Snow cave (V)

Sheng Qin spend his days doing stretching exercise and trying to walk around the cave house by his own. He continue to have his vegetable and fruits diet without a fuss. He found his teared garments patched up nicely. He did not ask Hu Li and he suspect it might be the man doing from the last visit. Sometimes when the snow is not not falling, he walks outside with a stick under his arm. The wolf continue to walk beside him whenever Hu Li is busy running around or reading her books. The wolf have a unique smell that he recognise it. Sheng Qin wish that he have a normal eyesight so that he can actually see how a wolf look like. At present, he can see the outline of the wolf but he can't tell where the eyes nor the nose starts. He can see the fangs but he is afraid to touch it just incase it decided to bite him. 

Hu Li spend her days reading up on spells to help her to change her appearances. She learn new spells to create new garments out of nothing. She learn everything fast as she can so that she can return to the sky and not create trouble for Di Jun. 

One day, she see Sheng Qin siting near the pound of water in the cave house. He have a small knife with him. She walk near to him. 

"What are you doing?"

"Oh Miss Bai. I am trying to tidy myself. I look like a mess up person." 

He talks as he continue to cut the long beard. 

"Isn't it painful?"

"No Miss Bai. I have shaved a few times. When my mother is alive. She is the one who groom me. Now i have to do it myself."

"Do you want me to help you??"

"No i am fine. I just need to get it short. I will have a clean face later when i visit those shops in the city."

Hu Li try to understand what he is talking about and watch him cutting his long beard to a short crop style. After he is done he use the water to give himself a wet chin bath. Hu Li use her sleeve to pat him dry. Sheng Qin is caught up in a surprise on her action. He look at her closely and try to figure out how she looks like. He is suppressing the urge to ask her who is the visitor the other day. Is she a prisoner of this place? Why she is left alone? He reach out and hold that hand that is cleaning his chin. "Would you like to follow me back home?"

Hu Li is surprise. Both of them stay quiet for awhile. 

"I mean i can't walk well yet. I need a companion to walk home. I want to show you how my house looks like."

"How far is your home?"

"Far. It's far. My house is in a city. After that if you don't like it, you can return back to here. I won't force you, Miss Bai." 

"Then do you remember how you come into his forrest?"

"I ... honesty i don't remember much but when i am there, i think i know how to find my way home." 

Hu Li is thinking if she should at least send him home. He is fine now but he still can't walk very well. She look at the wolf who is laying at the entrance. It's ear pop up and look at her intensely. She read its face expression. Sheng Qin also follow Hu Li's eye of direction. He look at the wolf and wonder if Miss Bai is communicating with it. 

"Fine. I will go with you. Till i send you home. I have to return here." 

"Is there someone that you are waiting for, in here?"

"Yes. Someone very important."

Sheng Qin feels disappointed but yet try to understand this strange girl. He smile

"Thank you Miss Bai. You are a true friend!"

Hu Li light up when he said the word 'friend'. She have make her first human friend. A person who is a human and not frighten to be with her. Unlike what Di Jun and the other said, this human is different. Maybe there are others alike him. 

Hu Li walk with Sheng Qin in the forest after she takes a long time to say goodbye to her animal friends. She decided that they can't go with her. She can't take care so many of them. She make a promise that she will return. She have been digging endless supply of roots vegetables to store in the cave house. She hope that it is enough till she returns.

Hu Li walks ahead of Sheng Qin to the spot she found him long ago. She pointed to the tree, this time she notice there is a glow behind it. Sheng Qin who can't see it only can feel there is light from the back of the tree, which is normal to him. She stare at the glow as Sheng Qin walks near it. He touches the tree and goes around it however he did not appear o the other side. Hu Li follow his pattern of walking. She finds herself on the other side. 

On this side, there is no snow. There is only green grass and the sun is setting. She realise that it is a portal just like the one from the sky. Sheng Qin is surprised to find green grass on the back of the tree. He doesn't understand and wants to walk back to the tree. Hu Li stop him and told him it's getting late. They have to hurry to find a place to rest.Sheng Qin agree and they walk base on his memory. Hu LI while walking remember that she still have her unusual look. She hurry to chant her spells to transform into another look. Sheng Qin did not notice the change at all. She wonder if the spell works. She only can check when they walk near a lake. She hurry to see the refection on the water. She have indeed transform her looks. She now look like a normal human.