Chen Xu called Ape One forward. Using his increasingly fluent ape-language, he instructed him to indicate the safest path from their small mountain to the river bend below.
After careful consideration, Chen Xu decided that the first hunt of his tenure as leader would target a fish population that had never before been heavily hunted.
From his vantage point on the ridge, he could clearly see a winding, jade-colored waterway threading through the dense primeval forest—a serpent-like river that sustained countless creatures in the area. This river might not become the Yellow River of the future, but its life-giving presence was undeniable.
Although the river seemed close from the mountain's edge, Chen Xu knew well the lesson of "the mountain looks near, but the path is far." The dense jungle was riddled with dangers, impassable zones, and obstacles. Reaching the river would take three or four hours at least.
The apes had indeed been fortunate to find this cave. Not only was it secure, but a small seep inside provided them with a reliable water source, allowing them to venture far from the river and still survive.
Following Chen Xu's signal, Ape One hesitated for only a moment. Though he did not understand why the leader wanted to risk such a dangerous path, he did not dare voice any dissent.
Over time, the apes had begun to associate Chen Xu's mysterious abilities—like controlling fire—with the natural world around them. Gradually, he was being deified in their minds. If Chen Xu probed carefully, he would realize they already revered him as a "Fire God," far beyond a mere hunting party leader.
Awe and reverence permeated the group. Chen Xu had, for the first time in this primitive society, introduced the concept of hierarchy: they understood that the Fire God was fundamentally different from themselves, someone worthy of their worship.
Ape One, holding several crude stone tools, cautiously led the way. Deep down, he still preferred the traditional weapons passed down from his ancestors—tools ingrained in his very bones. Without Chen Xu's commanding presence, they might have refused to use the new bamboo spears entirely.
Yet under Chen Xu's guidance, this ancient conservatism was slowly being replaced. As the effectiveness of the bamboo spears became evident, acceptance would follow.
Following Ape One, Chen Xu carefully observed the environment and marked dangerous zones in his mind, constantly gauging their distance from the starting mountain. He was mentally constructing a map. With a clear layout of the territory, future hunting expeditions would be far safer and more efficient.
Every time Ape One hesitated or detoured around a predator's territory, Chen Xu would inquire meticulously about what lived there, annotating each location in his mental map.
Whenever they entered a new predator zone, Chen Xu activated his inner qi, used his Eagle Soar Technique, and leapt up the massive, towering trees. From the canopy, he surveyed the surroundings, adjusting his mental map and marking each creature's territory with precise annotations.
Hours passed. Carefully navigating past multiple dangerous zones, the hunting party finally heard the rustle and roar of flowing water.
Chen Xu raised his head, sensing the misty river before them. He signaled the apes to stop. From his large deer-hide pack, he retrieved the bird eggs he had collected along the way and distributed them carefully to the apes.
Each egg was about the size of a fist and speckled with colorful patterns. As a former science student, Chen Xu couldn't identify the species, but he was confident they were safe to eat.
Thanks to his light-footed agility, Chen Xu had filled the enormous deer-hide pack with bird eggs during their journey. Counting them now, he found ninety-eight eggs—each about the size of two chicken eggs. His mouth twitched into a small smile at the thought of frying eggs, a simple pleasure from his past life.
He instructed the ten supporting apes to guard the eggs carefully. Then, with four of the strongest hunters, he silently entered the dense jungle along the riverbank.
Here, there was no room for carelessness. A river in the Stone Age was the lifeline of the ecosystem, teeming with countless animals that drank, rested, or hunted along its banks. This river was a dangerous zone, where predators were always present, lying in wait for the unwary.
Pushing aside the grass and moving silently, Chen Xu led the party of five to the river's edge. The remaining four apes, unaware of the Fire God's plans, followed orders faithfully, scanning their surroundings with nervous vigilance.
The hunt was about to begin.