Fire Spring

Fire Spring was ringed by stones, smoke and rosy vapors billowing from it. In this world steeped everywhere in night, it appeared all the more brilliantly radiant.

Qin Ming crouched down and fished a glowing stone from the pool. It was more lustrous than red coral, its rosy light shining in every direction.

The Sun Stones used by every household came from the Fire Spring. Once a stone went out, it could be placed back here, and after some time, it would recover as before.

The pool was filled with fiery red light. Though it gleamed as red as magma, it was far less hot than the surface of a human body.

Ripples shimmered across the pool, and firelight danced. It was neither true fire nor spring water, but an exceedingly special substance.

Now that daytime was gone and night endured forever, there was only the distinction between Shallow Night and Deep Night.

In such an age, the Fire Spring was especially important.

Whether it was the mutated grain Silver Wheat or ordinary crops such as Earth Sweet Potatoes, all crops needed watering from the Fire Spring in order to grow.

Moreover, people would become unwell if they went too long without seeing the Fire Spring.

It could be said that it was the foundation upon which people depended for survival.

In this world without daylight, the four seasons could still be distinguished.

Spring and summer were the Fire Spring's active period. It bubbled forth in an endless stream, enough to meet the needs of cultivation.

Winter was its period of depletion. For instance, here in Double Tree Village, although the pool remained bright, it could only be used to nourish Sun Stones for illumination.

Overall, in the era without daylight, people lived by "chasing fire."

The Fire Spring stood out so clearly in the darkness that it naturally drew the watchful eyes of all kinds of creatures lurking in the night. Fortunately, each had its own territory, and for the most part, a certain balance could be maintained.

Double Tree Village lacked food mainly because Strange Birds had once raided during harvest season. When their beaks touched the wheat ears, it was like sickles sweeping through them; one bite left several clusters stripped bare.

There had also been ant infestations, along with certain human factors and the like, leaving people on the verge of starving to death in winter.

It was Shallow Night now. The darkness was relatively faint, and Earth Light occasionally rose in the distance, allowing the blurred outlines of the Dense Forest to be vaguely seen.

As for Deep Night, nothing could be seen at all. All things fell silent, and the darkness became chillingly black.

Qin Ming wondered when he could head out and resolve the dire shortage of food.

He gazed out into the wilderness. It was exceedingly dark, and distant scenery could not be seen. The snow had long since risen above a person's chest, making the environment extremely harsh for survival.

At the Village Entrance, the Fire Spring lit up a bright stretch of land.

The cold wind swept past, and ripples glittered in the Fire Pool, which was about ten feet square. The Black White Twin Trees in the pool rustled as they shook off accumulated snow, the snowflakes sparkling brilliantly amid the Fire Haze.

The leaves of the two trees had a faint jade-like texture and feared no bitter cold. Yet apart from repelling mosquitoes during summer, they had no great use.

Qin Ming felt icy snowflakes fall from the trees onto his neck and came back to himself. No matter what, he had to nurse his body back to health a little longer. Outside was far too dangerous.

He walked back the way he had come. The lights of each household shimmered, while the wilderness behind him was incomparably dark, all things withered as though a gigantic beast were poised to swallow everything.

Qin Ming stood in the courtyard and trained with a series of specific movements. He was highly practiced and fluid, for after doing this year after year, it had nearly become instinct.

After a long while, sweat appeared on his forehead and warmth spread through his body. Only then did he stop.

He entered the room and took out a miniature crystal bottle, no longer than his thumb. Its carvings were delicate, its body transparent and exquisite, and inside was Blue Liquid containing icy crystals.

Carefully, he held it up to the Fire Haze blooming from the Sun Stone and examined it.

Two words were carved upon the tiny bottle: Mineral Essence.

The liquid inside was an intoxicating blue. When he gently shook it, blue mist flowed through the bottle, dreamlike and unreal.

Qin Ming restrained his impulse and did not open the bottle. He had only just recovered from a serious illness; using Blue Liquid now would bring harm rather than benefit.

He had obtained it by chance in a dangerous region of the mountains. Before that, he had only heard of "Mineral Essence"; he had never actually come into contact with such precious matter of this level.

Used after the human body had been adjusted to its best state, it could improve one's physique and replenish one's spirit.

Ever since escaping the mountains, he had fallen seriously ill and had never had a chance to try it.

"Perhaps I'll be able to use it in a few more days." Qin Ming Put Away the exquisitely crafted crystal bottle.

A cold wind blew past, carrying down scattered flakes of snow.

Qin Ming lived alone. The quiet courtyard was bleak and deserted, even somewhat desolate.

He had already grown used to it.

