Chapter 23: Eyes in the Dead of Night

Zhao Yue'e was busy adjusting to their new surroundings, while Cao'er curiously took in the sights around her.

*Gurgle, gurgle…*

Having gone days without a proper meal back home, followed by the grueling, energy-draining climb, her stomach was now crying out in protest.

"Since there is water here, there must be fish," Su Yanwen said with a smile, turning to his wife and daughter. "I'll go catch a few, and tonight we'll have a hot, steaming bowl of fish soup."

Hearing that they would have fish to eat, Cao'er couldn't help but lick her lips, her eyes filled with longing. For Su Yanwen, this fish might have been mediocre, but compared to chewing on dried tree bark, it was the finest delicacy imaginable.

Su Yanwen smiled and headed out. Earlier, while gathering firewood, he had scouted the area and spotted fish swimming in the depths of the pool. The pool ended in a waterfall, and he suspected that the stream where he had previously caught fish was fed by this very water. The fish in the pool were all swimming toward the waterfall, trying to head downstream.

Watching them, Su Yanwen sighed, regretting that they had left in such a hurry that he hadn't even been able to dig up the dog meat. He sharpened a sturdy branch to use as a makeshift fish spear. To prevent the fish from darting away, he piled up large stones to block the waterfall's outlet, ensuring the water could still flow through while keeping the fish trapped inside.

Once prepared, he crept cautiously toward the school of fish. He aimed the sharp point at the largest green carp. Holding his breath, he waited for the perfect moment. Just as the carp flicked its tail to swim away, he struck, plunging the wooden spear down with practiced precision. It pierced straight through the fish's gills.

The carp thrashed violently, churning the water and scattering the rest of the school. With its gills wounded, it couldn't breathe; after a few moments of frantic struggle, it floated to the surface, belly up, and drifted toward the stones blocking the exit. Su Yanwen didn't bother to retrieve it immediately, knowing the stones would catch it. Seizing the opportunity, he continued to patrol the pool with his spear, chasing the fleeing fish. Using the same method, he soon had two more large fish floating on the surface.

The struggle had churned up the sediment, turning the clear water murky with mud and blood. It was impossible to see beneath the surface, making further hunting difficult. Su Yanwen withdrew, walked to the waterfall's edge, and collected the three large fish.

Back in the village, the fish they hung to dry were usually only three or four pounds, but these were massive. The smallest of the three weighed at least four or five pounds, and the total haul was easily twenty pounds—more than enough for the three of them to eat their fill. He threaded the fish through their gills with a stick and carried them back to the cave on his shoulder.

By then, the sky had turned completely black. Cao'er was at the cave entrance, peering out. Seeing Su Yanwen return, she clapped her hands and jumped for joy. "Papa is amazing! Papa is so strong! He brought back fish!" She turned to Zhao Yue'e and said, "Mama, I knew Papa would come back. My papa isn't a bad man; he’s just under a lot of pressure."

Her mother had once told her that being trapped in a harsh environment makes it hard to breathe, and that feeling is called pressure. If someone is under too much pressure, they might go mad.

Zhao Yue'e smiled and shook her head. It was a relief to see him return. When the sky had darkened and he still hadn't appeared, she had been terrified that he had only brought them up the mountain to abandon them to their fate. Wiping away her tears, she put on a brave face and began to clean the fish, removing the scales and entrails.

Cao'er squatted nearby, watching like a curious child. "Wow, such big fish! I can't believe they get this big. Mama, look! This one is longer than my leg!"

Su Yanwen sharpened a stick with his hunting knife and skewered the cleaned fish, propping them up over the fire. As the aroma of roasting fish filled the air, Cao'er drooled. "Such big fish, so much meat," she whispered, looking hopefully at Zhao Yue'e. "Mama, can I eat my fill of fish this time?"

Zhao Yue'e didn't dare answer and looked to Su Yanwen.

"I know you’re confused about why I brought you here," Su Yanwen said as he roasted the fish. "It's simple: I didn't feel safe leaving you in the village, and that place was no longer fit for us. Don't think the mountains are full of danger. Thousands of years from now, building a home in the mountains will be a dream many yearn for. Rest assured, all these hardships are temporary. I will provide you with a life better than anything you've ever known."

His voice was firm. He gestured for Zhao Yue'e and Cao'er to move closer to the fire to warm themselves, then handed them one of the roasted fish. Both mother and daughter smiled as they held it together. The fish sizzled, and the savory scent was so intoxicating that even with their best efforts, they couldn't help but swallow hard.

"That fish is yours, eat as much as you like," Su Yanwen said. "It's easier to catch fish here than in the village, so there's no need to ration."

Their eyes lit up. They nodded, and Zhao Yue'e began carefully feeding pieces of the tender belly meat to Cao'er. Su Yanwen sprinkled a little salt water on the fish; raised in such pristine water and seasoned with a touch of salt, the flavor was exquisite. Cao'er was so amazed by the taste she couldn't even speak, focusing entirely on eating. Su Yanwen, amused by their appetite, began eating his own fish as it finished roasting. Zhao Yue'e looked at him with tenderness, a flicker of unreadable emotion in her eyes.

Night in the forest was pitch black. The wind howled like ghosts, and outside, the world turned white. A snowstorm had begun. It was fortunate they had found the cave, or they surely would have perished. Within ten minutes, visibility outside dropped to zero, leaving only the flickering light of their campfire.

"Mama?" Cao'er huddled into Zhao Yue'e's arms, her eyes wide with terror. "Is... is that the Snow Ghost crying?"

Zhao Yue'e's expression was even more panicked than her daughter's. Cao'er was young, but Zhao Yue'e was an adult and knew the true horror of the Snow Ghosts. She had never expected to encounter one on their very first day on the mountain. Her face went deathly pale. She clutched Cao'er tightly, her eyes fixed on the cave entrance, terrified that some nightmare would charge in at any moment.

*Wooooo...*

Just then, a wolf's howl echoed from nearby. Immediately after, a pair of glowing, emerald-green eyes appeared at the mouth of the cave.