Chapter 391: Chapter 204: Maple Syrup

I was born in a small village called “Fengxi Village”.

Because it is so remote, it takes many days to reach the nearest large town around, making it difficult to specifically describe its location.

It should probably be located in some mountainous area in the southeast direction of Pan Yun Province.

The village is very small, the peaks very high.

Far from the trade routes, Mist Forest is even on the other side of the world.

Therefore, even the Green-skinned Goblins, who are rumored to be as rampant as cockroaches, only occasionally appear in the drunken tales of the village men.

But the scenery should be nice.

At least that’s what my father said—he used to follow a caravan outside for a few years.

Every year during the months of “Ilye” and “Mano”, the entire valley is dyed gold and red by the maple trees.

The wind blows, the leaves more vibrant than the sunset sway layer upon layer, as if the valley is breathing.

This is also the origin of the name “Fengxi Village”.

Childhood memories have long blurred, but I should have been like “Little Allen” now, running wild in the woods all day.

He’s very obedient, always able to return home before dark, much more obedient than I was as a child.

Of course, I suspect he’s just too timid, intimidated by a few scary bedtime stories told by mom.

About this, I am somewhat dissatisfied.

As my younger brother, he should be braver, maybe not to become an apprentice knight like “William” in the future, but at least able to hold up the family when it matters.

William is the second son of the village chief.

Handsome and valiant, he was noticed and trained as an apprentice by the Knight Master of the nearby town years ago.

Admittedly, as a teenage girl beginning to understand emotions, I held a special sentiment for him at the time.

Even now, thinking about it occasionally, I can’t help but sigh in my heart.

Of course, that’s all it is, and all that’s left is sighing.

That day should have been the afternoon.

I was gathering maple sap as usual.

With a wooden drill, I made a small hole in the bark, about an inch deep, inserted a spout, and hung the bucket below, allowing the crystal-clear sap to drip down.

This is the main source of income for our family, or rather, for the entire Fengxi Village for the whole year.

How well we survive the winter depends on these two months.

Although I am not very old, I have some experience in this aspect.

This year’s yield should be good.

At least it seems there won’t be any problem filling our stomachs during the winter.

And just when I thought today was no different from the previous days, as the sun was about to set, carrying a full bucket, planning to head home.

A short, sharp bird cry suddenly came from the depths of the nearby forest.

There are always various animals in the woods, making strange sounds is actually very common, I’ve never been particularly curious about this.

But for some reason, specifically that day, I found myself interested.

Thinking of just taking a look, following the direction the sound came from, I walked over.

Then I saw, feathers scattered on the ground, the twitching body of a Jay, and that black cat crouched in the tree shade, enjoying its prey.

Hmm, it looked a bit strange.

The body frame is more robust and hefty than the stray cats in the village, the head is elongated, cheekbones wider, limbs clearly shorter, but the muscles and the fat under the skin are exceptionally thick.

The tail is very short, just a small tuft behind the butt, with ears half-rounded, drooping on the head, and a pair of small eyes reflecting faint light like buttons.

Rather than a “cat”, it looked more like a petite black bear.

Upon my appearance, this strange creature showed no particular reaction, nor the protective behavior unique to wild animals, as one might expect.

Even when I approached, getting only a few dozen centimeters away, it showed no sign of resistance.

This aroused some curiosity in my heart, and under some inexplicable impulse, I extended my left hand towards its furry head.

“Swish!”

The petite black bear was quick, vanishing into the shadows of the woods in a blink.

Only leaving behind the half-chewed body of the Jay on the ground,

And on the back of my hand, a bleeding wound.

I’ve forgotten how I returned home that day.

But afterward, I was likely scolded fiercely by my parents, and then the wound was carefully bandaged.

Though their tone was very stern during the reprimand, neither they nor I actually took it seriously.

After all, in this remote corner of the mountains, children running around and getting hurt is the most normal thing.

“It’s no big deal.”

This is what I thought in my heart.

Until a few days later, a sudden fever laid me in bed for three whole days.

Then came a constant weakness akin to exhaustion, and bouts of extreme agitation.

I gradually began to hear the slight gnawing of mice on the attic wood at night and the rumbling from the depths of the night.

Disliking the feel of insoles, enjoying direct contact between my feet and the soil, fallen leaves; my appetite gradually fading, yet a strange craving for raw, fishy food emerged.

Even that vague sentiment towards people my age, after accidentally brushing against someone, turned into a twisted, instinctual desire for muscle and the scent.

I noticed that some kind of transformation was happening to my body.

And all of this likely started with that black bear that vanished deep in the forest.

Day by day passed.

My condition worsened.

Not only did inexplicable whispers frequently fill my ears, sounding as if someone was softly speaking, but even the way I looked at the people around me changed.