Land of Scarcity

The sky was filled with brilliant stars, converging into a vast, sweeping galaxy.

At the far edge of this distant galaxy lay a dim, solitary planet.

Amidst the boundless river of stars, it was as insignificant as a speck of dust.

Yi Feng stood in the void above this planet, sensing its barrenness and its aura of decay.

With slow, deliberate steps, Yi Feng began to approach it.

Just as he was about to enter its atmosphere, a powerful force surged toward him.

It was resisting outsiders, prepared to expel anyone who dared to set foot on the planet.

An ancient voice accompanied the force.

Idle wanderers are forbidden to trespass here. Get lost!

The old voice was incredibly rude, but Yi Feng was not angered by the disrespect.

He stood calmly outside the planet and spoke in a clear, resonant voice. I am traveling through the starry sky and happened to pass by. Seeing that my fellow cultivator is all alone, I wished to pay a visit and make a friend. Please forgive me if I have disturbed you!

After a long pause, the ancient voice rang out once more.

This time, it was not as hostile, though the tone remained heavy.

This place is dangerous. You had better leave immediately, lest you bring trouble upon yourself.

Yi Feng offered a faint smile. He said nothing, nor did he seem inclined to heed the warning, and instead plunged straight in.

Like a streak of light, he descended rapidly onto the barren earth, landing right beside the old man who had just spoken.

As far as the eye could see, the land was scarred, littered with rocks and deep craters.

The ground was covered in black gravel and dust. There was not a single trace of green, nor any sign of life.

In the distance, several tornadoes towering hundreds of feet high were visible to the naked eye.

They swept up the desolation, raging wildly across the planet.

Stars could barely be seen from this world, as the sky was choked with dust, making it look as though it were shrouded in dark clouds.

Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled continuously, yet no rain ever fell.

Judging by the cracked earth, the area was suffering from an extreme drought.

The old man beside Yi Feng sat cross-legged on the ruined ground. The drought seemed to have affected him as well.

His hair was disheveled, and he was nothing but skin and bones, looking much like a withered stalk of straw deprived of rain.

He was like a candle in the wind, flickering and clinging to his last breath in this desolate place.

Seeing that Yi Feng had ignored his warning and barged in anyway, the old man felt quite annoyed and was about to scold him.

But Yi Feng beat him to it. Fellow cultivator, since I am already here, what is the point of saying more?

With that, Yi Feng brought out fine wine and delicious food, setting them down between himself and the old man.

I just had a craving for a drink and lacked a companion. I happened to run into you. Surely you would not refuse a few drinks with me?

The old man's nostrils flared as the rich aroma of wine and meat filled his lungs.

It was a scent he had not experienced in a very long time. He could feel his stomach rumbling and his mouth watering.

He swallowed hard, his eyes suddenly lighting up.

A look of craving appeared on his face, though he tried his best to suppress his expression.

The old man could no longer remember how long he had been here.

Ever since he began guarding this place, he had not eaten a single bite of food, let alone tasted fine wine.

This good wine and meat undoubtedly stirred his appetite.

As the saying goes, the desire for food and pleasure is human nature; it is the innate instinct of mankind.

Even though he could sustain himself through fasting, he could not wait to feast on such delicacies delivered right to his doorstep.

After all, a chance like this might not come again for thousands or even tens of thousands of years.

The old man glanced at Yi Feng and felt that the young man had a kind face and seemed harmless.

He finally spoke, You make a fair point. Since you are already here, I will join you for a couple of drinks. But do not go wandering off, boy. There is a great terror on this planet!

With that said, the old man picked up a wine jug and took a massive gulp.

Ah! Refreshing.

He then grabbed a leg of lamb and took several fierce bites, chewing with a mouth full of grease.

Crunch, crunch.

He could not bear to swallow such delicious food whole; he wanted to chew it thoroughly to savor the succulent juices and tender meat.

Come, my young friend. Meeting by chance is fate. As the host, I will borrow your wine to toast you!

Yi Feng smiled, lifting a wine jug to clink against the old man's.

He then took a hearty swig of his own.

Good wine, excellent wine! I have not had such fine wine in ages. This truly hits the spot, hahaha!

The more the old man ate, the happier he became, and the more he drank, the more cheerful he felt.

The barrier between the two gradually melted away as the atmosphere warmed.

Drinking with the old man while observing the impoverished surroundings, Yi Feng asked casually, I am quite curious. Why are you staying here all by yourself?

Gulp, gulp. Ah...

The old man took another swig of wine to wash down the meat.

Then, he used his tattered sleeve to wipe the grease from the corners of his mouth.

He said nonchalantly, Young friend, it is best not to ask questions you shouldn't ask. This is not a secret you should pry into. I am keeping silent for your own good.

Hearing this, Yi Feng gave a faint, somewhat helpless smile.

Then he asked, Do you play chess?

The old man's eyes lit up, and he eagerly replied, Alright, let's play a few rounds!

Yi Feng pushed the food and wine to the side and calmly brought out a chessboard, placing it on the ground.

The old man said impatiently, I will take black, I go first!

Clack.

The old man placed a piece swiftly and urged, Hurry up and make your move, young friend! Although I haven't played against anyone in many years, I play against myself in my mind every day. Today, I'll show you a thing or two!

Clearly, the old man was very confident in his chess skills.

Playing against himself in his mind had become his only way to pass the time.

Yi Feng unhurriedly placed a white piece.

The two played faster and faster, their hands moving like a blur.

The black and white pieces on the board grew more numerous and dense.

Just as the old man felt victory was in his grasp and his smile began to widen.

Yi Feng made a clever move that completely turned the tide.

This exquisite placement took the old man by surprise.

Thinking that Yi Feng had merely gotten lucky with a brilliant move, his smile slowly faded.

This round doesn't count, I was careless. I was about to win! You just had very good luck...

Yi Feng played along, smiling as he said, Just a stroke of luck, just a stroke of luck!

This repeated several times.

Every time, the old man thought he was on the verge of victory.

But at the very end, Yi Feng would always manage to turn the tables and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with one or two masterful moves.

This left the old man thoroughly convinced of his defeat, yet still craving more.

The old man sighed with emotion, It truly is a case of the new generation surpassing the old, each wave stronger than the last!

He studied Yi Feng with his yellowed eyes, feeling that this young man was incredibly outstanding, yet very reserved.

Suddenly, an inexplicable feeling welled up from the very depths of the old man's heart.

He suddenly remembered that many, many years ago, a person he deeply respected had been just like this.

The young man before him gave him a sense of deja vu, but his memories were extremely blurry.

That person had been very important, yet he could no longer remember their face.

The old man clutched his head, racking his brain for memories as waves of agonizing pain throbbed within his mind.

When his bitter struggles proved fruitless, he turned his burning gaze toward Yi Feng.

Young friend, your appearance, aura, and manner of speech all feel incredibly familiar to me. You couldn't possibly be just passing through this place. Who exactly are you?