After speaking, Lin Mo stepped out of the room and into the night to begin his collection. His goal was clear—wood, which would be their source of warmth tonight and an important tool to ward off the darkness and cold.
The giant wolf also wanted to go out with him, its eyes gleaming with the desire to hunt. In the almost completely dark night, the frost wolf wanted to find prey hidden in the shadows to satisfy its instincts.
After a long while, Lin Mo returned alone, carrying a large pile of dead wood and broken branches. The wood seemed to come alive in his hands, carrying a faint woody fragrance and a warm aura.
Seeing this, Zhao Yue'er smiled gently, then took out a flint and a sharp dagger from her bosom. The flame danced in her hand, illuminating her focused and gentle face. With a "crack," the flame rose, illuminating the surroundings and warming the cold space.
Lin Mo then got busy, skillfully removing the bones from the fish they had caught while crossing a small river.
At this moment, a strange thought welled up in Lin Mo's mind. He wondered how many years it had been since anyone had cooked dinner in this kitchen in this uninhabited city.
He also wondered if anyone had ever lit a campfire here, cooked food, and enjoyed this rare warmth and tranquility, just like they had.
But then he shook his head, banishing those thoughts from his mind. Perhaps, some things are better left unsaid.
As the flames danced merrily, Lin Mo gently placed the fish on the grill. The flames seemed to come alive, waving their passion, anticipating the deliciousness that was about to be grilled.
In ancient legends, the being known as the "Rat Chef" once cooked a king's son.
He carefully mixed the boy's body with scallions, radishes, and mushrooms, shaping it into a giant meat patty. He sprinkled it with glistening salt and paired it with tender pork.
The pie was presented to the child's father, who praised its deliciousness and asked the cook to bring another one.
However, the supreme god learned of all this. He was furious at the cook's cruelty and decided to punish him severely. So, the cook was transformed into a giant white rat, only able to eat his own children, as the price for his sins.
From then on, he roamed the Long Night Fortress, devouring his offspring, but his hunger was never satisfied.
Lin Mo scoffed at such legends, because the supreme god in the story was the supreme god of gods and Buddhas.
The human bodies immersed in the incubation chamber were vivid in his mind's eye. Could their supreme god be a good person?
Lin Mo shook his head. "It's time to sleep," he said seriously after finishing his meal.
The flame was burning weakly, so he poked at it with a stick.
Zhao Yue'er slowly twisted her body, inching closer to the roaring fire. The warm air gently brushed against her cheeks, bringing her a sense of comfort.
The soft crackling of the burning firewood in the bonfire was like some distant melody, bringing her a strange sense of peace.
However, despite being in such a warm and peaceful environment, Zhao Yue'er was unable to fall asleep.
A cool breeze blew outside, sending the withered leaves in the courtyard fluttering everywhere. Driven by the wind, the leaves swept across the courtyard like a vast army, occasionally brushing against the doors and windows with a soft rustling sound.
She recalled the rumors she had heard in the holy city, the wails of the dead almost audible, and the roars of the monsters echoing from the city rooftops. They seemed to be sounding ghostly war horns, heralding the coming unknown disaster.
Pale moonlight slanted in through the opening in the arched ceiling, illuminating the camphor tree that was desperately stretching its branches. The tree looked eerily strange in the moonlight.
Its branches seemed to have their own life, stretching outwards desperately, as if trying to grab the bright moon and drag it into this deep well.
True gods, Zhao Yue'er prays, if you can hear me, please don't let me dream tonight.
Even if you absolutely have to have a dream, make sure it's a good one.
However, the gods did not answer.
Zhao Yue'er forced herself to close her eyes, trying to find a sliver of peace in the darkness.
Perhaps she did fall into a brief slumber, or perhaps in that endless darkness, her consciousness was like a feather floating between dreams and reality, swaying gently.
I don't want to touch those terrifying memories—those hideous monsters, eerie evil gods, and those chilling scenes in the incubation room.
However, just as she was trying to put all her fears aside, a faint sound broke the silence of the night.
Zhao Yue'er suddenly opened her eyes, a strange sense of tension welling up inside her.
What was that sound? She held her breath, afraid to make a sound.
Was all of this just a terrible nightmare? An absurd and suffocating hallucination?
She didn't want to disturb Lin Mo's peace with her fear. However, the sound grew clearer, seemingly coming from some distant corner. Was it leaves gently rustling against the outer wall, or the sound of them colliding with each other?
Zhao Yue'er's heart raced. She listened intently, trying to discern the source and meaning of the sound. However, in the pitch-black night, everything seemed so mysterious and eerie, filling her with an inexplicable fear.
The hairs on my arms stood up suddenly, like disturbed grass, each one unusually sensitive.
The sound was there, hidden in the surrounding darkness, like a cunning snake, quietly approaching us, growing clearer and stronger with each passing moment.
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