The two black bear cubs were already drowsy.
Yan Qing named them Xiong Da and Xiong Er, distinguishing them by the grayish layer of fluff on their backs: the one with fluff around the neck was Xiong Da, and the one with fluff on the back was Xiong Er.
She placed Xiong Da and Xiong Er into her backpack, carefully marking them, and then disappeared into the forest. Occasionally, the sound of snapping thorns and vines accompanied her steps.
This forest was clearly more abundant than the one she had initially traversed. Everywhere she looked, there were resources: thorny vines, wild onions sprouting along the path. She dug up the onions with a bit of soil and stored them in her space.
She also spotted several walnut trees and marked them for a later visit in autumn.
For tonight, Yan Qing chose a campsite near a cluster of thorns, forming a rough semi-circle shape. Interspersed within the thorns were small wild fruits with hints of red.
“Cirsium,” she thought. In time, these would be ripe for harvest. She also planned to plant a few near her walls as a natural barrier.
Yan Qing was wary of snakes—other animals might be blocked by walls, but snakes could climb. Ever since she arrived in this world, she had brought snake repellent packs and a few buckets of snake powder. Each night, she sprinkled a circle around her tent.
She set up the tent, exhausted from the day’s trek, and cooked a simple dinner: instant noodles with two fried eggs. She added a wild onion—a small, bulbous onion with a fragrant aroma when crushed—and chopped it into the noodles, creating a unique flavor.
She boiled a pot of water, pulled out a foot bath, and soaked her feet. After walking all day, her feet were blistered. She popped the blisters, applied some ointment, and tended to her injuries.
The fire was moved a safe distance from the tent, and, as always, she fed milk to the two cubs. Being so young, they slept most of the time, barely stirring.
Once the cubs’ nest was secured inside the tent, Yan Qing finally allowed herself to rest. Her recent days had been physically demanding, and tonight she slept peacefully without any disturbances.
The next morning, the chirping of birds woke her. The weather was clear and bright. She got up, washed, packed her things, and slung on her backpack, ready to move.
She grabbed a few buns for the road. The destination was now within sight—about halfway up the mountain. She needed to reach it before the afternoon, or she would be forced to spend another night in the forest.
Even though last night had been safe, the sounds of wild animals had kept her on edge. Sleeping in the open forest was far too dangerous—every rustle of leaves made her nervous.
Her path was littered with thorns, dry vines, and rotting branches. Step by careful step, she finally arrived at her destination around 1 PM.
Before her stood a cluster of towering trees with thick undergrowth. She had to work hard to carve a small path through the vegetation. Beyond that, the terrain abruptly ended in a sheer cliff.
The cliff was adorned with vines and green leaves, dotted with small yellow flowers. Pine-like trees clung to the mountainside, adding to the natural beauty.
At the bottom right of the cliff, a few medium-sized trees grew halfway up the slope. To the left was an open space where a dead tree had fallen, overgrown with wild grass and moss.
Yan Qing couldn’t help but marvel at the sheer power and artistry of nature. She had finally reached her destination—the perfect blend of wilderness and opportunity.