Jan 9, 2024
—
by
Juno
in Fight for Peace and Love
Outside the cave, the cold wind howled, while inside, everyone sat around the bonfire. The crackling sounds from the fire occasionally broke the silence, creating a serene atmosphere.
Bai Luoluo spoke slowly with a sinister expression, “I looked up and saw the owner of those feet. It was a woman in red, her long hair covering her face.”
Xue Hui swallowed nervously and moved closer to Bai Luoluo.
Bai Luoluo continued, “But I don’t know this woman. Why would she appear in my house? And when I looked at her, I’m not sure if it was my imagination, but I saw her, who should have been a lifeless corpse, smiling at me with her mouth wide open.”
After Bai Luoluo said this, the atmosphere in the cave completely froze.
However, Bai Luoluo seemed oblivious to the terror in everyone’s eyes and continued his story slowly.
As the darkness outside increased, the howling wind sounded like a mournful wail. Yuan Shuzi was the first one unable to bear Bai Luoluo’s story. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he trembled, “Brother Yu, can you just tell us the ending?”
Bai Luoluo said, “Huh? You don’t want to hear the story anymore?” He was just getting to the part about nightmares at night, opening his eyes to find eyes staring at him from the cabinet, with an expression that seemed to want more.
Yuan Shuzi said, “Wu wu wu, I don’t want to hear it anymore.”
Xue Hui shivered next to Bai Luoluo, her face pale with fear. She seemed extremely afraid of horror stories.
Bai Luoluo said, “No way, a story has a beginning and an end. I haven’t told you how I ended up in prison.”
Everyone: “…”
Bai Luoluo, seeing that everyone had a terrified expression, pursed his lips and said, “This is what you asked me to do, tell my story.”
Everyone: “…Are you a character from a horror movie?”
Although Yuan Shuzi and Xue Hui showed discomfort with horror stories, there were brave ones, like Zhou Rong and Mu Xinggong. These two stared at Bai Luoluo with gleaming eyes, urging him to continue.
Bai Luoluo was originally planning to continue, but seeing Xue Hui scared to the point of wanting to hide in his arms, he felt a bit sorry. He said, “Forget it. It’s too late tonight. I’ll find time to tell you tomorrow.”
Zhou Rong and Mu Xinggong sighed simultaneously, expressing that Bai Luoluo was being too protective. Without experiencing storms, how could one see rainbows? A night without horror stories is incomplete.
After thinking for a moment, Bai Luoluo suggested, “How about this? Xue Hui, go to sleep first. When she’s asleep, I’ll tell you guys alone.”
Upon hearing this, Xue Hui felt a bit aggrieved and retreated to the corner of the wall, sensing that his beloved Ling no longer cared for him as he did before. Yuan Shuzi leaned against Xue Hui, comforting him, saying that ghost stories aren’t suitable for everyone, and since they have a weak heart, they should just go to sleep.
Once Xue Hui and Yuan Shuzi fell asleep in the corner, Bai Luoluo reached into the fire, adding more wood to make the flames burn brighter. He watched the flickering flames and softly said, “Those who don’t want to listen can go to sleep.”
In an instant, the group of over a dozen people was reduced by half. Only Zhou Rong and Mu Xinggong remained, eagerly staring at Bai Luoluo with anticipation.
Bai Luoluo said, “My story is too long. Let me tell you a shorter one, and then we can go to sleep. The name of this story is ‘Snow Mountain.’”
Snow Mountain was a novel Bai Luoluo had read during his university days, a classic tale about a group of people encountering a snowstorm while mountain climbing. Unintentionally separated, the female protagonist wakes up from a coma to find her boyfriend missing. Her friends claim that her boyfriend is dead, leaving the protagonist heartbroken. However, as they prepare to descend the mountain, the protagonist’s boyfriend suddenly appears, covered in blood, pulling her away. Thinking her boyfriend is a ghost, the protagonist is terrified. But he tells her in fear, “I’m not a ghost. It’s your friends who have turned into ghosts.” At the same time, the protagonist’s friends reappear.
When Bai Luoluo reached the line, “It’s your friends who have turned into ghosts,” Mu Xinggong visibly swallowed nervously.
Zhou Rong asked, “So who is the ghost?”
Bai Luoluo said, “I don’t know. The story ends here.”
Zhou Rong: “…”
Bai Luoluo’s face flickered in the firelight, and the slightly damp firewood in the bonfire crackled, making Mu Xinggong shudder.
“Sleep, sleep,” Bai Luoluo, having scared everyone, went to sleep contentedly. Leaving Mu Xinggong and Zhou Rong looking at each other. Finally, Zhou Rong hesitated and said, “Xinggong…?”
Mu Xinggong directly refused Zhou Rong, saying, “I’m not going with you to the bathroom.”
Zhou Rong: “…”
Having been rejected by Mu Xinggong, Zhou Rong caught a junior to accompany him to the bathroom. The snow had just fallen, not too cold yet, but in a few days, they could use an ice pot. After all, going to the bathroom in this weather was extremely dangerous. Who knows, right after taking off your pants, a certain part might freeze.
During the night, Xue Hui tightly embraced Bai Luoluo.
Normally, Xue Hui’s body temperature was slightly lower than Bai Luoluo’s, but in the cold winter, he seemed like a furnace, incredibly warm. Bai Luoluo, being held by him, felt as if he were wrapped in an electric blanket. Even in his sleep, he unconsciously wanted to get closer to Xue Hui.
Xue Hui was very satisfied with Bai Luoluo’s reaction. In fact, except for Bai Luoluo telling ghost stories, there was nothing about Bai Luoluo that Xue Hui disliked.
The next day, everyone’s sleep quality seemed to be low. Yuan Shuzi even cried, saying he felt like someone was grabbing his ankles while he slept.
Zhou Rong exclaimed, “But you were sleeping on the side near the wall.”
Yuan Shuzi: “…”
Zhou Rong said with a sinister tone, “There won’t be anyone around you.”
Yuan Shuzi: “…This guy is really bad.”
Seeing Zhou Rong’s reaction, Mu Xinggong chuckled and said, “Don’t know who asked me to accompany him to the bathroom yesterday.”
Zhou Rong shamelessly replied, “I was afraid you’d be woken up by a bird in the middle of the night.”
While having breakfast, the group of people continued teasing each other. Bai Luoluo listened silently. When Xue Hui asked what he was thinking, Bai Luoluo said, “I’m thinking about what story to tell tonight.”
Everyone: “…”
But storytelling was for the night. For the past few days, they had an important task: to cut blocks of ice by the river and bring them back to stack at the cave entrance to block the wind. This task was crucial because if they continued letting the wind blow into the cave, even with a bonfire, the temperature wouldn’t rise.
Xue Hui truly loved winter. When they went to drag the ice back, he didn’t mind the cold at all. Occasionally, he would put a piece in his mouth, crunching it, making others cringe at the sound.