As time passed, the night deepened, and Shallow Night was about to end.

Lu Ze arrived, with a boy of around five at his side. Though the child was wrapped up tightly, his little face was still rosy from the cold.

"Wen Rui has grown taller again." Qin Ming gestured at the boy's height.

"Uncle, are you feeling better?" Lu Wenrui asked with concern, looking up at him. His eyes were large and clear, and he was at that innocent, lovable age.

Qin Ming smiled in reply. "There's nothing seriously wrong anymore. In a few days, Uncle will catch you that Talking Finch you've been thinking about day and night."

"A Talking Finch that can speak with people? Really? That's wonderful!" Xiao Wenrui was extraordinarily delighted upon hearing this, his eyes full of sparkling light.

"Something hasn't been right outside lately." Lu Ze handed Qin Ming a food box and told him not to rush into going out.

Although Rock Rice was relatively coarse and tough in texture, Qin Ming's mouth still watered. With only two meals a day, he was truly hungry. There were even several red dates in the Rock Rice, exceptionally soft and smooth, sweet and fragrant.

Qin Ming noticed that Xiao Wenrui was staring fixedly at them and swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

Feeling guilty, he crouched down and asked, "Wen Rui, tell Uncle—are you still not full?"

Lu Ze shook his head. "Nothing of the sort. He must just be tempted because he saw the red dates."

Qin Ming immediately picked out several red dates and handed them to the pretty yet unadorned little boy.

Lu Ze stopped him. "Your sister-in-law specifically put those in for you to replenish your qi and blood. Don't pick them out for him."

Liang Wanqing arrived then as well. Looking at Wen Rui, she said, "Your Uncle Qin is weak. There's no meat or medicine to nourish him now, so don't be greedy."

She was not bad-hearted. Earlier, she had thought Qin Ming would not survive, just like the other three villagers, and that helping him would be useless, so she had argued with her husband. Now, seeing that he was beginning to improve and was no longer muddleheaded, Liang Wanqing still wanted to help him, even knowing that her own family's food stores were nearly exhausted.

Xiao Wenrui obediently nodded, blinked his large eyes, and said, "Uncle, hurry and eat. Get better soon. I'm not hungry."

How could Qin Ming possibly eat? He insisted on feeding the dates to Xiao Wenrui, while feeling miserable inside. He had to make a trip into the Dense Forest soon.

He was deeply grateful to the couple, but he did not offer too many polite words. He merely asked them about the current situation outside.

Liang Wanqing sat and chatted for a while before returning home, as there was still a child of just over two who needed looking after.

"Recently, something enormous has been moving about in the Dense Forest. Some people have died or been injured..." Lu Ze told him. He could not act alone now; it was extremely dangerous outside.

Qin Ming nodded and listened intently.

Whether because the blizzards were raging and mountain beasts were struggling to find food, or for some other reason, there had been great unrest in the wilderness.

Especially in the area where Qin Ming had contracted that strange illness, pupils brighter than Sun Stones had once torn through the mountain darkness, plunging the Dense Forest into instant silence.

Hearing this, Qin Ming inevitably Thought Of the dangerous experience from a month ago.

That Day, in the pitch-black mountain forest, he and his three companions had suddenly stepped into empty space and Fallen Into an Earth Fissure.

The underground was exceedingly abnormal. After utter darkness came blinding light, making their eyes ache and tears stream endlessly.

What unsettled him most was that his heart began beating beyond its limit, pounding like furious war drums. The powerful, forceful sound actually carried beyond his chest cavity.

Even now, recalling this, he still felt lingering fear.

At that moment, he could not move. The blood throughout his body accelerated, and in his daze, he heard the sound of a waterfall.

Qin Ming had thought he would die, that his heart would explode.

Soon, the depths of the Earth Fissure became less dazzling. He saw streak after streak of Silver Light, like silken threads and spiderwebs interwoven together, throwing his mind into confusion and robbing him of all sense of space.

At the time, Qin Ming had been dizzy and disoriented, while his other companions had fallen unconscious.

Only when the Silver Light abruptly vanished and total darkness descended did Qin Ming's heartbeat gradually return to normal and his body become able to move again. He carried his three companions out of the Earth Fissure one after another, and they took a long time to awaken.

During that process, Qin Ming also discovered several corpses not far from the Earth Fissure. They were well dressed, and they had likely not been dead long.

Following the simple principle of not wasting anything, he quickly searched them. The crystal bottle containing Blue Liquid was what he had picked up then.

Qin Ming had never mentioned the bottle to Lu Ze, because the dead people clearly had influential backgrounds, and he feared stirring up trouble.

