The Second Best

The sun rose and set; in the blink of an eye, twilight descended.

Wisps of cooking smoke rose from Qinghe Town as usual. After a long day of labor, most households began to rest and prepare their evening meals. The taverns and teahouses on the streets had reached their peak occupancy, and the entire small town was brimming with joy, immersed in a mundane tranquility.

For the common folk, working from sunrise to sunset was the immutable law of generations, as well as the standard for settling down and getting on with life. To be well-fed and warmly clad, to chat idly over tea and food, and to listen to anecdotes about legendary cultivators while gasping in awe at their terrifying power—this was their time of leisure and happiness.

Outside the schoolhouse.

Children of various ages bade their farewells one after another, rushing home excitedly for dinner. There were also mischievous ones chasing each other playfully, their laughter filled with childlike innocence.

Watching the children's figures recede into the setting sun, Yi Feng breathed a soft sigh of relief and satisfaction.

Another solid day of teaching had passed.

This life of educating others, while somewhat monotonous, was stable and comforting. It gave one a sense of physical and mental relaxation. Watching the students study hard and improve every day truly brought a sense of achievement. It was just like the ordinary life of the small town—moving forward steadily, silently, with harvest to be found everywhere.

Besides, today he could follow along into the mountains to hunt. Life had new pleasures, so how could it truly be boring?

Yi Feng walked slowly toward the foot of Qingmang Mountain, a faint smile of anticipation on his face.

Before long.

He arrived at the foot of the mountain, where a group of people had been sitting on large roadside stones, waiting for quite some time.

They were dressed in well-crafted gear, all protected by leather armor.

One look revealed them to be veteran hunters.

Seeing Yi Feng approach, the group stood up one after another, greeting him with smiling eyes.

"Mr. Yi is here."

"Greetings, Sir."

Wei Xiaowei, the one he was most familiar with, was also dressed in a crisp, form-fitting outfit. Her delicate features appeared even more pure against the leather armor, which added a touch of martial heroism to her look.

Compared to the others, the joy in her eyes was clearly more pronounced. She hurriedly stepped forward with a smile to greet him and enthusiastically made introductions.

"Sir, you really came! This is wonderful."

"When Captain Xu heard you were going up the mountain, he specially came to lead us. This trip is absolutely guaranteed to be safe. The Captain is a powerhouse at the Great Martial Master realm and the second strongest expert in our Qinghe Town. Even the old patriarch has said that Captain Xu has a promising future. Even if we go into the depths of Qingmang Mountain, we'll have a good chance of success!"

As Wei Xiaowei turned sideways to introduce him, the leader stepped forward. His face was dignified, and his full beard added to his imposing aura; he truly looked the part of a strong warrior.

Although everyone looked at him with awe and respect, this man clasped his fists toward Yi Feng with a smile, his eyes revealing a peaceful and humble expression.

"Greetings, Mr. Yi."

"I am Xu Fengyue. I have presumptuously taken the role of Captain of the town's Demon Hunting Squad. I have barely a little cultivation, enough to ensure safety on this trip, but I absolutely cannot accept such high praise from everyone. I am nothing more than an ordinary cultivator."

"If Mr. Yi does not mind, since I am a few years older, you may call me Big Brother Xu."

His words were modest, his expression sincere.

In this town, he indeed possessed some natural talent, yet he had not become arrogant because of it. There was still a hint of the humility that came from a poor background in his eyes. To be at the Great Martial Master realm without forgetting his roots, and without showing any domineering behavior, proved he was indeed a loyal and honest man.

Faced with such friendly goodwill, Yi Feng also responded with a polite smile.

"In that case, I will trouble you, Big Brother Xu."

His approachable words immediately garnered the group's favor.

This teacher was not like the difficult, pedantic scholars of legend. Although he lacked the strength to truss a chicken, he possessed the capable nature of a man—a straightforward and open-minded character.

The group looked at each other and laughed, the atmosphere becoming increasingly harmonious.

