The storm raged on, the streets utterly deserted, shrouded in darkness that hid every soul.
Liang Qu cradled the disassembled stove in his damp cotton jacket, dragging his exhausted body back to shore.
He plucked a couple of dry, yellow reeds from the nearby reeds, shredded them into fine strips, and threaded them through the gill covers of the Red Blood Perch, then hurried home with the prize fish.
Once home, he closed the door, reassembled the little stove, added firewood, and set the fire ablaze. When the water boiled, he put in the fish slices.
Just as the fish was nearly cooked, Liang Qu stood up to ensure that all the gaps in the house were securely sealed, then lit the Focusing Incense he had brought back earlier.
The fragrance began to fill the room gradually, and Liang Qu could feel his focus sharpening, his thoughts becoming swifter.
