Chapter 22: Being Well-Fed and Warm Starts with Entering the Deep Mountains

Aunt Zhang and Dalang stood at the doorway, peering out. Half the village was bustling with activity. Miao Qin’s house had caught fire. In this era, houses were either wooden or thatched, and no one expected sparks to fly so easily. Su Yanwen’s hut wasn't large, but with deep snow everywhere, no one imagined the fire could grow so fierce.

People would have been delighted to see only Su Yanwen’s hut burn—after all, the man was considered utterly wicked—but who could have guessed it would spread like this? A small hut shouldn't have caused a major disaster. If Miao Qin’s large wooden house were to catch fire, it would be a catastrophe.

Su Yanwen used tools borrowed from Aunt Zhang’s house to simplify the process of refining salt. Too impatient to wait for it to dry into granules, he poured the brine directly into bamboo tubes. Leaving some for Dalang’s family, he grabbed the salt and a hunting knife and headed toward the mountains.

"Wait." Dalang chased after them, his eyes filled with pity as he looked at the shivering Cao’er. "With clothes like that, it’s too cold in the mountains." He draped a sheepskin coat, still sporting a few holes, over the girl.

A family of three, one sheepskin coat, and a hunting knife—they trekked toward the mountains. Once the fire was extinguished, the villagers looked bedraggled and soot-stained. Seeing the family head for the hills, the looks they cast were more terrifying than those of hungry wolves.

"Bah, harbingers of doom, get out of our village!"
"Go and die in the mountains!"
"Humph, just wait. Can a human even survive on that mountain? If they're still alive tomorrow, they’ll come crawling back in disgrace."

The insults never ceased. Su Yanwen ignored them, continuing forward. As they neared the mountain, Zhao Yue’e’s feet were becoming numb from the cold. Once they approached the range, the temperature plummeted. It must have been several degrees colder here than in the village.

The three stopped to rest against a large tree. Cao’er exhaled white mist, rubbing her hands together. Looking at the vast, snow-covered mountains, she quietly asked Zhao Yue’e, "Mother, is it true what they say about the blood ghosts in the mountains during winter?"

Zhao Yue’e gave a bitter smile.

"And do the mountain spirits and monsters really come out in the summer? They say if you run into one, you can never get out. Some get lost in the forest, and others are dragged directly underground." The more Cao’er spoke, the more frightened she became. Zhao Yue’e was clearly terrified as well.

Su Yanwen found it amusing. Ancient people were simply too ignorant, attributing everything they couldn't explain to ghosts and demons. The harsh natural environment of the primeval forest in winter and the marshes and miasmas formed in summer were treated as something supernatural. However, at the edge of science lies metaphysics; there were many things no one could truly explain.

"Let me ask you: have these mountain spirits or monsters ever hurt you?" Su Yanwen asked.

"No," Cao’er replied loudly.

Su Yanwen smiled. "There you have it. Yet the people in the village want you dead." At this point, his eyes narrowed. Even if he shared all his experience and prey, he couldn't fully protect his daughter. Initially, in everyone’s eyes, he was nothing but a waste.

But these people had made bullying them a habit. Without absolute armaments and power, he could not guarantee the safety of his wife and daughter. In his former life, he had always hoped his wife would join him in a challenge to live in a primeval forest, but she was only interested in the world of superficial trends, and they eventually parted ways.

"Let’s head up!" he said. "It’s getting dark; it will be even more dangerous in the mountains." Su Yanwen reached out to pick up Cao’er. Zhao Yue’e anticipated his intent and scooped her up first.

The mountain path was rugged, and the snow was incredibly deep—far more difficult to traverse than the paths in the village. As they went further, the path disappeared entirely, leaving only the magnificent sight of frost-covered trees and an endless expanse of white.

"Ah!" Zhao Yue’e let out a soft cry, tripped by a branch hidden in the snow, and tumbled to the ground.

The opportunity had arrived. Su Yanwen crouched down, signaling for Cao’er to climb onto his back. Cao’er hesitated, looking at Zhao Yue’e.

Zhao Yue’e gritted her teeth and stood up. "I can do it myself."

"The environment in the mountains is different from below," Su Yanwen said sternly. "A single misstep on these cliffs, and you’ll be smashed to pieces."

