The night sky was devoid of stars and moon.
The silent, deep mountains lay like a dead painting, slumbering quietly in the darkness.
A bonfire was lit by the stream, and Lu Zhi, along with others, sat around it, listening to the crackling sounds of burning branches, which brought a hint of life to the still night.
Lu Zhi poked the bonfire with a twig, his eyes brightening. "Senior Jiang, the sweet potatoes are ready," he exclaimed excitedly.
Jiang Yue, who was listening to Yan Shao arrange tonight's night patrol of Qing Shen Village, immediately dropped the chairman's matter. "Quick, quick, quickly dig them all out, or they'll be burnt to a crisp."
No one knew what Jiang Yue was thinking; wherever she went, she always carried sweet potatoes in her backpack. It seemed that after a near-death experience from hunger in the Long Kan once, the sweet potatoes had given her a second life, instilling in her a strange "deep love" for them.
"Mmm, it smells so good." Jiang Yue blew away some of the heat and then let out a growl as she bit into it, her eyes narrowing in satisfaction. "It's delicious~"
Lu Zhi also quickly peeled off the charred skin to reveal the golden flesh inside. He took a bite, his dark, bright eyes slowly narrowing. "It's delicious, sweet and sticky. Shen Qi, you try some too."
Shen Qi met Lu Zhi's eyes, which sparkled in the firelight. He lowered his head and took a sip from where Lu Zhi had bitten, commenting, "Hmm, not bad."
"Is there any more? I want to eat too." Shi Yu's stomach rumbled, enticed by the aroma of the sweet potatoes.
"Don't be shy, I brought a lot this time," Jiang Yue said, proudly patting her backpack. "I guarantee you won't go hungry."
Shi Yu quickly dug one out from the bonfire.
Li Le was amused by Jiang Yue's peculiar behavior. "You went into the Long Kan carrying a backpack full of sweet potatoes?"
Jiang Yue scoffed. "If it weren't for my sweet potatoes, you'd all still be starving."
Although time flowed differently in the Long Kan, people inside could still starve if they didn't eat. While there was food in the Long Kan, even if consumed, it would cause weakness after exiting. This was because the items within the Long Kan contained Yin energy and could not be fully absorbed by the human body. Eating too much would actually make one weaker.
"If I didn't know better, I'd think you were all out camping," Yan Shao said, finding a stone to sit on with a helpless expression. The one-legged Wutong, which he had been holding in his hands, was placed on a stream stone opposite the bonfire.
"Just leave it like that, no need to tend to it?" Lu Zhi asked casually after finishing his sweet potato and going to the stream to wash his hands.
"No need. Since we know it's a ghost, we'll just leave it for now." Yan Shao looked up at the night sky. "It's still early. I'll take the first watch, and Jiang Yue will take the second. You all rest first. After midnight, we'll split up and carry out our tasks."
Just as Jiang Yue made an OK gesture, everyone heard a "plop."
Shi Yu: "What was that sound?"
Lu Zhi, who was closer: "Uh... it was Senior Sister farting."
Jiang Yue's eyes darted around awkwardly.
Yan Shao chuckled. "You ate too many sweet potatoes, didn't you?"
A total of ten sweet potatoes had been roasted. There were six of them. Shen Qi didn't eat any, Shi Yu and Li Le each ate two, and Jiang Yue ate four by herself.
"Farting is normal, right?" Jiang Yue said, hands on her hips. "Don't you guys fart? I don't believe you!"
Shi Yu: "I do. But my farts are silent. Yours announced itself to the world."
Jiang Yue pinched her nose, looking disgusted. "You've heard of 'loud farts don't stink,' haven't you? You must be constipated! Don't believe me, sniff! My farts don't stink at all."
Lu Zhi: ...Even if they don't stink, no one wants to specifically smell them!
Yan Shao smiled. "I need to take care of some physiological needs."
Li Le stood up, following. "Wait, me too."
Jiang Yue shook her head and pouted. "If you need to pee, just pee. Why call it 'physiological needs'? Chairman is truly an idol, isn't he, Junior Lu."
Lu Zhi smiled. "Whatever Senior Sister says is right."
Life had taught him that with girls, no matter what they said, agreeing with them would never be wrong.
After a brief chat, everyone found a spot and closed their eyes to rest.
Lu Zhi fell asleep with his head on Shen Qi's lap. However, in the middle of the night, he dreamt that the one-legged Wutong wanted to kill him.