Yuntian First Reclamation
The White Wolf King kept his promise, and the wolf pack, like the most loyal sentinels, integrated into the new order atop the mountain.
They are centered on the east side of the cave.
Patrol and guard within the designated territory.
The keen sense of smell and hearing became the most sensitive alarm system in this highland.
Any uninvited guest attempting to approach this area—whether a predatory beast or a human who might stray—
This would immediately elicit a low, rumbling warning from the wolf pack, as well as a silent yet chilling gaze, as firm as a rock.
After the initial shock, the monkey troop gradually regained its vitality.
Having confirmed that the wolves had indeed stopped attacking, they cautiously returned to the orchards and familiar rocky areas on the west side, resuming their foraging and play. The little golden-brown monkey had become a "messenger" between the monkey troop and Ling Zhan, often hopping over to bring him the freshest and plumpest mountain fruits, or squatting on a nearby rock, tilting its head and curiously observing Ling Zhan's every move.
Ling Zhan found a relatively flat, sheltered, sunny rocky slope near the western boundary of the monkey troop's territory, close to the cave.
As her temporary base.
She built the framework with huge stones.
They then bound and secured it with tough old vines, creating an extremely simple yet effective "stone box" to shield it from wind and snow.
The roof was covered with thick thatch and large, umbrella-like waterproof leaves.
Inside, the room was covered with dry, warm moss and soft grass mats.
The two wolf cubs—Frostblade and Storm Shadow—were temporarily placed in a corner of the stone house.
There, a thick layer of hay and the soft, tanned animal hides that Ling Zhan had hunted formed a warm little nest.
They are still nursing and need careful care.
Ling Zhan allowed the wolf mother to come and nurse them regularly. At the same time, she would carefully mash the tenderest internal organs of the small herbivores she hunted into a paste and feed them to them with great care. The golden-brown monkey was full of curiosity about the two furry little creatures. It would often squat by the den, reaching out its little paws to try to touch them, but it would be frightened by the wolf cubs' unconscious whimpers or wriggling and would pull its hands back. The way it scratched its ears and cheeks made the monkeys watching from a distance squeak and laugh.
Survival is always the top priority.
The mountaintop grasslands may seem vast, but they are not an inexhaustible treasure trove.
Especially as winter approaches, the wild fruits that the monkeys rely on for survival are becoming increasingly scarce.
The sheer number of wolves necessitates a continuous supply of meat, forcing them to expand their hunting range.
Ling Zhan's goal is to establish a sustainable foundation.
To cultivate this fertile land atop the mountain.
She named it: Cloud Field!
She chose a spot not far below the stone house, a gently sloping, relatively thick, humus-rich, and moist depression near a mountain spring. It offered ample sunshine and relatively easy access to water.
There were no iron plows, no oxen.
Only the most primitive tools and this body, forged through countless trials, remain.
Ling Zhan transforms into a tireless pioneering giant:
She wielded a heavy stone axe, felling and clearing the long-dried shrubs and saplings on the slope.
The huge, sharpened hardwood stakes became her crowbars, and driven by her fragmented knowledge of soil and instinct, she pried open and moved the boulders buried deep underground, piece by piece.
A homemade "rake"—with teeth made of tough animal bone and a handle of hardwood—
It pierces deep into the hardened yet vibrant soil, striving to turn it over and break it apart!
She "directs" the monkey troop through the golden-brown baby monkey.
Nutrient-rich black leaf humus is collected from the edge of the forest, transported in handfuls, and evenly spread on the reclaimed land.
She made clever use of the terrain.
Simple irrigation ditches were built with stones and clay to channel seepage from mountain springs and collected rainwater into this newly formed slope...
It's like a reenactment of the labor in Kaoshan Village.
This time, however, she was only accompanied by the monkey troop and the silent watchman.
Of course, the soil here is far superior to that at the foot of the mountain.
The White Wolf King sometimes comes with several of his strongest giant wolves.
They sat silently on the high ground of the field ridge, their dark green wolf eyes piercing through the thin mist, gazing at Ling Zhan's tireless figure.
When Ling Zhan needs to move a boulder that exceeds the limits of human strength, the Wolf King will give a deep command, and several giant wolves will immediately step forward, using their strong bodies and explosive power to assist in pushing and moving it.
