Chapter 246 - 245: If Only We Had This Back Then

Chapter 246: Chapter 245: If Only We Had This Back Then

"It’s a small puddle on the mountain, probably left over after a stream dried up," Huo Yunjing explained. "If I follow the stream’s trail uphill, I should be able to find more." He looked at her. "Should I go look?"

Gu Qingyin sighed. "No, it’s fine. We still have water in the backpack, which is enough for now. Let’s look again tomorrow."

Huo Yunjing silently carried the two wild chickens and followed her back.

On the way, everyone they passed stared at the two chickens, their eyes gleaming. But deterred by Huo Yunjing’s tall and sturdy frame, they had the desire to snatch them but not the courage. They could only watch helplessly as the group walked further and further away.

Then, some who had overheard their conversation looked away from the chickens and toward the mountain forest.

They had lived for generations at the foot of Ai Lao Mountain and were intimately familiar with its legends, which filled them with awe. Even now, in such desperate times, they still didn’t dare cross that invisible barrier to search for food on the mountain.

’Just wait a little longer, just a little longer...’

As for how long they had to wait, only they themselves knew.

When they returned to their temporary shelter, Huo Xingchen was already awake. He was still lying listlessly in his sleeping bag, looking lethargic, but his eyes brightened slightly when he saw Gu Qingyin. "Mama," he called out, his pitiful state tugging at her heartstrings.

Gu Qingyin went over, picked up her son, and pressed her forehead against his to check his temperature. He felt a little warm. Frowning, she pulled the nearby backpack over, rummaged through it to find a box of cooling fever patches, tore one open, and stuck it on Huo Xingchen’s forehead.

Huo Xingchen flinched from the cold sensation and glanced up at the patch, a look of disbelief on his face. "Mama, what in the world did you pack in your bag?"

Gu Qingyin continued to rummage through the bag. "The essentials, of course."

Huo Xingchen was baffled. ’Fever patches are an essential?’

"Found it." Gu Qingyin pulled out a packet of cold medicine. "Wait here, I’ll go mix this for you." ’His resistance will be down since he’s injured. This place is filthy and full of germs; he needs to take medicine.’

Seeing this, Zhang Qiuyan quickly offered, "Let me do it. You stay with Xingchen."

Gu Qingyin didn’t stand on ceremony, nodding with a smile. "Thank you."

Zhang Qiuyan went out with a bottle of water and the medicine packet. A little while later, she returned with a porcelain bowl. "Drink it while it’s warm."

The moment the bowl was brought over, the strong smell of herbal medicine assaulted his nostrils. Huo Xingchen’s brow furrowed instantly, but he obediently took the bowl, held his breath, and downed the half-bowl of medicine in one go.

After he finished, he took a breath, and the herbal taste spread through his mouth, so overpowering he couldn’t help but gag.

Gu Qingyin jumped, quickly patting his chest to soothe him.

Zhang Qiuyan handed him the rest of the water. "Rinse your mouth."

Huo Xingchen’s little face was all scrunched up. He took a sip of water, and while the taste faded, it still lingered, as if it had been permanently marinated into his tongue in just a few seconds.

Just then, Gu Ziqian walked over and handed Huo Xingchen a lemon drop. "Suck on this."

Huo Xingchen’s eyes lit up. He quickly took the candy and popped it into his mouth. The sweet, tangy lemon flavor instantly overpowered the herbal taste, and his little face finally relaxed into a smile.

The candy looked very familiar to Gu Qingyin, and she shot Gu Ziqian a questioning look.

As if sensing her gaze, Gu Ziqian looked at her and suddenly smiled. "That’s right. It’s the same kind you used to eat all the time."

Gu Qingyin blinked. "Don’t tell me this candy has been sitting in your storage bag for decades?"

Huo Xingchen froze. Suddenly, the candy in his mouth no longer tasted sweet, and he could almost imagine a strange flavor creeping in.