After working hard all day, Bai Luoluo prepared a hearty stew for everyone in the evening. The soup, made from big bones, was milky white, filled with various mushrooms, vegetables, meats, and fish. After simple seasoning, everything was put together and stewed, creating a dish that warmed the body.
As they ate the main dish of potatoes, enjoyed the fragrant and piping hot stew, and occasionally sipped warm soup, their originally cold bodies warmed up. Half of the ice at the cave entrance had piled up, showing clear results. The wind was much weaker, and the temperature inside the cave had risen significantly.
Having eaten their fill, it was time for the nightly storytelling session around the bonfire. Today, no one let Bai Luoluo speak; instead, they all turned their eyes to Xue Hui.
Ever since Xue Hui became taller than Bai Luoluo, his favorite action was to hug Bai Luoluo from behind, then rest his chin on Bai Luoluo’s shoulder and doze off. When he heard everyone asking him to tell a story, he hesitated and said, “I don’t have any stories.”
“Where is your home, Xue Hui?” someone curiously asked.
“My home is in the center of the jungle,” Xue Hui replied. “It’s always spring there, with no heat or cold.” When talking about his home, his expression became particularly gentle.
“Why did you appear here?” someone else asked. “Isn’t it better to stay at home?”
“Because home is too boring,” Xue Hui innocently replied. “So, I explored on my own, but I didn’t expect to go further and couldn’t go back.” Although he answered the question, the content was very vague, quickly losing the interest of those who asked. Bai Luoluo also heard Xue Hui’s answer, but he was a bit skeptical, wondering if Xue Hui couldn’t go back or didn’t want to.
Seeing that everyone had stopped asking Xue Hui, Bai Luoluo eagerly said, “Do you still want to hear my stories? I have many.”
Everyone: “…”
Bai Luoluo said, “Do you know about a videotape? After watching it, you will die…”
This opening successfully piqued everyone’s curiosity. In this world, even though they were still on Earth, the culture was very different. They didn’t have a developed entertainment industry, and there were no diverse movies. People in this world focused more on technology and martial arts, not caring much about leisure activities.
Because of this, Bai Luoluo’s ghost stories were something they had never heard before.
“Bitter Moon” and “Ju-on: The Grudge,” Bai Luoluo had seen many classic films of this genre during his university days, so he could easily tell these stories. When he reached the part where Kayako slowly crawled out of the TV, the entire cave seemed to have formed a thick layer of ice, and even the flames no longer flickered.
In the end, Mu Xinggong chuckled and said, “Fortunately, we don’t have a television here.”
Bai Luoluo smirked mysteriously and said, “Well, you never know. Look at how dark it is outside; who knows what might be watching us in the shadows.”
Mu Xinggong: “…” Are you doing this on purpose?
Then Bai Luoluo continued with the story, describing how the protagonist hid under the covers. However, as soon as he did, he saw a pale-faced woman tilting her head and staring at him.
Listening from under the covers and trembling, Xue Hui finally broke down emotionally. He cried out, “Ling Yuming, can we still live like this? Can we still live like this?”
Bai Luoluo: “(⊙v⊙)”
Yuan Shuzi, shivering alongside Xue Hui, chimed in, “Yes, why do you treat Xue Hui like this? He’s just a child.”
Bai Luoluo said, “Is it that scary?”
Yuan Shuzi angrily said, “Guess why everyone couldn’t sleep last night?”
Bai Luoluo asked, “Zhou Rong snoring?”
Zhou Rong: “…” I’m sitting at home, and the pot falls from the sky.
Yuan Shuzi said, “Your stories are so scary, so scary! I had nightmares all night yesterday. I dreamed that someone was grabbing my hands, grabbing my feet!”
After saying this, someone nearby felt a bit embarrassed and said, “Sorry, Shuzi, it was me grabbing your feet yesterday. I was too scared and couldn’t sleep. You were beside me…”
Yuan Shuzi: “…”
The atmosphere became quite awkward.
With Xue Hui and Yuan Shuzi leading the way, everyone began to express their condemnation towards Bai Luoluo. Bai Luoluo sadly said, “It was you who wanted to hear stories. I even prepared so many.”
Everyone quickly explained that they didn’t want to hear ghost stories at all; they just wanted to hear Bai Luoluo’s own stories. Bai Luoluo chuckled with a sinister tone, saying, “How do you know my stories aren’t ghost stories?”
Everyone: “…”
Seeing everyone looking as if they had seen a ghost, Bai Luoluo felt a bit embarrassed and said, “Alright, I won’t tell them anymore. Don’t be nervous, there are no ghosts in this world.” As the successor of socialism and a firm materialist, Bai Luoluo did not believe in ghosts and monsters. In the light of socialism, all the supernatural entities in the world would be exposed for what they really were.
However, it was a pity that Bai Luoluo thought this way, but others didn’t. The world corrupted by capitalism believed in ghosts and gods, not only believing but also passionately so. Yuan Shuzi huddled into a small group, trembling like a scared rabbit, as if he would faint with just a slight poke.
Xue Hui was a bit stronger than Yuan Shuzi; he held Bai Luoluo tightly and said he would protect Bai Luoluo no matter what happened.
Bai Luoluo helplessly asked him what would happen. Xue Hui said, “If a female ghost appears under the covers, I will definitely…”
Bai Luoluo asked, “What will you do?”
Before Xue Hui could answer, Zhou Rong, lying down and tidying up the covers, casually said, “Faint.”
Xue Hui: “…”
Although Zhou Rong’s words were a bit excessive, in reality, it was true. Xue Hui was extremely scared of ghosts, and if he really encountered one, he might shiver and faint at any moment.
Every night, two people took turns keeping watch over the fire to ensure it didn’t go out. Tonight was no exception, and Bai Luoluo and Xue Hui were scheduled for the second half of the night. As the night grew darker, the two crawled out from under the covers. Due to their prior preparations, there was enough fur for everyone, and the covers were quite warm; no one wanted to move.
Bai Luoluo, determined, got out of bed and added more firewood to the fire.
With everyone asleep, only Bai Luoluo and Xue Hui remained awake. Xue Hui had just woken up, looking a bit dazed as he stared at the fire.
Observing this, Bai Luoluo asked, “Still sleepy?”
“Yeah,” Xue Hui coquettishly replied. “I want to sleep some more.”
“Have a good nap tomorrow morning,” Bai Luoluo yawned. Getting up in winter was a painful experience, especially on such a cold night.
Outside, snowflakes danced, covering the earth in pristine white. The bright moonlight cast shadows, making the night surprisingly bright with the reflection off the snow.
Bai Luoluo, gazing outside the cave, said, “You’ve been here for a long time, haven’t you?”
Xue Hui smiled in response, saying, “Yeah, a long time.” So long that he couldn’t even count how much time had passed. He looked in the direction Bai Luoluo was facing, his gaze somewhat unfocused.