The wolf pack's precise use of strength and teamwork impressed Ling Zhan, who nodded in admiration.
The golden-brown monkey is the most active "supervisor" and "helper".
It would mimic Ling Zhan's actions, earnestly poking holes in the loosened soil with a small stick; and it would bring the insects it found, which it considered particularly plump, mainly earthworms, to Ling Zhan's feet like treasures.
On one occasion, it even curiously reached out to grab the wooden handle of Ling Zhan's rake, only to be jolted by the recoil, causing it to grimace and its claws to go numb, which elicited another round of snickering laughter from the monkey troop.
When the first piece of flat land, about an acre in size, was carved out of the misty mountaintop, Ling Zhan stood on the rough stone platform built on the ridge of the field, looking down at the soft, dark Yuntian field that exuded a rich earthy fragrance.
A strange, unprecedented sense of satisfaction welled up inside me.
This is different from the exhilaration of a battle victory; it is a profound joy of creation, of nurturing, and of being rooted in the earth.
She carefully took a small cloth bag from her luggage.
Inside were carefully preserved spare winter wheat seeds brought from Kaoshan Village.
These seeds carry the flame of hope for that home down the mountain.
Now, we will also seek the possibility of taking root in this place closest to the sky.
Surrounded by the curious monkeys and watched silently by the wolves, Ling Zhan bent down, like the most devout sower, scattering the plump, golden wheat grains one by one, evenly into the warm, moist soil, and then gently covering them with a thin layer of fine soil.
The mountain breeze ruffled her clothes, which were covered in mud and dust.
The sparse sunlight struggled to penetrate the clouds, shining on the newly formed cloud fields and illuminating the silhouettes of the wolf pack guarding the distant landscape like sculptures.
The wolf cubs, Frostblade and Stormshadow, curled up in a grassy nest at her feet, purring softly and peacefully.
The golden-brown monkey perched on her shoulder, mimicking her posture, and squeaked twice towards the new soil.
It was as if a small blessing ceremony was being performed.
The fields are newly formed, and the wheat seeds are dormant.
Life atop the mountain slowly settled into a harmonious rhythm, both primitive and peculiar.
The wolf pack is the outer iron wall, the monkey troop is the gardener of the orchard and the collector of fertilizer, and fallen leaves and bird droppings are treasures.
One day.
As Ling Zhan explored a rugged stone forest further west of the mountain grassland, near the eternal snow line, he keenly sensed a faint, warm, humid scent carrying the aroma of sulfur permeating the air. A small golden-brown monkey seemed particularly excited, chirping and leading the way.
After passing through a huge, strangely shaped stone formation covered in moss, a bright and open space suddenly appeared before us!
A small depression, gently embraced by natural rocks, came into view.
In the center of the depression, a crystal-clear spring gurgles forth, its surface steaming with milky white mist and radiating a warm current that dispels the chill! The rocks surrounding the spring are smooth as jade from the hot spring water, and miraculously, some lush, moisture-loving ferns, a rare sight in such a frigid place, even grow there!
spa!
No wonder the little golden monkey always manages to deliver fresh fruit on time! The source is here!
This discovery caused a glint of cold light to flash in Ling Zhan's eyes!
At the summit of this frigid mountain, a stable heat source and a clean water source are of immeasurable value!
She immediately began planning the renovation:
First and foremost! Using highly heat-resistant clay and carefully selected stones, she meticulously diverted a small stream from the main hot spring. Along a pre-dug shallow ditch, the warm spring water meandered down, gently flowing into the cloud-covered fields below. This warm, living water served not only as irrigation but also as a powerful tool against the extreme cold, effectively raising the ground temperature and giving the deeply buried wheat seeds a chance to survive!
Further downstream from the hot spring, she modified a naturally formed stone pit to create several shallow pools of varying sizes.
After flowing this distance and dissipating heat, the temperature of the hot spring water has dropped to a comfortable level.
One area is for the wolf pack, and the other is for the monkeys who like to play in the water.
This is a reward for our allies, and also a necessity for survival.
