Lin Xiao turned to Mei, his voice firm yet gentle. "Mei, distribute the remaining food to the children. They need it the most right now."
Mei nodded and began handing out the food, her movements careful and deliberate.
As the food was distributed, Lin Xiao noticed some villagers whispering among themselves, discomfort evident in their expressions.
However, none of them openly addressed their concerns.
Lin Xiao was acutely aware of the tension. He knew that if the villagers didn't get food soon, their desperation could lead to rebellion.
He had to find a way to get to the food storage and ensure everyone had enough to eat.
As he pondered his next move, a system notification suddenly appeared in his mind
[Days Survived 2/3]
Lin Xiao's heart skipped a beat. The notification meant that they had survived another day and that the sun would soon rise.
He felt a surge of hope. If daylight was approaching, he wouldn't have to worry as much about the ice storm, and getting to the food storage would be easier.
"The sun will rise soon," he announced. "We just need to hold on a little longer."
The villagers looked skeptical, their faces lined with exhaustion and doubt.
One of them finally spoke up, voicing the question on everyone's mind. "How do you know the sun is rising soon?"
Before Lin Xiao could respond, Mei stepped forward, her eyes blazing with anger. "How dare you question the great immortal? If he says the sun is rising soon, that means it is rising soon."
Even Lin Xiao was taken aback by Mei's outburst. He had always thought of her as gentle and loyal to her village.
Yet here she was, fiercely defending him from her very own village. He decided not to intervene, recognizing that Mei was trying to support him and maintain the villagers' faith.
With the storm still raging outside, Lin Xiao addressed the villagers once more. "I understand your fears and doubts. But I promise you, the sun will rise."
The villagers nodded, some more reluctantly than others, but the tension eased a bit.
He turned to Mei, who had calmed down but still looked fierce.
"Thank you, Mei," he said softly. "Let's keep everyone warm and safe until the sun rises."
Mei nodded, her expression softening. "Of course, Lin Li. We will get through this together."
The hours dragged on, filled with the sounds of the storm outside and the occasional murmur of villagers.
Lin Xiao kept a close eye on the children and his cats who were playing with them, ensuring they were as warm and comfortable as possible.
He also kept an ear out for any signs of unrest among the adults, ready to step in if needed.
As the light outside began to change and the storm lessened, a faint glow appeared on the horizon.
The promise of a new day brought a wave of relief to Lin Xiao. He knew that they had to act quickly before night fell again.
He addressed the villagers with urgency in his voice.
"Everyone, the sun is rising, but we cannot waste any time," Lin Xiao called out. "We need to quickly do the tasks we assigned before night comes again. Gather as much food as possible, secure more firewood, and reinforce the shelters. We must be prepared for whatever comes next."
The villagers nodded, and, they quickly dispersed to carry out their tasks.
As he turned to continue his own preparations, he noticed Mei looking at him with a complex expression.
Her gaze was intense, almost reverent, as if she were looking at a deity.
This made Lin Xiao somewhat uncomfortable, but he brushed it off, attributing it to the exhaustion and stress of the past 'days'.
"Mei," he said, walking over to her, "we need to make sure everything is in order. Let's focus on securing the village and ensuring everyone has what they need."
Mei nodded, snapping out of her trance-like state. "Of course, Lin Li. I will help wherever I can."
As they worked side by side, Lin Xiao couldn't shake the feeling of her gaze lingering on him. Despite the discomfort, he decided to focus on the tasks at hand.
For an hour they gathered food with his cats, checked on the villagers, and made sure everyone was doing their part.
Hours passed, and the sun climbed higher in the sky, however, it provided no warmth and light.
By midday, the village had gathered a substantial amount of food, and the shelters were reinforced.
"Everyone, you've done an excellent job," Lin Xiao addressed the villagers once more. "We have made significant progress, but we must remain vigilant. Keep gathering and preparing. We don't know how long this day will last, and we must be ready for whatever comes next."
Right as Lin Xiao finished speaking, he noticed the light beginning to dim and the wind picking up speed.
He was shocked at how quickly night had come.
