Chapter 112 – Cave Dwellers on the Mountain Top
The trees on the Four Sisters Mountain were dense, making the light in the cave very dim.
Even though they had rested in this cave before, it could not be guaranteed that the cave was safe at this moment.
Yan Xiaosi stood at the entrance of the cave, using her mental power to probe a little.
The cave was as silent as death, it should be safe.
“Mom, Big Sister, Second Sister, Third Sister, let’s go in. It’s a bit dark in the cave, watch your steps.”
Seeing Yan Xiaosi walk into the cave, Yan Shuqin grabbed her arm, looking nervously into the pitch-black cave.
“Xiaosi, could there be snakes in such a dark cave?”
Remembering that not long ago, they had killed a black-tailed snake to stew with mountain chicken, Yan Shuqin glanced at the dark cave and got goosebumps all over her body.
Yan Xiaosi patted her hand reassuringly.
“Big Sister, I’m not afraid of snakes. If there are snakes inside, that’s just what I want. I’ll catch them, and we’ll have something delicious tonight.”
These words gave Yan Shuxue and Yan Shuyun goosebumps all over their bodies.
Yan Shuyun said in a trembling voice, “Xiaosi, don’t scare us.”
“Big Sister, Second Sister, Third Sister, I’m just teasing you. Look how nervous you all are.”
Yan Xiaosi’s mouth curved up, and she smiled with a relaxed face.
“Don’t worry, this cave is very safe. Dazhuang and I have rested here before, and we haven’t found any snakes or rats. Moreover, it’s late autumn now, and most snakes are hibernating.”
At this time of year, most snakes were indeed hibernating.
Only then did Ms. Zhong and the three Yan sisters relax and follow Yan Xiaosi into the pitch-black cave with reassurance.
The cave was quite deep, the further they went in, the darker it got. However, the air in the cave was very circulating and warm. When they got to the widest and flattest place, Yan Xiaosi stopped.
“This is the most spacious and driest place in the cave. Mom, Big Sister, Second Sister, Third Sister, put down your things, let’s settle down here.”
Listening to Yan Xiaosi’s words, the four of them put down their baskets.
The cave was too dark, so Yan Shuyun took out an old oil lamp from the basket she was carrying.
“Mom, it’s too dark in the cave. I’m a bit scared. Let’s light the oil lamp.”
Lamp oil was precious, but when her third daughter said she was scared, Ms. Zhong didn’t hesitate to take out the flint from her bosom and light the lamp.
The lamp was lit, but the small light, only slightly bigger than a peanut, only illuminated a narrow area, and the rest of the cave was still dim.
However, with this dim light, Ms. Zhong and her daughters could finally see the inside of the cave.
The floor of the cave was very dry, and the surrounding walls were green stone. On the ground, there were some dried grasses.
The dried grasses were spread out by Yan Xiaosi and Tian Dazhuang. When they were resting or hiding from the rain, they could lay down or sit on it for a bit.
Yan Xiaosi looked at the pile of dried grass on the ground and sighed.
Who would have thought that she, a distinguished military doctor, would one day have to live the life of a cave dweller on a mountain top.
“Mom, Big Sister, Second Sister, Third Sister, the dried grass on the ground was spread out by Dazhuang and me. It’s quite thick. Why don’t we take out our bedding and spread it on the grass to make a bed?”
Sleeping like this might be more comfortable than sleeping on the hard wooden beds in the dilapidated grass temple.
Ms. Zhong sighed in frustration.
“We left the wooden bed in the grass temple. We have no choice but to sleep like this.”
After discussing it, Yan Shuqin took out the old cotton quilt from the basket to prepare the bed.
Ms. Zhong was fiddling with pots and pans, looking for a place to put them. She had to build a simple stove with rocks and mud, otherwise, they would have nothing to eat tonight.
Yan Xiaosi was still feeling a bit uncomfortable. After watching the four of them busying for a while, she said, “Mom, Big Sister, Second Sister, Third Sister, you guys keep busy, I’m going out to see if I can find some medicinal herbs.”
This was Big Sister Peak, and Yan Xiaosi had come to Big Sister Peak to gather herbs a few times. She was familiar with the terrain here, so Ms. Zhong and Yan Shuqin let her go.
Ms. Zhong paused her work and gently reminded her, “Xiaosi, you were just feeling dizzy. Don’t go too far.”
“Mom, I know.” Yan Xiaosi responded to Ms. Zhong, then headed out of the cave.
After leaving Ms. Zhong and Yan Shuqin’s line of sight, she quickly entered her portable space.
Just after entering the portable space, she found that the spiritual energy inside was not as pure as the previous two days.
Since the moment her blood unlocked the portable space seal, she had become one with the portable space. It seemed that she had overused her mental power and damaged her body, leading to subtle changes in the portable space.
Despite the slightly diminished purity of the spiritual energy within the portable space, taking a rest here was still equivalent to a night’s sleep in the outside world. Seizing the opportunity while Ms. Zhong and Yan Shuqin were preoccupied, Yan Xiaosi swiftly entered the small western-style building. Beginning on the first floor, she headed to the pharmacy and retrieved some astragalus tablets, known for replenishing qi and nourishing the blood, which she consumed. She then climbed to the third floor, went into the bedroom, and nestled upon the plush mattress, enjoying its comfort.
She quickly fell asleep.
“Xiaosi, Xiaosi, where are you?”
After sleeping for less than half an hour, Yan Xiaosi quickly opened her eyes when she heard Yan Shuqin’s shout.
The moment she opened her eyes, her vision seemed to clear a bit, and the purity of the spiritual energy in the space seemed to have changed.
Although she had only slept for less than half an hour, Yan Xiaosi felt that both her spirit and body had recovered well. She was satisfied and puckered her lips, then bounced off the mattress.
“Xiaosi, Fourth Sister, where are you? You disobedient girl, mom told you not to go far.”
Hearing Yan Shuqin start to scold her out of worry, Yan Xiaosi quickly went downstairs. When she reached the first floor, she paused.
She remembered that there was a row of medicine shelves on the first floor that seemed to have a fluorite the size of an ostrich egg.
It’s a beautiful stone that can glow.
The cave was pitch black, and the long-term burning of the oil lamp would surely make her mom and sisters feel bad. This fluorite can glow, so why not take it and use it as a light bulb in the cave.
“Xiaosi, you mischievous little imp! Just wait until I find you. I’ll show you how I’ll deal with your antics!” Yan Shuqin’s voice echoed urgently and filled with anger. Aware that she couldn’t afford to linger, Yan Xiaosi swiftly approached the row of medicine shelves within the portable space. She swiftly grabbed the ostrich egg-sized fluorite and collected some powder capable of repelling snakes, insects, rats, ants, and wild beasts, carefully storing them in bottles and jars. Without wasting a moment, she hastened her exit from the portable space.
“Big Sister, you came just in time, help me hold this stone.”
When Yan Shuqin was looking for Yan Xiaosi in frustration, she saw Xiaosi standing under a tree not far away, her hands full of mud, holding a round stone.
“Xiaosi, what are you doing with that stone?” Yan Shuqin questioned, her gaze fixed upon the fluorite. Under the sunlight, the stone appeared unremarkable, sporting a blue-grey hue that made it indistinguishable from an ordinary rock.
