Chapter 11 – The Peace Before the Storm

After searching carefully through the forest and fighting another wave of enemies Aiden and Lia finally were able to find a place good enough to spend the night.

Finding nothing wrong with the place, Aiden left his backpack in the ground before using a demonic core to take the camping equipment out from the spatial pouch.

Normally, when mercenaries explore the forest, they made sure of bringing enough supplies for the travel. However, to avoid carrying too much weight, they try not to bring anything more apart from their weapons, water, food and sometimes a set of clothes.

Different from them, Aiden is able to bring some commodities with him thanks to the spatial pouch. Though it’s impossible to bring a bed with him, Aiden made sure of always carry seasonings, enough clothes, tents, blankets and everything he could need during the mission. Of course, he must be careful of not being discovered. In reality, the only reason because he carries the backpack is to hide the existence of the pouch from others.

Taking a set of woman clothes from the pouch, Aiden threw it to Lia before indicating for her to change her clothes.

“T-Thanks…”

Blushing slightly, Lia thanked Aiden before going to the forest to change.

“Be careful.”

After warning Lia, Aiden continued taking different things from his pouch, beginning from a mattress and ending with the body of one of the smaller boars.

Organizing everything carefully, Aiden grabbed a knife and began to skin the boar.

A moment later, Lia came back from the forest wearing a new dress identical to the previous one. Seeing her come back, Aiden indicated for her begin to prepare the utensils for the meal.

Nodding to indicate her understating, Lia went close to the objects Aiden took from the pouch and chose the ones necessary to prepare the meal.

After skinning the boar, Aiden took out a jar of water from the pouch and used it to clean the meat, then, cutting a portion big enough for both of them to eat, Aiden kept the rest of it in the pouch.

Once the meat was prepared, Aiden gave it to Lia and tried helping her to finalize the preparations to make the meal. Grabbing the meat, Lia put it in a pot before grabbing the seasonings and vegetables and indicating for Aiden to go away.

“Don’t worry young master, I will take care of the meal. You can take a rest.”

Seeing Lia insisting, Aiden chose to leave the kitchen at her and finish completing other tasks.

A few minutes later, Aiden finalized setting the tent before going to install a few warnings in the surroundings to detect any enemy coming during the night.

When Aiden finished setting everything, it was already night. Returning to the camp, the smell of food could be faintly felt.

Frowning briefly, Aiden took a small stone from his pouch a put it in the ground. An instant later, the smell of food in the surrounding diminished greatly replaced for a sweet natural fragrance.

Walking silently to avoid distracting Lia, Aiden sat with his back against a tree a fell into thoughts.

Currently, though Aiden was only at the peak of core-forming, his true combat strength was around the initial to middle stage of core-fusing stage. Due to it, though Aiden was a bit worried about the possible strength of the one commanding the beast, he was almost sure that he would at least to be able to escape.

The problem, though, was Lia. Though Lia’s cultivation was also at the peak of core-forming, her combat experience was lacking, and his true combat strength hardly could be considered at that same level. Because of it, Aiden was worried that while he was fighting against the leader, Lia could be in danger.

Even now, the number of beasts the pair encountered during the day was close to twenty, if so, who knows the number of beasts under the control of the leader yet? To be sincere, Aiden was not sure of being able to protect Lia while being besieged by tens of beasts.

If not because the old man in Heavens’ Net saying that he could take care of the situation, then Aiden would have left the forest long ago.

“Young master!!! the food is ready!!!”

Hearing Lia’s call, Aiden snapped out from his thoughts and replied back.

“I’m going.”

Running towards Lia, Aiden grabbed the plate she passed him and smelled the meal’s fragrance.

“It smells delicious like ever, Lia.”

Hearing Aiden praise, Lia blushed slightly.

“M-Many t-thanks young master… though it’s not so good as the food I made when in home.”

“Hahaha, don’t worry for it. We are in the wild after all and I more than happy to eat a warm soup while in the forest.”

Even though Aiden carried a few seasonings and spices with him in his pouch, compared to the amount one can find in the town then his variety is lacking. Due to it, though the soup was certainly tasty, the texture was a bit bland and incomparable at the ones you can get in the town.

“Don’t worry don’t worry. In the future, I will get a bigger spatial artifact so you can guard all the ingredients and utensils you need to cook anywhere.”

Hearing Aiden words and seeing his smiling face, Lia smiled brightly and replied.

“Yes, young master! I’m sure you will do it!”

For a time, the meal continued in a relaxed atmosphere different from the one during the day.

…

Once Aiden and Lia finished the meal, the pair proceeded to clean the utensils utilized during it and kept them away.

When the pair ended, it was already around 8 o’clock in the night. Intending for Lia have a good rest to wash away the fatigue and stress of today, Aiden suggested for him to take the entire night watch, explaining that it is not the first time he has done it. Lia, of course, refused after hearing it. After a few minutes of discussion, it was decided that Aiden would guard the camp for seven hours till the three o’clock and after it, Lia would do it until the seven in the morning.

Agreeing to Lia proposal, Aiden sent her to sleep while he looked after the camp.

Perhaps tired due to fighting a beast for the first time or fatigued after a long day in the forest, Lia fell asleep almost at the moment when she entered the tent. Seeing it, Aiden could only smile bitterly and sigh in the process.

Aiden had to admit that the progress that Lia made during the day was immense. If somebody else would have known that today was Lia’s first time fighting, then that person would be surprised greatly.

In reality, a high cultivation not equals a high combat strength. Different from cultivation that can be obtained in the comfort of home, the only method to gain combat experience is through experiencing true combat.

It is the reason because many scions of powerful families have a high cultivation but are unable to use even 10% of it adequately. Many are the cases of young masters with great reputations and high cultivations, being killed by a much “weaker” opponent. The reason for it many times lies in the combat experience. In many occasions, the difference in combat experience is enough to decide the winner and loser of a battle.

Of course, when the difference in cultivation between both parties is too great, then the difference in combat experience is inconsequential. After all, no matter the amount of combat experience that a mortal has, a martial emperor only need a finger to crush him to nothing.

Lia’s progress during the day can be considered astounding. Normally, one would need a much greater amount of time to reach Lia’s level, however, she only took less than a day to make such progress.

… Perhaps… is it related to ‘that’ thing inside her?

Pondering about Lia’s situation, Aiden closed his eyes and continued maintaining guard over the camp peacefully.

However, that peace was destined to be interrupted.

A bit after midnight, Aiden opened his eyes.

In the darkness of the forest, a pair of eyes shined like two red lanterns ominously.