With a wave of Xu Fengyue's large hand, the hunting squad set off steadily. With this formidable captain clearing the way, the others followed closely behind, their confidence greatly boosted and their nerves relaxed. Yi Feng was protected in the center, ensuring absolutely no mishaps would occur.

The squad moved neither too fast nor too slow, every face beaming with joy.

Compared to the solemn tension of past hunts, this trip felt more like a leisurely outing. They chatted and laughed along the way, the atmosphere filled with relaxation and delight.

In less than an hour.

The squad had already reached the halfway point of Qingmang Mountain, still bathed in the final warmth of the setting sun.

Separated by a single mountain, day and night were gradually parting.

Looking back down at the entirety of Qinghe Town, one could see wisps of smoke and scattered lights. Situated in a prime location surrounded by mountains and rivers, it looked like a leisurely painting of a secluded paradise.

This scenery was far less shocking than famous mountains and great rivers, yet it held a unique, relaxed, and cozy freedom. Looking back after experiencing thousands of splendors, it felt like waking from a dream to return to a stable life.

Even a simple meal of porridge and rice, though plain, made one feel a genuine sense of solidity and warmth.

In this moment.

Yi Feng felt that he was truly alive, and he felt an increasing sense of belonging to the simple life before him.

Touched by the scenery, he couldn't help but casually recite a poem.

"I built my hut within the realm of men,

Yet hear no noise of carriage or of horse.

You ask me how this could ever be?

When the heart is far, the place is distant too.

Plucking chrysanthemums beneath the eastern fence,

I gaze afar, at leisure, toward the Southern Mountain.

The mountain air is lovely as the sun sets,

And birds in flocks return to their nests.

Within this scene, a true meaning lies;

I wish to speak, but words fail me now."

As the poem left his mouth, it was filled with lamentations on life.

Paired with such exquisite scenery, it was particularly moving.

Even though everyone's education was limited, seeing the teacher casually produce such a poem made them admire his talent greatly. While they didn't fully understand it, they felt it was profound, and they became even more filled with anticipation for their own children's futures.

They exclaimed in admiration on the spot, their eyes full of respect.

Captain Xu Fengyue, who knew a little about poetry, savored it for a few moments and was also conquered by such talent. The respect in his eyes clearly deepened.

"Within this scene, a true meaning lies; I wish to speak, but words fail me now..."

"Wonderful. These lines are truly wonderful. The meaning of silence surpassing sound in this poem is like some profound realm we cultivators yearn for—something that can only be sensed, not explained in words. Used before this scenery right now, it is truly the finishing touch, fitting perfectly. Mr. Yi has great talent; Xu admires you deeply!"

Seeing the other party clasp his fists in praise out of genuine emotion, Yi Feng smiled and returned the courtesy politely.

"Big Brother Xu overpraises me. It was just a casual remark; I've made a fool of myself."

A faint comment, calm as usual.

This steady demeanor made Xu Fengyue nod repeatedly, his smile growing deeper. This teacher, though an ordinary person, was truly extraordinary.

"Mr. Yi is a true literati."

Yi Feng remained neither arrogant nor impetuous despite Captain Xu's repeated praises. Among a group of rough men, having such a handsome young man with brilliant elegance seemed particularly special.

Wei Xiaowei watched him, her beautiful eyes swirling with a strange light. Her smile grew sweeter, her lovely dimples becoming very prominent, as if she were even happier than if she had been praised herself.

Amidst the group's joy, and having witnessed with his own eyes that the schoolteacher had extraordinary bearing and was a straightforward man worth associating with, Xu Fengyue's interest grew.

He spoke again, his voice now full of heroic spirit.

"It is rare for our Qinghe Town to have a talented scholar like Mr. Yi, who ignores the hardships of poverty to come here and educate people."

"Today, we shall accompany the teacher on a proper walk. We'll go a little deeper; we must catch a decent monster beast to let the teacher witness the thrill of hunting demons, so we can return fully satisfied!"

As his domineering words rang out, everyone's eyes lit up with excitement!