Seeing him like this, Bai Luoluo’s heart stirred slightly. Changing the topic, he said, “Want some roasted sweet potatoes?”
“Sure,” Xue Hui replied eagerly.
Bai Luoluo tossed two sweet potatoes from the fire and handed one to Xue Hui. They ate together, enjoying the soft, sweet warmth of the roasted potatoes.
As Xue Hui indulged in the meal, he suddenly said, “Before Ling came, I had never eaten anything cooked.”
Bai Luoluo, surprised, asked, “Never?”
“Yeah,” Xue Hui’s face was adorned with a happy smile. Slowly nibbling on the roasted sweet potato, he looked as if he was savoring the most delicious thing in the world. He said, “Meeting Ling is the luckiest thing that has ever happened to me.”
Bai Luoluo chuckled, “You still have a long life ahead.”
Xue Hui smiled gently. His smile was always so radiant, free of any shadows. He said, “Yeah.”
After finishing the sweet potatoes, the two chatted for a while. Bai Luoluo shared stories about Earth, and Xue Hui listened with fascination. He said, “I also want to go…”
At first, Bai Luoluo didn’t catch on to what Xue Hui meant by “I also want to go.” After a brief pause, he asked, “You also want to go to Earth?”
“Yeah,” Xue Hui replied. “I want to see landscapes I’ve never seen before.” The mountains, rivers, and every piece of flora and fauna on this planet were already deeply ingrained in his memory.
Bai Luoluo said, “If there’s a chance… it would be nice to go and see.” However, when he said these words, he didn’t feel very confident. Escaping from this planet seemed like an impossible task.
Xue Hui, on the other hand, seemed contemplative.
Keeping watch was a very boring task. Apart from chatting, it seemed there was nothing else to do.
Bai Luoluo stared at the fire, and suddenly, a refreshing scent of grass and wood wafted into his nose. This scent was somewhat familiar; it was the fragrance emanating from Xue Hui.
This spring-like aroma in the freezing winter was incredibly attractive. Bai Luoluo asked, “Xue Hui, is this… your scent?”
Upon hearing Bai Luoluo’s question, Xue Hui’s ears turned a bit red. He stammered for a moment and then said in a soft voice, “Ling… can smell my scent?”
Bai Luoluo replied, “Yes, I can.” Realizing what Xue Hui meant, he continued, “Can’t the others smell it?”
Blushing, Xue Hui said, “Ling, that’s my scent, only you can smell it.” Lowering his head, he kissed Bai Luoluo naturally.
Bai Luoluo was completely unprepared for Xue Hui’s sudden kiss, and the moment Xue Hui’s lips touched his, he was momentarily stunned. Xue Hui’s lips were soft but slightly cool, delicately pressing against Bai Luoluo’s. There was a hint of unfamiliarity in the taste, accompanied by the rich scent of grass and wood that rushed into Bai Luoluo’s mouth through Xue Hui’s lips. In an instant, Bai Luoluo felt like he was engulfed in a burst of white light. His body instantly softened, and the clarity of his mind was replaced by a chaotic fog.
“Ah…haha,” that kiss seemed like a medium, transmitting Xue Hui’s feelings to Bai Luoluo. Closing his eyes, Bai Luoluo saw images of mountains, rivers, deserts, and oceans—landscapes he had never witnessed before, all vividly appearing in his mind.
Xue Hui embraced Bai Luoluo, and the intense aroma enveloped both of them.
Bai Luoluo no longer felt the cold; his soul seemed to have detached from his body, yet he could sense Xue Hui holding him. In Bai Luoluo’s ear, Xue Hui murmured, “Ling, I want you.”
Bai Luoluo opened his mouth, and though his rational mind told him to refuse, he couldn’t utter a word. Ultimately, Xue Hui was cunning enough not to give Bai Luoluo the opportunity to reject him.
Unlike the previous occasions, this time, by the fire, Xue Hui claimed Bai Luoluo’s body.
It felt as if they were isolated in another world, free from the sounds of wind and the chill of the night. Even the fur beneath them, somewhat stiff initially, now felt incredibly soft and warm.
Bai Luoluo, illuminated by the firelight, faintly observed Xue Hui’s face. Head tilted back, eyes bewildered, he could only express his sensations with soft sobs.
Xue Hui was gentle, causing no harm to Bai Luoluo. But because of this tenderness, Bai Luoluo found it even more difficult to accept—everything was too comfortable. He became completely immersed, forgetting his initial resistance and only knowing to take. It was a sensation Bai Luoluo had never experienced before; it felt as if all touches penetrated his body and reached directly into his soul.
Inside the cave, silence prevailed, and everyone had succumbed to slumber, except the two entwined figures by the fire, bodies interlocked in a passionate embrace.
As dawn approached, the first person woke up. Rising from the ground, he saw Bai Luoluo lying in Xue Hui’s arms, covered in thick fur.
There was no trace of what had occurred on their bodies, and no one in the cave could fathom what had transpired the night before.
Bai Luoluo felt a bit tired, and others took care of breakfast for him.
Upon seeing Bai Luoluo’s condition, Zhou Rong worried if he was unwell. Xue Hui, on the other hand, smiled and explained that Bai Luoluo was tired because he had stayed up alone last night, guarding the fire.
Hearing this, Zhou Rong didn’t press further.
However, Xue Hui’s words could deceive Zhou Rong but not Yuan Shuzi, who knew about their relationship. Initially, Yuan Shuzi believed Xue Hui’s explanation, but he accidentally noticed ambiguous marks on Bai Luoluo’s neck. Sighing inwardly, Yuan Shuzi thought that Ling Yuming had not escaped from Xue Hui’s grasp.
In the following days, everyone utilized daytime to seal the cave entrance, leaving only one entrance and bringing in ice blocks as a water reserve. As the weather would get colder, they aimed to stay inside as much as possible.
Bai Luoluo was concerned about whether the stone creatures outside would freeze. Xue Hui laughed and reassured him, saying, “They also enjoy winter. They won’t freeze. When spring comes, we can ride them again.”
With this assurance, everyone carried on with their daily activities – eating, chatting, and, when the weather permitted, venturing out to find food or wood.
Yet, the intensity of the cold in this world surpassed Bai Luoluo’s imagination.
After five or six consecutive days of snowfall, the snow covered half of the cave entrance. To prevent being buried alive by snow, they had to wait for the snow to diminish slightly before shoveling.
Hands red from the cold, Zhou Rong complained, “Damn, it’s so freaking cold.” He looked at Xue Hui, seemingly worried, and said, “Your little white flower at home isn’t cold?”
Despite the thin clothing Xue Hui wore and the grass shoes on his feet, he ran around in the snow, seemingly delighted.
Bai Luoluo, shivering, couldn’t help but say, “Xue Hui, isn’t he just a little white flower in the snow? He surely isn’t afraid of the cold.”
