After all, those are just myths and legends, impossible to verify. Richard Thompson immediately looked at Henry Wright with a face full of admiration—if fire-making by friction was his invention, then he would be the ancestor of fire for all humanity. But then, seeing Henry Wright’s lonely expression, Richard Thompson instantly realized: before, he was the only one who knew how, and that was such a glorious thing. Now that another person, Richard Thompson, could also make fire, he must be feeling a bit upset.

Richard Thompson felt this topic wasn’t suitable to continue, so he asked, “By the way! Henry Wright, what rules do we have in Blackstone Valley?”

“Not many.”

Henry Wright immediately said, “You can’t leave the valley at will, you can’t go out hunting on your own, you can’t leave the territory of our Blackstone Valley, you can’t hoard food, you can’t…”

No one knew how much time had passed.

Richard Thompson was getting drowsy listening, his eyelids growing heavier and heavier. Yet Henry Wright was still reciting expressionlessly, and Richard Thompson was nearly in tears, thinking, you’ve already listed a hundred thousand ‘can’ts’—and you say that’s not many?

Actually, there weren’t that many rules; it’s just that they were too detailed. Many could be grouped together and summed up in a single sentence.

After quite a while, Henry Wright suddenly frowned, thinking as he spoke: “I think that’s all!”

Richard Thompson perked up and said, “You’re finally done? No, that’s really it?”

Henry Wright nodded, then suddenly shook his head and said, “There’s more, there’s more.”

Can I take back what I just said? Richard Thompson wanted to cry but had no tears. “What else?”

Henry Wright suddenly pointed to the tall peak upstream of the creek and said, “That peak is off-limits.”

Richard Thompson looked up and saw the peak shrouded in mist, looming in and out of view. He asked curiously, “Why?”

Henry Wright said, “That’s the rule.”

“…!”

Henry Wright then asked, “Did you remember all that?”

If I could remember all that, I’d be a ghost! Richard Thompson’s eyes flickered, and he smiled, “How about this: I’ll ask you about everything before I do it, that way I won’t make any mistakes.”

Henry Wright thought for a moment, then said thoughtfully, “That… works too.”

Richard Thompson chuckled, “Then let’s do that.”

Henry Wright suddenly glanced at Richard Thompson, hesitating, “You… you…”

But Richard Thompson was a shrewd one. Seeing Henry Wright’s expression, he immediately knew what he wanted to ask and smiled, “You want me to teach you how to make fire and cook, right?”

Henry Wright nodded.

“Of course.” Richard Thompson agreed very readily.

Henry Wright said in surprise, “Really?”

“Of course!” Richard Thompson nodded, thinking, without a little helper, being a chef is just too hard!

Chapter 6 Night Falls

No matter how dramatic the process was, at least Richard Thompson could temporarily settle down here, which meant he had a chance to survive.

Besides, everything in this era, everything here, filled Richard Thompson with curiosity. He was now eager to learn more.

And Henry Wright was undoubtedly a good person to get information from.

Although Henry Wright spoke a bit stiffly—if you asked him a question, he’d answer; if you didn’t, he wouldn’t say a word more—he was honest, unlike that boy from before, who was full of tricks.

From him, Richard Thompson learned some information about Blackstone Valley.

The old woman was named Martha Evans, the leader of Blackstone Valley. The boy was named George Baker, Martha Evans’s grandson. His mother had died years ago, and as for his father, Henry Wright’s answer was that he didn’t know. As for forms of address, there was only one honorific: “姆,” used specifically to refer to one’s mother; even grandmothers had no special title.

And Brian Cooper was actually the legendary shaman, responsible for communicating with the heavens. But currently, there was no such term as “shaman.” Henry Wright described Brian Cooper as the smartest person in Blackstone Valley.

Richard Thompson also learned from Henry Wright about some of Blackstone Valley’s basic systems. It was truly an absolute democracy: for any major matter, all adults had to vote to decide. Men also had voting rights and could even vote to replace the leader. However, Brian Cooper had veto power, because Brian Cooper had the backing of the heavens. At this stage, humanity was still ignorant, and the heavens could not be defied. As for minor matters, Martha Evans and several elder women could decide, and everyone’s division of labor was determined by Martha Evans and her group.

Additionally, it was a communal system: collective production, equal distribution. But this didn’t mean that even the clothes Richard Thompson wore had to be handed over; only collectively produced items belonged to the group. If a piece of animal hide was given to you, it was your private property, not communal. Only after your death would it return to the collective, and it couldn’t be passed on to descendants. Richard Thompson’s clothes were not from collective production.

But this didn’t mean their system was advanced; it was simply because their productivity was extremely backward.

“Henry Wright! Henry Wright!”

The two were chatting when suddenly they heard someone calling.

Richard Thompson looked over and saw a woman pointing at the sky.

Before Richard Thompson could look up, he heard Henry Wright say anxiously, “Too late!”

“Too late for what?”

Richard Thompson was completely confused.

But as soon as he spoke, Henry Wright leapt down. When he landed, it was like a boulder crashing to the ground, and Richard Thompson was a bit shocked—he couldn’t help but feel sorry for the earth of this era.