C3 Cragbear

Lin Yu snapped out of his stupor and sheepishly lowered his head, muttering, "I... um..."

The elderly man with white hair observed the youth who struggled to articulate his thoughts. He picked up the fallen game, wiped it off with his hand, and resumed his seated position, legs crossed. His gaze lingered on Lin Yu, who still stood with his head bowed, sneaking occasional glances in his direction.

Bathed in the glow of the firelight, the old man noted that despite Lin Yu's gaunt appearance and disheveled hair, there was an inherent handsomeness about him. His clothes were tattered, and his exposed skin bore several bruises. It was clear to the old man that the boy must have lost his way in the woods.

A wave of compassion washed over the old man. He gestured to the space beside him and said warmly, "Come, sit here."

"Oh... okay..." Lin Yu responded, making his way to the fire and taking a seat next to the old man. As he settled down, a sense of calm washed over him, and he got a clearer view of the elder's face.

Lin Yu was taken aback at first glance. The old man's attire was simple and worn but clean. His silver hair was neatly tied back with a wooden branch, and his face radiated a healthy glow, exuding an air of transcendence that set him apart from anyone Lin Yu had encountered in the forest.

Such an elder was a rarity; in the forest, it was uncommon to see someone of advanced age, let alone with a full head of white hair.

"Gurgle..." A rumble came from Lin Yu's stomach.

The old man chuckled and examined the game before tearing off a piece and offering it to Lin Yu. "Where are you from, and how did you end up here?" he inquired.

Lin Yu eagerly accepted the meat, devouring it hungrily as he recounted his story.

It took some time for the old man to piece together Lin Yu's background. Observing the young man's earnest eyes and grimy appearance, he felt confident in the boy's honesty. Reflecting on his own solitary existence, the old man felt a pang of empathy. His gaze softened as he passed the remaining game to Lin Yu.

Grasping the offered food, Lin Yu felt a surge of warmth from the old man's tender gaze, a sensation he had only ever experienced with Lin Shan. The thought of his own life brought a lump to his throat, and tears threatened to spill, but Lin Yu fought them back, swallowing the emotion.

Taking a piece of the game, he passed the remainder to the elder, puffed out his chest, and said with a grin, "I'm young and strong, this much is enough for me. You should have more."

"Hahahaha... Good, good," the elder burst into laughter upon hearing the young man's words. "I didn't expect anyone to still care about me, Wuyi, especially a youngster like you... Hahaha..."

Lin Yu grew cautious and bowed his head, unsure of where to place the piece of game he had torn off. He simply sat in silence.

"Hahaha... You're acting like a shy little girl. I've been cultivating for years; why would I be angry with a child like you? Eat up and then rest over there. Don't disturb my meditation," the elder chuckled.

Lin Yu looked up at the mercurial old man, chuckled, and finished his piece of game. He then sat down quietly to the side. The elder assumed a cross-legged position on the ground, hands joined in a peculiar gesture resting between his legs, took a deep breath, and then remained motionless.

Lin Yu watched the elder for a long while until the exhaustion of many days washed over him. His eyelids grew heavier until he finally drifted off to sleep with the image of the elder's seated figure in his mind.

After some time, a cold breeze woke Lin Yu. Dawn had broken, the fire had died out, but the old man was still in the same meditative posture as the night before. Lin Yu felt reassured and noticed the air was exceptionally fresh.

"Why are you still sitting? Haven't you moved in so long? Aren't you tired?" he thought to himself. "Well, I did promise not to disturb him before I fell asleep. I'd better look around for some wild fruit to eat." Lin Yu stretched and stood up, glancing at the old man with closed eyes.

As Lin Yu was about to venture into the woods in search of wild fruit, a rustling noise came from the forest, along with the crackling sound of breaking branches.

With his years of experience living in the forest, he knew it was definitely a wild animal, likely an aggressive one. Yet, he had never encountered a wild animal that made such a loud entrance.

Under normal circumstances, Lin Yu would have made a beeline for safety at the first sign of danger. But the thought of the elderly man behind him stopped him in his tracks; he couldn't just leave him behind. He turned and dashed towards the old man.

"Quick, wake up! There's a wild beast..." he yelled as he ran.

But the old man seemed oblivious to Lin Yu's cries, remaining motionless.

"Why all the fuss? Didn't I tell you not to interrupt my meditation..." the old man's voice rang out just as Lin Yu reached him, attempting to haul him to his feet.

"Cultivation, my foot! You're just sleeping. We need to run; the wild beast is almost upon us!" Lin Yu was frantic, trying desperately to lift the old man.

Despite being a malnourished teenager of about thirteen or fourteen, who had worked hard for many years, Lin Yu had some strength. Yet, he couldn't budge the old man in the slightest.

At that moment, a black bear, twice the size of any ordinary bear, emerged from the woods. It stood on its hind legs, roaring and fixing its red eyes on Lin Yu and the old man. The bear's massive frame was notable, but even more striking was the white fur on its belly, marked with two spirals resembling clouds.

"Oh my god... Such a massive bear! Move it, get up and run!" Lin Yu persisted, tugging at the old man while shouting.

"Enough with the noise..." the old man chided.

The old man had sensed the presence of a large creature approaching while he was in meditation. There were faint ripples of spiritual energy, but the presence seemed weak, so he had dismissed it. He hadn't expected it to be a Cragbear...

This bear had evolved from a regular black bear, its belly fur turning from black to white, spiraling into clouds. When the cloud patterns reached four, the bear would officially embark on the path of cultivation. Although this Cragbear had only two cloud patterns and was still considered a wild beast, it could already sense the spiritual energy of the world around it, making it the undisputed ruler of the local wildlife.

"It seems to regard us as intruders, capable of sensing the spiritual energy within its territory..." the old man mused internally.

The Cragbear, sensing the concentrated spiritual energy around the old man, grew even more aggressive. It reared up, baring its teeth and bellowing at the two of them.