Chapter 1595: Chapter 1600: The Savage Arrives

Lin Fei stayed.

In the morning, Lin Fei watched the villagers who got up early, then saw Gu Mang also getting up. He obediently listened to Lin Fei and left the house with an elder, carrying a hoe.

The elder initially disagreed, but he couldn’t resist Gu Mang, so he ultimately allowed Gu Mang to leave the village with him.

After the elder left, Lin Fei greeted the elder’s spouse and then left the village, heading deep into the mountains. Along the way, he didn’t encounter anything special, except for two cobras that bit and wouldn’t let go of Lin Fei’s ankle.

After catching the cobras, Lin Fei immediately killed one and threw it aside. Then he felt a burning sensation at his ankle, obviously due to the cobra’s venom.

Lin Fei promptly forced the venom out of his body and continued to search for traces of the hermit deep in the mountains.

Ultimately, Lin Fei had to give up; the depths of the mountains were too vast, and searching would be an endless endeavor without any realistic possibility.

Lin Fei had no choice but to retrace his steps, and by then it was already noon.

Upon returning home, Lin Fei was surprised to find Gu Mang was already back, which puzzled him. Could it be that the work in the fields was finished?

"Elder, why did you come back so early today?" Lin Fei asked casually.

"Haha, this kid of yours is really something; his work is impressive. He works so fast and got everything done. We finished all the fields, caught a wild chicken, so we’re having wild chicken for dinner today!" The elder replied happily.

The elder hadn’t expected Gu Mang to be so capable, working diligently without any carelessness.

Lin Fei approached Gu Mang and looked at the blisters on his hands. A surge of Heaven and Earth Qi flowed into Gu Mang’s palm. Gu Mang felt intense pain in his hand, but the blisters quickly subsided and returned to normal.

"Well done, keep up the effort. Don’t let yourself slack off; only constant practice will give you a chance to stand out." Lin Fei encouraged with a couple of remarks.

Usually quiet, Gu Mang showed a hint of turmoil upon hearing Lin Fei’s words, but then he nodded, his eyes filled with determination.

Lin Fei was pleased with Gu Mang’s performance, offering just a couple of compliments, then he stopped paying attention to Gu Mang. Gu Mang, being quite self-aware, continued to train himself, ignoring Lin Fei, proceeding with push-ups and sit-ups, indifferent to the dirt covering him.

At night, the starry sky glistened. Lin Fei and Gu Mang were by the pond. After washing in the pond, Gu Mang returned to the shore, indifferent to his wet clothes, continuing to train tirelessly.

Lin Fei looked up at the round moon and suddenly asked, "Gu Mang, do you regret becoming my apprentice?"

Gu Mang shook his head, not stopping his training.

Lin Fei smiled. Gu Mang’s personality and ambition were commendable, yet Lin Fei couldn’t help but sigh. Gu Mang had one major flaw — there wasn’t any Heaven and Earth Qi in his body.

This meant Gu Mang still wasn’t an Ancient Martial Artist, and without that, he couldn’t advance his cultivation. However, Lin Fei hoped for a miracle, knowing he only produced Primordial Energy after extensive training, forming a Dantian, and slowly progressing in cultivation.

Lin Fei asked Gu Mang to stop, and panting heavily, Gu Mang complied, looking towards Lin Fei.

Gu Mang was merely a twelve-year-old boy. Normally, other children would be enjoying their childhood, but Gu Mang was different. He understood responsibilities and continued to train himself.

"Gu Mang, I want to see if you have a Dantian in your body. Later, don’t resist, just relax." Lin Fei said, then he infused Primordial Energy into Gu Mang’s body.

If there’s a Dantian with Primordial Energy in Gu Mang’s body, he would be able to cultivate rapidly. If not, it would take significantly more time.

Lin Fei quickly furrowed his brows, as he didn’t sense any trace of Primordial Energy.

"It seems the road ahead is still long for you." Lin Fei remarked.

"I’m not afraid!" Gu Mang exclaimed, continuing his training.

Lin Fei gazed at the round moon, just as strange noises erupted from the village, accompanied by the frantic cries of chickens, ducks, and geese.

Upon hearing this, Lin Fei immediately rose and darted towards the source.

Arriving at the frantic chicken coop, Lin Fei saw a man covered in fur, skillfully capturing chickens, ducks, and geese, holding a duck and a chicken before fleeing towards the depths of the mountains.

Lin Fei chuckled, amazed at his luck. On his second day here, he’d already encountered the hermit, as if destined by fate.

Curious about the hermit, Lin Fei blocked his path.

Through the wild hair, the hermit saw Lin Fei, his eyes revealing panic, further intriguing Lin Fei about the man’s identity.

"Do you understand my words?" Lin Fei asked.

The hermit didn’t respond, leading Lin Fei to wonder, then he continued, "Listen to me, put the duck and chicken down, then squat, okay?"

Lin Fei’s words seemed ineffective. The hermit suddenly bolted into the distance.

"Stop!" Lin Fei commanded coldly.

Surprisingly, the hermit paused, "Do I know you?"

The hermit’s body trembled, yet he remained silent.

Intrigued further, Lin Fei extended his hand and sent the hermit flying into the pond. The hermit desperately swam to the shore, and Lin Fei reached out again, pulling the hermit up and placing him before him, noticing the man seemed to recognize him.

"Who are you? Hurry up and speak, my patience is limited." Lin Fei demanded.

The hermit opened his mouth, releasing a childlike voice, unable to speak properly.

Lin Fei furrowed his brows, grabbing the hermit’s throat and infusing Primordial Energy, then slapped the hermit’s hair-covered face, quickly loosening the throat and tongue muscles for better speech.

Soon, the hermit managed a voice, "Let... me... go..."

Though able to speak, the voice remained stiff and awkward.

"Tell me who you are, and I’ll let you go, I promise." Lin Fei said, looking at the hermit.