Gu Ziqian reassured him, "Don’t worry. Candy has a very long shelf life. It couldn’t have gone bad."

Huo Xingchen looked horrified. Gu Qingyin was speechless, looking around for a tissue so her son could spit out the candy. ’What could possibly be edible after several decades? It’s practically an antique!’

Just then, Gu Ziqian snorted with laughter. "I’m just kidding. How could it possibly have been kept that long?"

The mother and son froze, then shot him a resigned look. ’For someone so old,’ they both thought, ’how can he still be so mischievous?’

Seeing Huo Xingchen relax and snuggle back into Gu Qingyin’s arms, Gu Ziqian decided not to mention that while the candy wasn’t decades old, it was several years old. He’d bought it at a convenience store the last time he had come down from the mountain.

’Well, it has been a few years,’ he thought. ’But it should be fine. It’s candy. As long as it hasn’t melted, it’s edible.’

Before long, Huo Yunjing had dinner ready. He had stewed one wild chicken into a soup and roasted the other. It was a good thing they had packed plenty of seasonings before leaving, or they would have had no idea how to prepare the meal.

As for a staple food, Dongfang Lingjun still had a few steamed buns. They were emergency rations Housekeeper Qiu had prepared for them before they left, and they were certainly coming in handy now.

They found bowls in the kitchen, which were usable after a good washing. The chopsticks were freshly carved from bamboo, and when they were used to pick up food, they gave off a faint, pleasant bamboo fragrance. It was a unique experience.

Huo Xingchen had two bowls of soup, a little bit of roast chicken, and half a steamed bun before he went back to rest.

Gu Qingyin checked his temperature again. It felt like it had gone down a little, and she felt much more at ease.

When she came out of the room again and looked up, she saw several small heads peeking over the low wall. They were children, drawn by the aroma of the food. None of them had noticed they’d been spotted. There was nothing but the meal in their eyes as they stared blankly, drool nearly dripping from their mouths.

Gu Qingyin sighed to herself. She sat back down, finished the rest of her son’s steamed bun, and drank the rest of her soup. Then she put down her bowl and chopsticks and announced loudly, "I’m so tired. I’m going to take a nap. Just leave the dishes; I’ll come out to wash them later."

Hearing this, Zhang Qiuyan also quickened her pace, finishing her food and following Gu Qingyin back inside.

The three remaining men exchanged a look, finished off the food in their hands and bowls, and left the table one by one.

Dongfang Lingjun was a little reluctant to leave. Like a child in his old age, he had a hard time controlling his appetite and was always craving something tasty. He hesitated for a moment before leaving, but ultimately broke a leg off the roast chicken to take with him.

’You have to admit,’ he thought, ’Master Huo’s cooking is simply incredible. I can never get enough.’

The yard fell silent. But before long, a rustling sound came from the wall, followed by a soft THUMP as a child fell off the top of it.

Zhang Qiuyan, who was observing from the window, couldn’t help but let out a small gasp. The sound startled the child, who froze before he could even scramble to his feet.

After waiting a moment and seeing no one come out, he relaxed and began to move again, cautiously. He didn’t dare stand up, instead crawling on his belly until he reached the table. He then reached up, carefully fumbling for the food.

But his arms were too short. He fumbled for what felt like an eternity but couldn’t reach the roast chicken. A fine sheen of sweat broke out on his forehead from the effort and anxiety.

Gu Ziqian sighed softly. With a subtle flick of his finger, the roast chicken on the table suddenly slid a little closer to the child’s hand.

A flicker of confusion crossed the child’s face, but he quickly snatched the roast chicken and started to retreat.

Seeing this, both Gu Qingyin and Huo Yunjing lowered their hands.

Once the child had scrambled back over the wall with his companions’ help, a voice finally broke the silence in the room.

"If only someone had been able to share some food with them back then."

Outside the illusion, the Ghost King remained silent for a long, long time.