Zhou Rong found it reasonable and contemplated changing his name to Zhou Cotton Jacket.
Bai Luoluo thought, “Is this person frozen silly?”
After clearing the snow, everyone returned to the cave. Without chess, books, or mahjong, sitting by the fire became awkward for the dozen or so men.
Xue Hui, on the other hand, enjoyed nibbling on ice cubes, making others uncomfortable.
In the end, Bai Luoluo couldn’t stand it and suggested playing a game. Zhou Rong eagerly agreed, expressing his anticipation.
Bai Luoluo said, “Let’s play the Mafia game.”
Hearing the words “Mafia game,” everyone became alert. Bai Luoluo, sensing their unease, quickly explained that it wasn’t actual killing. He clarified that it was a game where participants played roles as police, killers, and civilians. After briefly describing the rules, Zhou Rong sighed, saying, “You scared me there.”
Bai Luoluo helplessly added, “You guys don’t think I’m really suggesting playing Mafia for real, do you?”
Mu Xinggong calmly recounted a past incident, leaving Bai Luoluo somewhat horrified.
It turned out to be a winter they spent together. Although they had prepared plenty of food, the winter was excessively long, and the mental states of some team members deteriorated. One night, these individuals unexpectedly left the cave. The next day, Mu Xinggong and others found their bodies near the cave, not frozen but killed by mutual violence. In fact, every year there were some people with such fates; the quantity depended on the mental states of the team members.
Of course, Bai Luoluo explained everything, and the misunderstanding was resolved. Everyone began to play games around the campfire.
After playing a few rounds, Yuan Shuzi said he needed to go to the bathroom, and everyone stopped to wait for him.
However, after five minutes, Yuan Shuzi, who had gone out to use the bathroom, ran back with a pale face, full of fear. He said, “Quick, come and see, there’s a… ant, a huge one!”
Everyone, seeing his distressed expression, quickly stood up and followed him.
Yuan Shuzi walked a few steps to the wall near the cave entrance, pointing to a black spot on the ground next to the entrance, saying, “Just now, I saw a really large… ant inside.”
The soil at that spot indeed looked like it had been dug by something. Zhou Rong took a wooden stick and started digging. After a few strokes, a black ant crawled out. Everyone looked closely and found that it was a half-meter-long ant.
“Ant?” Yuan Shuzi’s face became even more distressed. He said, “Why are there ants in winter?”
Zhou Rong looked serious and directly used the wooden stick to stab the ant. When the ant died, it made a sharp, squeaking sound. Clearly, this creature was different from those on Earth that could be crushed with a single step.
“Don’t ants hibernate?” someone asked strangely, “How can they appear in the cave?”
“Ants don’t actually hibernate,” Mu Xinggong explained, “They just store a lot of food in the autumn and stay in their nests throughout the winter.”
“How can we see them here?” Yuan Shuzi seemed to have figured out something, looking almost like he was about to cry, “Could it be that this cave—”
Mu Xinggong forced a smile and said, “The situation shouldn’t be that bad. If it’s really an ant’s nest, we would have discovered their presence long ago.”
In this world, the most terrifying creatures were not the large animals but various insects. These insects were invasive, and the diverse mutations made them even more unpredictable. You wouldn’t even know if a mosquito, several times larger than on Earth, injected venom, causing paralysis and death.
“I’ve seen these ants before,” Zhou Rong said, “If the nest is close, it’s not good.”
The expressions of everyone turned solemn.
Zhou Rong lit a leaf-wrapped cigarette and began to smoke slowly. He said, “But now, it’s not feasible to find another shelter outside.”
“What should we do then?” Yuan Shuzi asked, “These ants must be looking to eat people.”
“Of course, they eat people,” Zhou Rong sighed and said, “Not to mention humans, even carnivorous animals several times larger than humans can be devoured completely.” He then described a scene he had witnessed, where a fierce beast was surrounded and eaten by black ants, leaving only a skeletal frame.
“Move?” Mu Xinggong muttered to himself with a bitter smile, “Moving is not feasible; we need to think of other ways.”
“How about using water to seal the walls?” Bai Luoluo suggested, “If it’s frozen soil, the ants shouldn’t have enough strength to break through.”
“We can try that,” Zhou Rong drew on his cigarette, raising an eyebrow, “You guys step back a bit.”
Everyone scattered behind Zhou Rong. He inserted the bamboo stick into the soil and continued to thrust it in. The bamboo stick went deep, and everyone’s mood sank further. They could tell Zhou Rong wasn’t exerting much force, but the stick went in smoothly. This indicated that the soil had already been loosened by the ants, and there might be an ant nest below.
Sure enough, when Zhou Rong thrust the bamboo stick down, several black ants emerged from the soil again. However, everyone reacted quickly and quickly killed those ants.
Watching these ants, Zhou Rong picked them up, clicked his tongue, and said, “So fat, I wonder if they taste good.”
“They should be good,” Mu Xinggong, who had the habit of eating ants in his hometown, had tried these things and said, “High protein, crunchy, tastes like chicken.”
Xue Hui squatted next to Bai Luoluo, eagerly watching him cook. Bai Luoluo, seeing his appearance, fed him a piece of ant meat, saying, “Is it delicious?”
Xue Hui nodded and mumbled, “Delicious.”
Bai Luoluo saw no one around and said to Xue Hui, “Do you still want to eat?”
Xue Hui nodded eagerly.
Bai Luoluo gritted his teeth, “If you still want to eat the food I cook, don’t do the things you did that night.”
Xue Hui asked innocently, “What things?”
Bai Luoluo said, “The things we did that night!” He had been wanting to talk to Xue Hui about it these past few days but couldn’t find the right moment. Today, finally, everyone went out to fetch ice, leaving just the two of them in the cave.
Xue Hui looked extremely aggrieved.
“Listen to me,” Bai Luoluo sternly said to Xue Hui, “Otherwise, I won’t cook delicious meals for you again.”
Xue Hui stood up and loudly declared, “Then I won’t eat! I’ll do those things to Ling. I’ll kiss Ling’s lips, enter Ling’s body, and hear Ling crying and saying no—”
Bai Luoluo interrupted, “Can you not say it so loudly?”
Xue Hui continued, “I will! I will!”
Bai Luoluo had a splitting headache and despairingly asked the system how to deal with this troublesome child.
The system suggested, “There’s only one way. You can give birth to an even more troublesome child than him…”
Bai Luoluo sighed, “…”
After a moment of contemplation, the system added, “But this seems like a paradox. To give birth to a child who can outdo the troublesome child, you first need to be with the troublesome child. By the time the child capable of outdoing the troublesome child is born, the troublesome child in front of you might not be troublesome anymore.”
Bai Luoluo thought, it seems that eating sunflower seeds does lower one’s IQ. The logic of this system is practically dead.
