The rock has been warmed by the hot water.
It was hard but much more comfortable than the cold redwood beds of the palace.
Soon, Yue Mingxuan's consciousness began to blur.
Shang Qinghua whose soaking in the hot spring felt warmth spreading through his body.
What might feel almost hot to others was pure comfort for him.
His previously unconscious mind regained some clarity and his skin that was fully exposed to the water took on a faint reddish glow.
Sleeping near the spring, Yue Mingxuan shifted comfortably, only to be startled by a sharp, piercing cry of "Mother!" From somewhere in the cave.
Could there be someone else here?
While half asleep, he wondered if he could ask the person for directions to get out.
Slowly, his cloudy mind started to clear this was truly the meaning of "when all seems lost, a new path appears."
Yue Mingxuan got up but could not find any sign of a child or anyone else.
It seemed that the earlier cry was a hallucination.
