Chapter 55: Making Candles for Illumination in Remote Antiquity

She was instantly delighted — now she could make candles, wonderful, she wanted everyone in this Remote Antiquity Era to use candles.

"Claim now"

Soon, she obtained the materials for making candles — paraffin wax and cotton wicks — and then she called Axi and those women into the cave and taught them how to make candles.

The women learned very earnestly. When they saw those white candles being made one by one, Axi and the women's faces all changed, and A Mu was also quite astonished.

"Qinghuan, what kind of sticks are these? They're actually quite pretty."

She quickly smiled, "A Mu, these aren't sticks. Where I come from, these are called candles. Look — you just light this wick and it can illuminate the Cave, much more convenient than a Bonfire."

With a click, she lit the first candle of the Remote Antiquity Era. When everyone saw the candle's glow, they were all stunned. "Ah, it really doesn't go out, this is wonderful, Qinghuan, where did you learn this?"

Axi and several women were all very curious — this thing called a candle was truly handy.

"I learned it at my Tribe. Axi, here's what you do — distribute these candles to everyone, one per person. When they're used up, come to me for more, understand?"

That day, everyone in the entire Tribe knew that Om had invented another new thing, and that thing was called a candle.

After everyone took their candles and thanked her, they were about to leave, but who knew they would see... "A Yue, why are you here? There's no share of candles for you."

Several women chimed in to help Nan Qinghuan. One of A Yue's hands had already been cut off and was still hurting; she looked somewhat weak, her gaze directed toward Nan Qinghuan inside the Cave.

"Don't misunderstand, I came to apologize to Om."

As soon as these words came out, Axi still didn't quite believe it — the always arrogant and domineering A Yue had come to apologize? "I don't believe you. Leave quickly, or I'll have Mos bite you."

The wild wolf Mos was very obedient to Axi's words and instantly bared its teeth, ready to bite A Yue. A Yue took a step back and suddenly knelt down. "Om, I'm A Yue, I've come to apologize to you. Please see me."

A Yue had actually knelt at the Cave Entrance, which made everyone unable to believe it — A Yue would also have a day of begging for mercy? Inside the Cave, A Mu was somewhat worried. "Qinghuan, this female A Yue has too wicked a heart. You'd better not go, and don't give her any candles either."

Nan Qinghuan set down the candle in her hand. She actually wanted to see what tricks this woman still had up her sleeve. "A Mu, I'll go take a look."

When Nan Qinghuan appeared at the cave entrance, sure enough, she saw A Yue kneeling there, with so many tribesmen standing around her pointing and whispering at her, their expressions full of disdain.

When A Yue saw Nan Qinghuan come, she hurriedly kowtowed. "Om, I know I was wrong, I've come to apologize."

Seeing that she had actually come to apologize, Nan Qinghuan didn't believe A Yue was sincere at all. "Speak, what exactly do you want?"

A Yue wept bitterly, without a trace of her former arrogance and domineering. "Om, it was my fault before. I shouldn't have gone against you, I shouldn't have treated you that way. Ever since Ying cut off my hand and burned my cave, I've regretted it. I shouldn't have..."

"Shouldn't have done what?"

A Yue hung her head and stammered. Nan Qinghuan saw that everyone was here — could this woman have something to say to her alone?

She thought for a moment. "You all go back. I'll talk with A Yue alone. Come in."

"Qinghuan, that won't do, what if..."

Axi worried that A Yue still wanted to deal with Nan Qinghuan, but Nan Qinghuan said disdainfully, "Relax, what can a cripple with a severed hand do to me? You all go back, try out the candlelight tonight."

Seeing that she wasn't afraid of A Yue, everyone went back. They still had work to do. After they left, A Mu also stood up. "Qinghuan..."

"A Mu, you take some candles too."

A Mu's lips twitched. Seeing the wild wolf Mos there, she felt reassured. She was also afraid Nan Qinghuan would run away — if she ran, his son would surely go mad with anxiety.

Once there was no one left in the Cave, Nan Qinghuan extinguished the Bonfire. It was too hot inside the Cave; lighting candles was the best choice.

When A Yue saw no one was around, she stopped pretending. She coldly glanced at Nan Qinghuan's candles, and though curious, she still said coldly, "Where did you steal this craft from this time?"

Sure enough, this woman came with ill intentions.

Nan Qinghuan rolled her eyes at her, then sat by the stone bench and fiddled with her roasting rack. Ever since she moved here, she had built a roasting rack inside. All the meat Ying brought was roasted, and the tribesmen gradually stopped eating raw meat and grew to like Roasted Meat, dipped in pepper sauce — the taste was quite good.

She was roasting a Sheep leg, sizzling with oil, and then she nimbly sprinkled on some pepper sauce. Instantly, the aroma of roasted Sheep meat wafted over.

A Yue swallowed her saliva from craving, and then she actually squatted down beside her. "Nan Qinghuan, you were originally a noble Ape-man, you shouldn't be living a hard life here."

As soon as these words came out, Nan Qinghuan knew there was something to it. She tore off a piece of leg meat and chewed it a few times, then raised her eyes to look at A Yue. "Cut the nonsense, what do you want to say?"

Seeing her so arrogant, A Yue wasn't angry. She still said coldly, "I know you don't genuinely want to stay by Ying's side. A White-skinned Female like you can't endure the hardships of the Ying Tribe."

Nan Qinghuan swallowed a piece of meat. "Get to the point. If you don't speak soon, Ying will be back."

Hearing that Ying was coming back, A Yue grew anxious. "I know a path that can help you escape from here. Will you escape or not?"

Hearing these words, the hope in Nan Qinghuan's heart was instantly ignited. Yes — she had been here for nearly a month and had only tried to escape once, and had been unluckily caught and brought back.

But then she thought... "Don't try to fool me again, I won't fall for your tricks. This place is surrounded by the Tribe on all sides, and Ying knows every inch of the land like the back of his hand. Never mind that he has Xiao Guai and Mos helping him — even without them, I couldn't escape."

Although Ying had been very good to her these days, as a modern woman, her desire to escape was still stirring restlessly.

A Yue rolled her eyes at her, her gaze full of disdain. "You were too stupid last time. You tried to escape without even looking at the terrain here clearly. I have a map of all the Tribe's defense positions. Tomorrow is the full moon, also a rest day for the tribesmen. At that time I'll help you, and you can leave from the cliff. I guarantee you won't be caught and brought back."

Hearing A Yue's words, Nan Qinghuan suddenly stood up. "You hate me to the bone — why would you help me?"

Seeing that she still didn't believe her, A Yue raised her one remaining hand and swore. "I, A Yue, swear to the Heavenly God that this time I truly want to help you escape. If I intended to harm you, then let the Heavenly God punish me."

The Ancient People took oaths very seriously. Nan Qinghuan still didn't believe A Yue's words, but she also wanted to give it a try — what if she really could escape, how wonderful would that be? She couldn't possibly stay holed up here for a lifetime. Even though Ying treated her well, she was a modern person, and couldn't possibly spend her whole life with a savage.

"Why do you want to help me?"