198: Chapter 197 The early bird catches the worm.

Lu Fan replied with a smile, his voice steady and powerful, giving off a full sense of security: "It's fine, I've got you, I won't let you fall. Even if I do fall, I'll be your human cushion."

But just as he finished speaking, his own foot slipped.

"Holy cow~"

His body instantly lost balance, his hands waving wildly in the air as he nearly fell flat on his back.

An Lan couldn't help but burst into laughter, her eyes filled with amusement: "Hahaha, I see you're like a clay Buddha crossing a river—unable to even save yourself!"

That crisp laughter echoed through the silent mountain forest, adding a touch of lightness to the arduous journey home.

Once they reached flat ground, Lu Fan, without taking no for an answer, hoisted An Lan onto his back again.

An Lan couldn't win against him, so she could only obediently lie on his back, her hands gently encircling his neck.

Watching the snow continuously accumulate on Lu Fan's hair like a dusting of white sugar, a warm current surged in An Lan's heart. She gently brushed it away with her hand, her movements soft and cautious.

Lu Fan felt her movements, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly, as if even the cold of this icy world was dispelled without a trace by this small gesture.

Having finally returned to the Shelter, the Monkey troop was already huddled around the fire to keep warm.

The flames danced cheerfully, reflecting on their furry faces and outlining each monkey's silhouette with warmth and softness.

The Monkey King squatted by the fire, staring unblinkingly at the dancing flames, his eyes filled with curiosity and longing.

It tilted its head, reached out a paw, and slowly approached the flames, but the moment it almost touched them, it retracted as if shocked, clearly both in awe of and yearning for the fire.

Lu Fan saw what the Monkey King was thinking. With a gentle smile on his face, he quickly walked into the house and brought out a piece of Flint and a stone.

He squatted down beside the Monkey King and began to skillfully demonstrate how to use Flint to start a fire.

Holding the stone in both hands, he struck the Flint rhythmically. With a few "clack-clacks," sparks flew everywhere like fireworks blooming in the night sky.

The dry grass in the fire pit was instantly ignited, and the flames shot up with a "whoosh," illuminating everything around them.

The Monkey King's eyes widened, its mouth hanging open, its face filled with shock and excitement as if it had seen some incredible magic.

"See, this is the secret of fire."

Lu Fan handed the Flint to the Monkey King, his tone serious and patient. "However, you must be careful with fire. Don't mess around, or it will cause a fire. Fire can be used for warmth or for roasting meat, but you must be cautious."

As he spoke, he pointed to the blazing fire, his eyes revealing concern and instruction.

The Monkey King took the Flint, cradling it carefully in its paws as if it were a rare treasure.

It mimicked Lu Fan, striking the Flint with the stone. At first, there were only dull thuds and not a single spark.

But the Monkey King was not discouraged. After several attempts, finally, a few sparks flew out. Though weak, they made the Monkey King dance with joy.

Its tail curled high, and it hopped around in place, screeching incessantly.

The other monkeys were also drawn over, surrounding the Monkey King. Their eyes sparkled with curiosity as they chattered and discussed.

An Lan watching this interesting scene, couldn't help but smile: "I'm reminded of the story of Prometheus stealing fire from my elementary school textbook. He stole fire to benefit his people, but he himself was bound to a cliff by Zeus to suffer."

There was a hint of emotion in her eyes, as if she had traveled through time and space to see the hero who stole the seeds of fire for humanity.

Lu Fan laughed too, a glint of mischief flashing in his eyes: "I'm also reminded of a saying: the early bird gets the worm, but the bird that gets up even earlier gets Prometheus to eat."

"You're truly a devil."

An Lan couldn't help but roll her eyes at him, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.

As night fell and the sky gradually darkened, the atmosphere by the fire became even more cozy. The Monkey troop sat closely together, enjoying the warmth provided by the flames.

Every now and then, the Monkey King would strike the Flint, sending sparks flying and drawing cheers from the other monkeys.

Finally, it succeeded in igniting a small pile of grass. The flames burned cheerfully, illuminating its excited face.

The Monkey King was so excited that it spun in circles, waving its hands as if celebrating a great victory.

Afterward, the Monkey King prepared to lead the Monkey troop back to their nest, their long shadows cast by the firelight.

The Monkey King walked at the front, occasionally looking back at its companions, its eyes full of pride and a sense of responsibility.

Before leaving, the Monkey King turned around and happily waved goodbye to Lu Fan and An Lan. Its paws waved in the air, and it screeched as if saying: 'Thank you, I had a great time today!'

Lu Fan waved goodbye to the Monkey troop, then sat by the fire with An Lan. The blazing flames made their faces glow red, and warmth spread through their bodies, dispelling the day's fatigue.

By the warm bonfire, Lu Fan and An Lan sat casually on the ground. The jumping flames would occasionally crackle, adding a bit of lively atmosphere to the silent night.

Their shadows were stretched long by the firelight, intertwining on the ground.

As they chatted, the topic unknowingly turned to dreams.

Lu Fan poked the fire with a wooden stick with great interest, instantly sending sparks flying like tiny fireworks blooming in the night sky.

He tilted his head, a gentle smile on his face as he looked at An Lan, his eyes full of curiosity and expectation: "An Lan, did you have any special dreams when you were a child?"

Hearing this, An Lan was momentarily stunned, a flash of surprise in her bright eyes. Then, as if thinking of something particularly funny, she covered her mouth and burst into laughter.

Her shoulders shook slightly as she laughed uncontrollably, completely immersed in this joyful mood.

"You're not allowed to laugh at me if I tell you,"

Having finally caught her breath, she said while suppressing her laughter, "When I was little, I really wanted to be an Adventurer, to travel all over the world and take on all kinds of challenges!"

After saying that, she laughed even harder, her eyes narrowing into crescents, her cheeks slightly flushed from laughing, like peach blossoms blooming in spring.

Once An Lan's laughter gradually subsided, she gently wiped away the tears of laughter with the back of her hand. After steadying herself, she asked back: "Then what about you, Lu Fan? What was your childhood dream?"

Lu Fan's gaze slowly drifted into the distance, his deep eyes seemingly traveling through time and space back to those carefree childhood days.

A nostalgic expression unconsciously appeared on his face, a deep yearning for the innocent years of the past.

He was silent for a moment before slowly speaking: "When I was little, I always told others that I wanted to be a Teacher in the future."

At this point, he paused, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly in an embarrassed smile, as if recalling a little-known secret.

"But in reality, what I truly yearned to become in my heart was a Swordsman."

"A Swordsman?"