Mortal: Traveling Between Two Realms with Mei Ning to Pick Up Trash

the next day.

Mei Feng got out of bed, feeling dizzy and clutching his head.

He squinted and looked around, but didn't see Zhou Yu or Mei Ning.

He rubbed his forehead and pushed open the door to go out.

The morning breeze, carrying the scent of the ocean, helped clear Mei Feng's head.

Looking into the distance, two figures sat side by side, seemingly talking about something, with occasional laughter coming from between them.

Mei Feng frowned, a vague premonition rising in his heart, and quickly stepped forward.

"You were so funny when you were learning to talk."

Mei Ning covered her mouth and laughed.

"Really? I thought you didn't like me because you were so indifferent to me back then."

"I...I just don't know how to get along with people..."

Mei Feng paused, standing behind the two of them, his face gradually darkening.

"You two," he suddenly spoke, his tone slightly chilly, "what are you chatting about? You seem to be having a good time."

Mei Ning was startled. She turned her head and saw Mei Feng's big face, then quickly lowered her head again. She opened her mouth and whispered, "Brother."

Zhou Yu remained calm, scratched his head, and chuckled, "Uncle... um, Brother Meifeng, you're awake."

Mei Feng crossed his arms and looked down at the two of them. His gaze lingered on Zhou Yu's face for a moment before shifting to Mei Ning, a half-smile on his face.

"I'm afraid if I don't wake up soon, all the spiritual fruits in the house will be stolen."

Mei Ning lowered her head even further.

Zhou Yu, however, was thick-skinned. He stood up and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Mei Feng, saying, "Brother Mei Feng, you're joking. I've always acted with integrity and never steal."

Mei Feng's face darkened slightly.

Mei Ning raised her head, glanced at Mei Feng and then at Zhou Yu, and wanted to say something but ultimately said nothing.

She stood up, head down, and whispered, "I'll go cook." Then she hurried away.

Only Zhou Yu and Mei Feng remained on the beach.

Mei Feng remained silent, as did Zhou Yu. A sea breeze blew by, and two seagulls flew across the sea.

After a while, Mei Feng sighed.

"Sit down," he said, and then sat down directly on the beach.

Zhou Yu obediently sat down.

Mei Feng didn't look at him; his gaze was fixed on the seagulls in the distance, flying up and down, seemingly enjoying themselves immensely.

"I actually knew all along," Mei Feng suddenly said. "My sister has had feelings for you for a long time. I knew this day would come from the day you came back."

"Speaking of which, I have to thank you." Mei Feng looked at Zhou Yu. "For the past ten years or so, I've always worried that if you come back, you might have someone else outside, or you might not like my sister."

Mei Feng turned to look at the seagull again, his voice lowering, "If that's really the case, how heartbroken my sister would be."

Zhou Yu listened attentively without saying a word.

Mei Feng remained silent for a while before speaking again, his voice tinged with reminiscence.

"My parents passed away early, when Mei Ning was only this tall."

He gestured with his hand, indicating that it reached approximately to his waist.

"I took her with me, hiding here and there, sometimes not knowing where our next meal would come from. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to find a cultivation manual. We both had spiritual roots, so we embarked on the path of cultivation."

"After a long and difficult journey, we finally settled down in the Chaotic Star Sea. Although we were all low-level rogue cultivators, at least we didn't have to go hungry anymore."

"In this life, I have no great abilities, my cultivation is mediocre, I don't have many spirit stones, and I can't even afford a decent magic weapon," Mei Feng's voice lowered, "but I promised my parents that I would take good care of her."

He turned his head, looked at Zhou Yu, and said seriously.

"Zhou Yu, I'm conflicted. I'm happy but also scared."

"I'm glad you chose my sister, but I'm afraid you're just doing it on a whim. My sister and I are just ordinary cultivators, but you have a Heavenly Spiritual Root, which means you're destined to be different from us."

