26. Imagination
On the first morning after selecting the homestead, the valley slowly awakened to the crisp chirping of birds and the gurgling of water. A thin mist draped the dark green mountainside like a light veil. The rising sun cast its warm golden light on the uncultivated fertile land, dispelling the night's chill. A surge of enthusiasm, like bamboo shoots sprouting through the soil, quickly replaced the fatigue of days of hard work. Gazing at the hillside that needed to be rebuilt from scratch, everyone's eyes sparkled with excitement and anticipation, like an artist facing a blank canvas, already sketching out the future in their minds.
As the overall commander and main force, Lei Qing had been surveying the terrain from atop the hillside at dawn. His cold, stone-like gaze meticulously scanned every undulation, his mind racing with calculations of the optimal orientation and layout for the houses. "First, we need to clear enough flat land for the main house and storage shed," his steady voice broke through the morning silence, pointing to an area covered in low shrubs and scattered with boulders. "Ayan, you'll be responsible for clearing the vegetation and debris in this area with flames. Be careful to control the fire and avoid setting the entire hillside on fire. We don't want to be left homeless on our first day."
"Don't worry, boss! I'll take care of this little thing!" A Yan rubbed his hands together eagerly, approaching the edge of the designated area. His red hair danced like a dancing flame in the morning light. He took a deep breath of the crisp valley air, thrust his palms flat, and suddenly erupted from his palms, blazing white flames of intense heat. Like a tamed fire dragon, he swept across the ground with precision and efficiency. Wherever he passed, the stubborn shrubs instantly shrank and carbonized, turning into fine ash, while the hard surfaces of the rocks crackled and brittle. A playful attempt to manipulate the flames into a dazzling vortex resulted in the flames soaring upwards that they nearly ignited a patch of dry, dew-drenched grass nearby.
"Ayan!" Mu Lin's voice echoed with a helpless smile. He didn't even shift, simply lifting a finger gracefully. A stream of icy vapor sprayed with lifelike precision. With a soft "hiss," the rising sparks instantly died, leaving only a wisp of smoke. "We're building a family, not tearing it down. Control, control." His tone was gentle, yet it carried an undeniable reminder. Then, with another wave of his hand, more vapor gathered in the air, like a gentle veil, quickly suppressing the flying ash and smoke, preventing everyone from becoming covered in dust.
A Yan scratched his messy red hair awkwardly and chuckled twice: "It was a mistake, my hand slipped for a moment, hehe." After collecting his thoughts, he focused more on controlling the output of the flame. The blazing white flame became more condensed and extremely efficient. He quickly cleared a large area of flat and clean land, and even the larger stones were burned so that they were easy to handle.
Next, it was Lei Qing's turn to deal with the burnt or already scattered chunks of rock. Without even using his strengthening powers, he relied solely on his incredible core strength and expert mechanical skills. Using the pickaxe, crowbar, and stout sticks he'd found locally as leverage, he pried, broke, and moved the boulders, each one a man would need to hold together. Sweat streamed down his hard, angular face, as if sculpted by a knife or an axe, gleaming in the rising sun. Beneath his bronzed skin, muscles bulged, brimming with strength. He carefully selected some of the neatly shaped, sharp-edged stones and strategically placed them in the trenches he was excavating, forming the strongest component of the future house's foundation.
Meanwhile, Mu Lin walked lightly along the lush, gently sloping slope toward the silvery river in the distance. He paused by the river, closing his jade-like eyes, carefully sensing the veins of the earth beneath his feet and the rhythm of the water. A moment later, he extended his slender, white, bony fingers and, like a conductor, traced them through the air. A magical scene occurred. The earth, as if disturbed by an invisible force, trembled slightly. A subtle but steady stream, like a tamed snake, penetrated the earth, following the hidden path mapped by his spiritual power. It meandered silently and precisely toward their chosen settlement, eventually bubbling into the simple stone-lined reservoir Lei Qing had just dug. He continued to guide the clearer water, and soon the water in the pit became crystal clear, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and the busy figures around him.
"Brother Su Lin, do you need any tools? I'm free now!" Xingchen actively ran to Su Lin who was sorting supplies and asked. There was a little mud on his upturned little face, but his eyes were bright and full of desire to help.
Su Lin smiled warmly at him, his consciousness sinking into his personal space. As if by magic, he pulled out the various tools he had gathered earlier—a heavy axe, a sharp saw, a polished shovel, a sturdy hammer, and even a few bundles of nails wrapped in oil paper, which seemed incredibly valuable in this era, and a small roll of wire. "Xingchen, please help me distribute these tools. Lei Qing needs a hammer and shovel, and A Yan might need an axe to process the wood. And then," he pointed to the nearby patch of uncleared woodland, "could you help gather some resilient vines and straight, moderately thick wood? We'll need a lot for the shed and support structures."
