Chapter 624: I think Ying Ge could be great

You said……

Enna still didn't grasp who the Great One she mentioned was, and just as she was about to ask, Ge Fu spoke again.

This winter will last a long time.

She stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the grayish sky outside.

The distinction between noon, evening, and dusk had long disappeared; only day and night, gray-white and pitch-black remained.

She stood there, her shawl slipping slightly from her shoulders, and she did not lift it.

Her voice was soft, as if she were talking to herself.

The light has died.

She said, "Nowadays daylight is merely the gods' last glow; await dusk, and everything will begin anew."

This is the instruction given to me by heaven and earth.

It is also for all of us.

Enna sat on the chair, back straight.

The doubt on her face had turned to solemnity, brows tightly furrowed, lips pressed into a line.

He didn't really understand what Ge Fu said—what light had died, what the gods' last glow was, what the coming dusk meant?

But he grasped the meaning—a major matter, a very major one, too big for a mere mortal like him to interfere with.

He was just a hunter, only knowing how to chop wood, hunt, and feed his family; those divine matters were far beyond him.

He only wanted to know when this winter would end, when spring would come, whether the crops in the fields could still grow, and whether the game in the mountains would return.

Enna opened his mouth, wanting to ask what to continue asking about.

But Ge Fu had already turned and walked to the door, pushing it open.

Cold wind poured in, blowing the stove fire askew.

She stood in the doorway, sideways, one hand holding the doorframe, the other making a gesturing invitation.

Enna stood up, stuffed the cloth into his bosom, picked up his bow and quiver, and walked to the doorway.

He paused, wanting to say something more, but Ge Fu didn't look at him; she just gazed at the grayish sky outside, her eyes distant, as if seeing something he could not.

Enna didn't ask further, merely said "Thank you," then took out the wolf pelt from his bosom, neatly folded, and placed it on the doorstep.

It was the one he had skinned last night, the best one, with glossy fur and no damage.

He turned and walked into the wind and snow, took a few steps, then glanced back.

The door was already closed; smoke still rose from the chimney, grayish, scattered by the wind like a sigh.

Enna quickened his pace.

It was getting late; he needed to hurry, otherwise he wouldn't reach home before dark.

He returned to the Hidden Corpse Land, dragging that board-like wolf corpse, walking through the snow with uneven steps.

Snow fell again, light, fine flakes like someone scattering salt from the sky.

The wind blew from behind, pushing him forward, saving him some effort.

He walked all night without stopping.

At dawn, he crossed the last mountain and saw his own chimney.

Smoke rose, a thin wisp, bent by the wind but still visible.

When he got home, it was roughly the afternoon of the next day.

Yu Lin was sitting at the doorway, playing some game with Ying Ge.

Ying Ge squatted on the ground, holding the few small wood carvings, lining them up—big ones in front, small ones behind, in a row like a troop of soldiers.

Yu Lin sat beside her, holding the small wooden horse, pushing it slowly along the ground; its wheels were whittled from tiny sticks, rolling on the plank with a gurgling sound.

Ying Ge occasionally glanced up at him, then lowered her head to fiddle with the wood carvings, murmuring under her breath.

Alf was chopping wood by the door, raising his axe high and bringing it down heavily; the logs split in half, sprang apart, and fell onto the snow.

Xi Ge Li De was busy in the kitchen.

She sliced the meat Yu Lin had brought back into strips, salted them, and hung them above the stove to smoke.

Smoke curled about, and the meat's aroma filled the air.

Ying Ge saw him first.

She jumped up from the small stool and ran toward Enna, stepping in the snow, stumbling as she went.

"Daddy!" she cried, throwing herself into Enna's arms.

"Huh." Enna crouched, hugged her, and rubbed her head with his rough big hand.

Ying Ge wrapped her arms around his neck, buried her face in his shoulder, and refused to let go.

Enna held her awhile, then stood and walked toward Xi Ge Li De.

Xi Ge Li De poked her head out of the kitchen, saw him, first smiled, then her smile froze.

She put down the knife in her hand, hurried over, and saw the blood-soaked cloth on his left arm, though hidden, still visible.

"What happened?" Her voice was urgent, trembling, "Are you hurt?"

Enna grinned, "Nothing much, I ran into a pack of wolves."

He patted the board-like wolf corpse behind him, "I was lucky; I killed many of them, now we have food again."

Speaking of this.

He turned his head and shouted at Yu Lin, "Yu Lin, your ring is really effective! It truly brought me good luck!"

Yu Lin raised his head, looked at him, and smiled.

"As long as it works."

"What did the Sage you wanted to see say?"

Enna's smile softened a little, she walked to Yu Lin, took the cloth from her bosom, and handed it to him.

"She asked me to give this cloth to the Great One, as a sign of the highest respect."

He repeated what Ge Fu had said—Winter will last a long time, the light has died, today's daylight is only the Gods' final afterglow, awaiting dusk, when everything will begin anew.

He spoke slowly, as if straining to recall each word, fearing to miss anything.

Yu Lin took the cloth, unfolded it and looked.

The fabric felt very soft, its pattern fine.

Embroidered on it were winding designs, like rivers, like mountains, like some ancient script.

He could sense something attached to the cloth—protection, blessings, good luck, and so on.

It was clear the maker had poured much effort into it, not just a few stitches.

But these things were of little use to him; he folded the cloth and held it in his hand.

"But she didn't tell me who the Great One is," Enna scratched her head, her face full of confusion, "Who am I supposed to give this to?"

Yu Lin looked at the cloth, then at Ying Ge squatting on the ground playing with Wood Carving.

Ying Ge was rearranging those Wood Carvings, the large ones in front, the small ones behind, in a tidy line.

She muttered something, probably weaving stories for them.

Yu Lin smiled.

"Since we don't know who it is, let's make a garment for Ying Ge."

He said, "I think Ying Ge might someday become the Great One."

Enna was startled for a moment, then turned her head to look at Ying Ge.

Ying Ge, holding the little wooden horse, shouted to Alf, "Brother, look, the horse is running!"

Alf stopped chopping wood, glanced, hummed, and resumed chopping.

Enna turned back, looking at Yu Lin.

Yu Lin's expression was calm, not as if joking, yet not entirely serious.

Enna didn't know what to say, she just nodded.

"Alright, then we'll make her a garment."

He turned and walked toward Xi Ge Li De, relaying Yu Lin's words to her.

Xi Ge Li De took the cloth, felt it, looked at Ying Ge, then nodded.

Ying Ge still didn't know what had happened, still playing with the Wood Carvings.

She squatted on the ground, lined the Wood Carvings up, murmuring:

"Guard the carriage, guard the carriage............"