TSWPF -Chapter 77 Danger

A few of them worked together to move the bed into the cave. Li Qingling laid the mat on it and tried lying down for a moment. It felt nice. “Come, lie down and feel it,” she said, pulling Liu Zhirou over so she could try it too.

Liu Zhirou giggled and plopped down, rolling a few times. It felt more comfortable than sleeping last night, so she smiled and said it was good.

Seeing her like it, Li Qingling reached out and pinched her little cheeks. “As long as you like it, Rourou.” She got up, rubbed her sore wrists, and prepared to cook.

Liu Zhimou saw her rubbing her hands and felt a pang of concern. “I’ll do it. You go rest!” He really wanted to help her more, rather than always relying on her.

Li Qingling shook her head after looking at him. “Let’s do it together—it’ll be faster this way.” Seeing him about to argue, she quickly added, “Eat early, sleep early—you must be exhausted.” She knew he cared about her, but she cared about him too.

He had also had a tough day.

Liu Zhimou pursed his lips, nodded, and went out with a bucket. He planned to fetch water from the river to make some chicken soup for her.

“Ah Huang, go with Brother Zhimou.” Li Qingling patted Ah Huang’s big head, sending it to protect Liu Zhimou.

It was getting dark, and she was worried about large wild animals. With Ah Huang, she felt safer.

Ah Huang nudged her side, stood up, and scampered after him.

Liu Zhimou and Ah Huang reached the river, filled two buckets of water, and started back.

But not far along, Ah Huang ran ahead and roared loudly.

Looking at the glowing eyes in the dark, Liu Zhimou’s heart jumped. What was that? A wolf?

He swallowed hard, scanning around for an escape route.

The creature paced slowly toward him. Ah Huang roared again and ran forward to confront it.

Seizing the opportunity, Liu Zhimou set the water down, chose a direction, and ran.

He couldn’t hold Ah Huang back. If the tiger couldn’t handle it, he could at least escape without being dragged down.

His heart pounded as he ran, fists clenched. Thankfully, he had scouted the area earlier for wood, so he was familiar enough not to panic and run blindly.

Running through the mountains at night was extremely dangerous.

When he neared the cave, he ran into Li Qingling carrying her bow and arrow. His pace slowed.

“What happened?” Seeing Liu Zhimou pale and sweating, Li Qingling’s heart sank. She asked anxiously.

She had heard a tiger roar in the cave earlier. Judging by the sound, it seemed like Ah Huang, so she worried and ran to find them.

Breathing heavily, Liu Zhimou stammered, “I didn’t see clearly… I ran back after Ah Huang tripped it.” He wasn’t sure if Ah Huang was okay.

Li Qingling felt a chill down her spine. She grabbed his hand, which was sweaty. “Let’s go back first.” It was too dangerous here; who knew what else could appear? They needed to return to the cave first.

Liu Zhimou nodded weakly and followed her back. Once inside, he collapsed from exhaustion.

He felt a surge of fear—if Ah Huang hadn’t been with him, he might have been eaten.

In the deep mountains and forests, it was safest not to go out at night. It was truly too dangerous.

“Big brother, are you okay?” Liu Zhiyan, seeing him like this for the first time, approached worriedly.

Li Qingling poured him a bowl of boiled water from earlier and handed it to him.

Liu Zhimou, feeling his throat dry, gulped it down quickly.

After drinking, he felt more alive. He looked at Liu Zhiyan, who was concerned, and forced a smile. He couldn’t show fear and scare the children.

Seeing his expression, Liu Zhiyan relaxed.

“Big brother, did something happen?” Otherwise, why would he look so bad?

Liu Zhimou glanced at the children staring at him, cleared his throat, and said, “I encountered a snake… got scared.” He didn’t tell the truth to avoid frightening them. “From now on, once it gets dark, don’t go out. It’s too dangerous, understand?”

The children nodded seriously, promising not to go out. At night, the forest was full of ghostly cries and howls—it was terrifying. How could they be brave enough to go out?

Li Qingling stood in the cave a while, noticing Ah Huang hadn’t returned. Her worry grew.

Had Ah Huang been unable to defeat that unknown beast? Was it hurt?

She felt anxious and knew she had to check. She couldn’t rest without seeing for herself. Ah Huang was family to her; she didn’t want anything to happen to it.

“Xiao Ling, where are you going?” Liu Zhimou called out as she grabbed her bow and stepped outside.

Pausing, she looked back at him. “I want to check on Ah Huang… I don’t know—”

He interrupted her. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?” His expression was serious. Even though Li Qingling was skilled with her bow, it was dangerous at night. “I know you’re worried, but I’m just as worried. I can’t let you go.” He admitted it was selfish—he valued Li Qingling more than Ah Huang. Besides, Ah Huang might be fine.

Li Qingling bit her lip, gripped the bow tightly, and after a moment, lowered her head and sat down.

Taking a deep breath, Liu Zhimou went to her side, held her slightly cold hand, and said quietly, “Have you thought about it? What if something happens to you? What would we do?” He couldn’t imagine losing her.

Feeling his trembling hand, she realized she had been impulsive. She sighed and leaned against his chest. “I’m sorry.”

Liu Zhimou gently stroked her hair. “You should trust Ah Huang—it will be fine.” His words comforted both her and himself.

“Mm…” Li Qingling murmured. Ah Huang had been raised with her spiritual water. It was smart; it would be fine.

Liu Zhiyan and Li Qingfeng exchanged a glance, both serious. From the older siblings’ expressions, they knew Liu Zhimou had lied—he hadn’t encountered a snake, but something far scarier. Ah Huang had blocked it so he could escape.

Both shivered, goosebumps rising.

“I’m hungry…” Liu Zhirou patted her stomach and pouted, “Sister is hungry too—she’s even been nibbling her fingers.” She pointed to Li Qingning, who was biting her fingers.

Hearing this, Li Qingfeng and Liu Zhiyan got up to cook.

Li Qingling straightened up to help.

“Sister, you sit. We’ll handle it,” Li Qingfeng said. “Brother Zhimou, you keep her company. Zhiyan and I can manage.”

Luckily, they had boiled water from earlier to make porridge.

Watching the two busy children, Li Qingling and Liu Zhimou exchanged a smile and sat down, leaving them to cook.

Li Qingfeng and Liu Zhiyan worked together to cook a pot of chicken porridge.

When they lifted the lid, the whole cave was filled with aroma. Li Qingfeng stirred and scooped a few bowls to cool on the side.

Seeing little Li Qingning crawling over eagerly, he picked her up. “It’s hot, wait a bit!” He wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.

Understanding, Li Qingning sat obediently in his arms, eyes fixed on the porridge, drooling again.

“Little glutton,” Li Qingfeng teased her nose. He scooped some cooled porridge and fed her.

Li Zhirou, seeing her sister eat, wanted some too.

Liu Zhiyan handed her a bowl.

When the porridge cooled, Li Qingfeng called Liu Zhimou and Li Qingling to eat.

“Here, eat something first!” Liu Zhimou said, helping Li Qingling up. She placed her hand in his palm, letting him pull her up.

“Sister, try our cooking,” Li Qingfeng smiled, seeing her low mood. “See if our skills have improved?”

Li Qingling knew the children worried about her. Smiling, she took a sip of the porridge and nodded. “Not bad, your skills improved a lot.”

Hearing this, Li Qingfeng and Liu Zhiyan grinned.

Though their cooking didn’t match Li Qingling’s, it was much better than before.

“Keep it up,” Li Qingling encouraged.

“Okay…” the two said in unison. Just then, a tiger roar came from outside.