"Okay! I promise to complete the task!" Xingchen nodded vigorously, as if he had received the most important mission. He first picked up several of the heaviest tools with great effort, and staggered but firmly distributed them to Lei Qing and A Yan. Then, like an agile deer, he immediately turned around and dived into the vibrant woodland next to him, and began to carefully search for and select suitable materials, occasionally measuring the thickness with his hands, or testing the toughness of the vines with a knife.
Su Lin himself assumed the responsibility of overseeing logistics and meticulous work. He utilized his spatial abilities to precisely "deliver" the specific shapes and sizes of rocks Lei Qing needed to the designated location, greatly saving the effort and time of carrying them back and forth. He retrieved the large sheets of waterproof canvas, military tents, and the worn but cleaned bedsheets he had "borrowed" from the small room in the northern base. He began to construct a spacious shelter on the leveled ground, supported by several sturdy wooden pillars, large enough to accommodate five people. The sunlight, filtering through the gradually rising angle, fell on his focused, handsome profile. His long eyelashes cast a faint shadow beneath his eyelids. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, which he casually wiped away with his sleeve.
When A Yan finally finished cleaning the last area, he excitedly brushed off the ashes on his body and ran back to show off his achievement. However, he didn't pay attention to his feet and almost tripped over a strong vine rope that Su Lin had just pulled up to dry clothes.
"Ouch! Who pulled the rope to seduce me?" he yelled, steadying himself. His temper was about to explode, but as he regained his composure and took in the sight before him, his complaints vanished. His mouth dropped open, a look of disbelief and surprise on his face. Even as he concentrated on clearing, the camp had taken shape with astonishing speed. On the flat, solid ground, a square foundation frame, built of large and small stones, had risen, revealing the sturdy outline of the future house. Next to it, a spacious makeshift shack, constructed from roughly cut logs and covered in dark green tarpaulin, was simple yet remarkably warm and practical. The clear mountain water, brought in by Mu Lin, rippled gently in the stone-paved reservoir, reflecting the sunlight. Neatly stacked beside the pit were bundles of resilient vines Xingchen had just collected, along with a pile of straight, evenly sized, long logs. Su Lin was standing on tiptoe, trying with some difficulty to fix a huge waterproof cloth to a bracket higher on the roof. The sunlight outlined his slightly thin but extremely determined back.
Ah Yan watched this scene, his heart inexplicably warming. His slight annoyance instantly vanished, replaced by a strange, contented smirk. He rushed over and, without a word, snatched the heavy canvas from Su Lin's hand. With deft movements, using his height and strength to his advantage, he easily secured the cloth to the bracket, muttering, "I'll do the hard work of climbing up and down! You just pass the things from below, and don't fall!"
Mu Lin completed the water diversion project and strolled back. He gazed at the vibrant, makeshift camp rising from the desolate landscape, his eyes filled with a gentle, genuine smile. He noticed the sweat on everyone's foreheads and their sunburned skin. He gently raised his hand, his fingertips elegantly tracing the air. Several thin flakes of ice, their edges gleaming with a cold, crystal-like light, quickly solidified. He handed one to each person, his voice clear and melodious, "Put it on your forehead or hold it in your mouth to cool you down and relieve the heat."
Even Stardust ran back excitedly with a large bundle of newly collected vines still with green leaves. His little face was covered with dirt and sweat, and a few black marks made him look like a little cat, but his big eyes were surprisingly bright, full of a sense of accomplishment after labor.
The afternoon sun grew scorching, but the enthusiasm for the construction work reached a fever pitch. Lei Qing began carefully building the walls of the main house, layer by layer, using selected flat stones mixed with a slurry Mu Lin had earlier mixed with river water and clay. His movements were steady and precise, and each stone was repeatedly measured and adjusted to ensure the wall was both solid and flat. Under Mu Lin's meticulous guidance, A Yan carefully controlled the scaled-down flame, evenly and from a distance, baking the newly constructed damp clay wall, accelerating its drying and curing process. He muttered to himself to control the temperature, fearing he would accidentally ignite the wall again. Xingchen, stationed by a large wooden basin, diligently stirred the sticky mud and clay with a small shovel. His hair was soaked with sweat and stuck to his forehead, and his hands were covered in shiny blisters from the long hours of work, but he only secretly wiped them on his pants, never pausing, his eyes focused and focused.
"Here, we need a beam that is strong enough to bear the weight." Lei Qing temporarily stopped what he was doing, wiped the sweat and mud off his face with his arm, and pointed to the reserved position above the wall that was already built to nearly a person's height.
