Gu Liang was awakened by the warm sunlight streaming through the cave entrance.
He opened his eyes, momentarily disoriented. No startled awakening, no cold sweat, no pounding heart. Only a long-forgotten languor after deep sleep and a tangible sense of restoration deep within his body. The high fever seemed to have completely subsided. Though his muscles still ached, the heavy, debilitating weakness had lessened considerably.
Sitting up, he found Emma absent from the cave. The embers of the fire had been carefully tended, beside them a water jug and his breakfast—several roasted tubers and a small piece of rodent meat.
A faint, rhythmic scraping sound came from outside the cave.
Gu Liang walked to the entrance and saw Emma sitting on a flat rock bathed in sunlight, intently sharpening the hunting knife. She used a smooth sandstone picked from the streambank, moving with deliberate slowness. The blade glided across the stone, producing a steady, pleasant rustling sound. Sunlight outlined her lowered brows and focused profile, creating an oddly serene atmosphere.
Hearing footsteps, Emma looked up. Recognizing him, her gaze lingered briefly on his noticeably improved complexion before she nodded. "How do you feel?"
"Much better." Gu Liang flexed his arm, feeling strength gradually return. "Thank you."
This gratitude felt more genuine than any he'd ever expressed before. It wasn't just for her vigil and food the night before, but for the rare peace beneath this cliff face, and for the glimmer of hope ignited by her words: "As long as you're alive, anything is possible."
Emma said nothing, merely sheathing her polished hunting knife with a cold gleam. She stood up. "If you can move, let's scout the area. Upstream from yesterday's mountain stream where we found water, we might discover something better."
Her suggestion carried a sense of exploration and progress, not mere flight, and it lifted Gu Liang's spirits. He quickly finished his breakfast, shouldered his pack, and grabbed the stone axe.
Following the path Emma had scouted yesterday, they soon found the small mountain stream hidden among the thickets. The water flowed clear and tinkled softly. As they walked upstream, the terrain gradually leveled out, revealing a small clearing in the woods. The soil here appeared richer and more fertile than elsewhere.
"This spot's promising," Emma crouched, scooping up a handful of soil and squeezing it between her fingers. "If we need a place for short-term planting later, this could be worth considering."
Gu Liang surveyed the surroundings too, his gaze suddenly drawn to several plants at the edge of the clearing. They had palmate leaves and slender stems.
"Emma," he pointed at the plants, his tone tinged with uncertainty, "look at those... Could they be ramie?"
Emma immediately walked over to examine them closely. After a moment of identification, a spark of delight flashed in her eyes. "It is ramie! The fibers are strong—perfect for twisting into rope or even weaving coarse fabric." This discovery held significant promise for improving their living conditions.
The discovery energized both of them. The scattered knowledge Gu Liang had picked up from his club activities was actually proving useful.
They carefully harvested some mature ramie stems and bark, intending to bring them back to camp for processing. Just as they were about to return, Gu Liang caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye—faint, blurry marks seemed to be imprinted on the muddy bank not far across the mountain stream.
"Wait," he called to Emma, pointing across the stream. "Over there... are those footprints?"
Emma's expression sharpened instantly. She immediately signaled for silence. Using the trees for cover, the two cautiously waded through the shallow stream and approached the opposite bank.
The marks in the mud were distinct—larger, deeper, and entirely different in outline than bandit footprints. They bore the clawed characteristics of a predatory beast, clearly not human. Moreover, there wasn't just one set; it was a trail, following the stream downstream.
Emma crouched beside the prints, measuring them with her fingers. Her expression grew grave. "These are the footprints of a large feline beastman. They're fresh—no more than half a day old. But they're not from the Leopard Clan. The claw shape is different."
Not A Lie's group—another beast tribe! Judging by the depth and span of the prints, the creature's size and strength were likely staggering.
This news felt like an icy blast, instantly shattering the joy of discovering the ramie plant. This seemingly tranquil area was not an untouched sanctuary.
"They headed downstream..." Gu Liang watched the direction of the tracks, his heart tightening slightly. Downstream was the way they had come, but it might also lead to other unknown areas.
"Mhm." Emma stood up, her gaze sweeping sharply along the path the footprints had left, as if trying to pierce through the layers of trees. "Seems this forest is more 'lively' than we imagined."
She turned to Gu Liang, her tone returning to its usual calm. "Remember these tracks. We must be more cautious from now on. Until we have sufficient means to protect ourselves, we should avoid contact with any beast tribes."
Gu Liang nodded firmly. He understood that peace was only temporary; danger still lurked in every shadow.
On the way back to the cliffside cave, both fell silent, their vigilance heightened as they scanned their surroundings. Those massive footprints felt like an invisible whip driving them forward, a stark reminder of the harsh realities of survival.
Back in the relative safety of the cave, Emma began processing the collected ramie, soaking it in water to prepare for fiber extraction. Gu Liang took the stone axe without being asked.
"I'll go gather some firewood nearby and find more thick branches that burn well," he said. It wasn't a request, but a statement. He needed to do something, to prove his restored worth, to resist the invisible pressure those footprints brought.
Emma glanced at him and nodded. "Don't wander too far. Stay safe."
Gu Liang stepped out of the cave, stone axe in hand. He didn't venture far, staying close to the cliff face as he selected dead branches and shrubs. Swinging the axe demanded strength; his arm muscles trembled slightly from the exertion, and his wounds throbbed faintly, but he persevered.
Each dull thud as the axe blade struck wood delivered a primal, direct feedback of power. This was no longer a desperate struggle, but active labor for survival. Sweat trickled down his temples, bringing a satisfying sense of release.
When he returned to the cave entrance carrying a large bundle of firewood, Emma had just lifted the first batch of soaked ramie from the water. She began skillfully pounding and stripping away the outer skin, revealing the tough fibers within.
Seeing the sweat on Gu Liang's forehead and the solid bundle of firewood, she said nothing, merely pushing another kettle from her side toward him.
Gu Liang set down the wood and took the kettle, drinking deeply. One pounded hemp bark while the other stacked firewood. Sunlight streamed through the cave entrance, stretching their shadows long and intertwining them.
The cave was quiet, filled only with the sound of pounding and the crackling of wood snapping.
No words were spoken, yet a silent collaboration flowed through the air.
Gu Liang watched Emma's focused profile, then glanced at his own hands—slightly reddened from labor yet radiating strength. The gloom cast by those enormous footprints in the mud seemed partially dispelled by this sweat and the active grasp on survival.
He might not be strong enough yet, but he was recovering, learning, becoming a true, powerful survivor in this cruel forest. And beside him, this silent yet reliable companion made him believe that the path to "infinite possibilities," though strewn with thorns, was not beyond reach.
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