Chapter 395: Teaching You Shipbuilding

Spring passes, autumn comes; cold comes, summer goes.

From the day Bei gave birth safely, many years have passed in the blink of an eye.

The brutal attack and migration back then now seem like events from a distant previous life.

The settlement in this hidden valley once sheltered many survivors who fled the ruins, and also experienced a hard yet hopeful period of mutual support and rebuilding homes.

Yet time is the most ruthless sieve.

Decades passed, and the elders of that era one by one met their natural end, completing a not‑easy life in relative peace.

Meanwhile, some young and strong, or those with different ideas, gradually chose to leave this valley—though safe, it was also somewhat closed and barren—and seek opportunities in the broader, perhaps more dangerous outside world.

More importantly, after the painful lesson of cities being easily destroyed and virtue and order collapsing before violence, many survivors' belief in "establishing a lasting paradise" gradually faded with time.

They began to believe that perhaps the world is inherently like this, that might and chaos are the norm, and that so‑called order and virtue are merely fleeting dreams, impossible to sustain.

In the end, the only ones willing to stay deep in the valley, guarding this hard‑won yet destined solitary peaceful life, were Bei and Lamai's family.

Um, also the child‑aged Luoer—uh, now should be called Noah.

Whether it's divine intervention or something about people today, after all these years Noah looks about the same age as a ten‑year‑old child of the later generation.

His features still vaguely resemble Luoer's, but overall his looks have improved a lot.

Of course, his personality remains the same—lively and energetic.

"Uncle! What are we learning today?"

Noah, like a little tail, clung to Yu Lin from early morning, his small hand tugging Yu Lin's sleeve, his face tilted up, eyes full of thirst for knowledge and the unknown.

In his eyes, despite the years, time has left no trace on Yu Lin.

He is still, in Noah's eyes, the all‑capable, forever‑young "Uncle Yu Lin" who always brings something new.

Yu Lin lowered his head to look at the little fellow, a complex smile flashing in his eyes.

He slipped his hand into his roomy sleeve and, as if performing a trick, produced an exquisitely crafted Small Ship Model, its details vivid and lifelike.

The small boat's structure is clear, even showing the arrangement of Dragon Bone and ribs.

"Do you want to learn how to build a real ship that can sail on a river, or even in the Great Flood?"

Yu Lin shook the model in his hand and asked.

Noah's eyes instantly brightened like stars; he nodded repeatedly, his voice crisp: "I want! I really want! Uncle, will you teach me shipbuilding?"

Yu Lin handed the Small Ship Model to him for admiration, then stepped toward a clearing in the valley near the river where piles of dry timber were stacked.

"Then come with me; I'll teach you."

"Alright!" Noah shouted, cradling the Small Ship Model like a treasure, stepping forward with excitement and following.

One adult and one child, two silhouettes, walked along the forest path toward the riverside clearing.

But as they walked, a long‑forgotten thought suddenly flashed in Yu Lin's mind: if this continues, I'll end up taking the little boy...........

Uh… under the current circumstances, that shouldn't count, right? What he's teaching is essentially Luoer, even though the identity and age have changed…

Hmm, that's right.

Yu Lin chuckled, shook his head, scattered the chaotic thoughts in his mind, and focused on the road ahead and the eager little footsteps behind him.

Behind them, in front of the stone house's door.

Lamai and Bei stood side by side, watching the gradually receding silhouettes of the adult and child, their gazes gentle.

Only after their figures vanished completely around the forest bend leading to the river did Lamai slowly turn his head, look at his wife beside him, lower his voice, and speak with a hint of gravity:

"Bei, lately… I have an uneasy premonition, something very unusual. It feels like a massive, world‑shaking event is brewing."

"The feeling grows clearer, even recurring in my dreams… perhaps it's a Revelation from God, or… a warning."

Bei heard this, merely gave a nonchalant smile, reached out to loop her arm around her husband's arm, rested her head lightly on his shoulder, and said with confidence:

"What are you afraid of?" she asked, looking toward the direction where Yu Lin and Noah had vanished.

"Isn't Yu Lin there? With him around, no matter how big the matter, I don't think there's anything to worry about."

Lamai was momentarily stunned, then smiled as well; the tension in his heart seemed to ease a bit from his wife's words.

He nodded, "Indeed."

Having someone like Yu Lin by Noah's side, whatever the future holds, at least their family, this child, seems to have an unimaginable layer of protection.

Immediately, as if recalling something, he brushed his chin—where a short beard was just sprouting—with one hand, while the other hand clasped Bei's waist, leaned close to her ear, and asked in a slightly mischievous tone:

"Then… should we try harder and give Noah a few more younger brothers and sisters?"

"No matter what happens in the future, more people are always helpful, and Noah won't be too lonely."

Two pink flushes instantly rose on Bei's cheeks; she glared at Lamai teasingly, gently pushed his clasped hand away, and turned to walk back into the house.

"We'll talk about it later."

"Aren't you supposed to go to the fields? Hurry up and go."

In the forest.

In the forest, on the clearing near the river, sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering dappled Light Dots.

Yu Lin pointed at several tall, upright trees ahead and said to the attentively listening Noah:

"If you ever want to build a very large ship, big enough to hold many people and store food that can last a very long time…"

He paused, making sure Noah grasped the concept of 'very large.'

"Then you'll need Ge Fei Wood," Yu Lin patted the trunk of a nearby Ge Fei Wood tree, producing a solid thump.

"This wood's grain is tight, resistant to rot, and sufficiently tough—ideal for shipbuilding, especially large vessels."

Noah nodded vigorously, his little face full of seriousness, striving to memorize every word.

"Inside the ship, you must partition many rooms—we call them Ship Cabins—some for people to live in, some to store food and fresh water, some for tools."

Yu Lin bent down, using a branch to sketch the hull's outline and rough internal divisions on the soft ground.

"And one more crucial point," Yu Lin straightened, pointing at a nearby pine tree exuding transparent, viscous resin:

"After the ship is built, inside and out, every inch of the wood's seams must be carefully coated and sealed with this pine resin. Only then will water not seep in, allowing the ship to float and protect those inside and their belongings."

"Noah gazed at the gleaming pine resin, then at the ship diagram on the ground, his eyes shining brightly as if he could already see a majestic great ship standing before him."

"The ship's height, well, is roughly……"

"He spoke slowly, finally concluding: 'Sturdy wood, rational structure, tight waterproofing—that's about it.'"

"Noah listened, entranced, his little head full of yearning for the grand craft of shipbuilding."

"Yu Lin watched his focused expression, his heart stirred, and added a sentence, his tone casual yet carrying a promise:"

"'If you ever truly want to build such a great ship in the future, remember to tell me.'"

"He pointed at the land beneath his feet."

"'I'll give you the finest piece of timber to serve as the ship's 'dragon bone,' which is the most important spine of the entire vessel.'"

"Upon hearing this, Noah lifted his head in surprise and delight, his clear black-and-white eyes filled with emotion and excitement:"

"'Really? Thank you, uncle!'"

"He didn't know exactly what 'dragon bone' meant, but he knew that whatever Yu Lin gave him would be the best and most special."

"'Hmm.' Yu Lin ruffled his little head, gazing toward the distant murmuring river, as if piercing through time to see a future day when a massive ark would stand towering in the floodwaters."

"However, after delivering the dragon bone, his task was complete—so how would he release the water?"

"Hmm, it seems I should leave a clone or some kind of formation here."

"We'll talk about it later."

"'Let's go, it's time to head back and eat.'"

"'Okay!'"