Chapter 22: Feeding

Wang Yiyi was stunned by Gu Xi’s appearance. Combined with Gu Xi’s height, she looked both stunning and sharp.

“Alright, if there are no issues, let’s head out.” Gu Xi pressed down the brim of her hat. It was best to set off while there was still daylight. Before the next nightfall, she had to find a place to set up camp.

“First things first, you have to ensure I get fed!” Wang Yiyi called out as she saw Gu Xi preparing to leave. Gu Xi ignored her and kept walking. Wang Yiyi quickly put on her clothes and scrambled to catch up.

Gu Xi currently had two missions: one was to head to Taolin Town to confirm player information, and the other was to find a microchip ahead of the town. How long it would take to reach Taolin Town remained unknown; she could only determine the direction based on the coordinates provided by the Butcher Doctor.

Watching Gu Xi stride ahead with purpose, Wang Yiyi’s disadvantage in height became apparent. “Please, you’re walking so fast, I have to run just to keep up!” She gasped, trailing behind. They hadn’t been walking for long, yet Gu Xi’s stamina had already put a significant distance between them.

Hearing Wang Yiyi’s complaints from behind, Gu Xi stopped and put her hands on her hips. “You really need to exercise. It’s a miracle you’ve survived this long. From today on, until we reach our destination, we eat only when I say so.” Gu Xi thought to herself that the girl needed more protein. Combined with the aerobic exercise on the road, her physical fitness might actually improve. If the person were a man, Gu Xi would have refused to team up instantly, but this little girl named Wang Yiyi didn’t seem like a threat to her life.

Although Gu Xi had abilities granted by the system, she knew she still needed to train to truly master them. She understood one principle after her rebirth: she would rely on no one. Anything added to her life was merely a finishing touch; if she relied on others for help in a crisis, she might very well lose her life.

Wang Yiyi was fuming at Gu Xi’s arrogance. Once they reached a place where she could play to her own strengths, she would definitely teach this woman a lesson. “If I can’t beat you, I’ll just avoid you,” Wang Yiyi grumbled, kicking stones along the path.

“What? Not happy?” Gu Xi could tell the girl was reluctant.

“Yeah, I’m not happy!” Wang Yiyi was hot-tempered. “Back in the day, I...” She stopped herself. There was no need to tell Gu Xi so much. As long as she could reach Taolin Town and retrieve her gear, she would be satisfied.

Seeing her fall silent, Gu Xi continued forward. Before long, they left the area and reached a suburban landscape. The surrounding forest was dense, with birds chirping occasionally. As the sun began to set, the atmosphere shifted from sunny to chilly.

“Are we going to travel through the night?” Wang Yiyi’s stomach growled. This woman was truly an iron person; after walking for so long, she still seemed full of energy.

“Just a little longer. We’ll find an open space ahead to cook something.” Gu Xi didn’t feel like chatting. Her goal was to reach Taolin Town as quickly as possible.

Upon hearing about food, Wang Yiyi’s spirits lifted. She chirped an enthusiastic response and trotted along to catch up. Gu Xi, however, had no intention of setting up a camp or finding an open space; she preferred the element of surprise. Not long after Wang Yiyi spoke, Gu Xi stopped abruptly.

“Let’s stop here. No cooking, we’ll just eat dry rations.” She had reconsidered: lighting a fire to cook would create smoke, and there was a risk of food spoilage when cooking raw meat outdoors. Besides, given how much Wang Yiyi would likely eat, it was better to stick to filling rations. It would also help her keep her personal storage space hidden from the girl. After all, she couldn't fully trust anyone. If Wang Yiyi knew she was carrying so much meat, it might lead to complications.

“Ah, dry rations? But I really, really, really want a bowl of freshly cooked soup. I haven’t had anything hot in nearly two months.” As she spoke, tiny tears welled up in Wang Yiyi’s eyes.

*So dramatic,* Gu Xi thought, unimpressed. A beggar with so many demands. She’d figure out how to ditch her once they reached the destination. “Don’t worry. If we pass by somewhere that has hot soup later on, I’ll definitely get you a bowl!” Gu Xi promised, though she had no intention of following through. If the girl remained emotionally unstable, she would be a major liability.

“We’re stopping here so you can use your equipment to see if there’s any local network we can tap into. That way, we can find a shortcut and get there sooner, right?” Gu Xi said. Wang Yiyi nodded, finding the logic sound.

Even though they were having dry rations, Gu Xi didn’t want to skimp on quality. She sat down and rummaged through her storage space, finding the ration section—compressed biscuits, instant noodles, bread, sausages, and the like. She realized she couldn’t make the instant noodles without hot water, and the scent might attract danger, so she pulled out a few compressed biscuits, energy bars, and ready-to-eat chicken breast, dumping them all on the ground.

The sound of food hitting the ground excited Wang Yiyi. “Oh! Coconut-flavored compressed biscuits, I love these! And starch sausages! And chicken breast!” She stared at Gu Xi with admiration. “You’re amazing!” Before Gu Xi could even pick up a biscuit, Wang Yiyi had already torn into two packs and started stuffing her face.

“Anyone would think you were just released from a hunger dungeon,” Gu Xi laughed. “Eat quickly so we can get moving.” She wanted the girl fed so she could get to work.

Gu Xi leaned against a stone pillar, eating while standing, ensuring her back was covered so no one could ambush her. She couldn’t help but chuckle at the way Wang Yiyi was devouring the food.

With her mouth full, Wang Yiyi responded, “Don’t worry! From today on, you’re my big brother! No, my big sister! As long as you have something to eat, I’ll have something to eat. Once I’m done, I’ll get to work for you, no problem at all, ha ha ha!”

*This girl knows how to flatter herself,* Gu Xi thought, *I’ll just take it as bootlicking.*