Chapter Fifty-Three: The Classroom

Qu Xiang went to gather a bunch of mushrooms and returned with them. Looking at those mushrooms with their grayish, dull surfaces, I felt a surge of happiness. Since this kind of mushroom grew in our hometown, it was definitely edible.

Perhaps seeing us busy, Lan Fang, perched high in the tree, couldn’t contain herself and insisted on coming down to help. I had no choice but to untie the bamboo vine rope and carefully lower her down onto the wooden framework of the tree. At the same time, I noticed that Huang Jianfen had truly regained consciousness—though she still appeared weak and embarrassed, avoiding direct eye contact with me. I checked her pulse and temperature, then gave her another dose of medicine.

Lan Fang’s hand was still functional, so I examined her wound and confirmed it was already scabbing over. I then instructed Qu Xiang to handle some of the finer tasks, while having Lan Fang assist her with whatever she could manage.

I did not waste any time. As dusk had not fully fallen, I chopped many branches about the thickness of two fingers. I knew we might be stuck in this place for a while—not only because of Lan Fang and Huang Jianfen’s conditions but also because I needed to survive.

The identity of the person from last night remained a mystery. Yet I sensed this calm was only temporary; even if it wasn’t Wen or Peng Qian, other forces would surely show up sooner or later.

The rainforest was abundant with slender vines, so I quickly set to work around our vicinity. I warned Qu Xiang not to wander aimlessly anymore. Apart from the short path along the riverbank, about ten meters away, she was forbidden from exploring further.

Though my abilities were limited, back home I had followed hunters into the mountains and learned simple trapping techniques—using bamboo and sharpened twigs to create trip points on the ground. Though precision was not guaranteed, these could injure larger beasts.

Without proper tools, I still managed to carve many sharp spikes from branches. I planted these in a network of traps around potentially dangerous spots. Having done this before, the work went swiftly. By the time darkness enveloped the area, I had finished.

Watching the stone pot simmering over the fire, the heat steadily climbing from the wood’s blaze, I felt reassured. Especially seeing my efforts had paid off—traps set all around—I felt a quiet sense of satisfaction.

Qu Xiang remained silent, and Lan Fang, too, stayed calm, helping Qu Xiang. Cleverly, Qu Xiang used the large leaves of the giant taro plants, wedging them into tree forks to serve as water containers. This meant we wouldn’t have to risk going to the river for water at night.

“Ah, Ah Jing, what is this?” After arranging the perimeter, Lan Fang noticed me carefully placing segments of a certain root by the fire to burn. Watching this, she looked somewhat bored but also surprised, unable to hide her curiosity.

“If I’m not mistaken, this is called summer cypress palm, and these are its roots. Keep an eye on them. When they start to dry and black crystals appear, let me know!” Though I sensed her curiosity, I was patient. I couldn’t do all this on my own.

If heaven was kind, I would maintain this status quo and rely on my survival skills to get through this ordeal. Lan Fang accepted without hesitation, even moving the roots closer to the stone pot’s fire.

By then, the water in the pot had begun to react. I saw the bear’s paw I’d stoked into the fire, its fur almost completely burned away, now releasing a savory aroma. Qu Xiang’s excitement was palpable, especially since we had already added some wild mushrooms earlier—though not yet edible, the scent was enough to whet our appetites.

Despite my hunger, I stayed calm.

The bear’s heart had been sliced open and rinsed in the river. Since the black bear had died from wild bee stings, I suspected its blood might be toxic. Even though I craved the bear’s blood for salt replenishment, I dared not take the risk.

So, when I brought the bear’s heart back, I only cut two slices and placed them into the pot, hoping the boiling would neutralize any poison. While cooking, I occasionally doused the unburnt twigs with water to make charcoal for later use.

Fuel was not always easy to find in the rainforest. Given last night’s events and today’s life-and-death trials, I knew I had to consider every detail carefully. Though it wasn’t strictly necessary to explain everything to Qu Xiang, it was essential she understood.

The past two nights had been restless. Although the fire might reveal our presence, I had no choice given Huang Jianfen and Lan Fang’s injuries. With creatures like pythons lurking, escape was impossible otherwise.

Lan Fang’s hand trembled slightly as she poured bird eggs from a bamboo tube. Perhaps aware of her wounds and driven by a fierce will to survive, she seemed to adapt to her changing circumstances. At this moment, elegance and beauty were irrelevant; simply having food felt like a blessing.

Finally, Lan Fang spotted the crystallization on the root and excitedly told me. Watching me cautiously collect the black, charcoal-like crystals on taro leaves, she looked somewhat dazed.

I did not explain but couldn’t resist dipping a finger into the crystals and tasting a small amount with my tongue. A familiar flavor instantly blossomed across my taste buds, causing my body to tremble slightly.

Seeing their puzzled expressions, I held the finger I had tasted up to Lan Fang’s mouth. Her face flushed red in the firelight, clearly unsure of my intent.

Encouraging her with a nod, and after a quick glance at Qu Xiang, she hesitantly leaned in. Though embarrassed, she quickly flicked out her tongue and touched the crystals.

“Ah! Salt!” Her initial embarrassment swiftly turned to delight. She looked from Qu Xiang to me, silently confirming her discovery with a questioning look.

In that moment, I felt a surge of emotion, a bittersweet ache in my heart. I had not been mistaken—the plant I’d found was indeed the summer cypress palm I had heard of. People from Yunnan who ventured into the mountains, lacking salt, would roast this root to replenish their strength.

With this knowledge, hope flickered within me, guiding us through the darkness ahead.