Seeing the ten datura plants and branches burning together, the couple quickly retreated into the cave. Chen Lan thought that she could finally sleep soundly and boldly, no longer worrying about any wolves being able to climb into the cave alive. This was because the whole datura plant was highly poisonous, much more so than datura pollen.
To ensure absolute safety, Chen Lan used her mind to open the system’s storage and moved out several wooden chests filled with gold bricks to block the cave entrance. After glancing at the cave entrance blocked by the chests, Chen Lan carefully checked the gas mask she was wearing before confidently preparing to sleep on the ground mat. Having been busy all day and fending off a pack of wolves outside for several hours at night, Chen Lan was truly exhausted.
Xu Mingxuan, looking a bit bewildered at Chen Lan’s operations at the cave entrance, asked curiously, "Lan’er, is this enough? Can such small wooden chests really work? I can easily push them over with just a finger. If a fierce beast were to enter the cave, wouldn't a single swipe send it flying?"
Chen Lan, sitting on the ground mat, replied nonchalantly, "Brother Mingxuan, if you can easily push them all over with your finger, I'll give you everything inside these chests."
This made Xu Mingxuan even more curious. He couldn't help but get up from the ground mat and walk over. He lightly pushed with his index finger, but the wooden chest didn't budge. He then pushed with a bit more force, and it still didn't move. Finally, he used his entire palm to push with all his might. The wooden chest only moved slightly. Xu Mingxuan became even more curious. He turned back and asked, "Lan’er, what exactly is inside these not-so-large wooden chests? Why are they so heavy!"
Chen Lan, sitting in the warm bedding, smiled mysteriously and said with a hint of regret, half-jokingly, "Brother Mingxuan, it's a pity. You've just missed the God of Wealth. What a great opportunity to get rich! It's truly a shame! You've missed out on a chance to become rich overnight."
Xu Mingxuan thought Chen Lan was joking and teasing him, so he smiled dismissively and didn't pay much attention to it. He didn't ask further about what was inside the chests. He looked at the time on his watch. It was already two-thirty in the morning. Fending off the wolves outside for several hours had taken a toll on his mind. He was now tired and sleepy! If he didn't go to sleep quickly, daybreak would soon arrive.
He then added a few of the thickest logs to the campfire, turned around, walked to the ground mat, took off his coat, and slipped into the warm bedding, saying, "Lan’er, let's sleep quickly! If we delay any longer, it will be dawn. We have more important things to do when it gets light."
Previously, his mind had been highly concentrated and tense to deal with the wolves outside. Now that the pack of wolves was dealt with, his mind relaxed, and Chen Lan also felt tired and sleepy. So, she didn't say anything else and quickly fell asleep. Before long, both of them were fast asleep.
The next day, despite sleeping very late the previous night, Xu Mingxuan still woke up on time for the roll call. He couldn't help it; it was a habit developed over many years!
The mountain cave was a bit chilly in the early morning. He turned his head to look towards the cave entrance. Through the gaps in the wooden chests, he saw that it was still pitch black outside. The firewood in the campfire at the entrance was almost burnt out, and the fire was about to go out.
Xu Mingxuan took off his gas mask, quickly and quietly got up without disturbing the sleeping Chen Lan, put on his clothes in the dark, and then put on his coat. He added a few thin branches to the nearly extinguished campfire to rekindle the flames, then threw in a few thicker branches. Using the firelight, he found a relatively flat spot, took off his coat, stretched his body, and then began practicing his punches.
Chen Lan found it uncomfortable to sleep with the gas mask on. She wasn't sleeping soundly to begin with, and the powerful gusts of wind from Xu Mingxuan's punches and his involuntary roars completely woke her up. She opened her eyes and looked around, realizing she was in the cave. She took off the gas mask, stuck her head out of the covers, and a gust of cold air hit her face. Chen Lan couldn't help but shiver, thinking how cold it was in the cave, and it must be even colder outside in the forest. She listened carefully to the sounds outside and found that it was quiet with no noise.
Looking up, she saw Xu Mingxuan practicing his punches. His fists moved with vigor, and his kicks were swift and fierce.
Chen Lan guessed that Xu Mingxuan was practicing military boxing. This set of boxing fully embodied the characteristics of military boxing: fast, accurate, fierce, powerful, and agile. The movements were concise and practical, with no unnecessary flourishes. Each move had a combative meaning, aiming for the result of "defeating the enemy in one move." This boxing could not only train the body but also serve as an effective means of defeating the enemy.
By the time Xu Mingxuan finished his set of punches, his forehead was covered in fine sweat. He retracted his fists, adjusted his breathing, and looked up to see Chen Lan putting on her clothes, preparing to get up. He then asked, "Lan’er, you're awake. Why didn't you sleep a bit longer? Did my punching disturb you?"
Chen Lan replied while getting dressed, "No! Brother Mingxuan, it has nothing to do with you. I wake up at this time every day; it's a habit developed over many years!"
After getting dressed, she looked out through the gaps in the wooden chests. There was already light outside, and the day had broken. However, it seemed to have frosted today, and the visibility outside was not high. The fog was hazy, and she couldn't see very far. Chen Lan thought, so it had frosted today, no wonder it was so cold this morning!
Chen Lan took out toiletries from the system's storage, then ordered a large barrel of water and two bottles of milk, each weighing a pound, from the system. The couple then washed up. After washing up, Chen Lan took out the Russian "Dachibao" bread and sausages she had exchanged with Madame from Russia yesterday. Chen Lan sliced the sausages and bread and skewered them onto long branches. The couple roasted the sausages and bread over the fire, eating slowly, drinking milk, and waiting for the fog outside to dissipate.
Chen Lan took a bite of the fragrant roasted sausage and involuntarily started talking about the wolves outside. She said, "Brother Mingxuan, there's still no movement outside. I estimate that all those wolves outside have kicked the bucket."