"I'm a rough person, and sometimes I act impulsively without thinking. Zhou Yu, you're a meticulous person, and I trust you with my sister, but..."

"But Zhou Yu, can I trust you?"

Zhou Yu did not speak immediately. He looked into Mei Feng's eyes, then stood up and bowed respectfully to Mei Feng.

"Brother Meifeng, it's easier said than done, but please wait and see. Whether it's a year, ten years, a hundred years or a thousand years, I will not change."

Mei Feng looked at Zhou Yu. A gust of wind blew, causing a few strands of hair at his temples to flutter slightly. He didn't say anything, but simply reached out and patted Zhou Yu's shoulder heavily.

"I'll go check if the food's ready," he said, then strode away without looking back.

Zhou Yu stood by the sea, watching Mei Feng's figure disappear into the kitchen.

Mei Feng's voice came from the kitchen, carefree and boisterous, back to his usual nonchalant self, "Little sister, your porridge is too watery! Zhou Yu has a big appetite, he won't be full!"

Then came Mei Ning's voice, tinged with helplessness, "Then don't drink it."

"I'll drink it! Not only will I drink it, I'll eat the spirit fruit too! So that outsiders won't get any!"

As Zhou Yu listened to those sounds, the corners of his mouth slowly turned up. He looked at the ocean, where seagulls took flight, swooped overhead, cried out twice, and flew away into the distance.

He took a deep breath and walked toward the kitchen.

"Brother Meifeng, save two spirit fruits for me!"

"roll!"

……

Outside the window, the sea breeze was still blowing.

After finishing breakfast, Mei Feng pushed his bowl away, patted his stomach, let out a burp, and then looked at Zhou Yu.

"Zhou Yu, what are your plans next?"

Zhou Yu put down his bowl and thought for a moment. "Elder Wan of the Giant Shark Sect is still here. We can't forget about this debt, but my cultivation level isn't high enough right now. It might be inappropriate to rush over there. Let's stay on the island for a while, solidify our foundation, and then make a decision."

Mei Feng nodded. "Alright, the island won't miss your pair of chopsticks anyway."

Mei Ning didn't speak, but the corners of her mouth curved slightly.

That night.

Mei Feng said he couldn't stand staying on the island and wanted to go back to his big reef.

Zhou Yu saw him off.

When I returned, I went back to the little house where I used to live.

Upon entering, I noticed that all the items were neatly arranged, suggesting that someone regularly comes to clean them.

Zhou Yu smiled, opened the drawer, and inside was a stack of papers, densely covered with his notes from when he was learning to speak.

Just as Zhou Yu was reminiscing, the door opened.

Mei Ning poked her head in first.

Zhou Yu was stunned by the other person's thieving appearance.

What are you doing?

Mei Ning didn't say anything, but blushed as she entered the room and closed the door.

Zhou Yu's heart started racing.

Mei Ning grabbed a chair, lowered her head, and whispered, "Zhou... Zhou Yu, we're... Daoist partners now, right?"

Zhou Yu nodded, then smiled, "Since we're already Daoist partners, why sit over there?"

Mei Ning paused slightly, seemingly a little embarrassed, but still slowly moved to Zhou Yu's side.

Zhou Yu then grabbed Mei Ning's hand.

Mei Ning shuddered slightly, calmed herself down a bit, exhaled, and said, "There shouldn't be too many secrets between Daoist partners. I have a secret to tell you."

Zhou Yu's mind raced. "Hmm? What is it?"

Mei Ning did not answer immediately. Her fingers kept tracing patterns on Zhou Yu's palm. The room was quiet, with only the sound of distant waves audible.

After a while, Mei Ning looked at Zhou Yu, as if she had made an important decision.

Have you ever heard of the body possessing the essence of the Jade Phoenix Marrow?

Zhou Yu pondered for a while after hearing this. The original work in his previous life also mentioned this kind of physique, but it only mentioned spiritual energy and did not explain the specifics.

