Chapter 11: A Paused Second

Let's just stay here.

Qin Chuan carefully observed the surroundings and stopped.

By his feet, Shui Hua followed step for step.

Before the person and beast stood a large inward‑concave rock; underfoot was a relatively flat rock face; the rock on the sunny slope was dry enough, and the upright rock could serve as a rock wall, reducing the difficulty of building a shelter.

This spot is only a few dozen meters from the stream they just discovered; regardless of terrain or other factors, Qin Chuan could find no fault.

The textbook‑style campsite made Qin Chuan, who had only skimmed half of the wilderness survival guide, eager to try.

"First, prepare a stone knife and wood‑drilling fire…"

Qin Chuan led Shui Hua around the area and found a stone the size of a head.

"Shui Hua, Raging Torrent!"

"Woof! (Here it comes!)"

Shui Hua responded with a bark, flicked its tail, and a respectable‑power water stream slammed hard into the stone.

He had hoped to achieve this historic feat under Shui Hua's witness, but didn't expect wood‑drilling fire to be harder than imagined; since that's the case, better give Shui Hua some tasks.

"Woof? (Is this for making fire?)"

Listening to Qin Chuan's words and connecting with the scene just seen, Shui Hua's expression cleared up.

After the two spirit beasts exchanged a few words, the little squirrel stepped forward, clasped the two fruits in its arms, and quietly followed Shui Hua toward the shelter.

The simple stone knife was considered done.

Shui Hua glanced at Qin Chuan, then turned and headed into the rear forest.

Shui Hua stopped, placing the two fruits it had been holding in its mouth onto the ground.

The vine‑wrapped upright stick spun rapidly under the vines' pull; the ground‑end of the stone knife rubbed continuously in the notch carved into another piece of dry wood, emitting a dull sound.

Succeeding in putting theory into practice excited Qin Chuan; he quickly searched the surroundings for some dry wood, then, with Shui Hua's help, found a vine that could replace hemp rope, returned to the empty shelter, and began working on it.

Shui Hua was already curious about the meaning of Qin Chuan's actions; now it widened its eyes, staring unblinkingly at his wood‑drilling fire device.

With the stone knife's help, a simple wood‑drilling fire device was quickly completed.

"Huh?"

Five minutes passed.

Not long after, Shui Hua had something in its mouth and hurried toward the stream.

The stone shattered with a sound into several pieces; Qin Chuan stepped forward, picked through them, and soon found a piece with a relatively sharp edge.

Qin Chuan looked at the unchanged device, calmly shook his slightly sore hand, and said, "Wood‑drilling fire is indeed not simple."

The little squirrel froze for a moment, then let out two 'squeak' sounds.

"Woof! Woof!"

"Watch closely, Shui Hua! I'll show you a trick!" Qin Chuan rolled up his sleeves, sat cross‑legged, gripped both ends of the vine tightly, and began pulling back and forth repeatedly.

By the stream, a spirit beast resembling a squirrel, its fur fiery red and its large tail completely woven of flames, was drinking water; seeing Shui Hua approach, it quickly stopped drinking, its eyes showing vigilance and displeasure.

"Not bad; to survive better here we need a fire source." Qin Chuan nodded, took out a stamina‑restoring fruit and ate it, saying, "You go nearby find some food to fill your stomach; I'll continue."

"Don't go too far, stay safe." Worriedly reminding him, Qin Chuan rubbed his hands and dove back into the great undertaking of wood‑drilling fire.

Sensing the movement, Qin Chuan turned and immediately saw the little squirrel.

【Spirit Beast Species: Flame-tailed Squirrel】

【Spirit Beast Attribute: Fire System】

【Spirit Beast Level: Juvenile Stage Lv3】

【Spirit Beast Status: Uncontracted】

【Spirit Beast Introduction: Fire‑system Flame-tailed Squirrel, tasty and mischievous; as long as you don't steal its food, its temperament is fairly friendly.】

Shui Hua, you…

Qin Chuan was about to ask about the situation, but saw the Flame-tailed Squirrel touch its flame‑woven large tail to the piled dry firewood nearby.

"Bear!!!"

Accompanied by a low rumbling explosion, the dry firewood instantly ignited.

Having done all that, the Flame-tailed Squirrel wagged its tail at Shui Hua as a farewell, clasped two fruits, and strode off.

Qin Chuan looked at the blazing dry firewood, then at the innocent‑looking Shui Hua; after a moment of silence he directly threw the wood‑drilling fire device that had just emitted a wisp of white smoke from his hand.

Damn! The guide led me astray!

Completed!

Qin Chuan reached out, washed his hands in the ball of water condensed by Shui Hua, then satisfiedly looked at the straight wooden pillars before him and the rolls of prepared hemp‑rope vines.

After several hours of effort, his tools had progressed from stone knife to more efficient stone axe; nearby piled dry wood burned with vigorous flames, and beside it a slanted wooden stick skewered a weird‑looking fish, now grilled golden and oily.

Juvenile Stage Lv1 Rainbow‑tailed Fish, caught by Shui Hua.

What remains is to use these wooden pillars and vines to build a simple shelter as a temporary refuge.

However, this step need not be rushed.

Qin Chuan glanced at the time.

【07:51:49/08:00:00】【00:00:01】

Less than ten minutes remain before the Dream World's entrance closes.

The remaining work can be discussed the next time we enter the Dream World.

After washing his hands, Qin Chuan sat cross‑legged by the fire, took down the fragrant grilled fish, gave half to Shui Hua, then while eating, stared at the panel's time display showing the second ahead.

Before, he thought this was a normal function.

But after the Special Affairs Group explained it, Qin Chuan already realized this might be his special trait; in novel terms, it's a cheat.

Since it's a cheat, we need to figure out its purpose.

Qin Chuan used his free hand to randomly tap the panel, trying to find a breakthrough.

Suddenly, his hand came to a stop.

【07:53:26/08:00:01】【00:00:00】

Seeing the new time display, Qin Chuan was dazed.

He had inadvertently touched the panel area corresponding to "08:00:00"; by accident, he actually used up that second.

This second added to the original eight o'clock, could it mean…

Not bothering to savor the grilled fish's flavor, Qin Chuan gulped down the remaining grilled fish, stood up, and said, "Shui Hua, let's do a little experiment."

Shui Hua reluctantly glanced at the uneaten grilled fish, then hurriedly followed.

Standing still in the dense forest, Qin Chuan fixed his gaze on the time.

【07:59:59/08:00:01】【00:00:00】

On the branch above Qin Chuan's head, a colorful finch suddenly fluttered its wings and took flight; its wings inadvertently brushed a fragile withered leaf, sending the leaf fluttering down.

【08:00:00/08:00:01】【00:00:00】

Suddenly, the surroundings fell into absolute silence; the abrupt quiet let Qin Chuan clearly hear his own heartbeat.

He stared fixedly at the leaf frozen before his eyes, then abruptly lifted his head to look at the finch frozen in midair, and afterward turned his head to look at Shui Hua, who was curiously looking around behind him.

"Woof?"

【08:00:01/08:00:01】【00:00:01】

【Dream World Entrance Closed】

(End of Chapter)