Chapter 219: A Lifelong Companionship Ritual

Kang Wen no longer argued; his own strength couldn't carry Kang Wu back to where they had been, so this arrangement was already the best way.

Okay.

Kang Wu had no choice but to passively accept.

Lying on that not-so-broad back, he could even feel Ning Qiancheng's violent heartbeat; the sound made him feel warm.

All along the way, there had been no mishap.

At the place where traps had originally been set, the dark guards quietly removed them……

This time, they did not seek the Princess Consort's consent; afterward, they would go to apologize.

But seeing those youths covered in wounds yet never giving up, they wanted to do something for them, even if it was merely removing the prepared traps, nothing more.

"Is it really on fire?" Han Wen Jun stared at the fire before him, voicing his disbelief.

Even though the fire was one he had produced by drilling, it still felt utterly unreal.

"Quick, light the fire, use this." Kang Zhi Xia saw their dazed looks, hurriedly brought over the dry leaves she had collected, and slowly ignited the fire.

Then she carefully laid the dry small sticks on it, waiting until they caught fire before adding the larger sticks.

For a moment, the crackling sound seemed to wake everyone from a dream.

"Did it really catch?"

"We lit it; wood‑drilling fire is indeed real."

"We did it!"

For a moment, amidst all their desperate struggle in these mountains, this scene was the first time they had reaped gain and joy.

Several girls sat in a circle around the fire, and for a moment some were unable to speak.

"What the Dean said is all correct."

Han Wen Jun gazed at the fire and muttered a sentence to himself.

Even wood‑drilling fire, such an absurd thing, could actually be done.

"Stop spacing out, thread them." No longer worrying about clean or dirty, they used thin stone slices to pull off the snake skins, then cut the meat unevenly, but it was enough to roast.

Now conditions were crude, there were many of them, and there was nothing to quibble about.

"Leave one person to watch the fire, the others thread the meat." After saying that, Kang Zhi Chun stood up immediately.

When Han Wen Jun tried to stand, Jia Chuan pressed down on his shoulder, "Your leg injury still needs care—move less, just watch the fire."

Having said that, he left without looking back.

The group, nobody quarreled, nobody asked; aside from the joy of having lit the fire, everything remained quiet and silent.

"Who said someone was injured?" Jiang Yunchu sprang to her feet.

"Number 5 (Kang Nai Xin) is unconscious; number 4 (Kang Zi Wei) has been checked and said the injury is from shock, with no serious wounds."

"Number 3 (Kang Wu) has a foot injury, with no other external wounds."

"Number 11 (Han Wen Jun) has an inner thigh injury; number 12 (Jia Chuan) has an arm injury."

As each injury report came in, Jiang Yunchu's brows knotted tightly; Ningguang had already calmed down, she knew Jiang Yunchu's temperament—only she herself could change her mind, otherwise no amount of advice would help.

"Do they have any means to call for help?"

"Can the abandoned fireworks still be lit?"

She closed her eyes, her voice laced with worry, yet she still asked.

"Never."

The dark guards reported the situation, their eyes showing a hint of admiration; though it seemed a simple matter, those children's ages were right there.

"Continue observing, constantly watch the situation."

"Yes!"

The dark guards withdrew, but Jiang Yunchu's clenched fists remained tight for a long time.

"Why bother?"

Ningguang looked at her, then let out a soft sigh, picked up a book from the side, and began reading again.

Jiang Yunchu arranged for Bai Zhi to have the infirmary make emergency preparations, then set down the book in her hand; now she couldn't focus on reading, so she simply gazed at the outside sky, with half a day left.

"Kids, are we heading down the mountain soon?"

"Kang Wu, how's your leg?"

"Can you move?"

……

Kang Wu and the others returned; Kang Zi Wei stepped forward and asked.

Meanwhile, Kang Zhiqiu and Kang Zhi Xia hurried over with the roasted snake meat and handed it to the three who had just come back.

The three sat on the ground without any image, gulping heavy breaths; each had no sweat left, today they had sweated out all their perspiration.

"I used the Dean's method to collect some water, but the weather is so dry there's hardly any; each of us can take a sip and make do." After saying that, Kang Zhiqiu also gave an embarrassed smile.

A mouthful of water—when had they ever cared about that at the academy?

But in these deep mountains, in this wild forest, not to mention a mouthful, even a single drop needs to be cherished doubly.

"I'll give mine to the eldest Ning." Seeing Kang Zhiqiu holding out leaves, Han Wen Jun embarrassedly refused; he could do so little, and all along the way his brothers had looked after him—if he drank one sip less, his brothers could have one more.

"I'll give mine to Brother Zhi Xia." Jia Chuan made the same choice.

A mouthful of water, not much.

But what is scarce now is water.

Ning Hanmo looked over everyone, then said to the male students, "You guys, dare to drink snake blood?"

His gaze deepened as he glanced at Kang Nai Xin still unconscious and at Kang Wu whose foot was injured.

Given the circumstances, they can only speak of the future if they survive.

One sip of water per person is really too little.

It would be better to give this water to the female trainees, while they have other choices.

I'll do it.

Kang Zhi Xia narrowed his eyes, then patted Ning Hanmo's shoulder, as if it were an easy choice.

But snake blood — that requires overcoming inner difficulty.

The snake had been dead for a long time; back then Ning Hanmo deliberately used leaves and vines to plug the bleeding wound, thinking it was a last resort, but now the situation has come to this.

"Me too." Kang Wen and Kang Wu spoke together; after they finished, they glanced at each other and said nothing else.

"Don't forget me." Han Wen Jun said.

Jia Chuan merely nodded, while Ning Qiancheng had already picked up the stone slab and began to bleed the snake.

"Divide this water among yourselves."

"Give Nai Xin some too." Ning Hanmo looked at the unconscious Kang Nai Xin, his brows slightly furrowed, then he sighed.

If she could choose for herself, she surely wouldn't want to give up halfway, would she?

Then...

I'll just take her and go down together, down the mountain.

"Not wishing to be born on the same year, month, and day..." Kang Wu held the snake blood on a leaf, extended his arm, and brought it forward.

Ning Hanmo smiled. "Not wishing to die on the same year, month, and day..."

"But we wish, brothers walk together."

"Only wish, to have a clear conscience."

"Drink."

Several boys, young in age, on this desolate mountain, held a ceremony of lifelong companionship.