Minho tiptoed quietly, glancing around to ensure Tao wasn’t paying attention. The last thing she needed was to attract unwanted attention to what she was doing. As she approached the base of the large tree, she saw the batch of berries they had collected earlier, nestled in a woven basket. After confirming that Tao was still at her post by the cave entrance, she quickly grabbed a bag and scooped a generous amount of the berries into it. Satisfied with her haul, she took two small clay pots from a nearby stack and slipped back into the hut, her footsteps silent on the cool earth.

Inside the dimly lit hut, Minho carefully set down the berries and pots, her heart beating a little faster with excitement. Everything was coming together, and she couldn’t afford to make a mistake now. She glanced at the metal scraps Shun and Gu had brought back from their exploration of the tunnel. They had found the pieces near that strange door deep in the cave, and now the bags containing them were lying near the wall. Minho crept over, gently untying the cords and peeking inside. She was relieved to see that the metal seemed to match what she needed, though she still wasn’t entirely sure how it would all work. She pulled out two different pieces, hoping they would serve as the "types" of metals the [Smartphone] instructions had mentioned.

Satisfied that most of the materials were ready, Minho retrieved the [Smartphone] and skimmed through the instructions again, her eyes darting over the unfamiliar words. She had read the guide several times already, but she needed to make sure she understood every step. It was still confusing, but she was getting better at interpreting the instructions with her notes. According to the guide, she needed to create an "acidic solution" that would interact with the metals, causing a reaction that would produce something called [Electricity]. The term was still foreign to her, but she grasped that it was a kind of invisible energy she could harness and use to power the [Smartphone].

The instructions also mentioned that she would need to connect the metals with "conductive" material, which the [Smartphone] defined as something capable of transferring electrical energy and heat. It had taken her a while to understand what that meant, but after reading further, she realized she could use small metal chains as makeshift wires. Luckily, she had a few of those lying around from an old necklace she had scavenged during one of the raids with the brotherhood. She wasn't sure how well they would work, but they were worth a try.

Her first task was to prepare the acidic solution. Minho grabbed the berries and began to crush them, using a small flat stone to grind them into a pulpy liquid. The sour, pungent smell filled the hut as she worked, and she wrinkled her nose but kept at it. Once she had enough of the berry juice, she carefully poured the bright, acidic liquid into the two clay pots. Her hands were steady, but she couldn’t help feeling a bit nervous. She had no idea if this would work or if she was just wasting time on a foolish endeavor.

Next, she took the metal scraps and dipped each piece into the pots, positioning them so that they didn’t touch. From what she understood, the metals needed to be in contact with the acidic solution but kept separate from each other. Then, she took the small chains and attached one end to each piece of metal, effectively connecting them. This was her attempt at creating what the [Smartphone] referred to as a "circuit."

The guide had mentioned something about the [Smartphone] needing "5 volts" of electricity. Minho didn’t know what a "volt" was, but she had read that it was a unit to measure how much electrical energy something produced. From what she gathered, if her setup didn’t produce enough, she would need to add more acidic material and more metals to increase it. She decided to start small, testing with what she had, and would adjust as needed.

With everything set up, she took a deep breath and glanced at the [Smartphone] again. She was still trying to wrap her head around the process, but she had come too far to back down now. Slowly, she brought the other ends of the small chains towards the [Smartphone]'s charging port, hesitating for a moment before connecting them. She half-expected nothing to happen—just a futile experiment—but she had to try.

She closed her eyes for a moment, muttering a quiet prayer, then checked the screen. To her astonishment, a small icon appeared at the top right corner—a sign that the [Smartphone] was charging.

It worked. On her first attempt, no less. For a moment, she could hardly believe it. Relief washed over her, so strong she almost laughed. The sense of accomplishment was overwhelming. She had managed to do something she barely understood, using materials she had only just learned to repurpose, and it had actually worked. She could feel the tension drain from her shoulders. As long as this setup continued to provide power, she wouldn’t have to worry about losing the vast repository of knowledge stored in the [Smartphone]. The guide she had found on the [Internet] mentioned that this method of charging was slow, but that was a minor inconvenience. What mattered was that it was working.

With a satisfied smile, she set the [Smartphone] down gently, making sure the connections stayed secure. Now all she had to do was wait for a few hours. She would need to keep an eye on it, but for now, she could allow herself a brief moment of rest.

Meanwhile, deep within the dark, winding tunnels of the cave, Gu and Shun were making steady progress. The two of them had returned to the iron door embedded in the wall, a place that had marked the furthest point of their exploration the previous night. Yesterday, they had moved slowly and cautiously, testing every step, unsure of what lay ahead. It had taken them the better part of the night to reach this point. But tonight was different. Tonight, they knew the path well, and it had taken them only a few hours to reach the familiar spot.

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However, beyond the iron door was uncharted territory once again, and both men were on high alert. Their torches flickered, casting eerie shadows on the damp, stone walls as they crept forward, every footstep echoing softly in the dark, hollow space. Shun, who was trailing behind, glanced nervously at the narrowing tunnel ahead. "Hopefully, there’s only one path from here," he muttered. "If it splits into multiple tunnels, finding our way back could be a nightmare."

"Don’t jinx us, Brother Shun," Gu replied, his voice barely above a whisper. He was already feeling the strain of their journey; his legs ached, and his shoulders were sore from carrying the weight of their gear. Still, he pressed on, scanning the tunnel with sharp, tired eyes. As they moved deeper, Gu suddenly noticed something peculiar. The flame of his torch, which had been burning steadily, began to flicker slightly, swaying backward as if pushed by an unseen force. It was subtle—so subtle that most people might have missed it—but Gu’s eyes caught the movement, and it sparked a glimmer of hope within him.