Jan 9, 2024
—
by
Juno
in Fight for Peace and Love
Outside the cave, the cold wind howled, while inside, everyone sat around the bonfire. The crackling sounds from the fire occasionally broke the silence, creating a serene atmosphere.
Bai Luoluo spoke slowly with a sinister expression, “I looked up and saw the owner of those feet. It was a woman in red, her long hair covering her face.”
Xue Hui swallowed nervously and moved closer to Bai Luoluo.
Bai Luoluo continued, “But I don’t know this woman. Why would she appear in my house? And when I looked at her, I’m not sure if it was my imagination, but I saw her, who should have been a lifeless corpse, smiling at me with her mouth wide open.”
After Bai Luoluo said this, the atmosphere in the cave completely froze.
However, Bai Luoluo seemed oblivious to the terror in everyone’s eyes and continued his story slowly.
As the darkness outside increased, the howling wind sounded like a mournful wail. Yuan Shuzi was the first one unable to bear Bai Luoluo’s story. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he trembled, “Brother Yu, can you just tell us the ending?”
Bai Luoluo said, “Huh? You don’t want to hear the story anymore?” He was just getting to the part about nightmares at night, opening his eyes to find eyes staring at him from the cabinet, with an expression that seemed to want more.
Yuan Shuzi said, “Wu wu wu, I don’t want to hear it anymore.”
Xue Hui shivered next to Bai Luoluo, her face pale with fear. She seemed extremely afraid of horror stories.
Bai Luoluo said, “No way, a story has a beginning and an end. I haven’t told you how I ended up in prison.”
Everyone: “…”
Bai Luoluo, seeing that everyone had a terrified expression, pursed his lips and said, “This is what you asked me to do, tell my story.”
Everyone: “…Are you a character from a horror movie?”
Although Yuan Shuzi and Xue Hui showed discomfort with horror stories, there were brave ones, like Zhou Rong and Mu Xinggong. These two stared at Bai Luoluo with gleaming eyes, urging him to continue.
Bai Luoluo was originally planning to continue, but seeing Xue Hui scared to the point of wanting to hide in his arms, he felt a bit sorry. He said, “Forget it. It’s too late tonight. I’ll find time to tell you tomorrow.”
Zhou Rong and Mu Xinggong sighed simultaneously, expressing that Bai Luoluo was being too protective. Without experiencing storms, how could one see rainbows? A night without horror stories is incomplete.
After thinking for a moment, Bai Luoluo suggested, “How about this? Xue Hui, go to sleep first. When she’s asleep, I’ll tell you guys alone.”
Upon hearing this, Xue Hui felt a bit aggrieved and retreated to the corner of the wall, sensing that his beloved Ling no longer cared for him as he did before. Yuan Shuzi leaned against Xue Hui, comforting him, saying that ghost stories aren’t suitable for everyone, and since they have a weak heart, they should just go to sleep.
Once Xue Hui and Yuan Shuzi fell asleep in the corner, Bai Luoluo reached into the fire, adding more wood to make the flames burn brighter. He watched the flickering flames and softly said, “Those who don’t want to listen can go to sleep.”
In an instant, the group of over a dozen people was reduced by half. Only Zhou Rong and Mu Xinggong remained, eagerly staring at Bai Luoluo with anticipation.
Bai Luoluo said, “My story is too long. Let me tell you a shorter one, and then we can go to sleep. The name of this story is ‘Snow Mountain.’”
Snow Mountain was a novel Bai Luoluo had read during his university days, a classic tale about a group of people encountering a snowstorm while mountain climbing. Unintentionally separated, the female protagonist wakes up from a coma to find her boyfriend missing. Her friends claim that her boyfriend is dead, leaving the protagonist heartbroken. However, as they prepare to descend the mountain, the protagonist’s boyfriend suddenly appears, covered in blood, pulling her away. Thinking her boyfriend is a ghost, the protagonist is terrified. But he tells her in fear, “I’m not a ghost. It’s your friends who have turned into ghosts.” At the same time, the protagonist’s friends reappear.
When Bai Luoluo reached the line, “It’s your friends who have turned into ghosts,” Mu Xinggong visibly swallowed nervously.
Zhou Rong asked, “So who is the ghost?”
Bai Luoluo said, “I don’t know. The story ends here.”
Zhou Rong: “…”
Bai Luoluo’s face flickered in the firelight, and the slightly damp firewood in the bonfire crackled, making Mu Xinggong shudder.
“Sleep, sleep,” Bai Luoluo, having scared everyone, went to sleep contentedly. Leaving Mu Xinggong and Zhou Rong looking at each other. Finally, Zhou Rong hesitated and said, “Xinggong…?”
Mu Xinggong directly refused Zhou Rong, saying, “I’m not going with you to the bathroom.”
Zhou Rong: “…”
Having been rejected by Mu Xinggong, Zhou Rong caught a junior to accompany him to the bathroom. The snow had just fallen, not too cold yet, but in a few days, they could use an ice pot. After all, going to the bathroom in this weather was extremely dangerous. Who knows, right after taking off your pants, a certain part might freeze.
During the night, Xue Hui tightly embraced Bai Luoluo.
Normally, Xue Hui’s body temperature was slightly lower than Bai Luoluo’s, but in the cold winter, he seemed like a furnace, incredibly warm. Bai Luoluo, being held by him, felt as if he were wrapped in an electric blanket. Even in his sleep, he unconsciously wanted to get closer to Xue Hui.
Xue Hui was very satisfied with Bai Luoluo’s reaction. In fact, except for Bai Luoluo telling ghost stories, there was nothing about Bai Luoluo that Xue Hui disliked.
The next day, everyone’s sleep quality seemed to be low. Yuan Shuzi even cried, saying he felt like someone was grabbing his ankles while he slept.
Zhou Rong exclaimed, “But you were sleeping on the side near the wall.”
Yuan Shuzi: “…”
Zhou Rong said with a sinister tone, “There won’t be anyone around you.”
Yuan Shuzi: “…This guy is really bad.”
Seeing Zhou Rong’s reaction, Mu Xinggong chuckled and said, “Don’t know who asked me to accompany him to the bathroom yesterday.”
Zhou Rong shamelessly replied, “I was afraid you’d be woken up by a bird in the middle of the night.”
While having breakfast, the group of people continued teasing each other. Bai Luoluo listened silently. When Xue Hui asked what he was thinking, Bai Luoluo said, “I’m thinking about what story to tell tonight.”
Everyone: “…”
But storytelling was for the night. For the past few days, they had an important task: to cut blocks of ice by the river and bring them back to stack at the cave entrance to block the wind. This task was crucial because if they continued letting the wind blow into the cave, even with a bonfire, the temperature wouldn’t rise.
Xue Hui truly loved winter. When they went to drag the ice back, he didn’t mind the cold at all. Occasionally, he would put a piece in his mouth, crunching it, making others cringe at the sound.
