Chapter 746

Chapter 746: The World Inside the Bell (Part One)

“Doggie! Doggie!”

The repeated calls roused Doggie from his slumber.

He turned over on the Hardwood Bed, rubbed his eyes, and scrambled to his feet.

After smacking his lips, Doggie felt a strange sensation.

He had experienced a long and peculiar dream the previous night, but now, not a single detail of it remained in his memory.

The calls from outside compelled Doggie to abandon his recollections; he hastily threw on a coat and stepped outside.

A middle-aged man was sharpening a knife in the small courtyard. Hearing Doggie’s footsteps, he spoke without lifting his head, “Breakfast is on the table. After you eat, head to the fields; today, your father is joining the Hunting Team for a hunt.”

“Alright!”

Doggie responded instinctively, yet he couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was amiss.

Still, he couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was.

“What are you dawdling for?”

The rugged-looking middle-aged man barked, “Don’t waste time; our food supply for next year depends on those Three Acres of Land!”

Doggie’s heart skipped a beat, and he hurried back into the house.

On the small table sat a bowl of boiled sweet potatoes and a plate of Pickled Vegetables.

He grabbed a sweet potato, deftly peeled off its rough skin, and devoured it along with the tangy pickles.

As his growling stomach gradually filled, a flood of memories began to resurface in Doggie’s mind.

His name was Chen Er Gou, and he had just turned fifteen. His mother had passed away long ago, and he had been living with his father, Chen Qiao Shan.

The Little Stone Village they called home consisted of over a hundred households and four to five hundred villagers, making it a relatively large settlement.

Chen Qiao Shan was a member of the village’s Hunting Team, often venturing deep into the mist to hunt Wild Beasts.

Chen Er Gou had started working in the fields when he was just five or six years old.

Now, he was a capable farmer.

After quickly swallowing the last sweet potato in the bowl, Chen Er Gou tidied up as swiftly as he could, grabbed the hoe leaning against the wall, and stepped outside.

Chen Qiao Shan was waiting for him at the door, saying little as the two of them made their way toward the village entrance.

The houses in Little Stone Village were constructed from large stones, with yellow mud mixed with sand filling the gaps. The roofs were covered with stone slabs, giving them a rugged and primitive appearance.

Though these Stone Houses lacked proper lighting and ventilation, they were sturdy and secure.

In the early morning, the entire village was enveloped in a light fog, and the sky appeared gray, with only the faint outline of the sun visible.

But this was already considered good weather!

At the village entrance, the two encountered the Hunting Team, ready to set out.

“Qiao Shan Ge!”

Someone called out to Chen Qiao Shan, “Come over here!”

“Coming!”

Chen Qiao Shan waved his hand, then gently patted Chen Er Gou’s head and said, “Doggie, once you’re done with your work, head straight home. Don’t wander around the village, understand?”

“Yes!”

Chen Er Gou nodded firmly.

From the moment he became aware of the world, he had never stepped foot outside Little Stone Village.

The village itself was manageable, but the world beyond was cloaked in a dense mist. Those unfamiliar with the terrain who dared to venture out rarely returned alive.

Fierce beasts lurked within the mist, devouring people without leaving a trace!

Unlike the mischievous children in the village, Chen Er Gou lacked that burning curiosity. He had taken his father’s warnings to heart and never acted rebelliously.

Carrying a heavy stone hoe, Chen Er Gou made his way to the communal fields at the eastern edge of the village.

All the arable land in Little Stone Village was concentrated here, spanning over five hundred acres. Aside from a few wealthy households, most families were allotted about three acres each.

The basic sustenance for a family had to be drawn from these three acres of land.

When Chen Er Gou arrived, many villagers—men, women, young, and old—were already hard at work: plowing, weeding, fertilizing, and watering the fields.

Everyone was so engrossed in their tasks that no one noticed his arrival.

Chen Er Gou approached his own plot and noticed that a thick layer of weeds had sprouted overnight. He spat into his calloused palm, gripped the hoe tightly, and began his work.

These weeds competed fiercely with the sweet potatoes for nutrients, growing rapidly and stubbornly—utterly frustrating!

Chen Er Gou was no stranger to farming, and his youth and strength allowed him to clear the weeds in no time after some intense labor.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

Next, it was time to water the sweet potatoes.

Though sweet potatoes were drought-resistant, they thrived best with ample water. With careful cultivation, a single acre could yield hundreds of pounds of edible tubers, a staple in the villagers’ daily diet.

Thus, watering was essential—once in the morning and once in the evening.

Just then, Chen Er Gou absentmindedly rubbed his fingers together, forming a peculiar gesture with his thumb, middle finger, and little finger.

Huh?

After making the gesture, Chen Er Gou froze momentarily.

He couldn’t understand why he had made such a sign. If it was a spur-of-the-moment action, it felt oddly familiar and practiced!

Chen Er Gou scratched his head, feeling as though he was losing his mind.

Something had felt off since he woke up that morning!

The fifteen-year-old boy slapped his cheeks lightly, then hurriedly grabbed the water bucket to fetch water from the river.

Beside the communal fields flowed a little river, its waters crystal clear and perennial, serving as the lifeblood of Little Stone Village.

Chen Er Gou filled his bucket to the brim and was about to head back when a strange sensation washed over him.

He spun around abruptly but saw nothing except the mist drifting over the river’s surface.

This is madness!

Chen Er Gou shook his head and turned back, lugging the heavy water bucket.

“Doggie!”

Just then, a group of boys around his age blocked his path.

“Hand over the water bucket!”

The leader, a burly boy, glared fiercely, and Chen Er Gou instinctively felt a pang of fear, almost handing over the bucket without a second thought.

But then he remembered—this wasn’t the first time these boys had bullied him. They had taken his water bucket before, and though they eventually returned it, the delay had disrupted his watering schedule and harmed his sweet potato crop.

It had led to a drop in yield!

Chen Er Gou pulled his hand back and blurted out, “No! Get your own water!”

The burly boy’s eyes widened in shock.

He had been bullying Chen Er Gou for ages, but this was the first time the latter had stood up to him, and it stung his pride.

“You’ll give it to me, whether you like it or not!”

The burly boy clenched his fist menacingly. “Or I’ll beat you to a pulp!”

But Chen Er Gou stood his ground, determined to walk past him with the water bucket.

The burly boy’s anger flared, and without hesitation, he swung his fist at Chen Er Gou.

He had recently learned a few fighting moves from an elder, and now they came naturally as his punch landed squarely on Chen Er Gou’s head.

Thud!

Chen Er Gou couldn’t dodge in time. The blow left him dizzy and disoriented, the sharp pain seemingly triggering something deep within his mind.

In an instant, a flood of memories surged forth, overwhelming Chen Er Gou’s consciousness.

His eyes rolled back, and with a heavy thud, he collapsed to the ground!