After the New Year's celebrations, Hua Chengtian, along with everyone fully equipped, began exploring Qinggu Mountain from its eastern, western, and northern directions.
Previously, they had gone out, too. The longest they stayed away was five days and nights before returning, fully equipped, yet the weathered look on the dozen or so men was still heartbreaking to see, especially the leaders with their scruffy beards and haggard faces.
Fortunately, their spirits were still high, and their eyes were bright. They brought back plenty of game and firewood collected along the way. In short, no one returned empty-handed; they did their utmost to bring back as much as possible.
Upon returning home, the first thing Hua Chengtian and his two sons did was to soak in a hot medicinal bath in a tent to dispel the cold, followed by two full bowls of piping hot ginger soup, which revived them.
