Chapter 23: Kindling Fire from Wood

"First, we need some materials: two sticks, one large and one small, a few stones, and tinder," Lei Fang said, leading Kashu into the forest.

"Sticks and stones are easy enough, but for tinder, we need something dry—ideally a bird’s nest," Kashu replied.

"This island is teeming with birds, so finding a nest shouldn’t be difficult. Look, there’s one right there!" Lei Fang pointed, and Kashu followed his gaze. About three or four meters up the tree, nestled among three vertical forks, was a nest roughly the size of a human head.

"I’ll leave this to you," Lei Fang said, patting Kashu on the shoulder.

As soon as he spoke, Kashu sprang upward, leaping from branch to branch like a large monkey. In less than three seconds, he returned to the ground, clutching a dry bird’s nest.

"Well done," Lei Fang praised.

"Oh, there are two eggs inside!" Kashu exclaimed.

On the screen, a prompt appeared:
"Congratulations, you’ve completed gathering: 60 times."
"Gathering (Primary): 600/2500 items."
"Gathering (Primary) proficiency increased."
"Gathering (Primary): 660/2500 items."

A fortunate bonus, perhaps...

Afterward, the two found a handful of small stones to pocket, each took a stick, and headed home.

Home, in this context, meant a ramshackle cave.

Lighting a fire on the beach was troublesome—the constant sea breeze could ruin your efforts at the crucial moment.

"The first step is to take this stick, about the size of a pencil, and use it as a spindle. We’ll smooth it with a stone, though a knife would be easier…" Lei Fang settled on the ground, took out his military knife, and shaved the stick until it was straight and smooth.

"Second, we use this larger stick as a fireboard. Suppose we choose this spot for the hole; then we’ll carve a groove at the edge to let the embers pour out…" He took the other stick and quickly carved it, then placed it on the ground. Large stones on either side held it steady.

"Third, we put a dry leaf beneath the hole to catch the embers."

"Fourth, we start drilling. The spindle goes vertically into the hole, which we can make with a simple jab of the knife. Hold the spindle with both hands and twist back and forth… Kashu, watch my movements."

Lei Fang demonstrated, rapidly rubbing his hands back and forth. Only someone with the speed and strength of a lifelong bachelor could manage such intensity—and Lei Fang had been single for thirty-five years.

"Don’t start too fast; gradually increase the speed. Adding a few stones to the hole will boost friction…"

Kashu watched as Lei Fang worked, and after about two minutes, smoke began to billow from the hole. Lei Fang kept spinning until thick smoke poured out.

"Good, we’re nearly there… Now, we tip the embers from the leaf into the bird’s nest."

Lei Fang exhaled heavily, carefully cupping the nest and gently blowing until flames flickered and white smoke rose.

"Understand? Now you try," he said.

Lei Fang stomped on the nest, extinguishing the flames just as they had begun to catch.

Kashu took over, starting to drill for fire.

On the screen, indicators for verticality and force appeared; Shunan could adjust these by moving the mouse and scrolling the wheel.

Unfortunately, Kashu spent thirty minutes without success, raising only a faint wisp of smoke.

"Still no luck?" Lei Fang emerged from the woods, a wooden spear skewering a fish, his tone tinged with schadenfreude.

Perhaps he envied Kashu’s rapid progress the day before.

"No matter. Nothing comes easily… It took me days to master this," Lei Fang said, seeming to comfort him, then contentedly built a fire nearby to roast his fish.

Shunan watched through the screen as Lei Fang ignited the fire in under three minutes. He grumbled at his computer, "If you’d let me succeed just once! I’d set this whole island ablaze!"

One success equaled thirty; if Kashu could manage one every three minutes, he’d have started fire six hundred times in an hour—twice as many as Lei Fang.

Kashu persevered for another half hour, and at last, a spark ignited in the nest.

"Congratulations, you’ve started fire: 30 times."
"Fire-making (Intermediate) proficiency increased."
"Fire-making (Intermediate): 30/60 times."

From there, it was easy. Thirty successful attempts catapulted Kashu past the novice stage.

The second fire was much quicker—less than five minutes. The skill advanced to intermediate, and his movements grew more efficient.

The third took only three and a half minutes. In less than half an hour, Kashu had mastered the fire-making skill.

"Congratulations, you’ve started fire: 30 times."
"Fire-making (Advanced): 480/500 times."
"Fire-making (Advanced) proficiency increased."
"Fire-making (Advanced): 510/500 times."

Lei Fang was dumbfounded—Kashu could kindle a flame in under two minutes, his hands swift and steady, spinning the spindle like a top.

Soon, flames sprang up.

Kashu stood, surrounded by three or four charred nests, each used five or six times.

"I have to admit, you’re a genius," Lei Fang said, handing over a freshly roasted fish.

The two sat by the fire, eating. Shunan watched them from his screen, their enjoyment making his own stomach churn with envy, though he knew plain roasted fish would taste burnt and fishy without seasoning.

"Forget it, I won’t order takeout," Shunan decided resolutely.

Fifteen minutes later, his phone lit up.

"Hello, who is this?"

"Are you Mr. X, ending in XXXX? Your order has arrived. I’ve left it at the entrance."

"Oh…"

The call ended with a beep.

Shunan carried a bag of barbecue back to his room, opened it, and found a golden cumin-roasted fish.

Time passed quickly. No sooner had Shunan finished his meal than the second night in the game arrived.

Kashu slipped out again, continuing the ancient fitness routine supposedly developed in prison.