TM CH5

Chapter 5 Drilling Wood to Make Fire

Rong Qi decided to make use of the daylight and head into the woods to find shelter. With any luck, he might even come across some wild animals to fill his stomach.

Now free of his ‘burden,’ his pace quickened considerably. He soon reached the stream he had discovered yesterday. Cupping his hands, he drank a few mouthfuls of water, then splashed some on his face.

His luck wasn’t too bad. After only a few steps, he came across a few wild creatures. They looked strange, shaped like pheasants, but several times larger, each pecking at some unidentifiable weeds on the ground.

Rong Qi moved lightly, his body slightly leaning forward. Between the pads of his left fingers was a silver needle. His usual sword had sunk with the ship, but he still had a dagger and a number of hidden weapons on him. Most were laced with deadly poison, but this particular needle had been deliberately rinsed in the stream just moments ago.

A cold glint flashed, and a pheasant dropped to the ground.

Rong Qi walked over, picked up the prey, and returned to the stream. He gave it a quick and rough cleaning, intending to roast it. Patting the front of his robes, he only pulled out a soaked fire starter. He fell into silent thought.

In ancient times, people made fire by drilling wood. During past missions, he had seen his subordinates use this method. It shouldn’t be too difficult.

With that, Right Protector Rong scanned his surroundings, chose a clear patch of ground, and gathered some dry leaves and branches. Recalling his men’s movements, he began attempting to make a fire.

An hour passed, and the cold sun hung high in the sky.

Rong Qi sat cross-legged on the ground, staring at the unresponsive pile of twigs and leaves, his expression extremely dark.

He decided to set fire-making aside for the moment and look for some wild fruit to stave off hunger, or perhaps find shelter where he could properly study how to drill wood for fire!

This getting up and moving took up most of the daylight hours.

He had thoroughly scoured the forest. Beyond it lay several low hills. Along the way, he found a few other freshwater streams, but he still couldn’t find a suitable cave for shelter. The mountain vegetation had withered, leaving only barren stone cliffs in sight. As the sun began to set, his mood plummeted as well.

He didn’t want to spend the night here exposed to the elements. Leaving aside the bitter cold, there was no way he could rest peacefully in this unfamiliar and desolate mountain forest.

The mountains were eerily quiet. As he walked deeper, it felt as though he was the only person left in the world. Occasionally, strange sounds would reach his ears from unknown directions, like a gust of wind, or perhaps the distant growl of a wild beast.

He knew he could not continue further.

If night fell…

Rong Qi’s pupils slightly contracted, and his expression was no longer as calm as it had been in the morning.

He had underestimated the situation. More than anyone, he knew that once night came, he would be blind.

When he was a child, the hunger and deprivation had left him with a chronic condition. When darkness fell, it was as if a black curtain descended over his vision. Even under the brightest full moon, he couldn’t clearly see. That was why in the demon palace, the candles in and around his chambers burned perpetually.

Now, without fire or shelter, he knew this night would be difficult.

The sky was overcast. Even with the cold sun hanging in the air, there was no hint of clear weather. Before the sun completely disappeared, Rong Qi followed the way he had come and returned to the stream. Before he even drew near, flickering firelight appeared in the distance, accompanied by the rich aroma of roasting meat. He paused briefly, then quieted his footsteps and advanced with caution.

Gu Yunxing was leaning against a large rock, turning a branch in his hand. Skewered on it was a familiar pheasant, its skin now taking on a golden hue. Dripping fat made the flames beneath leap and dance, while the crisp crackle of burning leaves punctuated the air.

Rong Qi: “……”

“Right Protector Rong has returned?” Gu Yunxing didn’t change his posture or even turn around. He casually continued rotating the meat over the fire. “This humble Gu came to the stream for a drink, but I didn’t expect Right Protector Rong to have left me some food.”

Rong Qi, having been noticed, emerged from behind a tree. His face remained impassive as he said, “This venerable one caught that.”

Gu Yunxing picked up the roasted pheasant and sniffed it. “Cooked just right.”

Rong Qi frowned. “How did you get here?”

Gu Yunxing stuck the branch into the ground and tore off a leg of the pheasant, inspecting it for a moment. “The meat’s tender, but it could use some seasoning.”

With that, he began eating right in front of Rong Qi.

Gu Yunxing ate neatly, but quickly, showing signs of genuine hunger.

Rong Qi sneered. “Sect Master Gu is truly impressive. That injured leg doesn’t seem to be slowing you down at all.”

After finishing the leg, Gu Yunxing finally looked up at him and smiled. “Right Protector Rong, won’t you come over and warm up by the fire?”

Rong Qi didn’t move. “If you’re planning to lecture me about how the wise submit to circumstances and trot out all those lofty principles of your righteous sect to convince me to cooperate, save your breath.” He kept a safe distance, his tone cold and wary.

Gu Yunxing replied, “I really don’t understand. The dangers on the island are unclear, and Right Protector is no fool. Why do you insist on choosing the most difficult path?”

Rong Qi answered bluntly, “Because you are more dangerous than this deserted island.”

Gu Yunxing: “Dangerous? Tianji Sect is not the demon palace, and I am not Palace Master Zou.”

“Why mention my master?” Rong Qi said in discontent. “Since this venerable one has abandoned you, it’s only natural that you hold resentment. If we compare our hearts^[1], you and I should have mutual understanding^[2]. There’s no need to pretend.”

“Compare our hearts, mutual understanding?” An ambiguous smile touched Gu Yunxing’s eyes. “This humble Gu could never decipher the thoughts of Right Protector Rong.”

