Fire Spring

The Fire Spring was ringed by stones, smoke and rosy vapors rising from it. In this world where night lay everywhere, it appeared especially bright and splendid.

Qin Ming crouched down and fished a glowing stone from the pool. More lustrous than red coral, it cast rosy light in all directions.

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 glowed as red as lava, its temperature was far lower than that of the human body.

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

Daylight no longer existed. Night endured forever, divided only into Shallow Night and deep night.

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

Whether it was the mutated grain Silver Wheat or ordinary crops like Earth Sweet Potatoes, all crops needed the Fire Spring's irrigation to grow.

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

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

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

Spring and summer were the Fire Spring's active period. It gurgled forth and could meet the needs of cultivation.

Winter was its dry period. In Double Tree Village, for instance, though the pool remained bright, it could only be used to nourish Sun Stones for illumination.

Overall, in this age without daylight, people lived by "chasing fire."

The Fire Spring stood out so clearly in the darkness that it naturally drew the covetous gazes of all manner of creatures lurking in the night. Fortunately, they each had their own territories, and a certain balance could be maintained most of the time.

Double Tree Village lacked food mainly because Strange Birds had once raided them during harvest season. When those beaks touched the wheat ears, they sliced through like sickles; one peck, and several clusters would be stripped bare.

There had also been ant plagues, as well as certain human factors, leaving people on the verge of starving to death in winter.

It was now Shallow Night. 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. Everything fell silent, and the darkness was black enough to chill one's bones.

Qin Ming wondered when he could go out and resolve the severe food shortage.

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

At the village entrance, the Fire Spring illuminated a bright patch of land.

The cold wind swept through. Within the fire pool, which was about sixteen feet across, ripples glittered. The Black White Twin Trees in the pool rustled as they shook down accumulated snow, which scattered brilliantly amid the Fire Haze.

The leaves of the two trees had a faint jade-like texture and did not fear severe cold. Yet aside from repelling mosquitoes in summer, they had little other use.

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

He walked back the way he had come. The lights of each household flickered, while the wilderness behind him was incomparably dark, all things withered, like some colossal beast about to swallow everything whole.

Qin Ming stood in the courtyard and exercised through various specific movements. He was highly practiced and fluid, having done this year after year until it had nearly become instinct.

After a long while, sweat appeared on his forehead and warmth spread through his body before he finally stopped.

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 ice crystals.

Carefully, he held it up to examine it in the Fire Haze blooming from the Sun Stone.

Two words were engraved on the tiny bottle: Mineral Essence.

The liquid within was an intoxicating blue. When gently shaken, Blue Mist flowed through the bottle, carrying a dreamlike quality.

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

He had stumbled upon it in a dangerous area of the mountains. Before that, he had only heard of "Mineral Essence"; he had never truly come into contact with precious matter of such a level.

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

He had fallen gravely ill after escaping from the mountains and had never had the chance to try it.

"Maybe I'll be able to use it in a few more days." Qin Ming put away the finely crafted little crystal bottle.

A cold wind blew past, and scattered snowflakes drifted down.

Qin Ming lived alone. The quiet courtyard was cold and lonely, 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 around five years old beside him. Though the child was wrapped up tightly, his little face was still frozen red.

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

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

Qin Ming smiled. "There's nothing wrong with me now. In a few days, Uncle will catch the Talking Finch you've been dreaming about and bring it back for you."

"A Talking Finch that can talk to people? Really? That's wonderful!" The moment Xiao Wenrui heard this, he became extraordinarily happy, his eyes filled with sparkling light.

"Something isn't right outside lately." Lu Ze spoke as he handed Qin Ming a food box, telling him not to rush into going out.

Though Rock Rice was rather coarse and hard in texture, Qin Ming's mouth still watered. He only ate two meals a day, and he was truly starving. There were even several red dates in the Rock Rice meal, remarkably soft and smooth, sweet and fragrant.

Qin Ming noticed that Xiao Wenrui was staring straight at it and swallowed.

Feeling guilty, he crouched down and asked, "Wen Rui, tell Uncle, haven't you eaten your fill?"

Lu Ze shook his head. "Nothing like that. He must have seen the red dates."

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

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

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

She was not a bad person. Earlier, she had believed Qin Ming would be unable to survive, just like the other three villagers, and that helping him would be useless, so she had argued with her husband. Now that she saw him improving and no longer muddle-headed, Liang Wanqing still wanted to help, even knowing that her household's stored grain was nearly gone.

Xiao Wenrui obediently nodded. Blinking his big eyes, he 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 deeply miserable inside. He had to take a trip into the dense forest soon.

He was very grateful to the couple, but he did not offer excessive 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 over two years old who needed looking after.

"Recently, something enormous has been appearing in the dense forest. Some people have died or been injured..." Lu Ze told him. He could not act alone now; outside was extremely dangerous.

Qin Ming nodded and listened intently.

Whether it was because the blizzards were raging and mountain beasts found it difficult to forage, or for some other reason, there had been great activity in the wilderness.

