C13 Heh! Women!!

Ke Dong had no interest in questioning why Kuan Feifei happened to have a lighter; all that mattered was that it worked.

He fetched some firewood from beneath the stone table and used his Coldsteel Sword to shave off thin strips for easy lighting. In no time, a fire was crackling merrily.

Next, Ke Dong pulled two chunks of wolf meat from his backpack, whittled the firewood into slender skewers, rigged up a makeshift spit, and began roasting. Soon, the air was filled with an enticing aroma.

Kuan Feifei observed Ke Dong's flurry of activity. In mere minutes, he had everything under control, impressing her anew and challenging her perception of him. It seemed there was no obstacle he couldn't overcome.

Once he finished, Ke Dong sat down right there and took two vine leaves from his backpack, chewing them thoughtfully.

The cultivation world's notes on vine leaves mentioned they contained vital energy and had medicinal properties, prompting Ke Dong to speculate whether they might aid in healing his injuries.

His left arm's wound remained untreated.

He had been distracted by bread and water upon entering the room, then preoccupied with preparing the meat. Only now, as he relaxed, did the pain in his arm remind him of its presence.

Kuan Feifei, too, had neglected her wound on her left calf. The bleeding had slowed, but a quick recovery was unlikely.

Given the labyrinth's perils and Kuan Feifei's vulnerability, her injury could very well be a death sentence unless she found others to ally with.

Watching Ke Dong's peculiar behavior, curiosity stirred in Kuan Feifei once more: Were those leaves edible?

Maybe he was just famished.

Her speculation was cut short as she watched Ke Dong spit out the masticated leaves and place them on his arm wound. Only then did she realize he intended to use the leaves for their healing properties.

Ke Dong, however, was too focused to ponder Kuan Feifei's thoughts. As the leaves made contact with his wound, a cool sensation spread through his arm, significantly easing the pain and leaving a tingling aftereffect.

This sensation signaled that his wound was on the mend!

[Could this leaf really be that miraculous?]

Surprise flickered through Ke Dong's mind. This leaf's healing powers surpassed any white medicine he knew of; his left arm would be fully healed in no time!

Kuan Feifei also caught sight of the transformation in Ke Dong's left arm, her face registering shock once more. She glanced at her own left calf, biting back her words.

She was aware of her predicament; tagging along with Ke Dong, she was nothing but a liability. Would he be generous enough to share those valuable leaves with her?

If he wasn't, speaking up would be futile and only serve to heighten the embarrassment.

Ke Dong channeled the spiritual qi within him, invoking his Immortal Body Technique. The chill on his left arm intensified, and though a twinge of pain lingered, it no longer hindered his actions. It was then he noticed Kuan Feifei's reticence.

Years in sales had honed Ke Dong's ability to read people. Kuan Feifei's intentions were clear as day to him.

Without hesitation, he retrieved two vine leaves from his backpack, "Take these, chew them up and apply them to your wound. I can't vouch for the extent of their effectiveness, but they should help somewhat."

His decision to offer up the precious vine leaves stemmed from two reasons: Kuan Feifei had left a favorable impression on him, lacking the diva attitude and instead, exuding a girl-next-door vibe. Moreover, his personal ethics and the values instilled in him wouldn't allow him to abandon someone in need.

In a rest area, he might have looked the other way, but here, it was just him and Kuan Feifei. Ignoring her plight would seal her fate.

There was also a more self-serving rationale: they were teammates, and the weakness of one could jeopardize both.

Kuan Feifei accepted the vine leaves, chewing them and immediately grimacing at the spicy burst of flavor. She had never tasted anything so unpleasant!

Ke Dong caught her expression and struggled to suppress a laugh, turning his head away. Kuan Feifei realized he had done this deliberately. He knew full well the vine leaves tasted awful and had chosen not to warn her. A surge of irritation rose within her, and though she was tempted to spit out the leaves, she couldn't bring herself to waste them.

Puffing her cheeks and enduring the sharp sting of the spicy aroma, Kuan Feifei chewed the leaves for a long half-minute before hastily spitting the masticated pulp into her palm. She then rolled up her trouser leg and gingerly applied the crushed leaves to the gash on her calf.

The moment the poultice grazed her wound, a soft whimper escaped her lips – it was agonizing. The injury on her calf was severe, and the slightest touch sent waves of excruciating pain through her. She couldn't bear to press any more of the leafy mash onto her wound.

"Um, could you help me out? I... I can't bear to look."

Ke Dong turned at her voice and, despite shaking his head at the sight of her distress, took the chewed leaves from her hand.

Kuan Feifei's cheeks flushed with the awkwardness of the situation. The leaves were thoroughly chewed, and removing them would mean scraping, which tickled her palm in an unfamiliar way.

Ke Dong, less concerned with the nuances, simply said, "Hang in there," as he took the leaves.

Without hesitation, he pressed the chewed leaves onto Kuan Feifei's calf. She cried out in pain and instinctively tried to pull away, only to be firmly held in place by Ke Dong.

"Stay still!"

Biting down hard, Kuan Feifei endured as Ke Dong finished applying the leaves. The initial pain gave way to a soothing coolness that eased her expression slightly. Then she became acutely aware of his large hand on her calf, and her face reddened even more.

Ke Dong didn't linger or take advantage of the moment; he released her as soon as he was done.

"There, don't fidget. It might start to feel better soon."

Kuan Feifei nodded, her head bowed, too shy to meet Ke Dong's gaze. An awkward silence hung between them.

In the midst of this discomfort, the tantalizing scent of barbecued meat wafting through the air became all the more prominent, the sizzle of fat dripping from the meat igniting appetites.

Having eaten only a slice of bread earlier, Kuan Feifei was far from satisfied. She had a few bags of snacks, but she was saving them for a real emergency. Now, with the delicious smell of grilled meat teasing her senses, she could feel her mouth watering uncontrollably.

Just then, Ke Dong suddenly extended his right hand toward her. "Come on, hand it over."

"Uh, hand over what?"

Kuan Feifei's nerves shot up. Ke Dong had been so secretive for so long; was he finally going to show his true colors?

He gestured to Kuan Feifei's pocket. "You've got a packet of seasoning, right? What's the point of grilling meat if you're not going to season it?"

"Oh."

It clicked for Kuan Feifei, and she quickly produced the seasoning, masking her earlier unfounded suspicions.

Ke Dong, however, wasn't distracted by such thoughts. His mind was wholly consumed by the task of perfecting the grilled meat.

The meat sizzled, dripping with oil, and with a sprinkle of cumin, pepper, and chili powder, it transformed into a heavenly treat!

In such a moment, could the allure of a woman really rival the pleasure of perfectly seasoned grilled meat?