He casually poked the fire with a twig. The flames lit up half of his face, flickering and casting an air of depth and mystery.

“But, Right Protector Rong, you keep changing your mind like this. It’s truly disheartening.”

Rong Qi sneered in response.

The conversation ended without resolution, and nightfall silently arrived as they spoke.

Gu Yunxing continued eating his roasted pheasant until the wind blew so fiercely that the flames twisted and deformed. Sparks scattered in all directions, only to be snuffed out by the gusts.

Before long, the flickering firelight weakened, gradually succumbing to the relentless wind.

Rong Qi blinked, his vision beginning to blur. He could vaguely make out Gu Yunxing’s movements and hurriedly called out, “Wait, don’t put out the fire!”

Gu Yunxing stopped scattering dirt on the fire and looked at him leisurely.

Rong Qi said, “It’s freezing at night. Won’t it be even colder if the fire goes out?”

Gu Yunxing sighed in resignation. “With such strong wind, even if I don’t do anything, the fire would have gone out eventually.”

Rong Qi: “No!”

Gu Yunxing: “Why?”

Rong Qi frowned. “What does it matter to you?”

Gu Yunxing paused for a moment, then reminded him, “If I’m not mistaken, it was this humble Gu who started the fire.”

Rong Qi: “And it was this venerable one who caught the pheasant in your stomach.”

Gu Yunxing : “…Come over here, and I’ll offer you the remaining leg.”

“Do you take me for a three-year-old?” Rong Qi remained unmoved. “My right hand is still hurting!”

Gu Yunxing sighed. He had intended to intimidate the demon, but it seemed he had overdone it, only making the other party more wary than necessary.

“Whoosh—”

The fierce wind howled, and the flames flickered a few times before they were finally overwhelmed by the force of nature, extinguishing completely.

Suddenly, everything before his eyes went dark, and the surroundings became blurred and indistinct.

Rong Qi raised his voice. “Gu Yunxing!” He felt anxious inside, but he knew he couldn’t lose his composure in front of the enemy, nor could he reveal his weakness. He forced himself to stay calm and asked, “What… what did you use to start the fire?”

Gu Yunxing didn’t answer. Instead, he grabbed a stick from beside the rock and used it to help himself stand.

Rong Qi: “Answer!”

Gu Yunxing: “It’s a dark and windy night. Let’s talk again when it’s daylight.”

The sound of slow footsteps reached Rong Qi’s ears. He listened carefully and realized he was walking away. He asked, “Where are you going?”

Gu Yunxing: “There’s no shelter here to block the wind, so I’m heading back to the cabin.”

The footsteps continued for a moment before stopping.

Gu Yunxing’s voice came again. “Since Right Protector Rong is determined not to cooperate with this humble Gu, I won’t force you.”

Rong Qi clenched his fist, not calling out to stop the other person nor stepping forward to follow.

He was no novice to hardship, and he knew better than to show weakness easily. However, trapped in the darkness, isolated and helpless, it was inevitable that panic would creep in. But after a while… just a little while, he would adapt.

So, it wasn’t really a big deal.

The footsteps gradually faded until they were no longer audible. Rong Qi, his movements stiff, extended his hand and fumbled around until he found a large tree to lean against.

It was too dark.

He couldn’t see anything. He could only hear the howling wind and feel the biting cold.

For a moment, his thoughts drifted to Lihuo Palace, to the Tianyuan Manual, to the task given to him by Zou Yuchuan. He had imagined many possible outcomes for this journey to the East Sea, but ending up stranded on a deserted island, perhaps to fade silently from the world, was never one of them.

Could he really survive on this island?

Even if he survived, would he be able to find a way off?

And what about the Tianyuan Manual?

“The three of you are all excellent disciples I’ve personally taught. Any one of you is qualified to inherit Lihuo Palace, but there is only one palace master. This task will have only one victor. Remember, only the next Palace Master of Lihuo Palace has the right to live.”

Zou Yuchuan’s words echoed in his mind, not for the first time.

Since the moment he set out, his determination to obtain the Tianyuan Manual had never wavered. However, not everything in life is within one’s control. Fate has its way, and success or failure is often beyond one’s reach.

“I noticed last night that Right Protector Rong’s movements had suddenly become sluggish, and now I’m even more certain.” Gu Yunxing’s voice suddenly rang out from behind.

Rong Qi’s head jerked up, and in one swift motion, he lashed out with a palm strike toward the voice. Gu Yunxing hadn’t left! Had he figured it out?!

The leaves rustled violently as the palm strike sliced through empty air.

The opponent’s figure melted into the darkness of the night. Rong Qi asked warily, “What do you want to do?”

Gu Yunxing: “What do you think I want to do?”

Rong Qi said nothing.

Gu Yunxing smiled faintly. “I’ve taken a few steps but can’t go any further. This humble Gu just wants to ask Right Protector Rong for a little help.”

Rong Qi understood what he meant and gritted his teeth. “This venerable one’s meaning should be perfectly clear by now.”

“Nonsense. This humble Gu values mutual benefit.”

In the darkness, a hand suddenly reached out. Before Rong Qi could react, his wrist was grabbed by someone.

“You!” The familiar sensation of his wrist being seized, one he had recently experienced, sent a jolt of fear through Rong Qi. He thought his arm might be snapped again.

Gu Yunxing: “Let’s go to the cabin and get out of the wind.”

Rong Qi: “……”

By the dim light of the moon, Gu Yunxing studied the demon in front of him. Rong Qi’s expression was terrifying. And the eyes that had held with malicious schemes all day long, though still filled with anger, were now unfocused and unfixed.

He really couldn’t see.