Su Lin immediately understood, scanning the space with his consciousness and precisely retrieving a pre-prepared log of the perfect thickness and length. Together with A Yan, each holding one end, they lifted it steadily and placed it in the designated groove with a whoosh. Mu Lin raised his hand at the perfect moment, and a gust of icy air gushed out, rapidly forming several temporary, solid ice wedges at the point of contact between the beam and the wall, firmly securing it and facilitating Lei Qing's subsequent reinforcement and hammering work.
Xingchen watched the adults' smooth and tacit cooperation, his eyes filled with envy. He couldn't help but whisper to Su Lin, who was sorting tools nearby: "Brother Su Lin, can I...can I also try to help build the wall? I can pass the small stones."
Su Lin looked at his eager yet still thin figure and smiled gently. He reached out and ruffled his sweat-soaked, soft hair. His tone was encouraging: "When you grow taller and gain more strength, you'll definitely be able to do it. Now," he pointed to a pile of rubble of various sizes nearby, "your important task is to sort and organize these small stones by size and shape. Later, when we fill the cracks in the wall and pave the floor, we'll be relying on you!"
Stardust immediately nodded vigorously, as if he had received an extremely glorious task. He squatted down and began to sort the stones carefully, his little face full of seriousness.
The sun set once again, painting the horizon a vibrant hue of orange and purple. Its warm glow, like a mother's embrace, enveloped the entire valley. After nearly a full day of non-stop toil, the camp had undergone a remarkable and astonishing transformation. Though still crude and primitive, a temporary home, providing effective shelter, a stable source of clean water, and the basic amenities of life, now stood firmly on this once-barren hillside. The sturdy stone and wood composite structure main frame cast a solid and long shadow in the afterglow of the setting sun, quietly waiting for the subsequent wall heightening, roof laying and interior improvement; under the spacious and comfortable shed, clean mats and old sheets were laid, emitting the fresh scent of sunshine and soapberries; in the simple stove made of stones in the corner, the firewood was crackling, and the iron pot on it was stewing a fragrant broth, which was made with a fat mutant rabbit that A Yan had hunted in the morning and the dehydrated vegetables in Su Lin's space. The rich aroma of the food stimulated appetite; there was even a simple drying rack made of wooden sticks and vines next to it.
The five of them sat around the newly-started, warmly-lit campfire, sharing this simple yet profoundly meaningful dinner. Ah Yan devoured his food without a trace of grace, gasping for air from the heat, yet refusing to slow down. He mumbled a vague vision of the future: "Tomorrow, I'm going to build a big training ground next to the house! Then..."
Mu Lin blew away the hot air gracefully, savoring the soup. He laughed and shook his head at the words, then continued, his tone carrying a hint of serious planning for the future: "We can put the training grounds on hold. I think we can focus on finishing the walls of the main house tomorrow. Also, perhaps we could try clearing out a small plot of land in the sunny, open space by the river and try using the seeds in your space, Su Lin. Always plan ahead."
"I can help with weeding and watering! I've observed that the soil over there is very moist!" Stardust immediately expressed his opinion in a low but positive voice, with a gleam in his eyes.
Lei Qing remained silent. Instead, he used a charred branch to draw a more detailed sketch on the soft earth. His deep voice was particularly clear in the night: "The walls of the main house need to be thickened to ensure warmth in winter. I'm considering a herringbone roof structure, which is more load-bearing. We can use the straight wood we collected as rafters, and cover it with thick clay and dry thatch..."
Su Lin held the warm bowl of soup, feeling the warmth of the food and the boisterous, energetic voices of his companions. He looked at the faces illuminated by the leaping bonfire, tired yet brimming with hope and drive. He felt a sense of peace and happiness he had never felt before. He let out a soft breath, a quiet one that rang clear to everyone's ears: "It's wonderful here. It really is."
Night had fallen completely. Countless stars twinkled like shattered diamonds against the deep, inky blue sky, gleaming with a clear, cold light that fell upon the home that was just beginning to take shape. Mu Lin gazed at the starry sky and softly hummed a melodious, gentle ballad from the old world; his voice was low and magnetic. A Yan was rarely quiet. After eating and drinking, he leaned against the wooden stake beside Su Lin, his head dozing off and snoring softly. Lei Qing, still using the light of the campfire, frowned slightly as he added new annotations and calculations to the existing sketch, perfecting the construction plan for tomorrow. Xingchen sat not far from Su Lin, hugging his knees, lost in thought as he stared at the dancing orange-red flames. It was unclear what he was thinking, but a faint, almost invisible smile of satisfaction played at the corners of his mouth.
In this peaceful corner, forgotten by the cruel apocalypse, they build their own safe haven, piece by piece, with sweat and wisdom, tacit understanding and support. Every bit of hard work, every silent collaboration, every seemingly small contribution, is transforming this dream paradise from a blueprint into a tangible reality, shaping it into a place they can truly call "home." This is a beginning, a beginning filled with hope and endless possibilities.
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