As Yan Qing approached the cliff, she noticed long, green, cucumber-like plants hanging among the vines and leaves. They resembled aged yellow-skinned cucumbers.
Could these be the wild cucumbers mentioned in her books?
They were roughly the size of normal cucumbers. She plucked one, and a fresh cucumber fragrance wafted to her nose. Some of the cucumbers on the vine bore small peck marks from birds.
Still cautious, Yan Qing rubbed the cucumber juice on her wrist and waited. While she monitored for any allergic reactions, she tidied the surrounding area, piling up dead branches and leaves to prevent accidental fires.
Perhaps because of the proximity to the mountain, the area felt cool, so she decided not to light a fire. She had a quick meal of instant food and then let the two black bear cubs play freely.
After checking her wrist and finding no reaction, she took a bite of the cucumber. It was crisp, sweet, and refreshing—definitely a wild cucumber, and even tastier than ones she had eaten before. Yan Qing couldn’t help but beam with joy; in just a few days after her transmigration, she had already found so many resources.
Encouraged, she continued exploring the cliffside. She ignored cucumbers that had been pecked by birds—about ten pounds worth.
Just as she turned to leave, she noticed a cave hidden in the cliff.
Startled, Yan Qing stepped back a few paces. The vines and trees had obscured her view, so she hadn’t seen the cave initially.
She picked up a nearby stone and tossed it inside. After waiting, there was no movement. She cautiously approached, pulling aside the vines.
“Hey—” there was still no sound, though faint echoes hinted at the cave’s depth.
Yan Qing retreated, retrieved her smoke technique, and waited until the smoke cleared. Then, cradling the two cubs, she carefully entered the cave with her strong flashlight.
The flashlight proved invaluable. Yan Qing silently praised herself for having space—a tool she had prepared in advance. In this dangerous forest, without it, survival past the second day would have been nearly impossible.
The cave was long and narrow, about 1.5 × 2 meters at the entrance, widening to roughly 3 meters at the broadest point. The interior seemed to stretch further than she could see.
After walking a few dozen meters with the cubs, a faint light appeared ahead. It seemed like there was an exit.
Increasing her pace, she walked a few more minutes.
Yan Qing’s eyes widened in astonishment.
Before her lay a scene beyond words.
It wasn’t dense forest, but a flat valley. There were almost no towering trees. She saw scattered small trees here and there.
The valley was enclosed on all sides by cliffs. A few small trees clung to the cliff faces.
The space was roughly the size of a soccer field.
Across from the cave’s entrance, a cliff held a small waterfall feeding a pool of water.
Yan Qing marveled at nature’s craftsmanship—everything was so magnificent. Who would have thought that water could flow from the wall of a cliff?
The pool’s water trickled down, forming a winding stream that divided the valley into two halves. Yan Qing followed the stream for about forty minutes, only to find it vanished—likely seeping into the ground at the cliff base.
Turning back, she noticed several fruit trees, some already bearing fruit, though she couldn’t identify the types yet. She would have to wait until they ripened.
From her previous vantage points, Yan Qing knew that the surrounding peaks formed a natural enclosure. This place was perfect for living.
Now, standing in the valley, she realized this was truly nature’s gift—a safe, resource-rich shelter. There could be no better place to call home.