When Jun Zhu returned, he was holding a plucked wild pheasant.

The whole situation made him feel uncomfortable. Originally, he had set out to catch one of the rabbits hopping around the mountains, but when a startled pheasant suddenly took flight, his body had moved on its own—without thinking, he had immediately lunged after the flapping bird. By the time he realized what he was doing, the pheasant was already in his hands, and the rabbit was long gone.

Was this because he was now a fox? Did he really lose all control when faced with a chicken?!

Shaking off the thought, Jun Zhu skewered the cleaned pheasant on a sturdy stick, set up a simple roasting rack, and placed it over the fire.

From the moment Jun Zhu had returned, Lu Yunzou had been watching him intently, lost in thought.

After securing the pheasant, Jun Zhu turned his head to glance at Lu Yunzou, who was sitting on the stone platform. He had put on the clothes Jun Zhu brought, but they hung loosely on his frame, worn in a rather careless manner.

Noticing Jun Zhu’s gaze, Lu Yunzou composed himself and spoke.

“I’ve troubled you greatly these past few days, Jun Gongzi. You saved my life, and I have no way to repay you at this moment, but I will certainly do so in the future. May I ask which sect you belong to and where you reside? Once I have settled my affairs, I will personally visit to express my gratitude.”

“There’s no need. Saving you was merely a passing act.” Jun Zhu replied casually, his tone indifferent. “I have no sect and no master—I’m just a wandering cultivator with no fixed home.”

Hearing this, Lu Yunzou understood and didn’t press further.

The cave fell into silence, broken only by the occasional crackling of the fire and the sound of Jun Zhu turning the spit.

As Jun Zhu watched the pheasant roast over the flames, his mind was preoccupied with the question of how to become Lu Yunzou’s closest friend.

Saving his life had successfully introduced him to Lu Yunzou, but that was only the first step. Gaining his trust and forging a deep bond was still a long way off.

According to the original story, Lu Yunzou had witnessed the brutal deaths of his loved ones as a child, which led to his cold and distant nature. Later, when he was taken to Wan Jian Mountain, he not only suffered constant bullying from his fellow disciples but was also betrayed by the very person he considered his mentor. This made him shut his heart off from the world, refusing to trust anyone easily.

Eventually, when his soul jade was stolen and his younger brother’s spirit within it was destroyed, he completely lost himself to darkness. Awakening his hidden potential, he became an unstoppable force—a god of slaughter.

Though Lu Yunzou didn’t seem particularly cold toward him now, likely due to the fact that he had saved his life, Jun Zhu knew this was only a surface-level change.

To earn his trust and become his true confidant, he would need to proceed carefully—step by step, without making his intentions too obvious. If he acted too deliberately, it would only put Lu Yunzou on guard.

For now, saving him would remain just that—a simple act of rescue. Jun Zhu wouldn’t try to deepen their connection too quickly.

The pheasant’s skin gradually turned a rich golden brown. To prevent it from getting scorched by smoke, Jun Zhu had enveloped it with a thin layer of spiritual energy. As a result, the final product looked quite appealing. However, since he didn’t have any salt or seasonings, no matter how good it looked, it probably wouldn’t taste great.

With his current cultivation level, Jun Zhu had no real need to eat. He had originally caught the pheasant just to provide Lu Yunzou with food.

But now, as the aroma of the roasting meat filled the air, he found himself… salivating.

Was… was this a fox’s instinct?!

After a little while longer, the pheasant was fully cooked. Jun Zhu removed the spit from the fire, let it cool to a manageable temperature, then handed it to Lu Yunzou.

“The resources in these mountains are scarce, and I have no seasonings. This is the best I could do. It may not taste great, but it should at least be filling.”

Lu Yunzou looked at the golden-brown roasted pheasant, then back at Jun Zhu, and asked—