"I've only read about it in books; I know it's a special constitution, but the specifics..."

Mei Ning lowered her head and said softly, "The body of the Jade Phoenix Marrow can only be produced in female cultivators. After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, a trace of pure spiritual energy will be generated in the body, which is known as one of the seven most pure spiritual energies in the world."

Zhou Yu nodded; he knew all of this.

"This spiritual energy has no effect on women themselves," Mei Ning lowered her head further and blushed even more, "but if a man obtains this trace of spiritual energy, he can cleanse his marrow and greatly improve his cultivation. However, this spiritual energy can only be given to others by a woman willingly, and can only be given to one person in her lifetime."

Mei Ning looked up at Zhou Yu and said, "This is my constitution."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yu looked at Mei Ning with a hint of surprise on his face. It was indeed the first time he had heard that a voice could only be transmitted to one person.

After a moment's hesitation, Zhou Yu asked, "So, what you mean is?"

Mei Ning looked up at Zhou Yu slightly, "I want to transfer this wisp of spiritual energy to you after I reach the Foundation Establishment stage."

Zhou Yu smiled upon hearing this, and tightened his grip on Mei Ning's hand. "Thank you."

He was naturally pleased that Mei Ning was thinking of him in this way.

Mei Ning lowered her head and shook it gently. "This is one of the few things I can do."

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Yu took out a calligraphy brush.

"What is this?" Mei Ning looked at the pen and could only sense that it was an ordinary object, but Zhou Yu was sure that it was something special.

"Didn't I suffer from a chilling aura before I started cultivating immortality?" Zhou Yu held the pen in his other hand, looking at the patterns on it.

Mei Ning looked at Zhou Yu, "Could it be?"

"That's right," Zhou Yu nodded, lowering his voice slightly, "This brush is a magical artifact I obtained by chance, capable of connecting the two worlds."

"Connecting the two worlds?!" Mei Ning's eyes widened, her fair face filled with astonishment.

Zhou Yu didn't rush to explain. He placed the brush on the table, took out a piece of paper from his storage bag, spread it on the table, and then gently drew a line on the paper with the tip of the brush. A crack opened silently, and gray-white light shone through the crack, carrying a vast and ancient aura.

Mei Ning's body tensed up suddenly. She subconsciously moved closer to Zhou Yu, her gaze falling on the crack. Inside, it was vaguely visible, like a desolate battlefield, with broken earth, collapsed pillars, and unrecognizable debris.

"This is..." Her voice was a little strained.

"This is the world on the other side of the crack," Zhou Yu said, gently tracing the edge of the crack with the tip of his pen, and the crack slowly closed.

He put down his brush and looked at Mei Ning. "The first time I went in, I was injured by the remnant soul of a giant beast inside. It was the cold, malevolent energy that you helped me suppress. I went in a few more times afterward and picked up some things from inside."

"Is that world... dangerous?" Mei Ning asked.

"Yes, it's very dangerous," Zhou Yu didn't hide anything. "You can't use spiritual energy inside, you can only rely on your physical body. There's a remnant soul of a giant beast, which is very strong. But there are also some scattered things on the outer perimeter. Most of the things I picked up were found by searching around on the outer perimeter."

Mei Ning lowered her head and thought for a while, "Can't use spiritual energy? I should be able to use spiritual energy."

"Hmm." Zhou Yu nodded. "Theoretically, that's how it is, but it's hard to say for sure, since we haven't tried it."

Mei Ning looked at Zhou Yu and remained silent for a while.

He turned his head to the side and said, "I'll help you once I've reached the Foundation Establishment stage."

Zhou Yu nodded, put the brush into his storage bag, looked up at Mei Ning, and paused for a moment.

He reached out and wiped the corner of her eye. "Why are you crying again?"

Mei Ning gently wiped her face with the back of her hand. "I'm just... glad I could help you."