At the edge of the forest, still filled with the scorched earth smell after being ravaged by fire, Xu Yuehuai, Yan Qing, and Wang Mang slowly emerged, like warriors reborn from the ashes.
The sunlight tried to penetrate the thick smoke, shining on them and adding an unreal warmth.
"There's something delicious!" Wang Mang's voice suddenly rang out, with a hint of childlike excitement. He took several steps at once and headed straight for the roasted meat on the makeshift fire not far away.
The aroma of meat wafted through the air, seemingly able to instantly dispel all gloom.
However, Xu Yuehuai's brows remained furrowed, and the dagger in her hand twirled gently, its cold light dancing between her fingers, making her appear exceptionally vigilant.
"What did you find?" Yan Qing asked in a low voice, following closely behind Xu Yuehuai. The two of them looked around at the same time, trying to catch anything unusual.
“There are signs that someone else has been here.” Xu Yuehuai lowered his voice, his sharp gaze sweeping across the ground, pointing to a series of faintly visible footprints. “Look at these footprints, they are of different sizes and depths, they are obviously not ours.”
Wang Mang was chewing on roasted meat with gusto, his nonchalant demeanor a stark contrast to the tension between the two men.
But this relaxed mood was quickly broken by Xu Yuehuai's seriousness: "Be careful, someone is watching us."
As soon as he finished speaking, a slight sound came from the woods. Xu Yuehuai's body stiffened, and his dagger was instantly drawn, pointing directly at the source of the sound.
A dark shadow flashed past among the trees, and she chased after it without hesitation, with Yan Qing close behind.
As they ventured deeper, the number of shadowy figures gradually increased, emitting low, strange whimpers that seemed utterly odd.
Yan Qing quickly took out a tinderbox, blew on it gently, and the flame rose into the air, illuminating the surrounding scenery.
In the firelight, the shadowy figures revealed their true forms—a group of ragged, primitive-looking savages, scrutinizing them with wary yet curious eyes.
"What do you want by approaching our camp?" Xu Yuehuai stopped, holding a dagger across her chest, and asked sternly.
The savage leader, a burly man with a scarred face, slowly stepped forward. His voice was rough and powerful: "It is you who have occupied our territory! This has been our home since ancient times."
Xu Yuehua frowned and asked, "This whole area belongs to you? Have you seen anyone else besides us?"
Her tone became more urgent, clearly indicating that this issue was of great importance to her.
The savage leader's eyes flickered uncertainly, as if he were weighing something.
"Why should I tell you?" he retorted, his tone laced with provocation.
Xu Yuehuai made her voice sound calm and persuasive: "If you can tell us, in exchange, we can help you make some practical things, such as stone pots for cooking food, wooden beds for resting, or even more advanced tools."
A hint of surprise flashed in the savage chieftain's eyes. He then exchanged a few glances with his tribesmen behind him before finally nodding. "Alright, we have indeed only seen you. But remember, even if you don't get the answer you want most, you cannot go back on your word."
Xu Yuehuai solemnly agreed, and then she and Yan Qing turned around to find Wang Mang.
Although Wang Mang was gluttonous, he knew what was important at crucial moments. Without saying much, he followed the two men and the savage leader on their journey to their camp.
As they went deeper, Xu Yuehuai felt an indescribable shock.
The so-called "camp" was strikingly similar to the mysterious cave they had discovered during their previous explorations, with every detail exuding an eerie feeling that was a mixture of familiarity and strangeness.
It turned out that they had mistakenly entered the place where these savages had lived for generations.
At that moment, Xu Yuehuai realized that they might have a deeper connection with this group of savages than they had imagined.
How this connection will affect their future has become a mystery worthy of deep thought and discussion.
Although the arrangements made by the wild people were simple, they exuded a sense of warmth and wonder.
The chieftain's voice sounded particularly solemn in the echoes of the cave: "Tomorrow, you must present the stone pot and wooden bed you mentioned."
Xu Yuehuai's eyes gleamed with confidence as she smiled and said, "I will certainly live up to your expectations."
After the savage left, the cave returned to silence, with only the soft breathing of the three people remaining.
Yan Qing asked in confusion, "Your Highness, how do you understand their language? We two are completely baffled."
Xu Yuehuai turned her head, her gaze shifting between the two of them, and sighed softly: "You two don't understand at all? Perhaps, this is related to the mysterious power within me. This power seems to have an inextricable connection with them."
Wang Mang tried to find clues in Xu Yuehuai's words: "Sister, do you mean that you and these savages might share the same bloodline?"
Xu Yuehuai said, "It's not related to me personally, but to the same source as that power. If this guess is true, perhaps we can uncover the mystery of the source of this power from them."
After saying this, she patted the haystack beside her, signaling the two to rest: "It's late, let's get some rest. We still have many things to deal with tomorrow."
The three of them immediately lay down, and although they were on rough straw mats, their hearts were filled with excitement because of this unexpected clue.
As dawn broke, the soft calls of wild men could be heard outside the cave.
Xu Yuehuai and the other two opened their eyes almost simultaneously, smiled at each other, and followed the savage through the winding tunnel until they arrived at a spacious cave.
A roaring bonfire burns in the center, and a skylight hangs high, allowing light and air to flow freely.
"This is our workshop. Today, we invite the Queen to demonstrate her divine skills," the savage chieftain respectfully introduced.
Xu Yuehua nodded in satisfaction, then instructed, "Yan Qing, Wang Mang, we need to divide the work. You two guide the barbarians in preparing the materials, and I will plan the layout."
Yan Qing and Wang Mang responded immediately and began to communicate with the savages. Although they could not understand each other's language, gestures and eye contact were enough to convey their instructions.
Xu Yuehuai walked to the side, picked up a twig, and sketched out a series of rough drawings on the damp ground, from the shape of the stone pot to the structure of the wooden bed, all with meticulous detail.
The savages gathered around, their eyes wide with amazement and curiosity.
“Here we need more solid stones, and over there we have the wood needed to make the wooden bed,” Xu Yuehuai explained as she drew, as if she could transcend language barriers and directly touch people’s hearts.
The savages quickly sprang into action, moving materials according to her instructions, and the entire cave became busy and orderly.
As time went by, the items gradually took shape. The outline of the stone pot became clearer under the rough but powerful hands of the savage, and the wooden bed began to take shape, exuding a natural fragrance.
Xu Yuehuai moved among them from time to time, adjusting the details; every movement she made revealed her pursuit of perfection.
As the first rays of the setting sun shone through the skylight and illuminated the entire cave, all the items were already taking shape.
The savages gathered around, their eyes sparkling with surprise and admiration.
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