Chapter 52 - 50: Heaven and Earth Bind
Dawn had broken.
With the onset of severe winter, the nights had grown long. People had to adapt not only to the prolonged darkness but also to the extreme cold. The bone-chilling, icy winds roamed freely in the night. Their pace was sharp, their movements agile. Every greeting from them was as swift as a sharp blade cutting across the face. In the beginning, it wasn’t painful or itchy, but by the time one realized it, the pain that pierced their hearts would have them writhing in agony.
However, Igor and Kadi didn’t experience the cold of the night. They had the outstanding Hunter, Stan, with them. His rich hunting experience allowed them to manage the chilling greetings of the night wind effortlessly. The Roasted Cheese Grass that Stan shared with Igor and Kadi not only completed the task of filling up their stomachs before sleep but also provided them with a good amount of heat. They felt warm all over, as if they had just drunk alcohol. Even after the bonfire went out, they did not feel the chill in the cave.
If Stan hadn’t tugged on the Binding Beast Rope, Igor and Kadi would probably still be sleeping, enjoying the warmth provided by the Zhì Rou Grass.
"It’s dawn," Stan said. "We need to get moving."
Having interacted with Stan Sol over the course of the previous night, Igor had formed a fairly clear impression of him. All in all, this Sol brother didn’t appear to be a bad person in his eyes.
Kadi, on the other hand, was contemplating how to lure this troublemaker into the traps on the mountain.
However, their plan seemed hard to implement right now. Stan Sol was leading the way while Kadi and Igor still trudged along behind him, their hands tied.
"Not eating breakfast is bad for your health," Igor called out from behind Stan. He had come to terms with his predicament. The misfortune had not fueled his despair or anger. Instead, it had cleared a bit of the confusion harbored in his heart. At least now he had a clear purpose to follow.
"We’ll eat after seeing the sun," Stan replied.
"Are you sure you can find Hustace? This mountain is vast. How would you know where he is?" Igor asked, concerned about things he didn’t know. To him, the unknowns of this world seemed unreasonable.
"Initially, he didn’t know where you were or who you were either, and still, he found you. Now that he knows he’s looking for Hustace, do you think he can’t find him?" Kadi quietly replied. His response was much quicker compared to the night before.