.

She smiled slightly, her expression a bit more relaxed. "If Senior Li doesn’t mind, you can call me Xiao Wu."

I nodded absentmindedly. "Alright, Xiao Wu."

Her eyes brightened for a moment before she quickly lowered her gaze again. Strange girl…

By the time we reached the dining table, the fragrant aroma of roasted eagle meat filled the air. The meat was perfectly cooked—golden brown on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside. I had gone through some effort to spice it properly, adding a touch of herbs for extra flavor.

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Sitting down, I gestured toward the food. "Xiao Wu, eat this cooked eagle meat. It tastes good."

She reached out for the chopsticks but then froze.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she stared at the meat on her plate, her face turning pale.

"...This…?"

For a few seconds, she just sat there, utterly speechless.

Her mind felt as if it had shattered into pieces.

She had fought and bled against this very beast. It was a rare and terrifying creature, its strength formidable, its presence enough to make cultivators shudder in fear. In the Hundred Beast Sect, its existence was revered, seen as a symbol of strength and supremacy.

And now…

This man—no, this ordinary tavern owner—was treating it like some regular bird, cooked with spices and served on a wooden plate.

How could this be?

How could he just… eat it like it was nothing?!

Her throat felt dry.

"...Beyond belief…" she muttered under her breath.

Her gaze flickered to Li Wei, who was happily eating his portion, completely unaware of the turmoil in her heart.

With a panicked expression, she quickly stood up.

"I-I'm sorry, Senior Li, but I can’t stay here to eat. I have to leave right now to attend to urgent business!"

She bowed deeply, her voice filled with both gratitude and urgency. "I’ll definitely come to eat at your tavern next time. Thank you for your grace!"

I raised an eyebrow. Huh?

"Alright, I won’t make it hard for you," I said, setting my chopsticks down. "I’ll see you out."

But as I moved to stand, she immediately waved her hands frantically.

"Y-you d-don’t have to bother! I’ll go flying…!"

Before I could even react, she turned and disappeared through the door, her figure soaring into the sky with a swift burst of spiritual energy.

I sat there, staring at the now-empty seat.

"...What just happened?"

I exhaled and leaned back against my chair, looking up at the sky through the open doorway.

Flying.

That effortless, weightless movement, the way cultivators soared through the air as if they were born to be free.

A wry chuckle escaped my lips.

"Must be nice…"

I wasn’t bitter. No, not really. But there was a certain wistfulness to it, a deep yearning buried somewhere in my heart.

For someone like me, the sky was a distant dream, an untouchable horizon.

While cultivators moved freely, untethered by gravity, I remained here—on the ground, my feet planted firmly on the earth.

For a long time, I had convinced myself that it didn’t matter. That my life, my little tavern, my simple existence—it was enough.

And yet…

As I watched Xiao Wu disappear into the distance, a thought stirred within me.

"I envy you all . Damn and here I'm being a another world traveler struck in this backyard mountains tavern ?"

I shook my head. No use thinking about something impossible.

Sighing, I picked up my chopsticks again and resumed eating.

"Mei yun you also eat or it will get cold."

She was watching the whole show with great interest all the time with curiosity in her eyes.

"What the hell is she thinking? Are all cultivator has a screw loose in this world?" I complaind in my mind.

By the way, The eagle meat is really good. It would’ve been a shame to let it go to waste.

Meanwhile, high above the clouds, Xiao Wu’s heart was still pounding.

She had left in a hurry, not because of urgent business, but because she simply couldn’t handle staying in that place a moment longer.

That Senior Li...

He was beyond comprehension.

Casually killing a terrifying beast. Cooking it like common poultry. Offering it to her as if it were a simple meal.

She was strong. She had seen powerful figures before. But never in her life had she seen such an unfathomable existence.

How could someone be this powerful… and yet act so normal?

Her fingers tightened around the air as she soared forward, her mind racing.

"If I can gain Senior Li’s guidance… if I can just learn from him, even a little…"

She clenched her fist holding something in her hands, " Now there's a urgent matter to attend"

"Then the Hundred Beast Sect… will be nothing before me!"

Her lips pressed into and her spirit burned with newfound determination.

Back at the tavern, I finished my meal, leaned back in my chair, and let out a satisfied sigh.

The world was still the same. The birds still chirped, the wind still whispered through the trees, and my tavern still stood, waiting for customers.

Maybe I didn’t have the ability to fly. Maybe I would always remain here, watching the sky instead of soaring through it.

But that was fine.

For now, at least.