C2 Old Man in the Forest!

After trekking through the endless forest for nearly half a day without encountering a soul, Lin Yu had no choice but to press on. Aside from consuming a few familiar wild fruits, he found nothing else. The surrounding woods evoked a sense of familiarity within him.

Reflecting on his life at the logging camp and his existence thus far, Lin Yu felt a pang of dissatisfaction. Why had he never considered exploring the world beyond? The boundless forest seemed appealing; at least it didn't confine him. Why was he relegated to logging every day instead of working at the factory? Was he destined to be at the mercy of others, enduring beatings and scoldings?

For the first time, Lin Yu, who worked tirelessly just to survive, experienced a profound realization about life, which brought a touch of melancholy. He couldn't help but feel that his life had been so bleak.

As he continued on, a blinding light suddenly pierced through the forest ahead. Lin Yu hastened his pace towards it, and upon rounding the last tree, he stopped dead in his tracks.

"How did I end up back here?" Lin Yu was filled with confusion.

Surveying the fallen trees and the fissures in the earth, and spotting the occasional corpses beneath the timber, the drastically altered landscape was still recognizable to Lin Yu, who had grown up here.

What in the world had happened? Was he still alive? Lin Yu was overwhelmed with shock and bewilderment.

"I clearly remember falling from the cliff, but how am I unscathed?" Lin Yu gazed at his surroundings, knitting his brows as he struggled to piece together the events of the previous night.

After mulling it over without success, he decided to let it go. Maybe it just wasn't his time to die.

Shaking off his thoughts, Lin Yu headed towards the logging camp to check for survivors.

Along the way, the trees lay in disarray—some uprooted, others snapped in half, often with one or two unrecognizable bodies caught in between. Among the dead were factory workers and loggers, but Lin Shan was nowhere to be found.

"I remember running far away with Lin Shan and others last night. We got separated in the chaos. Considering Lin Shan's strength and how he was among the first to carry me and flee into the woods, he's likely fared better than those who perished here. And since I managed to get so far away, I should be worried about him..." Lin Yu pondered.

The journey had been a challenging one, with a path full of twists and turns. After much effort, he finally made it back to where the tent once stood, now nothing more than a pile of collapsed fabric. Exhausted, Lin Yu found a clearing, sat down heavily, and caught his breath. Hunger had already gnawed at him, and now he was soaked with sweat. It took quite some time before he felt his strength return.

Surveying the once bustling lumberyard, now a scene of disarray, Lin Yu felt a sense of bewilderment. The forest was eerily silent, save for the occasional bird call. Reflecting on the words that had guided him on his way, he took a deep breath and gazed into the vast expanse of trees, his eyes brimming with resolve.

The weather had grown cooler, painting the entire forest in shades of gold.

A young man made his way through the woods, moving with a determination that belied his frail appearance. His clothes, once intact, now sported several tears. A gust of wind prompted him to wrap his clothes tighter around himself as he thought, "Tonight, I need to find shelter from the wind. I can't keep sleeping in the trees. My food ran out two days ago, and I'm not even sure if I'm lost or if I simply chose the wrong direction. The logging routes aren't this far out. I wonder if I'll ever get the chance to see the world beyond these woods..."

A month earlier, the young man had stumbled upon some food in the lumberyard and gathered a few useful items. He had chosen a direction and set out, hoping to leave the forest behind and explore the world beyond. In the beginning, the weather was mild, and by rationing his food and foraging for wild fruits, he managed to get by. Despite occasional encounters with wild animals, his years of experience in the woods allowed him to climb trees and evade danger. He would find a comfortable spot to sleep in the trees at night and continue on his journey upon waking.

But as the days passed, the weather turned colder. The food he had brought was gone, consumed two days prior, and while the wild fruits he picked could stave off hunger, the chill of the autumn nights made sleep elusive. He could only rest briefly, staying vigilant against the dangers that lurked in the dark. Sometimes, he would find a large rock to lie between, covering himself with leaves to snatch a few moments of sleep. However, for the last two days, he hadn't found anywhere suitable. Despite the hardships, the young man persevered; he wasn't ready to become prey in his sleep or to freeze to death in a tree.

As darkness enveloped the sky, he paused, peering into the fading light ahead. Choosing a large tree, he climbed up to find a brief respite, hoping to greet the dawn with renewed vigor.

Lin Yu had just scaled a tree, ready to catch a quick nap, when he spotted a faint flickering light not too far ahead to his right.

"Could it be survivors from the Lin Field? Could Lin Shan be there?" Lin Yu thought, elated. Without hesitation, he descended the tree and hurried toward the light.

...

Emerging from the woods, Lin Yu discovered a small clearing with a bonfire at its center. Next to the fire, a skewer with some unidentified wild game was roasting, sending waves of savory aroma into the air, yet there was no one in sight.

Lin Yu scanned the area but found it deserted. The scent was irresistibly tempting, especially since he hadn't eaten properly in a month and had rarely ever tasted meat.

He approached the bonfire, basking in its warmth, and reached for the sizzling wild game.

"Who goes there? How dare you steal my food while I'm away? I'll deal with you!" Just as Lin Yu was about to savor the aromatic meat, a furious shout erupted from behind.

Lin Yu's heart skipped a beat, and the wild game dropped to the ground. He spun around to see a figure with hands glowing red, swooping down towards him like lightning.

"Ah!" Lin Yu cried out in terror, closing his eyes and bracing for impact with his hands over his head...

After what felt like an eternity, nothing happened. Lin Yu cautiously opened his eyes to find a white-haired elder scrutinizing him with a furrowed brow.

"Where did you come from, boy? Why did you eat my food?" the elder demanded.

For Lin Yu, who had never encountered anyone beyond the Lin Field and hadn't seen a soul in the vast forest for nearly a month, the sight was both startling and thrilling. He stood frozen, too overwhelmed to process the elder's words.

The old man, seeing no response from the youth, whose expression was as vivid as if he had just laid eyes on a beauty, felt a twinge of discomfort. Clearing his throat, he raised his voice, "Where are you from, and why are you here all alone?"