Chapter Six: Warmth of the Heart

“Living creatures can’t survive inside the realm? Or is there some other reason why there are no living beings inside...” Chen Ling muttered to himself, then returned from the realm to reality, preparing to give it a try.

“Ouch!”

Just as he stood up, his foot suddenly caught on something, nearly causing him to fall.

“What’s that?”

Chen Ling looked down and was dumbfounded.

On the ground before him had sprouted a large patch of morning glories, lush and verdant. The vines were as thick as two fingers and incredibly sturdy.

They were in full bloom, trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of blue and white, emitting a faint, delicate fragrance.

“What the hell is going on?”

Chen Ling was momentarily stunned.

But soon, a realization dawned on him, and his eyes widened in shock. “Could it be... that half bowl of water I spilled on the ground caused this?!”

He thought it through carefully.

There was no other plausible explanation besides that half bowl of water.

Nothing else could possess the magical effect of the Sun and Moon Realm’s water, which made plants grow rapidly.

Unless that water also came from the Sun and Moon Realm.

He recalled that there must have been morning glory seeds in the soil of the courtyard. This was common enough in rural areas—seeds scattered by the wind would fall into any yard.

If no one lived there for a while, grass and weeds would naturally grow in the yard and on the roofs.

Normally, with people coming and going, trampling the yard, the morning glories wouldn’t sprout because the seeds couldn’t germinate.

But now, the vitality of life had been stimulated by that half bowl of creek water, causing such a vast patch of morning glories to grow rapidly.

“Looks like the creek water inside the realm not only benefits the human body somewhat but has an even greater effect on plants...”

“Heh, in that case, exchanging with the vast wasteland of the Er Zhu family could be quite promising!”

As he pondered, Chen Ling reached out to pull up the morning glory vines.

But the roots were deep and tangled, making them extremely difficult to uproot.

On the other hand, this also reflected just how effective the realm’s creek water was on plants.

Unable to pull them out by hand, Chen Ling retrieved a stone hoe from inside the realm and began digging them out.

Though heavy, the stone hoe was surprisingly effective.

Within a few strokes, he had uprooted the entire patch of morning glories.

Chen Ling tossed them back into the realm, then scratched his head. “Uh, what was I about to do again?”

The matter of the morning glories had distracted him, and he momentarily forgot his original intention.

“Oh, right—living creatures!”

Chen Ling slapped his forehead. “There are no living creatures in the Sun and Moon Realm; I need to catch some to try putting inside.”

“But... this season, there are no ants or bugs around. Where can I find living creatures?”

Chen Ling furrowed his brow, scanning the courtyard.

His gaze settled on the chicken coop by the east wall.

At home, the only living creatures were a few chickens.

Though it was late at night and pitch dark, after several visits to the Sun and Moon Realm, Chen Ling’s night vision had improved remarkably.

He could see most things clearly.

He walked over and pushed open the small fence door of the chicken coop, then reached into the chicken nest.

It was the second month of the lunar calendar, still cold, so the chickens would return to the coop to sleep at night, making them easier to catch.

His hand touched a warm chicken thigh, and before the chicken could react or cry out, he grabbed it forcefully and entered the Sun and Moon Realm.

“Cluck cluck cluck!”

It was a large rooster.

Its comb was bright red, feathers glossy and sleek. At first, startled by being caught and brought to this unfamiliar environment, it was frightened.

But soon, it was captivated by the beautiful scenery and fresh, pure air inside the realm.

Energized, it flew onto the big tree in front of the thatched hut, stretched its neck, and let out a loud, clear crow.

Chen Ling smiled at the sight.

If living creatures could enter, then he was reassured.

He could now freely switch between the realm and reality, carry things in and out, and even allow external plants and animals to enter.

This made the Sun and Moon Realm all the more useful.

Moreover, it was worth mentioning...

Since Chen Ling first entered the Sun and Moon Realm, the secret box that carried the realm had, in a way beyond his understanding, settled within the mud pellet palace in the center of his brow.

With a thought, he could enter or exit the realm.

No longer did it feel like his soul was gradually being drawn out, causing him to faint as on his first entry.

Whether this was due to the realm’s white mist transforming his soul or some other reason, he did not know.

But as Chen Ling explored, he realized that the Sun and Moon Realm had granted him certain permissions.

It was like the legendary “master recognition.”

He had tested it earlier—anything he touched inside the realm, with a single thought, he could retrieve from it.

For example, that stone hoe.

So he let the rooster roam freely inside.

After all, as long as he wished, he could catch it anytime.

After working in the realm for most of the night, Chen Ling had indeed gained much and gradually understood how to use the Sun and Moon Realm.

When he emerged again, he didn’t forget to release the rooster before returning to lie down in the house.

...

The next morning.

Wang Susu opened her eyes; dawn had already broken.

Sunlight filtered through the paper window, casting patches of light on the quilt.

Rubbing her eyes, Wang Susu still felt somewhat drowsy.

After all, she had been busy all day yesterday and stayed up late. Although she had gotten up later than usual, she hadn’t fully recovered.

Chen Ling was no longer in bed beside her; he must have gone out early.

She was accustomed to this.

But thinking of Chen Ling’s promise last night and his gentle, caring smile, she sighed softly, feeling a touch of melancholy.

She dressed and gathered her strength to get out of bed.

As usual, Wang Susu prepared to change the charcoal in the iron stove and make breakfast.

But upon getting up, she found the charcoal already replaced and the fire burning brightly.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of wooden boards tapping—“clang clang clang”—outside.

Lifting the door curtain, she went outside.

In the courtyard, she saw Chen Ling wearing an apron, chopping vegetables on a cutting board.

Beside him was a simple stone stove, burning wood, and a steaming pot bubbling with hot vapor.

The scent was that of porridge.

Yet it carried a strange, enticing fragrance that whetted the appetite.

Wang Susu couldn’t help but swallow; her stomach rumbled softly.

Fortunately, the sound wasn’t too loud.

Otherwise, given her nature, she would have felt rather embarrassed.

“Up already? Go wash your face; I’m about to bring the pot in.”

Chen Ling looked up and smiled at her. “I made some peanut, lotus seed, and red date porridge. Try it later and see if you like it.”

Wang Susu’s cheeks flushed at his smile. Watching Chen Ling skillfully lift the pot, pour two bowls of porridge, and place them on the stone table in the yard, she heard him say:

“Let it cool a bit before drinking—be careful, it’s hot.”

In that instant, Wang Susu felt an indescribable sensation, as if her whole being was light and dizzy.

This scene seemed like something that only appeared in dreams.