Chapter 25: The Seven Emotions and Six Desires

As the distance between them and the two figures narrowed, Si Bingyan sent a telepathic message to Jiang Wan:

"Your Highness, shall we reveal ourselves now and seize this fellow to interrogate him?"

Jiang Wan quickly stopped her:

"If he truly is a member of the Northern Underworld, we might not be able to defeat him even if we act together. Let us observe for now. The Hidden Mirror is a top-tier Heaven-grade treasure bestowed upon me by my father; I do not believe he can see through its disguise."

Hearing this, Si Bingyan had no choice but to stay in place with the Princess, watching as Wang Chu walked toward them. As time passed, Wang Chu was soon only a few yards away. Had Jiang Wan not used the Hidden Mirror to conceal their presence and forms, Wang Chu would surely have spotted the two of them skulking behind the trees with his naked eye.

Jiang Wan’s heart was in her throat, and she braced herself to strike at any moment. Yet, just as she was about to launch her attack, Wang Chu suddenly changed direction and began walking elsewhere, muttering as he went:

"I remembered wrong. There are more chickens in this direction; the rabbits are that way."

Within moments, Wang Chu had moved further away, his figure disappearing into the woods in a blink. Jiang Wan breathed a sigh of relief:

"It seems he did not discover us."

Si Bingyan asked:

"Your Highness, do wild chickens and rabbits really inhabit different zones?"

Jiang Wan frowned:

"How would I know? I have never been hunting, nor am I familiar with this area."

Si Bingyan did not press the matter but suggested:

"Your Highness, perhaps we should use spells or artifacts to monitor him from a distance instead."

Jiang Wan stood up:

"Those sent by the Imperial Court before had the same idea. You know as well as I do what the result was. Long-distance surveillance is easily detected and prone to being misled."

She urged:

"Follow him quickly. Perhaps where he is going now is a hidden base of the Northern Underworld."

Realizing the Princess was set on following Wang Chu, Si Bingyan stood up and reluctantly trailed behind her. To be honest, she did not believe for a moment that this Wang Chu had any connection to the Northern Underworld. He looked far too ordinary, devoid of even the slightest fluctuation of spiritual energy. Following him in this stealthy manner felt like a complete waste of time.

Not long after, the two spies caught sight of Wang Chu again. He was holding a simple bow, his eyes scanning the woods for traces of wild rabbits. Soon, he spotted a trail of rabbit tracks. Following them slowly, he discovered a rabbit foraging behind a thicket. Wang Chu immediately summoned an arrow from his space ring, nocked it, and pulled the string.

*Whoosh.*

The arrow missed the rabbit, embedding itself in a nearby tree. Startled by the commotion, the rabbit bolted from the thicket and ran deeper into the forest. Seeing this, Wang Chu drew his bow again, aiming at the direction of the rabbit's flight. But just as the arrow was about to be released, he abruptly shifted his aim, firing directly toward the spot where Jiang Wan and Si Bingyan were hiding.

In an instant, the arrow whistled through the gap between the two women and flew behind them. For a split second, they had numerous ways to dodge or deflect it, yet both stood frozen, unable to react. It was not because they perceived it as a harmless, ordinary arrow; rather, the sudden, overwhelming aura Wang Chu exuded in that moment had terrified them, leaving their minds completely blank. By the time they regained their senses, the arrow had already bypassed them and struck a rabbit hiding behind them.

Turning around subconsciously and seeing this, Jiang Wan finally let out a long breath. It turned out Wang Chu hadn't discovered them and attacked; he had simply spotted another rabbit and shifted his target. To be fair, Jiang Wan had been drenched in a cold sweat. Beside her, Si Bingyan’s expression turned solemn. This shot made her realize that perhaps Jiang Wan’s judgment hadn't been wrong—at the very least, this Wang Chu was far from an ordinary man. She had never seen an ordinary person fire an arrow that could exert such immense pressure.

Wang Chu acted as if he hadn't noticed the two terrified women. He walked past them, picked up the skewered rabbit, and remarked with a pointed tone:

"Don't think that just because you're hiding behind me, I don't know you're there."

With that, he carried the rabbit toward the place where Chuxue was waiting. Once he was gone, Si Bingyan asked first:

"Your Highness, are you alright?"

Jiang Wan hid her panic and forced a calm demeanor:

"Of course I am. I knew all along he wasn't aiming at us."

Si Bingyan knew the Princess was just being stubborn, but she did not expose her:

"Your Highness is truly brave and sharp-witted!"

For the next while, Wang Chu hunted several more rabbits and wild chickens in the forest. He skinned and plucked them, then set them over a bonfire to roast. By midday, the hillside was filled with the aroma of roasting meat. Wang Chu brushed the meat evenly with oil and sprinkled on seasonings, creating a fragrance that was truly mouth-watering.

Chuxue, resting in her chair, watched the fat dripping from the meat over the fire and swallowed hard, saying:

"That looks delicious."

Wang Chu said with confidence:

"It’s not just the look of it; it tastes even better."

He pulled two bottles of wine from his space ring and set them by the fire to warm:

"Add two bottles of wine, and even the immortals would be envious."

Chuxue leaned forward, sighing:

"So eating can be this interesting. I used to think we only ate because we were hungry."

Wang Chu cut off a piece of meat with a knife, placed it on a plate, and sat down next to Chuxue:

"In the eyes of immortals, mortals are trapped in the mire of seven emotions and six desires, struggling in vain to find liberation. But in reality, these emotions are not just a mire—they can be a hot spring. If the price of eternal life is to cast aside my emotions, then I, Wang Chu, would rather not have it."

Chuxue gazed at his profile, momentarily lost in thought. She was beginning to realize that this seemingly ordinary coffin shop owner possessed a remarkably vivid and deep character.

"Why are you looking at me? Go on, taste it."

Chuxue snapped back to reality and nodded flusteredly:

"Oh."

She asked tentatively:

"Do I eat it with my hands?"

Wang Chu picked up a piece of meat with his fingers to demonstrate:

"Yes, eat it directly with your hands. That’s how it tastes best."

Chuxue found this hard to grasp, but she followed suit. Using her slender, porcelain-white fingers, she picked up a small piece of meat as if pinching a petal and placed it into her mouth. For the first time, Chuxue experienced the sensation of rich, savory juices filling her mouth without feeling greasy. She chewed slowly, savoring the feeling, appearing thoroughly delighted.

Seeing her reaction, Wang Chu smiled and picked up one of the warmed wine bottles. He uncorked it and took a hearty swig. Immediately, his body felt ignited by the liquor.

"Refreshing!" Wang Chu exclaimed genuinely.

Chuxue watched him and asked:

"May I try some?"

Wang Chu shook the bottle:

"Are you sure?"

Chuxue said:

"I am going to die soon anyway; I have nothing to fear."

Wang Chu laughed and handed her the other bottle from the fire:

"Then give it a try."

Chuxue licked the oil and seasoning from her fingers and took the bottle:

"What does wine taste like?"

Wang Chu popped a piece of meat into his mouth, took another deep drink, and said with a mischievous grin:

"You'll know once you drink it."

Chuxue didn't ask further. Following his lead, she opened the bottle and took a gulp.

"Pfft!"

She spat the wine out instantly, stuck out her tongue, and fanned it frantically, frowning:

"Cough, cough... that's so spicy!"