There were many Fierce Beasts in the mountains. He expected that nothing would remain there, and all Traces would be wiped away.

On the Way back to the village, Qin Ming and the others gradually began to feel unwell. They staggered as they walked, and their minds began to grow drowsy.

The three companions died on the very day they returned, their entire bodies blackened. Only Qin Ming endured for a month before recovering.

After eating the coarse rice, Qin Ming talked with Lu Ze for a long time.

Wen Rui was very sensible and listened quietly beside them.

Then the mood relaxed. Qin Ming looked at the somewhat shy boy and said, "Wen Rui, once Uncle gets well, whether it's dates or hazelnuts, I'll let you eat your fill."

"Will there be meat? I... haven't had any in a long time." Xiao Wenrui spoke softly, unable to stop himself from swallowing again. It was as if he had recalled the taste from before, and his rosy little face was full of hope.

"There will be!" Qin Ming fondly rubbed his head.

As the night grew darker, Lu Ze rose and left with Wen Rui.

Inside the room, the light released by the Sun Stone in the copper basin had dimmed.

Qin Ming closed his eyes and sat in meditation, shaping an image of himself in his mind. He rehearsed the various specific movements and trained his consciousness until, at last, he emptied his mind.

The instant he opened his eyes, he vaguely saw a faint flash of Silver Light vanish.

"Was that an illusion?" Qin Ming froze.

Though it had only been a hurried glimpse, he did not think he was mistaken. Faint silver ripples had indeed spread across the surface of his body before vanishing in a flash.

He had persisted with this special training method for many years, yet there had never been any "response." Today, an abnormality had actually appeared! Qin Ming discovered that a fine layer of sweat had formed over his body, as if he had just undergone intense exercise, yet he was full of energy.

He went out into the courtyard, brilliance glinting in his eyes as he performed one set after another of those specific movements with his body.

He was completely absorbed. Before long, his body began to heat up, and vigorous life seemed to expand within him, like a light rain falling over a desert parched by long drought.

After a long time, Qin Ming was drenched in sweat, white mist rising from his head. His entire body felt exceptionally comfortable, as though the last remnants of illness had been expelled along with the great amount of sweat.

Only when he felt tired and stopped this special training did he clearly see an extremely faint Silver Light emerge from the surface of his body, then swiftly disperse.

"It really is different." This time, he saw it clearly.

Qin Ming felt utterly invigorated, and a genuine warmth flowed Within the Body, slowly nourishing him from head to toe. His Essence, Qi, and Spirit grew fuller and fuller.

After resting briefly, he wanted to practice those specific movements again, but his stomach growled and hunger rose up, even though he had already eaten dinner.

Qin Ming immediately stopped. He did not dare expend any more strength; he had no face to ask Lu Ze for food again.

His whole body was drenched, his clothes thoroughly soaked through with sweat, so he went to boil water and wash up.

Looking at the handsome face reflected in the washbasin, no longer pale and now touched with color, Qin Ming muttered, "I've recovered almost completely. I'll set out tomorrow morning."

He did not wish to trouble others or become a burden. Once he could act, he wanted to solve the food problem as quickly as possible and escape his present predicament.

Qin Ming returned the extinguished Sun Stone to the Fire Spring. When he came back, he took only a small piece to light the way.

The lights of each household went dim one after another, and the entire village melted into darkness.

A fierce wind rose on the cold winter night, whipping up snow from the wilderness into a vast expanse of white. Much of it fell into the village, burying many courtyards.

"So hungry!" Before it was even time to sleep, Qin Ming was already starving unbearably. It felt as though his stomach were on fire. Forget delicacies—even if a vole appeared before him, he would want to eat it.

Unfortunately, in times like these, even the village's rat holes had become desolate.

Qin Ming tried to hypnotize himself into sleeping early, but hunger made his heart panic, and he simply could not fall asleep.

He forced himself to shift his attention and think of beautiful people, places, and things, such as those few blurred faces in his heart.

Then he thought of his special training method. It truly had become different; it had actually begun to show a "response," causing extremely faint silver ripples to surface on his body for a time. This left him rather expectant. What changes would come next? His thoughts then drifted to fresh, sweet berries beneath the ice and snow in the Dense Forest, and to golden, glistening lamb legs roasting over a bonfire.

I've crossed the line. How can I think about such things? He hurriedly pinched himself.

He decided that he would set off as soon as Shallow Night arrived. It was all so he could fulfill Xiao Wenrui's wish as quickly as possible, and then he could not help swallowing a mouthful of saliva.

With longing and yearning for food, Qin Ming finally drifted slowly to sleep.

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