Noon

The group set up camp in a flat forest. They had traveled all night yesterday and planned to rest here today and continue their journey tomorrow morning.

Bonfires were lit around the campsite, and people were grilling meat around them. In order to save water, everyone chose to grill the meat, but Qi Yanxuan was the only one who indulged himself in stewing snake soup, which was made with spiritual spring water.

Along the way, Qi Yanxuan did not miss any opportunity to help the Shen family father and son strengthen their physique. The road ahead will become more and more difficult, and it is necessary to improve their physique.

An hour later, the snake soup was ready. Everyone looked at Qi Yanxuan's pot and slurped their saliva. The barbecue they had just eaten didn't seem as fragrant anymore.

This group of people also had barbecue to eat, and the hundreds of people at the end of the team felt their stomachs rumbling at the smell of meat wafting everywhere.

Even the dozen or so women following the Kaoshan Village team had a good meal because they picked up snake meat.

They were so hungry that they could only look for something to eat nearby.

…

The sky tonight is as beautiful as a painting, with dense nebulae and alluring night colors.

Qi Yanxuan and Shen Yanqing were sitting on the branch of a big tree. Not far away were people sitting around the fire, keeping watch and chatting.

Qi Yanxuan leaned in her boyfriend's arms, admiring the beauty of the night sky and enjoying this rare and beautiful time.

Shen Yanqing's eyes were filled with the person in his arms, and there was an indelible tenderness in his eyes. He was looking at the scenery, and the scenery in his eyes was only him!

It was not until the moon was at its highest point in the sky that the two returned to the tent and fell asleep in each other's arms.

next day

The group passed by a stream that meandered through the mountains. The water was gurgling, and the fish swimming in the water had never been disturbed by anyone, so they were not afraid of people.

However, everyone was frightened by the giant python before and learned their lesson. They would stay still until the leader made any move, and would not dare to move even when they saw a water source, for fear that even the stream would be unsafe in this dangerous jungle.

Shen Yanqing led the people from Kaoshan Village upstream, and the others also scattered to fetch water when they saw this.

Qi Yanxuan walked closer and found that the streamside was full of green water ferns.

"Brother Shen, go catch two fish so we can have a good meal at noon!" Qi Yanxuan turned around and said to Shen Yanqing while picking ferns.

"Okay!" Shen Yanqing immediately took off his shoes, rolled up his trouser legs and went down to catch fish.

Several ladies who were fetching water by the stream saw Qi Yanxuan picking ferns and ran over to ask.

"Yan Xuan, why are you picking this? This is not edible!" A slightly plump middle-aged lady said hurriedly.

Several others also echoed, "Yeah! We eat the brown ones. You can't eat the green ones like this."

After hearing what the ladies said, Qi Yanxuan realized that people in ancient times had never eaten this kind of food. No wonder no one among so many people picked it. He thought everyone wanted to catch fish first!

"Auntie, this is water fern, a kind of fern. It's edible and tastes better than the brown one!" Qi Yanxuan replied with a smile.

"Oh! Then let's go and notify others!" As they said that, they went together to notify other women in the village.

Then there was a craze for picking bracken, and people were not picky about edible food.

Qi Yanxuan picked the bracken and went to Shen Yanshan. Shen Yanshan had already set up a simple stove when he saw Shen Yanqing catching fish. He was just waiting for them to bring back the ingredients.

"Uncle! We are in for a treat today. You knead the dough and I'll cook!" Qi Yanxuan said.

"Okay! I've been eating meat these days, and I really want to eat some vegetarian food." Shen Yanshan said as he started to knead the dough.

While Qi Yanxuan was cooking the second dish, Shen Yanqing came back with the processed fish.

"Axuan, let me do it, you take a break." As he said that, he took the spatula from Qi Yanxuan's hand.

"Okay!" Qi Yanxuan looked at Shen Yanqing's profile with a happy smile, and helped him wipe the sweat from time to time.

Shen Yanshan had mixed the noodles and was about to ask them whether they wanted noodles or pancakes, but when he looked up, he saw the two of them smiling at each other. He felt a pang in his heart, this look was not right!

He shook his head quickly again. It was impossible. He just spent the whole day daydreaming. He was too idle, he muttered to himself.

Then he pretended to be calm and walked forward, "Ah Xuan, do you want to eat noodles or pancakes for lunch?"

Shen Yanqing looked at Qi Yanxuan questioningly, meaning that he should make the decision.

"Let's eat noodles! Let's have fish soup noodles for lunch!" Qi Yanxuan said.

“Okay!” After getting the answer, Shen Yanshan started to make noodles.

Other families were also preparing lunch, with wisps of smoke rising from the kitchen. Children were playing nearby, old people were chatting in groups, men were bringing food home, and women were preparing meals for the family. Everyone had a happy smile on their face. This was the sense of life that had not been seen for a long time.

Everyone beside the stream forgets their worries for a short while and cherishes this hard-earned leisure time.

After lunch, they made some dry food to take with them on the road, then put out the fire and continued on their journey. Happy times always pass by very quickly, and we didn't know what dangers lay ahead.

Fortunately, we were peaceful for three or four days. There were many water sources in the mountains, and we chose smaller streams to fetch water. At least we would not be short of water before leaving the mountains.

That day, the crowd walked to an ancient forest. The trees were covered with vines, moss grew at the roots, and the ground under the trees was no longer covered with dead leaves, but with thick weeds.

Qi Yanxuan took a deep breath, the smell of the forest made him feel particularly comfortable.

His wood-type ability has been growing slowly since he came to this mountain range. This mountain range is the place with the most abundant wood-type energy that he has ever been to in this world. The further he goes in, the more clearly he can feel that his wood-type ability is showing signs of breaking through to the seventh level.

"We have to pass through this ancient forest! The vegetation here is much more lush than before, and we don't know what dangers are lurking. Everyone, be careful!" Shen Yanshan shouted to the crowd behind him.

"The car can't be pushed through here, so just pick up the important things and carry them on your back!" Shen Yanqing said as he cut down a lot of vines from the side and made a frame.

The others were reluctant to do so, but they had no choice but to do as they were told.

Shen Yanqing and Shen Yanshan finished weaving the frames in their hands in a quarter of an hour, put the smoked meat on the cart and some rice and flour exchanged with others into the frames, and each of them carried one.

After an incense stick of time, everyone packed up their things, abandoned their cars and backpacks, and continued on their journey.

A group of people marched into the ancient forest. The ancient trees were towering, and the sunlight shone through the gaps between the branches onto the grass in the forest, making it look particularly mottled. The wind swayed the tall treetops, making bursts of slow rustling sounds.

The dim light made everyone feel depressed. The man walked in front of his family with a weapon in his hand. The woman supported the old man who was leaning on a cane. The child held tightly to the corner of his mother's clothes and walked forward with one step deep and one step shallow.