After working hard all day, Bai Luoluo prepared a hearty stew for everyone in the evening. The soup, made from big bones, was milky white, filled with various mushrooms, vegetables, meats, and fish. After simple seasoning, everything was put together and stewed, creating a dish that warmed the body.
As they ate the main dish of potatoes, enjoyed the fragrant and piping hot stew, and occasionally sipped warm soup, their originally cold bodies warmed up. Half of the ice at the cave entrance had piled up, showing clear results. The wind was much weaker, and the temperature inside the cave had risen significantly.
Having eaten their fill, it was time for the nightly storytelling session around the bonfire. Today, no one let Bai Luoluo speak; instead, they all turned their eyes to Xue Hui.
Ever since Xue Hui became taller than Bai Luoluo, his favorite action was to hug Bai Luoluo from behind, then rest his chin on Bai Luoluo’s shoulder and doze off. When he heard everyone asking him to tell a story, he hesitated and said, “I don’t have any stories.”
“Where is your home, Xue Hui?” someone curiously asked.
“My home is in the center of the jungle,” Xue Hui replied. “It’s always spring there, with no heat or cold.” When talking about his home, his expression became particularly gentle.
“Why did you appear here?” someone else asked. “Isn’t it better to stay at home?”
“Because home is too boring,” Xue Hui innocently replied. “So, I explored on my own, but I didn’t expect to go further and couldn’t go back.” Although he answered the question, the content was very vague, quickly losing the interest of those who asked. Bai Luoluo also heard Xue Hui’s answer, but he was a bit skeptical, wondering if Xue Hui couldn’t go back or didn’t want to.
Seeing that everyone had stopped asking Xue Hui, Bai Luoluo eagerly said, “Do you still want to hear my stories? I have many.”
Everyone: “…”
Bai Luoluo said, “Do you know about a videotape? After watching it, you will die…”
This opening successfully piqued everyone’s curiosity. In this world, even though they were still on Earth, the culture was very different. They didn’t have a developed entertainment industry, and there were no diverse movies. People in this world focused more on technology and martial arts, not caring much about leisure activities.
Because of this, Bai Luoluo’s ghost stories were something they had never heard before.
“Bitter Moon” and “Ju-on: The Grudge,” Bai Luoluo had seen many classic films of this genre during his university days, so he could easily tell these stories. When he reached the part where Kayako slowly crawled out of the TV, the entire cave seemed to have formed a thick layer of ice, and even the flames no longer flickered.
In the end, Mu Xinggong chuckled and said, “Fortunately, we don’t have a television here.”
Bai Luoluo smirked mysteriously and said, “Well, you never know. Look at how dark it is outside; who knows what might be watching us in the shadows.”
Mu Xinggong: “…” Are you doing this on purpose?
Then Bai Luoluo continued with the story, describing how the protagonist hid under the covers. However, as soon as he did, he saw a pale-faced woman tilting her head and staring at him.
Listening from under the covers and trembling, Xue Hui finally broke down emotionally. He cried out, “Ling Yuming, can we still live like this? Can we still live like this?”
Bai Luoluo: “(⊙v⊙)”
Yuan Shuzi, shivering alongside Xue Hui, chimed in, “Yes, why do you treat Xue Hui like this? He’s just a child.”
Bai Luoluo said, “Is it that scary?”
Yuan Shuzi angrily said, “Guess why everyone couldn’t sleep last night?”
Bai Luoluo asked, “Zhou Rong snoring?”
Zhou Rong: “…” I’m sitting at home, and the pot falls from the sky.
Yuan Shuzi said, “Your stories are so scary, so scary! I had nightmares all night yesterday. I dreamed that someone was grabbing my hands, grabbing my feet!”
After saying this, someone nearby felt a bit embarrassed and said, “Sorry, Shuzi, it was me grabbing your feet yesterday. I was too scared and couldn’t sleep. You were beside me…”
Yuan Shuzi: “…”
The atmosphere became quite awkward.
With Xue Hui and Yuan Shuzi leading the way, everyone began to express their condemnation towards Bai Luoluo. Bai Luoluo sadly said, “It was you who wanted to hear stories. I even prepared so many.”
Everyone quickly explained that they didn’t want to hear ghost stories at all; they just wanted to hear Bai Luoluo’s own stories. Bai Luoluo chuckled with a sinister tone, saying, “How do you know my stories aren’t ghost stories?”
Everyone: “…”
Seeing everyone looking as if they had seen a ghost, Bai Luoluo felt a bit embarrassed and said, “Alright, I won’t tell them anymore. Don’t be nervous, there are no ghosts in this world.” As the successor of socialism and a firm materialist, Bai Luoluo did not believe in ghosts and monsters. In the light of socialism, all the supernatural entities in the world would be exposed for what they really were.
However, it was a pity that Bai Luoluo thought this way, but others didn’t. The world corrupted by capitalism believed in ghosts and gods, not only believing but also passionately so. Yuan Shuzi huddled into a small group, trembling like a scared rabbit, as if he would faint with just a slight poke.
Xue Hui was a bit stronger than Yuan Shuzi; he held Bai Luoluo tightly and said he would protect Bai Luoluo no matter what happened.
Bai Luoluo helplessly asked him what would happen. Xue Hui said, “If a female ghost appears under the covers, I will definitely…”
Bai Luoluo asked, “What will you do?”
Before Xue Hui could answer, Zhou Rong, lying down and tidying up the covers, casually said, “Faint.”
Xue Hui: “…”
Although Zhou Rong’s words were a bit excessive, in reality, it was true. Xue Hui was extremely scared of ghosts, and if he really encountered one, he might shiver and faint at any moment.
Every night, two people took turns keeping watch over the fire to ensure it didn’t go out. Tonight was no exception, and Bai Luoluo and Xue Hui were scheduled for the second half of the night. As the night grew darker, the two crawled out from under the covers. Due to their prior preparations, there was enough fur for everyone, and the covers were quite warm; no one wanted to move.
Bai Luoluo, determined, got out of bed and added more firewood to the fire.
With everyone asleep, only Bai Luoluo and Xue Hui remained awake. Xue Hui had just woken up, looking a bit dazed as he stared at the fire.
Observing this, Bai Luoluo asked, “Still sleepy?”
“Yeah,” Xue Hui coquettishly replied. “I want to sleep some more.”
“Have a good nap tomorrow morning,” Bai Luoluo yawned. Getting up in winter was a painful experience, especially on such a cold night.
Outside, snowflakes danced, covering the earth in pristine white. The bright moonlight cast shadows, making the night surprisingly bright with the reflection off the snow.
Bai Luoluo, gazing outside the cave, said, “You’ve been here for a long time, haven’t you?”
Xue Hui smiled in response, saying, “Yeah, a long time.” So long that he couldn’t even count how much time had passed. He looked in the direction Bai Luoluo was facing, his gaze somewhat unfocused.
