6
He Tian’s father, He Da, had once been a renowned hunter in the area, and she had even followed him into the mountains to hunt a few times. However, her parents later decided that it would be better for their daughter to be more reserved and gentle, as hunting was mostly a man’s job—too dangerous and too arduous, so they stopped letting her go.
But He Tian loved it and would occasionally pester her father to let her accompany him up the mountain. Her father doted on her and usually gave in.
Thus, when the villagers saw He Tian heading up the mountain again today, they didn’t find it unusual at all. Instead, they praised her for being incredibly fortunate.
After all, her illness a few days ago had been genuinely critical; she was on the verge of death. Not only did she manage to pull through, but she could also go hunting in the mountains as usual. If that wasn’t immense good fortune, what was?
Today’s purpose for going up the mountain was different from yesterday’s.
Yesterday was mainly about gathering firewood and finding food; today was more about seeking treasures.
Such a bountiful mountain was sure to hold many treasures.
With a different mindset, her pace was even lighter and quicker than yesterday’s. She chose the same route up the mountain as the day before, not joining the many villagers heading up together.
Finally able to catch her breath, He Tian didn’t walk quickly. As she moved, she carefully observed the various plants around her. She had never seen such lush and diverse vegetation. Even though it was already late autumn, it still radiated vibrant life.
Her eyesight was excellent, allowing her to see far into the distance, which made treasure-hunting much easier.
After walking for about half an hour, she was about to shift her gaze from the right to the left when…
Her eyes stopped.
What was that?
It was indeed quite far away. She pushed aside the dense thicket of bushes, some taller than her, and headed toward the tree on the right that seemed covered in round, black fruits.
As she got closer, her view became clearer. When she finally made out what it was, her usually indifferent eyes sparkled slightly.
It really was a tree laden with fruits.
Her delicate nose couldn’t help but sniff the air.
A sweet fragrance she had never smelled before wafted over.
Although she wasn’t entirely sure what the fruit was, she could tell from the scent that it wasn’t poisonous.
For He Tian, being non-poisonous meant it was edible.
When she reached the tree and saw exactly what the fruit was, her eyes lit up with surprise.
She had seen this fruit before—in Yao Yao’s journal. Yao Yao had written that this was Jabuticaba, also known as tree grape.
It sounded delicious just from the name. She picked one and gently bit into it. The sweet juice immediately burst in her mouth. He Tian, who had never eaten such a delightful fruit, was momentarily stunned.
When she snapped back to reality, the tree grape in her mouth had already been swallowed, so she picked another.
After eating ten in a row, the shock subsided, and she could finally savor it slowly.
Besides the sweetness, there seemed to be just the right hint of tartness—subtle enough not to be unpleasant, yet enhancing the fruit’s complexity with its presence. Beyond that, there was an indescribable quality that left her feeling refreshed all over.
In short, it was delicious. Very, very delicious.
For someone who had never been particular about the taste of food, this was the first time He Tian had ever genuinely praised something as being truly delicious.
Coming up the mountain today was definitely the right choice, wasn’t she discovering another food she’d never tasted before?
This find alone was enough to satisfy her.
As she ate, she observed carefully and realized that the fruit wasn’t actually black, but a deep purple that looked black from a distance.
What surprised He Tian the most was that she felt her strength returning.
This time, the recovery seemed even more noticeable than after drinking the chestnut porridge, but it didn’t last as long.
She wasn’t sure if it was because her body was gradually improving or if it had something to do with the different food she was eating.
Regardless of the reason, any improvement in her condition made her happy. With that thought, she grabbed a handful of tree grapes and finished them in a few bites. Because she ate more this time, the boost in strength lasted considerably longer.
It really did depend on the type of food, as well as the quantity, she concluded as she continued eating.
The tree was completely covered in fruit, so He Tian wasn’t worried about running out, even if this tree wasn’t enough, the mountain was vast and surely held other edibles. There was no need to rush.
After finishing all the fruit within arm’s reach, she climbed the tree and sat on a branch to continue eating.
The world before the apocalypse was truly wonderful, He Tian thought as she ate, marveling again. In less than two days since her arrival, she had already tasted so many good things she’d never had before. She couldn’t imagine how many delicious foods she would encounter once she recovered and traveled far and wide.
As she was eating…
A chilly mountain breeze swept by, and He Tian’s keen senses picked up a faint scent. She immediately stopped picking fruit and turned her head sharply to look deeper into the mountains.
Such a strong smell of blood!
She gazed silently into the depths of the mountain for a while, then turned back and continued eating tree grapes.
As she ate, she suddenly began picking them and putting them into her basket—her curiosity piqued, she decided to venture deeper into the mountain and take a look.
Fortunately, she had no other pressing matters today.
If she didn’t come across anything, so be it but having encountered this and not going to investigate would hardly align with her treasure-hunting purpose for the day.
She worked quickly and soon stripped the entire tree of every single fruit.
Then she jumped down from the tree and headed straight in the direction of the blood scent.
The closer she got, the stronger the smell of blood became.
The sounds of commotion also grew clearer.
“Owww—”
A roar filled with intimidation and anger reached He Tian’s ears, causing her brow to twitch slightly.
After a moment, another sound followed—
“Ow…”
A wolf’s howl was immediately followed by a chorus of howls from the pack, rising and falling in succession.
Fighting again?
He Tian quickened her pace.
Perhaps thanks to the good meals over the past two days, or the energy boost from the belly full of tree grapes she’d just eaten, her movements were now quicker and more agile. From a distance, she moved like a sleek leopard weaving through the forest.
Upon arriving, she saw the scene of the battle unfolding in the hollow of the mountain—
A wolf pack of about forty members, under the command of their alpha, was encircling and attacking a beast king.
It was an adult female tiger.
She was severely wounded, with large patches of blood covering her body. Five or six wolves lay dead around her, killed by her jaws, the smell of blood overwhelming. The wolves had forced her into a corner, her back against a boulder as tall as a tree, which served as a makeshift shield.
The dignity of the beast king, coupled with the threat to her life, infuriated her. She threw back her head and roared at the sky, her blood-stained fangs glinting coldly.
Such a close-range tiger roar would have sent any ordinary person reeling backward to take cover, but He Tian simply stood there watching, her expression unchanged.
The birds and beasts in the area had long since scattered. Aside from the beast king and the wolf pack, no other animals remained.
Hmm?
He Tian’s gaze fell behind the tigress, and her eyes widened slightly in surprise. That was… a tiger cub.
A young tiger was still a tiger, carrying the innate intimidation of the king of beasts.
Especially since its mother was injured. Though it was shielded behind her, it still leaned out and bared its teeth at the encircling wolves.
Only then did He Tian get a clear look, it was a tiger cub no more than two months old.
**