Chapter 380: Chapter 217: Mole Beast’s Change; Entering the Mountains
A mountain breeze blew gently, and the afterglow of the setting sun spilled over the small mountain village.
Golden rays of light filtered through the dense layers of trees, draping the quiet little village in a soft, golden veil.
As the grain from the sunning-ground was stored away and construction work halted for the day, everyone returned home. A peaceful quiet gradually descended upon Cheng Family Village.
In the open space in front of the Cheng Family’s Henei home, several children were playing and chasing each other. Their laughter, mingling with the crisp giggles of children from homes in the area Beyond the River, echoed through the air. It intertwined with the babbling of the fenced-off river channel, creating a natural symphony.
Several elders and older siblings watched the running children with gentle eyes. Inside the kitchen, a few figures bustled about, and the fragrant aroma of dinner already wafted out.
The children were soon called back. After washing their hands and faces, they gathered around the wooden table to wait, still cheerfully arguing about something.
Young Zhou Zhenhua, only seven years old and from the younger uncle’s family, always tried to win arguments with his limited knowledge and vocabulary, only to be rebutted by his older cousins until his face turned red.
Although they continued to bicker, they all remained in their seats and stopped running around.
As twilight slowly fell, Cheng Zongyang and the others brought out one homemade dish after another, placing them on the three round tables—two large and one small—in the courtyard.
The tables were laden with steaming hot vegetables, chicken, duck, fish, lamb, and pork. Amidst the joyous laughter, everyone picked up their chopsticks and began to eat together.
The adults drank and chatted leisurely, while the children ate with great relish, paying no mind to the grown-ups’ conversation and focusing only on devouring the feast. The entire courtyard was filled with an air of happiness and peace.
This harmonious scene of joyous feasting, free from want, was playing out in nearly every home.
Beneath the night sky, a gentle breeze rustled as stars began to dot the heavens. Almost cut off from the rest of the world, Cheng Family Village enjoyed a tranquility akin to a hidden paradise.
After the family banquet, the four families gathered in front of the main courtyard to enjoy the moon and the cool evening air.
Although it wasn’t truly summer yet, the lack of a mountain breeze tonight made the air a bit muggy.
"Looks like the wind will pick up tomorrow. There’s still some grain in the village that hasn’t finished drying."
Zhou Hansong glanced at the moon. Though the moonlight was bright, a soft, hazy halo surrounded it, and dark clouds periodically obscured its glow. Under the intermittent moonlight, the shadows of the trees in the village swayed, and the figures of people flickered in and out of sight, adding a touch of mystery.
Zhou Hanchang also looked up. He rose, touched the wall of the house to check for dampness, and smiled. "Don’t worry, it’s not damp. It probably won’t rain. There isn’t much grain left to dry, and besides, even if it does rain, it won’t be that sudden."
Seeing this, Cheng Zongyang knew it was the life experience of the older generation at work and didn’t give it much thought. Instead, he asked, "Eldest Uncle, has the date for Brother Zhenyuan’s wedding changed?"
At his words, Zhou Hansong beamed, and even his wife, Mrs. Ye of the Zhou Family, broke into a wider smile. Before Zhou Hansong could speak, she took the initiative and said:
"It has. There’s been a lot going on in the village lately—the rice harvest, drying the grain, firing bricks and tiles, and building new village houses. So, your uncle was thinking of postponing the wedding for a while. Getting married after the new homes are built will be a double blessing."
Cheng Zongyang looked at the slightly embarrassed Zhou Zhenyuan and chuckled, "Cousin, you’re not in a hurry, are you?"
Teased by Cheng Zongyang, Zhou Zhenyuan became even more bashful and honestly replied, "Not in a hurry, not in a hurry."
"Hahaha." Cheng Guanghai and the others all burst out laughing.
Flushing beet-red, Zhou Zhenyuan shot a glare at Cheng Zongyang and immediately retorted, "What about you, Zongyang? You’re sixteen now. You’re old enough to start a family."
Instantly, everyone’s attention shifted to Cheng Zongyang.
The smile didn’t disappear; it just moved. It was now on Zhou Zhenyuan’s face.
"Heh, well, you all know I have a lot on my plate, and it’s still early for me." Saying this, Cheng Zongyang quickly changed the subject. "I came back this time not just to stay for a while, but also to take care of a few things."
As he spoke, he took two Fire Spirit Stones from his robes.
One was a Fire Spirit Stone taken from Lu Yan’s gloves, which had lost its Fire Spirit Qi. The other was a Fire Crystal Stone, a piece cut from the small house at the market, which contained a Fire Spirit. It was warm to the touch, like a pebble that had been basking in the sun.
He placed the two small stones on the table and said, "This is one of those things. Go ahead, pick them up and feel them."
Immediately, everyone’s attention was diverted.
Cheng Guanghai was the first to pick them up. The moment they were in his hands, he was astonished. Looking at the one in his right hand, he asked, "Why is this one warm?"
He then looked at his left hand. "This one is cold. How strange is that?"
"Let me try," Cheng Guangshan said.
Cheng Guanghai handed the two stones to Cheng Guangshan.
After everyone had taken a turn feeling them, all eyes fell on Cheng Zongyang.
Cheng Zongyang said with a serious expression, "Both of these are called Fire Spirit Stones. Their source is the fireball that fell from the sky last year. And the source of that fireball was a Demon Beast..."
Cheng Zongyang told them all about the Fiery Sun Bird, then returned to the topic of the Fire Spirit Stones.
"Someone is buying these at a high price; they’re worth a fortune. They’ll take any Fire Spirit Stone, whether it’s cold or warm! So, Eldest Uncle, starting tomorrow, assign some people to search the area around the crater where it crashed."
"If they’re that important, I’ll arrange for the manpower," Zhou Hansong nodded.
Cheng Zongyang then turned to Zhou Hanchang. "Youngest Uncle, do you still have that thing the monkey gave you all those years ago?"
Zhou Hanchang remembered it vividly. After all, it was the first time a creature from the mountains had given him a gift, and he had kept it safely at home. He replied, "I do. Could that be a Fire Spirit Stone too?"