Finally, in a secluded and sheltered corner closest to the spring's source, she used larger, flatter stones to build a delicate little pool just big enough for one person. She filled it with the hottest spring water and paved the bottom with carefully selected, smooth pebbles from the stream. This was a fleeting luxury she had never dared to dream of during her blood and fire on Shura Star, and during her endless struggle for survival after crossing over.
As the first stream of warm spring water, like the pulse of life, gurgles into the cloud field along the stone channel...
In just a few days, the deeply buried wheat seeds actually broke through the thin layer of soil, revealing tender, slender, yet incredibly resilient wheat seedlings...
Witnessing this scene, a strange yet comforting warmth quietly filled Ling Zhan's heart.
Frostblade and Storm Shadow were filled with a mixture of curiosity and a touch of fear as they looked at the warm beast pool.
When Ling Zhan lifted it by the scruff of its neck and placed it in the pool, it was initially terrified and screamed and kicked wildly.
But soon, the warmth enveloping them won them over, and they frolicked and rolled comfortably in the shallow water like two fluffy, wet glutinous rice balls. The white wolf king also approached the hot spring pool with a scrutinizing gaze. When the warm water washed over its huge paws, it let out a barely audible, comfortable hum in its throat, and then simply lay down on a dry spot by the pool, closing its eyes to enjoy this rare warmth.
The monkeys have turned the hot spring pool into a new paradise, and it is common to see golden-brown monkeys leading a group of baby monkeys playing and chasing each other in the warm water.
Water splashed everywhere, and cries of joy filled the air.
The discovery of the hot springs was like injecting a fresh vitality into the mountaintop base.
The misty vapor dispelled the biting cold and brought new life and possibilities to this harsh land.
However.
Just as Ling Zhan was focused on the final touches of the hot spring diversion project.
Several muffled claps of thunder echoed from the distant horizon, like the roar of a giant beast deep within the clouds.
The horns of winter have sounded.
The clouds and mist on the mountaintop became even thicker and more viscous, like solidified lead.
The howling mountain wind grew harsher day by day, carrying a chilling force like a bone-scraping steel knife.
It heralds the complete departure of late autumn's tenderness, and the sharp fangs of early winter have been fully exposed.
Frostblade and Stormshadow quickly developed a deep attachment to her, and she also played and got along well with the golden-brown monkey. Reason told her that staying here, guarding Cloud Field with the wolves and monkeys, integrating with the beastmen of this mountaintop, and peacefully getting through this harsh winter was the safest choice.
but……
At dawn, she wrapped herself tightly in her thick, windproof fur coat, made of animal hide with rough stitching, and stepped into the dimly lit cloud field.
Her fingertips brushed against the tips of a tender wheat seedling, touching a layer of cold, hard frost. Tiny ice crystals shattered beneath her fingertips, making an almost inaudible rustling sound. Her brows furrowed abruptly.
The chill was far more intense than she had anticipated!
The fragile and tender roots of the wheat seedlings are struggling in the frozen soil, consuming their already meager vitality every moment.
The mountain wind, like an invisible blade of ice, cuts through exposed skin, bringing a sharp, stinging pain.
The exhaled breath instantly condensed into a thick white mist.
The wolves on the perimeter, their thick fur appearing even thicker in the persistently low temperatures, resembled moving moss and lichen on rugged rocks from a distance. Their patrolling steps remained steady and powerful, carrying the vigilance and endurance ingrained in the bones of wilderness predators, only each breath they exhaled was longer and heavier.
The monkeys huddled in the sun-drenched, sheltered crevices of rocks or deep within caves. Their once noisy cries were now sparse and few, replaced by more muffled murmurs as they huddled together, grooming each other and snuggling for a little bit of warmth.
The work of collecting fallen leaves and bird droppings continues, but the movements reveal a hesitant and hurried pace.
Only the golden-brown monkey remained energetic, leaping among the rocks.
With the protection of the hot springs, the creatures here may be able to survive the coming cold.
But down the mountain... those people... were their preparations sufficient?
A silent yet heavy sense of urgency, like an icy tide, instantly overwhelmed the brief warmth brought by the mountaintop hot spring.
Ling Zhan suddenly turned around, his gaze piercing through the surging sea of clouds, and looked down the mountain.
We must get down the mountain immediately!
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