Upon hearing that Qin Luo needed wild vegetable dumplings, a middle-aged woman came out of the kitchen carrying steaming hot wild vegetable dumplings. "Daoist Master, take some with you on your journey."

Qin Luo knew that food was precious in the mountains, so he didn't take any. Instead, he looked at the stone and said with a smile, "Take as much as you can."

The middle-aged woman placed a basket full of wild vegetable dumplings in front of Shi Tou. Qin Luo said he only wanted two, but Shi Tou only took two. He bowed repeatedly to express his gratitude.

As Qin Luo and his companions walked out of the village, a young woman carrying a bag of old clothes caught up with them. She handed the bag to Shi Tou and said with a warm smile, "Child, don't get cold on the way."

Shi Tou was unsure whether to accept the package. He only took it after seeing Qin Luo nod, repeatedly bowing and thanking her, "Thank you, sister, thank you, sister."

"You're a very good talker, child." The young woman was very pleased and nodded with a smile.

Shi Tou shouldered the bundle full of clothes, a joyful smile on his face, and followed Qin Luo into the distance.

evening.

Deep in the mountains.

Qin Luo and the others rested in a clearing on the hillside. Shi Tou climbed up a tree to pick fruit. He was very agile now and climbed higher and higher. Even if he jumped down from a tree that was ten feet high, he could land steadily.

After picking the fruit, Shi Tou continued to collect firewood. Then, he took a stick and some straw and started to make a fire by drilling wood. He drilled for a long time, but only a little black smoke appeared, and no sparks were visible.

Qin Luo took the wooden stick and said with a smile, "It's good to make progress."

Shi Tou was delighted to receive Qin Luo's praise, but he dared not laugh out loud. He could only suppress his joy, fearing that this happiness would come and go quickly.

Nighttime, around the campfire.

Stone was eating wild vegetable dumplings and wild fruits, while Little Dumpling was roasting plump insects. Ye Nanxing looked at Qin Luo and cautiously asked, "Senior, could you teach me a couple of moves?"

Qin Luo thought for a moment and said softly, "Relax, calm down and meditate, listen to your inner voice."

Ye Nanxing decided to give it a try. She closed her eyes and meditated. When Shi Tou heard this, he put away the last half of the wild vegetable dumpling and then closed his eyes and meditated as well.

"Boss, do you want some?"

"You eat it."

The little dumpling grinned foolishly as he ate roasted insects. "Boss, I should be able to make a lot of money selling roasted insects in the future. How much do you think should be per skewer?"

"Two coins a string."

Why is it cheaper than candied hawthorn berries?

"The people's money doesn't grow on trees; two coins are not a small amount."

"Okay, I trust you, boss."

"Stone."

Qin Luo called out.

Stone opened his eyes and looked at the golden gourd Qin Luo handed him. He quickly waved his hand and said, "Big brother, I'm not thirsty."

"Then drink less."

"Uh-huh."

Shi Tou took the golden gourd. The dew was very sweet, but he didn't dare to drink too much. He took a small sip and handed it back to Qin Luo.

Ye Nanxing opened her eyes and said weakly, "Senior, I'm a little thirsty."

Qin Luo put away the golden gourd and said meaningfully, "Be honest, don't lie."

Ye Nanxing lowered his head awkwardly.

Qin Luo closed his eyes and meditated, and Shi Tou followed suit, sitting cross-legged and meditating, as the bright moonlight shone on them.

Stone could feel a warm current flowing through his body, and he saw a ball of fire in his mind, the flame he longed to see most on a winter night.

Ye Nanxing closed her eyes, trying to calm her mind and meditate, but distracting thoughts kept arising.

The next day, early morning.

When Shi Tou opened his eyes, he felt hot all over. He saw Qin Luo practicing boxing on the mountain and started to imitate Qin Luo's style.

Qin Luo didn't have a fixed routine when he practiced boxing; he did it as he pleased. After finishing a set of punches, the sun rose, and they continued on their way.

They traveled over mountains and valleys.

In the evening, they came to a pool to rest. Qin Luo asked Shi Tou to take a bath. Shi Tou was a little scared, but he still forced himself to go into the river to bathe.

After taking a bath, Shi Tou changed into the old clothes given to him by the villagers. The gray cloth clothes fit him fairly well, and now all he needed was a pair of shoes.

Qin Luo grilled two fish.

"Give!"

"Thank you, big brother."

Qin Luo handed Shi Tou a grilled fish, and the little dumpling picked up a fish herself. Ye Nanxing pouted; she had felt sorry for Shi Tou at first, but now it seemed like she was the most pitiful one.

Shi Tou ate the grilled fish and found it particularly delicious. Although Qin Luo didn't talk to him much, he could feel that his older brother was genuinely kind to him.

After finishing the grilled fish, Qin Luo let Shi Tou drink some dew. Ye Nanxing spoke again, pleading, "Senior, could I have a sip?"

Qin Luo handed her the golden gourd and reminded her, "After you finish this sip, I hope you will behave well in the future."

"I will definitely turn over a new leaf."

Ye Nanxing excitedly took the gourd. She could see the changes in the stone and knew that the dew inside the gourd was definitely not ordinary.

Ye Nanxing took a sip of dew, and after drinking it, she could feel a rich vitality.

"Thank you, senior."

Ye Nanxing returned the golden gourd to Qin Luo.

Qin Luo put away the golden gourd and sat cross-legged to meditate. Shi Tou and Ye Nanxing also meditated, while only the little dumpling rested curled up in the pocket.

the next day.

Qin Luo and his group continued on their journey.

As Ye Nanxing walked, he suddenly felt something was wrong. "This seems to be the way to my house?"