Chapter 278: Lighting a Fire

Lin Xiao didn’t care about the reactions of the crowd.

The reason he had shattered the boulder was to protect Yuan Yu and Huang Caixing. The others were merely lucky to benefit from their proximity.

By now, the two girls had regained their composure. Huang Caixing supported Yuan Yu as they hurried over to Lin Xiao, their faces full of concern.

“Big Brother Lin, are you alright?” Huang Caixing asked anxiously.

“I’m fine, don’t worry.” Lin Xiao shook his head calmly. “But I don’t think we can make it down the mountain today. The rain won’t stop anytime soon. Let’s head back to the cave.”

“Okay,” both girls replied immediately, their trust in Lin Xiao absolute.

Just as Lin Xiao was about to lead them away, a choked voice called out from behind.

“Sir, thank you! Thank you so much!”

Turning around, Lin Xiao saw the woman who clutched her daughter tightly. She was looking at him with tears of gratitude. The little girl, unaware of what had just transpired, clung to her mother and sobbed loudly, releasing all her fear.

Lin Xiao glanced at the girl, his gaze softening. “It was nothing, really.”

“No,” the woman said earnestly. “When everyone else stood by, you stepped up and saved my daughter.”

She hesitated, then pleaded, “Please, let me have your contact information. I will find a way to repay you someday.”

“Kindness doesn’t seek repayment. If I wanted something in return, I wouldn’t have saved your daughter.”

Lin Xiao’s tone was indifferent as he turned away, pulling Yuan Yu and Huang Caixing with him.

The woman opened her mouth, as if to say something more, but stopped. She stood there in a daze, watching Lin Xiao’s retreating figure.

“Mommy, was that big brother the one who saved me?”

The little girl looked up and pointed toward Lin Xiao’s back.

“Yes,” the woman said, kneeling to wipe the rain and tears from her daughter’s face. “Remember his face. Never forget him, alright?”

“I won’t,” the little girl said with a determined nod.

After Lin Xiao and the two girls left, the crowd began to disperse. Some sought shelter from the rain, while others tried to find a way down the mountain.

As they walked through the downpour, Lin Xiao turned to Yuan Yu. “Little Yu, get on my back. I’ll carry you.”

Yuan Yu’s cheeks flushed red. Her face and forehead were burning hot, and her head swam with dizziness. Yet despite all this, she gritted her teeth and endured, not uttering a single complaint.

Compared to what Lin Xiao had endured, her discomfort seemed trivial, or so she told herself.

When Lin Xiao offered to carry her, Yuan Yu shook her head.

“I can manage, Big Brother Lin. I feel much better now. It’s not so bad anymore.”

“Liar,” Huang Caixing said bluntly, exposing Yuan Yu’s fib. “You’re burning up! Your forehead’s so hot you could cook an egg. Brother Lin isn’t a stranger. Why are you being polite?”

Under normal circumstances, Yuan Yu would have argued back, but now she could only cast a weak glare at Huang Caixing.

“Big Brother Lin is tired too–”

Before she could finish, Lin Xiao scooped her up effortlessly.

“No matter how tired I am, I still have the strength to carry you,” he said calmly.

Yuan Yu said nothing more, resting her cheek against Lin Xiao’s chest and closing her eyes as she listened to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

Huang Caixing adjusted Yuan Yu’s raincoat to keep her dry. Watching Yuan Yu nestled so comfortably, she muttered enviously, “Why couldn’t I be the sick one? I want Big Brother Lin to carry me too.”

Though she had spoken to herself, Lin Xiao’s sharp hearing caught every word. He couldn’t help but feel a bit speechless.

After much difficulty, the three of them finally made their way back to the small cave.

“Still no signal?” Lin Xiao asked Huang Caixing.

Huang Caixing, who had been idly holding Lin Xiao’s arm, snapped back to attention and checked her phone.

“Nope. Still nothing. Mom’s probably worried sick by now.”

Lin Xiao had already tried to call earlier when the rain began, but the deep mountain terrain and bad weather had rendered their phones useless.

***

As night fell, the rain outside the cave continued to pour relentlessly. The distant rumble of landslides echoed through the mountains, mingling with the roar of thunder and flashes of lightning. Combined with the darkening skies, it felt as if the end of the world had arrived.

By now, Yuan Yu and Huang Caixing were starting to feel hungry.

Having already been exhausted from the climb, the chaos of the storm and falling rocks had left them no time to notice. Now that they were resting, their fatigue and hunger became apparent.

Though neither of them said anything, Lin Xiao could tell. Fortunately, he had packed food.

“You’re hungry, aren’t you? Here, eat something.”

Lin Xiao pulled out food and water from the backpack, sharing it with Huang Caixing and feeding Yuan Yu some bread and water.

Yuan Yu’s fever worsened. Her eyes remained shut, her long lashes trembling slightly as her body shivered from the cold.

Huang Caixing, too, was feeling the chill. Clinging tightly to Lin Xiao, she suddenly sneezed.

‘If we don’t start a fire, they won’t last the night,’ Lin Xiao thought to himself as her sneeze confirmed his suspicions.

He rummaged through the backpack and soon found a windproof lighter.

“As expected of Auntie Xin’s foresight,” Lin Xiao murmured with some admiration.

Though experienced in wilderness survival, Lin Xiao hadn’t thought to bring a lighter for a simple hike. Luckily, Huang Xinyu had not only packed food but also included a lighter. Without it, the torrential rain would have left him with few options.

Looking at the weather, Lin Xiao decided to build a wooden shelter at the cave entrance to shield the fire from the rain.

Handing the knife to Huang Caixing, Lin Xiao said in a serious tone, “Caixing, we’ll have to stay here overnight. I need to gather firewood, but I’ll be back quickly. Stay here with Little Yu and wait for me.”

Though she didn’t want Lin Xiao to leave, Huang Caixing knew he was right. She nodded obediently and took the knife.

“Alright, Big Brother Lin. I’ll stay here with Little Yu.”

Lin Xiao smiled faintly, patted her head, and stepped into the rain, disappearing from view within moments.