Seeing him like this, Bai Luoluo’s heart stirred slightly. Changing the topic, he said, “Want some roasted sweet potatoes?”
“Sure,” Xue Hui replied eagerly.
Bai Luoluo tossed two sweet potatoes from the fire and handed one to Xue Hui. They ate together, enjoying the soft, sweet warmth of the roasted potatoes.
As Xue Hui indulged in the meal, he suddenly said, “Before Ling came, I had never eaten anything cooked.”
Bai Luoluo, surprised, asked, “Never?”
“Yeah,” Xue Hui’s face was adorned with a happy smile. Slowly nibbling on the roasted sweet potato, he looked as if he was savoring the most delicious thing in the world. He said, “Meeting Ling is the luckiest thing that has ever happened to me.”
Bai Luoluo chuckled, “You still have a long life ahead.”
Xue Hui smiled gently. His smile was always so radiant, free of any shadows. He said, “Yeah.”
After finishing the sweet potatoes, the two chatted for a while. Bai Luoluo shared stories about Earth, and Xue Hui listened with fascination. He said, “I also want to go…”
At first, Bai Luoluo didn’t catch on to what Xue Hui meant by “I also want to go.” After a brief pause, he asked, “You also want to go to Earth?”
“Yeah,” Xue Hui replied. “I want to see landscapes I’ve never seen before.” The mountains, rivers, and every piece of flora and fauna on this planet were already deeply ingrained in his memory.
Bai Luoluo said, “If there’s a chance… it would be nice to go and see.” However, when he said these words, he didn’t feel very confident. Escaping from this planet seemed like an impossible task.
Xue Hui, on the other hand, seemed contemplative.
Keeping watch was a very boring task. Apart from chatting, it seemed there was nothing else to do.
Bai Luoluo stared at the fire, and suddenly, a refreshing scent of grass and wood wafted into his nose. This scent was somewhat familiar; it was the fragrance emanating from Xue Hui.
This spring-like aroma in the freezing winter was incredibly attractive. Bai Luoluo asked, “Xue Hui, is this… your scent?”
Upon hearing Bai Luoluo’s question, Xue Hui’s ears turned a bit red. He stammered for a moment and then said in a soft voice, “Ling… can smell my scent?”
Bai Luoluo replied, “Yes, I can.” Realizing what Xue Hui meant, he continued, “Can’t the others smell it?”
Blushing, Xue Hui said, “Ling, that’s my scent, only you can smell it.” Lowering his head, he kissed Bai Luoluo naturally.
Bai Luoluo was completely unprepared for Xue Hui’s sudden kiss, and the moment Xue Hui’s lips touched his, he was momentarily stunned. Xue Hui’s lips were soft but slightly cool, delicately pressing against Bai Luoluo’s. There was a hint of unfamiliarity in the taste, accompanied by the rich scent of grass and wood that rushed into Bai Luoluo’s mouth through Xue Hui’s lips. In an instant, Bai Luoluo felt like he was engulfed in a burst of white light. His body instantly softened, and the clarity of his mind was replaced by a chaotic fog.
“Ah…haha,” that kiss seemed like a medium, transmitting Xue Hui’s feelings to Bai Luoluo. Closing his eyes, Bai Luoluo saw images of mountains, rivers, deserts, and oceans—landscapes he had never witnessed before, all vividly appearing in his mind.
Xue Hui embraced Bai Luoluo, and the intense aroma enveloped both of them.
Bai Luoluo no longer felt the cold; his soul seemed to have detached from his body, yet he could sense Xue Hui holding him. In Bai Luoluo’s ear, Xue Hui murmured, “Ling, I want you.”
Bai Luoluo opened his mouth, and though his rational mind told him to refuse, he couldn’t utter a word. Ultimately, Xue Hui was cunning enough not to give Bai Luoluo the opportunity to reject him.
Unlike the previous occasions, this time, by the fire, Xue Hui claimed Bai Luoluo’s body.
It felt as if they were isolated in another world, free from the sounds of wind and the chill of the night. Even the fur beneath them, somewhat stiff initially, now felt incredibly soft and warm.
Bai Luoluo, illuminated by the firelight, faintly observed Xue Hui’s face. Head tilted back, eyes bewildered, he could only express his sensations with soft sobs.
Xue Hui was gentle, causing no harm to Bai Luoluo. But because of this tenderness, Bai Luoluo found it even more difficult to accept—everything was too comfortable. He became completely immersed, forgetting his initial resistance and only knowing to take. It was a sensation Bai Luoluo had never experienced before; it felt as if all touches penetrated his body and reached directly into his soul.
Inside the cave, silence prevailed, and everyone had succumbed to slumber, except the two entwined figures by the fire, bodies interlocked in a passionate embrace.
As dawn approached, the first person woke up. Rising from the ground, he saw Bai Luoluo lying in Xue Hui’s arms, covered in thick fur.
There was no trace of what had occurred on their bodies, and no one in the cave could fathom what had transpired the night before.
Bai Luoluo felt a bit tired, and others took care of breakfast for him.
Upon seeing Bai Luoluo’s condition, Zhou Rong worried if he was unwell. Xue Hui, on the other hand, smiled and explained that Bai Luoluo was tired because he had stayed up alone last night, guarding the fire.
Hearing this, Zhou Rong didn’t press further.
However, Xue Hui’s words could deceive Zhou Rong but not Yuan Shuzi, who knew about their relationship. Initially, Yuan Shuzi believed Xue Hui’s explanation, but he accidentally noticed ambiguous marks on Bai Luoluo’s neck. Sighing inwardly, Yuan Shuzi thought that Ling Yuming had not escaped from Xue Hui’s grasp.
In the following days, everyone utilized daytime to seal the cave entrance, leaving only one entrance and bringing in ice blocks as a water reserve. As the weather would get colder, they aimed to stay inside as much as possible.
Bai Luoluo was concerned about whether the stone creatures outside would freeze. Xue Hui laughed and reassured him, saying, “They also enjoy winter. They won’t freeze. When spring comes, we can ride them again.”
With this assurance, everyone carried on with their daily activities – eating, chatting, and, when the weather permitted, venturing out to find food or wood.
Yet, the intensity of the cold in this world surpassed Bai Luoluo’s imagination.
After five or six consecutive days of snowfall, the snow covered half of the cave entrance. To prevent being buried alive by snow, they had to wait for the snow to diminish slightly before shoveling.
Hands red from the cold, Zhou Rong complained, “Damn, it’s so freaking cold.” He looked at Xue Hui, seemingly worried, and said, “Your little white flower at home isn’t cold?”
Despite the thin clothing Xue Hui wore and the grass shoes on his feet, he ran around in the snow, seemingly delighted.
Bai Luoluo, shivering, couldn’t help but say, “Xue Hui, isn’t he just a little white flower in the snow? He surely isn’t afraid of the cold.”
