The Fire Spring was surrounded by rocks, with mist and glow rising in waves, making its brilliance stand out even more in this world shrouded in endless night.
Qin Ming squatted down and scooped a glowing stone from the pool. It was more lustrous than red coral, radiating multicolored light.
The Sunstones used by every household all came from Fire Spring. Once extinguished, they could be returned to the pool, and after some time, they would regain their brilliance.
The entire pool glowed a fiery red. Though it shone like molten lava, its temperature was far lower than the surface temperature of a human body.
Ripples shimmered in the pool, firelight flickered—it was neither real fire nor actual spring water, but rather a very special substance. Now, with daylight gone and night eternal, divided only into "shallow night" and "deep night," the Fire Spring had become especially important.
Whether it was mutated grain, silver wheat, or common crops like sweet potatoes, all required irrigation from the Fire Spring to grow. Moreover, people who went too long without seeing the Fire Spring would begin to feel unwell.
In short, it was fundamental to human survival.
Even in a world without daylight, seasons could still be distinguished. Spring and summer were the active periods of the Fire Spring. It gushed forth abundantly, sufficient for farming needs. Winter was its dormant period. Here in Shuangshu Village, though the pool still emitted light, it could only be used to rejuvenate Sunstones for illumination.
Overall, in an age without daylight, people lived by "chasing fire."
Because the Fire Spring stood out so vividly in the dark, it naturally attracted all kinds of creatures from the shadows. Fortunately, most species had their territories, and a certain balance could usually be maintained.
Shuangshu Village was facing a food shortage, mainly because monstrous birds had raided its harvest season. Their beaks, sharp as scythes, stripped clusters of wheat in a single bite.
There had also been an ant infestation, along with some human-caused issues, leaving people nearly starving as winter approached.
Now was the Shallow Night—the darkness relatively light—and from time to time, distant "earthglow" would rise, outlining the blurred shapes of dense forests.
But once Deep Night arrived, nothing could be seen. Everything fell into silence, and the darkness became unsettlingly thick.
Qin Ming pondered when he could venture out to resolve the village's food crisis. He looked out into the wild. It was pitch-black, with visibility near zero. The snow had long since piled above his chest. Survival conditions were harsh.
At the edge of the village, the Fire Spring illuminated a bright, clear area.
The cold wind sliced through the air. In the square pool, ripples danced. Snow pressed down the branches of the twin black-and-white trees, which now shed it in a flurry of glowing flakes, twinkling in the firelit mist.
The two trees' leaves had a smooth texture and could withstand the severe cold. Aside from repelling mosquitoes in the summer, they weren't particularly useful.
Qin Ming felt a cold snowflake slip down his neck, bringing him back to reality. No matter what, he still needed more time to recover—outside was too dangerous.
He turned and walked back along the same path. House lights flickered gently. Behind him, the wilderness was engulfed in utter darkness—lifeless, as if a giant beast were about to devour everything.
Qin Ming stood in his courtyard, performing a series of specific physical exercises, smooth and practiced from years of habit, which were nearly instinctive. After a long while, sweat beads on his forehead, warmth returning to his body. Only then did he stop.
He entered his room and took out a small crystal vial only the length of a thumb. It was exquisitely crafted, transparent and delicate, containing a blue liquid with icy crystals suspended inside.
Carefully, he held it up in the firelight from the sunstone.
Two words were engraved on the delicate bottle: Mineral Essence.
The liquid inside was an intoxicating blue. When gently shaken, blue mist flowed within, dreamlike and ethereal.
Qin Ming suppressed his urge to open it. He had only just recovered from a serious illness, and using the blue liquid now would do more harm than good. He had found this by accident in a dangerous part of the mountains. Before that, he had only heard of Mineral Essence, and he'd never expected to obtain such a rare substance.
Used when the body was in optimal condition, it could enhance one's physique and replenish mental energy. But after escaping the mountains, he had fallen ill and had never had a chance to try it.
"Maybe in a few days, I can finally use it," Qin Ming muttered as he carefully put away the finely made vial.
The cold wind blew through. A few snowflakes fluttered down.
Qin Ming lived alone. His quiet courtyard felt desolate; a bit bleak, too. But he was already used to it.
Time passed, and the night deepened. Shallow Night was coming to an end.
Lu Ze arrived, bringing with him a boy around five years old. The child was wrapped tightly, but his little face was still red from the cold.
"Wenrui's gotten taller again," Qin Ming noted, measuring the boy's height with his hand.
"Uncle, are you feeling better now?" Lu Wenrui asked, tilting his head with concern. His eyes were big and clear, pure and adorable at this age.
Qin Ming smiled. "I'm fine now. In a few days, I will catch that 'Speaking Bird' you've been dreaming about."
"Really? A bird that can talk to people? That's amazing!" The young Wenrui beamed with excitement, eyes sparkling.
"Things outside aren't quite right lately," Lu Ze said as he handed Qin Ming a food box, warning him not to head out too soon.
Although rock rice was coarse and hard, Qin Ming still salivated; it was only two meals a day, and he was truly hungry. To his surprise, the rice contained a few red dates—soft, smooth, fragrant, and sweet.
Qin Ming noticed little Wenrui staring at him intently, then swallowing a mouthful of saliva. Feeling guilty, Qin Ming crouched down and asked gently, "Wenrui, be honest. Are you still hungry?"
Lu Ze quickly shook his head. "No, he just saw the red dates, that's all."
Qin Ming immediately picked out a few red dates and handed them to the pretty, yet simple, little boy to eat.