Though faint, hope began to shift Gu Liang's perspective. He was no longer merely a sufferer enduring pain; he was now an observer and learner forced into the game.
He noticed that the tribe's warriors—including Emma and A Lie's men—would repeatedly rub a deep gray, greasy stone against the stone tips of their bone spears or the blades of their stone axes when maintaining their weapons. This wasn't merely cleaning; it seemed to genuinely slow wear and tear.
He observed the tribe's crude methods of processing hides, resulting in stiff, brittle skins that retained an overpowering stench.
Starting a fire was an arduous task heavily reliant on luck. Orcs assigned to this duty had to rub specific types of wood for extended periods. As a result, the campfire was regarded as a vital tribal asset, guarded day and night to prevent it from going out.
These observations set Gu Liang's engineering mind spinning: tribology, tanning chemistry, combustion principles... Modern knowledge here felt like buried treasure.
One afternoon, he was assigned to clean blood and flesh fragments from a pile of hunting tools. Old and fresh wounds on his palms swelled red and raw, each touch a piercing agony.
Guliang endured the searing pain as he clumsily scraped congealed blood from stone axes and bone spears. His gaze drifted involuntarily to a Leopard Clan warrior nearby, meticulously maintaining his weapons. The warrior picked up a deep gray stone, moistened it with water, and began carefully grinding the edge of a stone axe, producing a rhythmic "sanding" sound.After a moment, he raised the axe to the light. The edge did indeed appear sharper.
A thought struck Gu Liang. He recognized that stone—it resembled the sandstone grinding stones or low-grade oilstones used in modern industry. Containing hard quartz particles, such stones could sharpen and hone tools. Glancing around, he spotted several similar discarded fragments in a corner piled with odds and ends.
An idea flashed through his mind. Seizing a moment when the overseer wasn't looking, he swiftly picked up a small gray stone with relatively sharp edges and tucked it into his robe.
That night, back at the wooden stake binding him, under the faint moonlight and the distant glow of a campfire, Gu Liang began his first "experiment." He took out the grinding stone and found another ordinary stone, relatively flat and hard. Recalling the soldier's movements from earlier that day, he began carefully grinding the edge of the flat stone with the grinding stone.
"Sssh... sssh..." The faint scraping sound was almost inaudible in the silent night. The process was painstakingly slow. His palms, already sore, now ached and felt weak. But he gritted his teeth and persevered, as if this were his sole connection to the world he had left behind—a silent act of resistance against this brutal new reality.
Unbeknownst to him, Emma watched silently from the shadow of a nearby tent. Her night vision was exceptional, allowing her to clearly observe Gu Liang's focused, laborious movements.
[Target Individual Gu Liang independently attempts tool modification. Curiosity increased. Despair value slightly decreased. Corruption value -1%, current corruption value 3%.] The system alert sounded precisely at that moment.
A flicker of understanding passed through Emma's eyes. Indeed, even the tiniest crack in survival was enough for this seed from civilization to begin sprouting.
She had merely hoped he would observe the use of the grinding stone, perhaps prompting him to maintain his pitifully small "bone knife." Yet, unexpectedly, he had grasped the principle and begun exploring the very act of tool 'manufacturing' itself.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOLOmKXwpo
She raised an eyebrow slightly. It seemed he was smarter and more resilient than she had anticipated. That was good.
Days later, the opportunity arrived. The tribe's sole elder responsible for guarding the sacred fire fell ill, and a young, impatient beastman took his place. On a night of howling winds, the main bonfire was buffeted by gusts, sparks flying wildly as it threatened to die out.The young beastman panicked, attempting the old method of drilling wood to start a fire. But due to his nervousness and lack of experience, he failed for a long time.
Panic gripped the central tribal area. Fire was the source of life. Losing the flame meant not only darkness, cold, and the inability to cook meat, but a deeper fear—a tribe unable to protect its fire would lose the favor of the Beast God, and hearts would scatter completely in the cold night.Chief Mo Zong frowned deeply, staring at the dwindling flame and the young beastman's futile, sweat-drenched efforts. He murmured to the elder beside him, "If the fire dies, how shall we endure this night? If hearts scatter, how shall we withstand the Wolf Clan exploiting our weakness?" Anxiety weighed like invisible stones upon every core member's heart.
Gu Liang was seized by the abyss of this panic. He knew that if the fire truly went out, slaves like him, already lowly, would only plunge into a colder darkness.
Just then, his gaze fell upon the flat stone he had secretly polished these past days. Its edges were sharp enough... In his embrace, the Swiss Army knife he cherished like life itself, the magnesium rod and flint... A mad yet crystal-clear thought struck him like lightning in the darkness: Use the modern spark to ignite hope in this primitive world. Perhaps it could also kindle a sliver of survival for himself.