Zhou Rong found it reasonable and contemplated changing his name to Zhou Cotton Jacket.
Bai Luoluo thought, “Is this person frozen silly?”
After clearing the snow, everyone returned to the cave. Without chess, books, or mahjong, sitting by the fire became awkward for the dozen or so men.
Xue Hui, on the other hand, enjoyed nibbling on ice cubes, making others uncomfortable.
In the end, Bai Luoluo couldn’t stand it and suggested playing a game. Zhou Rong eagerly agreed, expressing his anticipation.
Bai Luoluo said, “Let’s play the Mafia game.”
Hearing the words “Mafia game,” everyone became alert. Bai Luoluo, sensing their unease, quickly explained that it wasn’t actual killing. He clarified that it was a game where participants played roles as police, killers, and civilians. After briefly describing the rules, Zhou Rong sighed, saying, “You scared me there.”
Bai Luoluo helplessly added, “You guys don’t think I’m really suggesting playing Mafia for real, do you?”
Mu Xinggong calmly recounted a past incident, leaving Bai Luoluo somewhat horrified.
It turned out to be a winter they spent together. Although they had prepared plenty of food, the winter was excessively long, and the mental states of some team members deteriorated. One night, these individuals unexpectedly left the cave. The next day, Mu Xinggong and others found their bodies near the cave, not frozen but killed by mutual violence. In fact, every year there were some people with such fates; the quantity depended on the mental states of the team members.
Of course, Bai Luoluo explained everything, and the misunderstanding was resolved. Everyone began to play games around the campfire.
After playing a few rounds, Yuan Shuzi said he needed to go to the bathroom, and everyone stopped to wait for him.
However, after five minutes, Yuan Shuzi, who had gone out to use the bathroom, ran back with a pale face, full of fear. He said, “Quick, come and see, there’s a… ant, a huge one!”
Everyone, seeing his distressed expression, quickly stood up and followed him.
Yuan Shuzi walked a few steps to the wall near the cave entrance, pointing to a black spot on the ground next to the entrance, saying, “Just now, I saw a really large… ant inside.”
The soil at that spot indeed looked like it had been dug by something. Zhou Rong took a wooden stick and started digging. After a few strokes, a black ant crawled out. Everyone looked closely and found that it was a half-meter-long ant.
“Ant?” Yuan Shuzi’s face became even more distressed. He said, “Why are there ants in winter?”
Zhou Rong looked serious and directly used the wooden stick to stab the ant. When the ant died, it made a sharp, squeaking sound. Clearly, this creature was different from those on Earth that could be crushed with a single step.
“Don’t ants hibernate?” someone asked strangely, “How can they appear in the cave?”
“Ants don’t actually hibernate,” Mu Xinggong explained, “They just store a lot of food in the autumn and stay in their nests throughout the winter.”
“How can we see them here?” Yuan Shuzi seemed to have figured out something, looking almost like he was about to cry, “Could it be that this cave—”
Mu Xinggong forced a smile and said, “The situation shouldn’t be that bad. If it’s really an ant’s nest, we would have discovered their presence long ago.”
In this world, the most terrifying creatures were not the large animals but various insects. These insects were invasive, and the diverse mutations made them even more unpredictable. You wouldn’t even know if a mosquito, several times larger than on Earth, injected venom, causing paralysis and death.
“I’ve seen these ants before,” Zhou Rong said, “If the nest is close, it’s not good.”
The expressions of everyone turned solemn.
Zhou Rong lit a leaf-wrapped cigarette and began to smoke slowly. He said, “But now, it’s not feasible to find another shelter outside.”
“What should we do then?” Yuan Shuzi asked, “These ants must be looking to eat people.”
“Of course, they eat people,” Zhou Rong sighed and said, “Not to mention humans, even carnivorous animals several times larger than humans can be devoured completely.” He then described a scene he had witnessed, where a fierce beast was surrounded and eaten by black ants, leaving only a skeletal frame.
“Move?” Mu Xinggong muttered to himself with a bitter smile, “Moving is not feasible; we need to think of other ways.”
“How about using water to seal the walls?” Bai Luoluo suggested, “If it’s frozen soil, the ants shouldn’t have enough strength to break through.”
“We can try that,” Zhou Rong drew on his cigarette, raising an eyebrow, “You guys step back a bit.”
Everyone scattered behind Zhou Rong. He inserted the bamboo stick into the soil and continued to thrust it in. The bamboo stick went deep, and everyone’s mood sank further. They could tell Zhou Rong wasn’t exerting much force, but the stick went in smoothly. This indicated that the soil had already been loosened by the ants, and there might be an ant nest below.
Sure enough, when Zhou Rong thrust the bamboo stick down, several black ants emerged from the soil again. However, everyone reacted quickly and quickly killed those ants.
Watching these ants, Zhou Rong picked them up, clicked his tongue, and said, “So fat, I wonder if they taste good.”
“They should be good,” Mu Xinggong, who had the habit of eating ants in his hometown, had tried these things and said, “High protein, crunchy, tastes like chicken.”
Xue Hui squatted next to Bai Luoluo, eagerly watching him cook. Bai Luoluo, seeing his appearance, fed him a piece of ant meat, saying, “Is it delicious?”
Xue Hui nodded and mumbled, “Delicious.”
Bai Luoluo saw no one around and said to Xue Hui, “Do you still want to eat?”
Xue Hui nodded eagerly.
Bai Luoluo gritted his teeth, “If you still want to eat the food I cook, don’t do the things you did that night.”
Xue Hui asked innocently, “What things?”
Bai Luoluo said, “The things we did that night!” He had been wanting to talk to Xue Hui about it these past few days but couldn’t find the right moment. Today, finally, everyone went out to fetch ice, leaving just the two of them in the cave.
Xue Hui looked extremely aggrieved.
“Listen to me,” Bai Luoluo sternly said to Xue Hui, “Otherwise, I won’t cook delicious meals for you again.”
Xue Hui stood up and loudly declared, “Then I won’t eat! I’ll do those things to Ling. I’ll kiss Ling’s lips, enter Ling’s body, and hear Ling crying and saying no—”
Bai Luoluo interrupted, “Can you not say it so loudly?”
Xue Hui continued, “I will! I will!”
Bai Luoluo had a splitting headache and despairingly asked the system how to deal with this troublesome child.
The system suggested, “There’s only one way. You can give birth to an even more troublesome child than him…”
Bai Luoluo sighed, “…”
After a moment of contemplation, the system added, “But this seems like a paradox. To give birth to a child who can outdo the troublesome child, you first need to be with the troublesome child. By the time the child capable of outdoing the troublesome child is born, the troublesome child in front of you might not be troublesome anymore.”
Bai Luoluo thought, it seems that eating sunflower seeds does lower one’s IQ. The logic of this system is practically dead.