After much hesitation, Zhao Yue’e nodded at Cao’er. Cao’er swallowed hard, her eyes burning with anticipation as she looked at her father’s back. She walked over and leaned gently against him.

*Whoosh!* Su Yanwen felt like he could fly. So, this was what it felt like—his daughter was truly warm. She was so tiny; how could she be a burden?

"Let’s go." Su Yanwen strode forward with ease. Perhaps because he was moving quickly and the terrain was uneven, there was some jolting. Frightened, Cao’er wrapped her arms tightly around Su Yanwen’s neck, pressing her warm cheek against his ear.

*Wow!* This feeling was blissful. Su Yanwen felt his entire body surging with motivation. He said with a hint of excitement, "It’s so good to have a daughter, though you’re too thin—nothing but bones. I’m going to raise my little princess to be plump and soft..." He was incredibly happy.

Zhao Yue’e was extremely tense, her nerves on edge, watching Su Yanwen’s every move.

"Time is short, and we certainly can’t build a house today. It would be best if we find a cave to shelter in," Su Yanwen said.

"A cave?" Zhao Yue’e looked despondent.

"Yes," Su Yanwen continued. "If we light a fire inside, it will be much warmer at night." They wouldn't even have to fear the snowstorms. Zhao Yue’e nodded. Could they really survive until tomorrow after entering the mountains? She blew on her hands to warm them, trembling as she walked forward.

When they reached the mountainside, Su Yanwen looked ahead. He saw endless mountains and deep ravines below. It seemed that the "spirits and monsters" the villagers spoke of were down there; since those areas rarely saw the sun, rotting vegetation easily created marshes and miasmas. It was unrealistic to cross these peaks in just a few days.

They continued forward. Gradually, Su Yanwen heard the sound of water. During his last trip, he had been too focused on survival to notice it, and on his way down, he had been fleeing from a tiger. He glanced at Zhao Yue’e; though they didn't speak, joy was evident on both their faces.

They quickened their pace. Ahead, a mountain stream about twenty meters wide flowed down from the summit. In this frozen, snow-covered world, it hadn't iced over. Following the current, they discovered a pool. The water was crystal clear, surrounded by thick, solid ice.

"Wow, it’s so beautiful!" Cao’er couldn't help but exclaim. On the surface of the water, delicate ice flowers had formed, looking absolutely stunning. Su Yanwen looked past the ice flowers and saw a cave hidden behind a dense thicket of frost-covered trees.

"Found a cave." Su Yanwen was delighted. Zhao Yue’e was panting with exhaustion but struggled to go and see. Su Yanwen quickly set Cao’er down. "You two wait here for me."

He gripped his knife and moved forward. One couldn't casually enter any cave in winter; who knew if there was a hibernating bear inside? Su Yanwen approached cautiously. Fortunately, the cave wasn't deep, and there was no scent of wild animals. The interior was roughly the same size as the entrance, the ground flat and dry. Not only was there no snow, but it was actually warmer than outside.

Su Yanwen smiled happily. Nature was truly wonderful; this was why he loved it. "Come quickly! It looks like we have a good place to stay for a while."

Hearing his call, Zhao Yue’e hurried over with Cao’er. Upon entering the cave, Zhao Yue’e’s expression visibly relaxed. Cao’er was excited, looking around with curiosity. She whispered to Zhao Yue’e, "Mother, are we inside the Mountain God Grandpa’s belly? It’s so warm."

Zhao Yue’e quickly covered Cao’er’s mouth, not wanting her to speak recklessly. Su Yanwen smiled. It was just that the cave blocked the cold wind, making it feel especially warm to those who had been walking outside.

He didn't say much and immediately went out to search for dry branches. The number of wild animals in these mountains was vast—what he had seen before was likely just a drop in the bucket. But all wild animals shared one common trait: they feared fire. Lighting a fire at night would not only keep them warm but also ward off animals. Furthermore, this place was ideal; it only took two hours to reach the village, so coming and going wouldn't be too troublesome.

When he returned with firewood, Zhao Yue’e had already fashioned a broom from branches and cleaned the cave. Su Yanwen stuck the thicker branches into the snow to form a cone and placed dry pine needles inside. He took out his fire-starter and lit the kindling.

Watching the flames rise, Cao’er clapped her hands in delight. Zhao Yue’e’s taut nerves finally unraveled, and she offered a gentle, radiant smile that was truly captivating.