Especially in the area where Qin Ming had contracted Strange Illness, pupils brighter than Sun Stones had once torn through the darkness of the mountains, plunging the dense forest into instant silence.

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming could not help recalling the dangerous experience from a month ago.

That day, in the pitch-black mountain forest, the ground beneath him and his three companions suddenly gave way, and they fell into an Earth Fissure.

The underground was extraordinarily strange. After extreme darkness came blinding light that made their eyes ache and tears stream endlessly.

What unsettled him most was that his heart began pounding beyond its limits, like war drums beaten fiercely. The powerful sound actually carried beyond his chest cavity.

Even now, recalling it sent lingering fear through him.

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 thought he was going to die. He felt that his heart would explode.

Very soon, the depths of the Earth Fissure became less dazzling. He saw streak after streak of Silver Light, like silkworm threads and spiderwebs alike, interwoven together, throwing his mind into chaos and stripping away his sense of space.

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

Only when the Silver Light vanished abruptly and darkness descended completely did Qin Ming's heartbeat gradually return to normal. His body could move again, and he brought his three companions out of the Earth Fissure one after another. They did not awaken until much later.

During that process, Qin Ming also discovered several corpses not far from the Earth Fissure. They were finely dressed and appeared to have died only recently.

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 little bottle to Lu Ze. The dead men clearly had influential backgrounds, and he feared trouble might arise.

There were many fierce beasts in the mountains. He expected nothing would remain there, and every trace would be wiped away.

On their way back to the village, Qin Ming and the others gradually began to feel unwell. They staggered as they walked, and their minds started growing groggy.

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 meal, Qin Ming spoke with Lu Ze for a long time.

Wen Rui was very sensible and listened quietly at the side.

Afterward, the atmosphere eased. Qin Ming looked at the somewhat bashful boy and said, "Wen Rui, once Uncle is well, dates, hazelnuts—whatever you want, I'll let you eat your fill."

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

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

As the night deepened, Lu Ze got up and left with Wen Rui.

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

Qin Ming closed his eyes and sat quietly. In his mind, he formed an image of himself, rehearsing various specific movements and training his consciousness until, at last, he emptied his mind.

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

"An illusion?" Qin Ming froze.

Though it had only been a hurried glimpse, he believed he had not been mistaken. Very faint silver ripples had indeed dispersed from the surface of his body, vanishing in an instant.

He had persisted with this special training method for many years, yet there had never been any "movement." Today, something abnormal had actually appeared!

Qin Ming discovered that a fine layer of sweat had appeared over his body, as if he had undergone a bout of intense exercise. Yet he was full of energy.

He went into the courtyard, bright light in his eyes, and used his body to demonstrate set after set of specific movements.

He was completely absorbed. His body soon began to heat up, and a surging vitality expanded within him, like light rain falling upon a desert long parched by drought.

Much later, Qin Ming was drenched in sweat, white mist rising from his head. He felt incomparably comfortable all over, as though the last remnants of illness had been expelled along with the copious sweat.

When he finally felt tired and stopped this special training, he clearly saw an extremely faint Silver Light emerge from the surface of his body before swiftly dispersing.

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

Qin Ming felt thoroughly refreshed, and a real warmth flowed within him, slowly nourishing his entire body. His Essence, Qi, and Spirit grew fuller and fuller.

After resting briefly, he wanted to practice those specific movements again. But his stomach growled, hunger rising even though he had already eaten dinner.

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

He was soaked from head to toe, his clothes completely drenched with sweat, so he went to heat water and wash up.

Looking at the handsome face reflected in the basin of water, no longer pale but now carrying some color, Qin Ming murmured, "I've recovered almost completely. I'll set out tomorrow morning."

He did not want to trouble others or become a burden. Now that he could move, he wanted to solve the food problem as quickly as possible and escape his current 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 road.

The lights of the households dimmed one after another, and the entire village melted into darkness.

Strong winds rose on the frigid winter night, whipping up the snow in the wilderness until all was a vast expanse of white. Much of it fell into the village, burying quite a few courtyards.

"I'm so hungry!" Long before bedtime, Qin Ming was already unable to bear it. His stomach felt as though it were on fire. Forget delicacies—even if there were a ground rat in front of him, he would want to eat it.

Unfortunately, in such hard times, even the village's rat holes had become desolate.

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

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

Then he thought of his special training method. It truly had become different, actually beginning to show "movement," causing exceedingly faint silver ripples to appear over his body for a time. It filled him with anticipation. What other changes would come next?

His thoughts then scattered to sweet, fresh berries beneath the ice and snow in the dense forest, and a golden, glistening leg of lamb roasting over a bonfire.

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

He decided that once Shallow Night arrived, he would set out. Everything was for the sake of fulfilling Xiao Wenrui's wish as soon as possible—then he could not help swallowing again.

Accompanied by his craving and yearning for food, Qin Ming finally drifted slowly to sleep.

Please add this book to your collection. If you can cast a guaranteed monthly vote, that would be even better. Thank you.