"Sir, I'm so hungry."

"I'm hungry too."

"Sir, let's eat beef!"

"I don't eat beef."

The man didn’t even look up, his brush dancing across the documents on his desk, ink characters flowing swiftly.

There were cattle, of course.

But they were all plow oxen.

The Survival Army had just crossed the border and settled in the outskirts of Daqian, in Pingshui County, right at the critical moment for spring plowing and sowing.

Naturally, they couldn’t slaughter them for meat.

As if remembering something, Xu Xi paused slightly and glanced at the girl in the corner. "Yingxue, don’t go catching cattle, understand?"

"Ah, I know, I know, Sir!"

Wu Yingxue sprawled lazily across the table, squirming left and right like a caterpillar, replying to Xu Xi in a listless voice.

Outside, golden sunlight rippled like water over the rooftops of Pingshui County, casting a brilliant glow that illuminated every speck of dust.

The girl felt the warmth of the sun.

Resting her head on the cool wooden desk, she glanced left, watching as every object outside gleamed under the light, then right, observing Xu Xi’s focused expression as he handled official duties.

The atmosphere was tranquil.

Strangely drowsy.

Her eyelids grew heavy, fighting to stay open.

But the young noblewoman didn’t want to sleep.

"Sir hasn’t eaten meat in so long…" Fragmented images flashed through Wu Yingxue’s mind—every moment, every scene, filled with Xu Xi’s exhausted appearance.

Xu Xi rarely rested. Since arriving in Pingshui County, he had been tirelessly managing the Survival Army’s food, shelter, and daily needs.

Whenever something good to eat appeared, $2e would always distribute it first, leaving himself empty-handed, smiling all the while.

"Huuu~~~"

The air inside the room seemed to ignite.

A breeze from the doorway lifted the strands of hair on the girl’s forehead—hot, stifling, irritating.

She didn’t like this. She didn’t like Xu Xi acting this way.

"Sir is always like this, thinking of others but forgetting to take care of himself."

"Well then…"

"If that’s the case, I’ll just have to be the one to look after him!"

Wu Yingxue slapped the table and stood up.

Under Xu Xi’s startled gaze, she dashed out the door, sprinting toward the streets beyond.

The noblewoman’s goal was simple.

She wanted to find real meat for Xu Xi—something nutritious, not the bitter, barely edible demon beast flesh.

If possible, she’d gather extra. Otherwise, given his nature, he’d just share it all with the Survival Army and still end up with nothing.

"Hmm, let me think…"

"Last time I was here, I found an underground river. Maybe I can catch some fish?"

Wu Yingxue raced ahead, her steps light as the wind. With a single tap of her toes against a roof’s edge, she soared into the sky like a bird.

Twisting midair to disperse momentum, $2er hair fluttered wildly in the wind, tracing her hurried path.

Diving, gliding, her waist swaying like a plucked string, she left behind a blur of rapid movement.

Ten minutes later, $2u Yingxue came to a stop.

Before her lay a hidden underground river, winding through the earth’s depths, fed by countless unseen springs, roaring through the darkness.

The surroundings were dim, barely any light.

Water droplets dripped from above, cold and damp.

In this lightless place, only the thunderous rush of water ahead proved its existence.

Ordinary people couldn’t see here. One misstep, and they’d plunge into the river.

So, no one came.

"Innate Martial Artists perceive the principles of heaven and earth, unbound by ordinary senses. Maybe I’ll be different." Wu Yingxue stepped forward, her Innate Qi rapidly expanding.

She nodded slightly.

Just as she’d expected.

Her Innate realm ignored the darkness of the underground, and the raging currents couldn’t breach her protective Qi.

Perfect!

"If I bring back dozens of fish, how will Sir praise me?"

The girl’s eyes curved into crescents, her smile bright as the moon, her breathing light with joy.

Jagged rocks.

Rushing water.

The hidden underground river stretched like a ribbon in the darkness, endless, as the spear-wielding noblewoman wandered freely.

Her feet, clad in Qi, tread effortlessly atop the water’s surface.

"Let’s see…"

"These fish are too small. No good."

"Not enough here either. Still no good."

Wu Yingxue frowned, pausing here and there, searching for worthy prey.

Then—

Splash!

A massive green-scaled fish leaped from the water ahead.

Its emerald scales glimmered, droplets sparkling like stars.

Instantly, it seized Wu Yingxue’s attention.

"Wow, what a huge fish!" The noblewoman’s eyes lit up. She immediately wrapped it in her Qi, freezing it midair before it could plunge back into the river.

"Sir will love this!"

Eagerly, she clutched the enormous fish in both arms.

Its body was slick, heavy as lead, almost as if it had cultivated into a spirit beast.

Under the restraint of her Innate Qi, the fish lay motionless, none of its earlier vigor remaining.

"Did I… kill it by accident?"

Wu Yingxue hesitated.

She withdrew the Qi enveloping the fish, $2olding it with just her hands.

THWACK!!!

The next instant, the seemingly lifeless fish suddenly thrashed. Its tail, thick and powerful, smacked Wu Yingxue square in the face, using the recoil to flip back into the water.

"?"

"??"

"???"

The girl stood frozen on the water’s surface, staring blankly for a full ten seconds before processing what had happened.

She laughed.

A laugh of sheer frustration.

Her fingers splayed, then clenched—and in her grasp materialized a crimson spear.

"Not even Sir has ever hit me like that!"

"Never!!!"

Azure Dragon Qi roared forth, swirling around her spear as she swung, unleashing a shockwave that split the underground river for hundreds of meters, sending towering waves crashing.

Water.

Fish.

Shrimp.

Everything was hurled skyward by the Qi blast before crashing back down in a deafening tumult.

Wu Yingxue succeeded.

She recaptured the escaped green fish.

And caught even more—bigger fish, more shrimp.

The cost?

As the river’s flow returned to normal, the girl, drained from her attack, was swept off her feet and sent tumbling into the raging waters.

By the time she struggled back up, $2he was drenched head to toe.

Cold.

Soaked.

A pitiful sight.

"Ugh, I wasted too much time. Gotta hurry back and cook some fish soup for Sir."

The girl glanced down at her sorry state, scratched her head, then circulated her energy to dispel the chill with her blood Qi.

Wrapping her haul in Qi, she rushed back toward Pingshui County.

By nightfall, when Xu Xi finally finished his day’s administrative work, $2his was the scene that greeted him:

Outside, large pots were being set up, with Niu and the other young scholars busily cooking pot after pot of fish soup.

"Fish? Where did this come from?"

Xu Xi pondered, already suspecting the answer.

Returning to his room, he found the noblewoman bundled in a thick quilt, personally cooking an enormous, plump green fish just for him.

"Sir, you’re back! Sit, sit!"

Hearing the door open, Wu Yingxue waved enthusiastically, gesturing for Xu Xi to join her.

She was about to say more—

Ah-choo!

A sneeze cut her off.

She spun away to avoid contaminating the soup, but overbalanced and stumbled straight into Xu Xi’s arms.

"Yingxue, are you alright?"

Xu Xi chuckled and shook his head, helping Wu Yingxue up from his embrace.