"Brother Shun, look! The fire—it’s flickering."

Shun squinted, trying to see what Gu was pointing out. At first, he didn’t notice anything unusual, but after a few moments of staring, he saw it too. The flame danced as if in response to a faint breeze. "You’re right, Brother Gu," he said, a smile creeping across his face. "It’s reacting to wind! There must be an opening nearby."

The realization filled them both with renewed energy. If there was wind, then there had to be another exit. They quickened their pace, pushing through the narrow, suffocating tunnel with a new sense of purpose. The air grew cooler, and after a few more minutes, they began to feel a light breeze against their skin. It was faint but unmistakable, a gentle, persistent current of air that told them they were close to the outside.

"There definitely is another entrance to the cave," Gu said, his voice more confident now. Shun nodded, his eyes fixed ahead. "We’re almost there," he agreed, his excitement mounting with every step.

Finally, after several minutes of walking, they saw it—a faint, pale glow seeping through the darkness up ahead. The tunnel widened slightly, and in the distance, they could make out the faint outline of an opening. The two of them broke into a jog, eager to see where it led.

When they emerged from the cave, they found themselves standing at the mouth of a hidden exit, concealed in a large, rocky crevice between two towering mountains. The entrance was ingeniously hidden, nestled in a natural hollow surrounded by steep rock walls on all sides. It was almost impossible to spot unless you were standing right in front of it. Massive slabs of rock shielded the entrance, creating the illusion of a solid wall. However, upon closer inspection, they could see that there was a gradual, sloping path leading down from the opening—worn and weathered, as if it had been used countless times before.

Gu's eyes widened as he took in the scene. "They must have used this path to move in and out of the cave discreetly, probably with horses or wagons."

Shun nodded, his gaze following the slope downward. "That makes sense," he said thoughtfully. "This slope is gentle enough for horses to manage, and it’s hidden well enough that no one would think to look for it. Whoever built this must have gone to great lengths to keep it a secret."

The two of them stood there for a moment, letting the cool night air wash over them.

With renewed curiosity, Gu and Shun decided to walk up the slope. As they crested the top, they were greeted by a sight that made them stop in their tracks. Just a few meters ahead, a small town lay nestled under the night sky, its warm, orange lights glowing softly in the distance, casting a gentle, inviting glow that stood in stark contrast to the dark, dense forest around them.

After a quick look at their surroundings, Gu concluded that they had emerged on the opposite side of the forest. "This is perfect," Shun said, his eyes alight with excitement. "We can easily make our way to the town without having to trek through the entire forest and risk getting caught by the Greenwood bandits."

Gu nodded, his mind already planning their next move. "I think I recognize that town," he said, squinting at the distant buildings. "It has a name... something like Hisu Town."

Shun turned to Gu, his curiosity piqued. "Hisu Town? Isn’t that the place where a retired commander from the imperial army lives? I remember Brother Yuan mentioning it once."

"Yes, that's the one," Gu confirmed. "If I recall correctly, it's also a trade hub, which means we might be able to gather some supplies there." He glanced back at the tunnel entrance, considering their options. "Anyway, let’s head back for now. We need to tell Sister Tao and Xiao Minho about this. They’ll be glad to hear we’ve found another entrance and a town nearby."

The two of them turned and began their descent back into the tunnel, their steps lighter now that they had something to report. However, even as they moved away, they couldn’t help but take one last glance at the town, its lights shimmering gently under the pale moonlight. From this distance, Hisu Town seemed to be thriving, surrounded by the quiet, serene forest and bathed in the soft glow of the moon. But the reality was far different from what their eyes could perceive.

As a carriage rolled into the cobbled streets of Hisu Town, the illusion of tranquility began to unravel. The town's outer walls, though still standing, bore the scars of a recent battle. Cracks ran through the stone, and patches of hastily applied mortar were visible, showing signs of a rushed repair. Some of the houses still had blackened, charred rooftops, remnants of the fires that had raged during the attack. The air smelled faintly of smoke, a bitter reminder of the destruction that had swept through not long ago.

Young men were seen scrubbing the streets, trying to wipe away the bloodstains that refused to fade, their faces set in grim determination. The carriage moved slowly, its wheels creaking as it came to a halt in front of a grand building that stood out amidst the damaged structures. It was a siheyuan-style compound, Though it had been repaired, the cracks and scorch marks still told the story of the Greenwood Brotherhood’s attack. Above it, an imperial flag fluttered gently, a symbol of authority that hadn’t quite managed to restore the town’s sense of security.

The heavy wooden doors of the building creaked open, and a figure stepped out the carriage once it stopped in front of the door—Master Lin, leaning on his intricately carved cane.

The governor's residence was far from its former glory, but under Master Lin’s watchful eye, repairs had been swift, and the building was slowly beginning to recover from the damage.

Inside, the warmth of lanterns lit up the main hall, and as Master Lin entered, a flurry of movement caught his attention. A young woman in her early twenties rushed forward, her eyes lighting up with joy. Without a word, she threw her arms around him, enveloping him in a tight, affectionate hug. "Father, you're back!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of relief and happiness.

Master Lin's stern expression softened as he returned the embrace, patting her gently on the back. "Yes, yes, I am... Huangshu," he said, a faint smile touching his lips.