It was nothing short of a gamble. Revealing his special abilities could bring instant death. Yet the chaos unfolding before him and the deep-seated anxiety in the ink-maned leader's eyes made him realize this might be the only chance to break the deadlock.
He suddenly struggled violently, deliberately making noise. The young beastman, already seething with shame and rage over his failure, flew into a fury at the sight. He raised his hand, ready to strike.
Gu Liang urgently pointed at the pile of kindling, then at his military knife, making a rapid scraping motion. His eyes held a desperate urgency mixed with a hint of... a plea he couldn't fully believe himself.
The young beastman froze. More impatient, angry glances shot his way from the surrounding beasts. A Lie and his men approached at the sound. His towering figure nearly blocked the last sliver of sky light in the distance. His golden pupils, reflected in the flickering flames, were dark and inscrutable, like the heavy clouds before a storm.
In the tense standoff, Emma's voice cut through the frozen air like an ice pick, clear and composed: "Let him try."
All eyes instantly focused on her. Emma stepped forward and addressed the young orc, the grim-faced leader Mo Zong, and the elders: "I've seen him strike sparks with that strange 'bone tool'—faster than drilling wood." Her tone was flat and unruffled, as if merely stating an observation unrelated to herself. "The fire is about to die. Any possibility is worth trying.Better than sitting idle as darkness descends."
The Blackmane Chieftain's gaze darted between his daughter's composed face, Gu Liang's expression of desperate gamble and utter hopelessness, and the dying embers of the fire.As chieftain, the urgency of tribal survival instantly overrode all other considerations—including his usual displeasure at a slave daring to speak at such a moment. He drew a deep breath, his voice carrying unquestionable resolve: "Let him try! If it fails..." The unspoken threat hung heavy in the air.
Granted permission, Gu Liang's heart pounded wildly. He took a deep breath and stepped forward under everyone's gaze, approaching the pile of kindling.He drew his Swiss Army knife, flicked out the magnesium rod, and flicked his gaze between the blade and the rod—in the chaos earlier, he had already swiftly wiped the critical striking surface with his thumb to ensure it was free of dirt or moisture. Then, using the back of the blade (he dared not use the stone flake he had sharpened himself, fearing it might not work or raise more questions), he aimed it at the magnesium rod and scraped down with force!
"Sizzle!" A brilliant burst of sparks erupted, scattering onto the dry tinder grass!
Once, twice... On the third stroke, a wisp of blue smoke rose, followed by a tiny, stubborn flame leaping into life!
Gu Liang immediately cradled the tinder grass carefully, gently blowing on it until the flame grew larger. He swiftly placed it beneath the prepared dry twigs, and the flames quickly engulfed the kindling, igniting!
Fire burned anew! More vibrant and brilliant than before!
The surrounding silence shattered in an instant, erupting into incredulous gasps and ecstatic shouts. All the beastmen stared at the miraculous, delicate bone tool in Gu Liang's hand, their eyes filled with an almost totemic reverence.
A Lie's golden pupils suddenly contracted into slits, fixed intently on Gu Liang and the military knife in his hand. What churned within them was not merely possessiveness, but a fervor akin to discovering a priceless treasure, coupled with an unyielding determination to claim it.His hand instinctively tightened around the rough wooden handle of the bone axe at his waist, knuckles turning slightly white from the pressure, as if struggling to suppress an urge to rush forward and seize both the man and the "divine artifact" into his own tent. This little slave always brought him unexpected "surprises," and the value of these surprises was rapidly escalating.
The old chieftain, Black Mane, strode forward. He studied the fire, now blazing brighter, then scrutinized the Swiss Army knife in Gu Liang's hand, his gaze growing profoundly complex. He murmured something to Gu Liang in a deep voice.
Gu Liang couldn't understand the words, but his tone and expression suggested a question or command. Hesitating briefly, he still handed over the Swiss Army knife.Mo Zong took it, examined it closely, and attempted to scrape it like Gu Liang had done, sending a few more sparks flying. He jerked his hand back as if burned, and the look in his eyes toward Gu Liang had completely changed. It was no longer merely the contempt reserved for a slave or a plaything, but now held astonishment, scrutiny, and a hint of... apprehension.
The Mo Zong chieftain returned the Swiss Army knife to Gu Liang, his movements slow and deliberate. He surveyed his stunned tribe, announcing something in his deep voice. Gu Liang heard the beasts erupt into louder murmurs, many eyes refocusing on him. This time, however, alongside curiosity and awe, there seemed to be something else—a reassessment of what constituted a "useful" thing.
