>>5557974 >>5557979 >>5557981 >>5558041Well, you can't do anything else if you die first, so naturally it'd have to be the ability to keep yourself alive.
「The ability to keep myself alive.」
She acknowledges your comment and thinks for a bit before speaking up. "I don't usually bring it up, but for a while I survived on my own, out in the woods and mountains. Didn't stop by any villages or towns unless it was an emergency. That would've been for..." A pause. "...five years, or roundabouts."
"Now, you don't have to do that, but I guess what I'm saying is I know something about survival. You don't get through months away from civilization without knowing something about hunting, treating wounds, and repairing your equipment. The whole kit and kaboodle, really - you have to be self-sufficient. Otherwise you die, even if you have a few temperings under your belt. That just makes it a bit easier."
"I can show you all that, if you want, although whether you learn it or not is up to you." You quickly accept. She grins slightly. "Hope you like being exhausted. And, uh -" she clears her throat "-obviously, none of this will be paid. Money is for services rendered, not allowance."
Fair enough.
During the next month you're shown various pieces of knowledge Huo Mi built up during her years of traveling the wilds. What exactly is edible out in the forest, and how to check if something might be edible. A few basic medicinal solutions and basic first aid. Right now you're working on how to hunt and prepare an animal. ...Which has necessitated learning how to use your bow properly, which has in itself necessitated knowing how to make an arrow that flies properly, how to replace your bowstring, and other such related knowledge. According to Huo Mi, building on a sloppy foundation just results in everything crashing down at the slightest poke, so all of this is essential. Building that foundation will definitely take a while. You just hope she doesn't decide to teach you how to carve a bow. ...Although you guess you have a bit of a headstart on that.
