Some of them tried to rack their brains over how he has created that flame, but no explanation made sense. Flames didn't simply appear in the air as if obeying no rules.
"May I come in? It's dark and cold out here." Cie Lin asked politely while he made the small flame disappear with a flick of his hand.
The leader, who was moments ago entranced upon looking at the flame, woke up from his state of disbelief. Seeing the softly smiling young man in front of him, a strange warmth spread through him - a quiet, yet undeniable sense of safety. It was as if this was the person they had unknowingly been waiting for. The warmth felt more welcoming than any campfire ever had.
How could he refuse a person radiating such intense emotions? He knew he couldn't.
"No problem with that. You are welcome with us, however we currently can't offer much hospitality, because our food storage is getting smaller."
Cie Lin glanced at the people around him, quickly verifying the man's words. Cie Lin recognized their sunken cheeks and incomparably thin bodies under their thick cloves with his sensing technique.
They are starving. Is the ground here unable to bear life or is there another reason behind it?
Turning his head back to the leader, he nodded to him while still smiling. Cie Lin didn't need to eat food. He managed to survive without food for a dozen years already, and even though, he desired to eat something, because it was a habit of him, he realized that the people around him had it worse than him.
They shouldn't go hungry, because of someone like me. I can endure at least twenty years without food if I must.
"Don't worry, I don't need food or water. Let me help you with your daily tasks tomorrow - that's more than enough for a stay tonight."
Who is this guy? Refuses food and water and offers to work some tasks for a single night's shelter? Are all Cultivators like that or is he different from them?
Confusion was vividly obvious in the face of the man and the other people around him. Some didn't exactly believe him, even though he had shown a clear sign of being someone they could trust. However, who would dare say something? He said that he didn't want food or water, and that meant one less person to share it with.
The leader turned around and gestured Cie Lin to follow him. Some of the others followed him while the rest of them split up in different directions. There were roughly twenty houses - more than Cie Lin had anticipated. It should be quite lively during day time, but the heavy curtain of the night is for most to hard to wear.
The chill of the night crept into his bones, though Cie Lin barely noticed it. The village was cloaked in quiet shadows, their only light coming from a few weak torches sputtering in the cold breeze. They already stood in the middle of the village, Cie Lin looked around and was reminded of his sect. Maybe he would never see his home-world again, his thoughts swirling in his head.
"I would have almost forgotten to ask for your name, stranger?"
The village chief asked him with a curious undertone in his voice. He wondered if he knew the surname of the young man, because he couldn't quite believe that someone can just appear. If he were the child of someone he knew, it would make much more sense.
Cie Lin contemplated about what he should say and kept quiet for some seconds while looking upwards. Nothing was against telling his real name to them.
"My name is Cie Lin. That is what I was normally called. What is your name?"
Cie Lin returned the question with a nod of his head and turned his head back to the man, making some eye contact in the process. The shine of the torches reflecting in Cie Lin's eyes, which gave off a silvery shimmer.
In that moment, Cie Lin looked truly like someone, whose beauty isn't in the realm of human understanding. The people around him couldn't help, but think that. They, themselves, were surprised by their own thoughts as they realized that they stared at him.
"Y-Yes, naturally. I am Feng Heng, the chief of this village."
Feng Heng stuttered at the start of his sentence, which naturally didn't go unnoticed by Cie Lin, but he decided that he should give face to him, because of the politeness when meeting someone for the first time.
Cie Lin couldn't help, but wonder why Feng Heng had stuttered. It wasn't like he had said something weird or extraordinary. Cie Lin's question wasn't even a yes or no question.
Maybe not being a cultivator makes someone's brain easily forgetting and uncoordinated.
Cie Lin speculated and this was the best explanation, he could come up with currently. Cie Lin and Feng Heng arrived at a small wooden hut. The hut wasn't as big as the others and no light shone in that hut, which contrasted it compared with the other lively, warm huts..
"I hope this is comfortable for you. Inside are a bed and a bread if you change your opinion about eating."
Feng Heng opened the door with a iron-looking key. The door clicked and Feng Heng pressed against it, opening it fully. Cie Lin felt immediately warmer, the moment he opened the door. A warm breeze fled into the night as they stepped into the hut.
Cie Lin let out a sigh and made up his mind to never spend many years in a cave again. The comfort, which such a small hut can give is incomparable to it.
Feng Heng noticed Cie Lin's very expressive sigh. He had never seem someone so relieved after being outside. Not even himself, who had once worked the entire night wasn't that exhausted as the young man beside him standing in the doorstep.
"It seems you like it. I'll go now and leave you alone. I suggest getting some sleep."