In a perfect world, you start by relying on your own strength.

The energy from his fingertips poured out with the moonlight, landing on the black bear's thick, tough fur without the slightest resistance.

With a force as sharp as a blade, the animal hide was easily sliced ​​through, and in an instant, a huge bear paw was completely severed. The cut was smooth and clean, like a mirror, the surface perfectly neat, and blood didn't even have time to gush out.

Little White paced back and forth, its round eyes fixed on the bear paw, its nose twitching incessantly, revealing its anxious and expectant expression.

Seeing its anxious expression, Shi Geng smiled and raised his hand to activate the illusory moon image in his palm. A series of cold flashes followed, and the remaining three bear paws were neatly sliced ​​off, each one plump and thick, with firm and juicy flesh.

He turned around and gathered dry branches, building a fire on the riverbank. The flames quickly blazed up. Shi Geng first fetched clear river water and carefully washed away the bloodstains and impurities from the bear paws, removing the outer membranes. He then found some naturally fragrant wild herbs and sweet wild fruits from the wilderness, crushed them, and mixed them into a marinade.

The marinade is evenly applied to all parts of the bear paw, and left to sit for a while to allow the flavor to penetrate the meat. Then, a thick piece of hardwood is used to pierce the bear paw, which is then placed over a campfire to roast slowly.

At first, it is slowly roasted over a low flame to force out excess blood from the skin and flesh. As the temperature rises, the skin gradually tightens and turns charred, and a rich meaty aroma fills the air.

During roasting, the wooden rack is constantly turned to ensure even heating, and sweet wild fruit juice is drizzled on it from time to time, which not only locks in the juices but also adds a touch of sweetness to cut through the richness.

Under the scorching heat of the flames, thick fat seeped out from the gaps in the skin and flesh, dripping onto the fire with a sizzling sound. The golden, oily sheen and rich aroma made it even more tempting.

Once the outer skin is roasted to a brownish-red color and becomes fragrant, the meat inside is braised until tender and soft. The originally firm meat becomes tender and easy to tear, with the fat and tendons blending together, and the fresh and mellow flavor bursts forth completely.

Steam carrying an enticing aroma wafted along the riverbank. Little White, gazing at the glistening, tempting bear paws on the fire, could no longer contain himself. He circled the fire, occasionally nuzzling Shi Geng's arm and urging him on, eagerly anticipating the day he could eat the steaming hot bear paws.

The firelight flickered, and the warmth, carrying the rich aroma of meat, wafted along the riverbank. After a long, slow roasting process, the bear paws were roasted to a deep reddish-brown, glossy color, with a slightly charred and crispy surface, and scalding hot steam continuously rose from the crevices of the meat.

Shi Geng raised his hand to extinguish the open flames of the campfire, and continued to simmer it for a while using the residual heat, allowing the aroma to fully penetrate the skin.

He took down the grill, and the thick bear paws were warm to the touch. The skin and meat could be easily separated with a gentle pull, and the rich fat slowly slid down the pieces of meat.

He tore off a large piece of tender meat and put it in his mouth. The rich, savory flavor exploded on his tongue. The meat was soft and tender, the tendons and muscles were succulent and not dry at all, and the sweetness of the wild fruit balanced the richness of the oil, mixed with the unique fragrance of wild herbs. There was not a trace of fishiness or gamey taste; his mouth was filled with the ultimate freshness. The fatigue accumulated from days of venturing into the wilderness seemed to vanish without a trace in this delicious bite.

Little White pawed anxiously to the side, rubbing its head against Shi Geng's arm, making soft, sweet moans, and staring longingly at the fragrant bear paws, its ears twitching with craving.

Seeing this, Shi Geng chuckled and broke off a large piece, handing it over. Little White immediately lowered its head and began to devour it, its usual elegant vegetarian demeanor completely gone. It ate with relish, occasionally swishing its tail, its satisfaction evident.

A man and a beast sat on the riverbank, enjoying their meal amidst the babbling water and the gentle breeze through the forest. The setting sun cast its last rays across the mountains and forests, and the tension that had gripped them for days of battle began to ease.

Suddenly, Shi Geng stopped chewing abruptly, and his relaxed expression vanished instantly.

His back tensed slightly, his previously relaxed muscles straining, and his sharp gaze pierced through the layers of trees, pointing straight into the dark depths of the distant mountains.

The pleasant feeling in his eyes vanished, replaced by a deep vigilance. His mind opened up to capture any unusual fluctuations in the air.

The little white dog, who was engrossed in eating meat, noticed its owner's unusual behavior. It suddenly raised its head, dropped the food in its mouth, and its ears perked up.

Following the direction Shi Gen was gazing, its relaxed body instantly became alert. The warm and peaceful atmosphere on the riverbank vanished, and the wind in the forest suddenly picked up, rustling the branches and leaves.

A moment later, a clear, slightly languid, and alluring female voice drifted from the woods, its tone melodious and captivating, sounding exceptionally charming.

"Mmm, it smells so good."

Before she could finish speaking, a dark figure darted out of the dense forest, and the girl's figure quietly landed not far from the riverbank.

Her skin was fair and smooth, like flawless mutton fat jade, with a faint blush spreading across the surface, like a snow lotus nourished by blood. Beneath her beautiful appearance lay an inescapable eerie aura.

The girl had a delicate oval face with sharp, well-defined features and a slender, pointed jawline. Even at such a young age, one could already glimpse her future stunning beauty.

But what truly captivated her were her naturally alluring eyes. Her pupils were a deep crimson, like raging flames of karma, and with each glance, a faint, eerie aura of runes seemed to flow within them. These eyes possessed an innate power to bewitch and seduc, utterly alluring.

Her thick, curly eyelashes resembled butterfly wings covered in fine powder; with each blink and flutter, they possessed a fatal attraction, causing one's heart to waver unconsciously.

Upon seeing the girl's appearance, Shi Geng was slightly taken aback and momentarily lost in thought.

The girl was stunningly beautiful, with a slender figure that looked almost frail. Her captivating eyes and brows were incredibly alluring, and anyone who saw her for the first time would be amazed. What a beauty that could topple kingdoms!

However, this moment of confusion was fleeting. Shi Geng quickly regained his composure, the bewilderment in his eyes vanished, and his sharp gaze was firmly fixed on the person opposite him.

Although the girl in front of him looked delicate and weak, he dared not be careless in the slightest. He knew that this was a wild wilderness teeming with ferocious beasts and birds of prey, and there might not be a trace of humans for miles around. Yet this woman appeared alone in the wilderness. It would be strange if she were a normal person.

A clear, melodious laugh rang out from the girl's lips, as sweet as a wind chime under the moon. Her appearance was lively and charming, like a fairy gracefully wandering through the mountains and forests. Her pair of crimson, eerie eyes never stopped, scrutinizing Shi Geng from head to toe, her gaze carrying a hint of inquiry.

"Little brother, there's no need to be so wary. I mean you no harm. Would you mind sharing some of my food with me?"

Her tone was soft, and her expression seemed non-threatening, but there was a deep, undetectable depth hidden in her eyes.

Shi Geng did not relax his guard. In the Great Wilderness, you can know a person's face but not their heart. The other party seemed kind, but he still could not let his guard down.

He knew that this gentle demeanor was mostly just a facade, and the eerie aura emanating from the woman before him had never dissipated.