The villagers also noticed and quickly started packing up barrels and bags of food, rushing to take them to the house designated by Mei and Lin Xiao.
"Move quickly!" Lin Xiao urged, his voice cutting through the rising wind. "We need to get inside before the storm hits."
The villagers scrambled, their movements frantic yet coordinated.
They heaved the supplies into the house, working against the clock and the increasingly hostile weather.
The wind howled, and the temperature plummeted, a clear sign that the storm was upon them.
As the first snowflakes began to fall, Lin Xiao felt a sense of urgency. He grabbed a sack of food and ran towards the house, pushing himself to move faster.
His survival instincts kicked in, reminding him that this was just a dungeon, a test he had to pass, he didn't need to care about these people but he couldn't help but care because they felt too real.
The storm intensified rapidly, snow swirling around them in a blinding frenzy. Villagers hurried, some slipping and stumbling but never stopping.
The house designated as their refuge loomed ahead, a beacon of safety in the whiteout.
"Get inside, quickly!" Lin Xiao shouted, his voice nearly drowned out by the wind. He helped an elderly woman to her feet, guiding her to the entrance.
One by one, the villagers filed into the house, clutching their precious supplies. Lin Xiao and his cats were among the last to enter, making sure everyone was accounted for.
He felt the icy grip of the wind against his skin, the cold seeping through his clothes.
Inside the house, the atmosphere was tense but relieved. The villagers huddled together for warmth, their breaths visible in the cold air.
Mei was already inside, organizing the supplies and making sure everyone had a place to sit.
"Thank you, Lin Li," Mei said, her voice soft.
Lin Xiao nodded, catching his breath. He thought to himself, Why is she saying thank you so much? Should I just ask her why she's acting so weirdly like that?
Despite his curiosity, he decided not to confront her about it. There were more pressing matters at hand.
"We need to keep warm," Lin Xiao said, addressing the group. "Everyone huddle together and share body heat. Make sure the children are in the center where it's warmest."
The villagers followed his instructions, moving closer to one another. The atmosphere inside the house grew slightly warmer as they shared their body heat, but the cold still seeped in through the walls.
Lin Xiao sat next to Mei, who was busy distributing the rations. "I need to tell you something," he began, his voice low. "I'm leaving tonight."
Mei looked up at him, her eyes widening. "I will go with you," she declared.
Lin Xiao was taken aback. "You can't," he said firmly.
"Are you going back to the immortal realm?" Mei asked, her voice filled with both hope and sorrow.
Lin Xiao hesitated, not wanting to explain the complexities of the modern world. "Yes," he lied, feeling a pang of guilt.
Mei's head drooped, and she whispered, "I will go out and do merits so I can meet you again."
Lin Xiao felt a wave of sadness wash over him.
He had given her false hope with his lie about doing good deeds leading to the 'immortal realm.' He didn't know how to respond, so he simply patted her shoulder gently.
"It's for the best," he said softly, trying to reassure her without deepening the emotional wound. "You have great things to accomplish here."
Mei nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I understand. I'll do my best."
Lin Xiao was taken aback by her tears. He hadn't realized their relationship had meant so much to her.
Although Mei had been the only person he had talked to consistently over the past few weeks, he hadn't thought their bond was deep.
Perhaps from her perspective, it was much more significant than he had understood.
This realization made Lin Xiao feel a pang of sadness.
He looked at Mei, her resolve mixed with sorrow, and felt a genuine connection he hadn't fully acknowledged before.
Although it was a dungeon, Mei felt so real. Lin Xiao couldn't help but wonder if she truly existed somewhere.
But at this moment, the last thing he wanted was an emotional conversation—he hated those.
"Mei," he said softly, trying to keep his voice steady. "You've been a great ally. I'm grateful for everything we've been through together."
Mei looked at him, her tears threatening to spill over. "I'll miss you, Lin Li," she whispered.
Lin Xiao felt a lump in his throat, hearing that fake name. He simply nodded and hugged his cats.
As he closed his eyes, trying to rest, he pushed away the complex emotions swirling within him as he usually does.