A Lie stepped forward, his golden pupils fixed on the knife in Gu Liang's hand, reaching out to take it. "Give it to me," he commanded, his tone brooking no argument.
Gu Liang instinctively took a step back, clutching the dagger tightly behind his back. It was his sole relic from the modern world—his last line of defense and dignity. He could never hand it over to A Lie.
A Lie's eyes sharpened, instantly thickening the air with tension.
"A-Lie," the Mo-Zong chief spoke, his voice carrying an authority that brooked no argument. "This 'Fire Bone' is his possession, and it is also the tribe's means to reclaim the fire seed. It serves the tribe best when held by someone who can wield its power." He shot A-Lie a deep, lingering look, as if conveying some unspoken warning.
A Lie's movements froze. He locked eyes with Mo Zong for a moment, his gaze flickering before slowly withdrawing his hand. Yet the stare he fixed on Gu Liang grew even more inscrutable, as if plotting something. He tugged at the corner of his mouth, revealing an ambiguous smile. "Very well. It seems my little slave is more interesting than I imagined."
The immediate crisis had passed, but Gu Liang's back was drenched in cold sweat. He knew A Lie would not let this rest.
At that moment, the young beastman who had failed to start the fire earlier looked at the rekindled campfire, then at Gu Liang. The anger had faded from his face, replaced by a flushed redness mingled with shame and a pure, raw curiosity.He edged closer to Gu Liang, not daring to get too near. First, he pointed at the fire, then at the military knife in Gu Liang's hand, and finally at himself. He made a clumsy scraping motion with his hand, his eyes wide with unmasked questioning and a hint of almost reverent light.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0kEcovPSO
Gu Liang felt slightly flustered under the direct gaze. After a moment's hesitation, he gave a gentle nod.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGW3FTcWwCI
The young beastman immediately grinned, revealing a row of uneven teeth. He pounded his chest emphatically, then gave Gu Liang a thick, stubby thumbs-up while muttering something indistinct but clearly uplifting in tone.
Several other orcs gathered around, pointing at the military knife and the fire, chattering excitedly. The looks they gave Gu Liang were no longer pure indifference or contempt.
In that moment, Gu Liang distinctly sensed a subtle shift unfolding. Because he was "useful," he had gained a tiny, fragile, breathing space.
[Target Individual Gu Liang successfully resolved the tribal crisis, gaining preliminary recognition. Despair Value significantly reduced. Darkening Value -5%. Current Darkening Value: -1%. Warning: Darkening Value below baseline. Converting to Positive Dependency Value +1%.]
The system's alert sounded in Emma's mind.
Dependency value?
Emma's footsteps faltered almost imperceptibly. This was more troublesome than darkening. Darkening meant confrontation, but dependency meant entanglement. It was like a vine—offering support now, but demanding flesh and blood in the future.
Standing outside the crowd, Emma watched Gu Liang, vaguely surrounded by the beastmen. He seemed slightly flustered, yet his eyes held a glimmer of hope. Her heart settled a little. Good. The first step of the plan succeeded. He must demonstrate his worth to survive, to have a chance to reduce his corruption. Though this might also attract more covetous eyes, like A Lie's... but risk and reward go hand in hand.
She turned and slipped silently away from the noisy center. She couldn't appear too concerned; she needed to maintain the original owner's aloof and indifferent persona to avoid arousing suspicion.
That night, Gu Liang wasn't chained to the wooden stake outside the tent. The Mo Zong chieftain had ordered him to be given a corner near the fire, barely sheltered from the wind and rain, with a dry straw mat laid out. The food was slightly more generous too—though still leftovers and scraps—and surprisingly, it included a small piece of meat with a crispy, charred crust.
Lying on the relatively soft, dry mat, clutching the military knife that had saved both him and the tribe's fire seed, Gu Liang stared at the abnormally huge moon in the beast world's night sky, unable to sleep for a long time.
Fear lingered, A Lie's gaze hanging over him like a tangible threat. Yet a faint spark of something called "hope" ignited within his deadened heart, like a tiny flame.
He knew the source of this change—Emma's seemingly casual words, "Let him try."
Who was she? Why was she helping him?
This question, intertwined with his yearning to return home and his bewilderment about the future, became the first thoughts to stir within him in this cold, alien world—beyond mere survival.
Meanwhile, in A-Lie's tent far away. The owner of the golden pupils stroked his chin, recalling the cluster of miraculous flames that had erupted during the day and Gu Liang's stubborn, pale face.
"Firebone..." he murmured, a confident curve lifting his lips. "Sooner or later, it will all be mine. Including you, little slave."
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