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墨書 Inktalez
The jungle was not only primitive but also dense. We had no choice but to follow the paths made by animals as we made our way toward the hillside dotted with tall plants. In this kind of jungle, fresh water generally comes from two sources: one is the groundwater stored in the soil, and the other is the fresh water accumulated from heavy rainfall.
On the island, when there was no water to drink, there was another method to test one's survival skills, which was particularly practical.
All that was needed were leaves, branches, or bark, which were applicable in most situations. Those with wilderness survival skills summarized it as follows: wherever there is seawater and trees, if you can start a fire, there will be fresh water to drink.
The principle of this method is to pour seawater into a fire pit, place a cup filled with water in the middle, and then cover it with a dome made of leaves. The heat from the fire pit causes the seawater to evaporate, and the steam condenses on the dome cover, dripping into the cup below. This way, enough fresh water can be collected for daily consumption.
However, for now, I still planned to search for a water source first; after all, a continuous supply of water would be much more comfortable than distilled water!
Typically, areas with broadleaf forests indicate the presence of fresh water—not only that but also in substantial quantities. As I stepped into the towering woods, I could no longer feel that I was on an island; it felt more like being in a primeval forest.
I intended to set up a temporary shelter. This kind of shelter is relatively simple and can be built with just a couple of materials. But that wasn't my main priority; finding a water source was my first task. If I could find a cave tonight, it would be decent enough to spend the night in.
Currently, I had only two sharp tools on me: one was the Azure Dark Sword, which made cutting wood effortless. The other was a Strong Steel Dagger, suitable for cutting meat and fish.
As I walked along the path, I sometimes thought about what would happen if we could never leave this island. In that case, building a wooden house high up in a tree would provide greater safety. The island's ecology appeared very primitive now, and the possibility of encountering ferocious beasts was quite high.
I listened carefully; yes, that was indeed the sound of flowing water...
I had definitely heard the sound of water. I glanced back at them; everyone was silent, but their faces clearly showed their joy. We quickened our pace toward the source of water ahead.
Not far ahead was a channel about two meters wide, connecting to a waterfall cascading down in steps. The water was incredibly clear and exhilarating. Finding this source meant fulfilling one of the primary conditions for survival.
Right next to the channel's rocky wall stood an opening about two meters high and five meters wide. I hurried over to take a closer look. The entrance plunged vertically into the rock wall and seemed to be about fifteen meters deep.
Inside the cave was much larger than its entrance and rose about fifteen meters above ground level. It was incredibly dry inside and even had a large flat piece of bluestone. We were all thrilled and jumped up in excitement.
"Let's rest here for the night; finally, we have a place to shelter from the storm!" I said gratefully, bowing towards the cave. I have always respected such caves, believing they hold significance.
Once we entered the cave, everyone was in high spirits, and the smiles on their faces reflected their satisfaction. I told them to sit down and rest while I went outside to gather some dry branches for a fire.
Stepping out of the cave alone, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. I collected many dry twigs from the nearby bushes and bundled them together with some vines to carry back.
On my way, I used my dagger to trim some leafy branches, planning to tie them into a broom once I returned to the cave. The cave felt so comfortable that it seemed likely it had already been claimed by wild creatures. As I carefully cleaned the inside, an unsettling feeling crept over me when I discovered some strange hairs.
Bowl and Xiao Xiao came forward to take the firewood from me. I tied the branches together and asked Bowl to clean the floor. They quickly tidied up the cave's floor and brought in some dry grass and large leaves from outside; for tonight, this would have to suffice for our sleeping arrangements.
Next, we needed to figure out how to start a fire. Xiao Xiao took the initiative to build a fire pit. She stepped outside, gathered a few stones from the nearby stream, and then arranged them in a circle at the center of the cave before piling some fine twigs inside.
She added more dry branches to set up the fire pit properly. We were in urgent need of fire; only fire could provide us with warmth and food.
Previously, when I battled Ghost Infant with Lu Jianguo, I had used a fire bow to create fire. I planned to replicate that method by finding a curved tree branch and tying it with vines. However, after several failed attempts, I remembered seeing a large bamboo grove on my way here.
Starting a fire by friction relies on generating heat through rubbing two pieces of wood together. The roughness of the wood creates significant friction that produces heat, and since wood is flammable, it can ignite.
I went to chop down a dead bamboo stalk. Splitting it open, I took one piece and carved a notch into it. On either side of the notch, I placed some flammable material like fluff and secured it with another bamboo piece. One end rested against my abdomen while the other pressed against the ground. Then, I took another bamboo piece and vigorously sawed at the notch. After about a minute, fluff began to smoke. Quickly, I took some fine fibers and placed the spark inside, gently blowing on it until the entire fluff ignited with a whoosh. Finally, we had fire! This was my first time starting a fire by friction!
"There are fish in the stream; I'll go catch a few so we can have a hot meal tonight." Everyone shuddered at the thought of eating raw fish but smiled and nodded eagerly at my suggestion.
On my way back with firewood, I followed the stream upstream to avoid losing my way. Along the way, I spotted several green trout swimming upstream in the clear shallow water. While they were still visible before darkening, if I could catch a few, everyone would be able to sleep with full bellies.
Following the stream back to where I'd seen the trout earlier, those four or five clueless fish were still vigorously wagging their tails as they tried to swim back upstream; they were likely nearing spawning season.
I caught several trout by threading grass vines through their gills and forming a loop before tossing them onto the ground.
In this open Water Area, I planned to create a Sank In, allowing the fish to enter but not escape. At that time, our daily food supply would be guaranteed. This Sank In was quite simple, resembling a funnel shape, like an inverted cone. I surrounded a section of the Water Area in a V-shape with stones, leaving an opening at the tip of the V. Fish would swim in but often find it difficult to get out. I set up the Sank In and spent quite some time on it.
I returned with several large fish and also picked up some wood. Using my knife, I cleaned the wooden strips and cut them into four sections, sharpening one end of each to use for skewering the fish for grilling. The bowl and Xiao Xiao took the large fish and started cutting them up. Before long, we had skewered the fish meat!
Crackling sounds filled the air as the flames blazed fiercely, and the fish sizzled over the fire… the aroma was irresistible!
Before long, the fish quickly released its oil, bubbling and sizzling over the Flame, filling our surroundings with the delicious scent of grilled fish. We couldn't help but swallow hard.
It had been a long time since we had eaten cooked food, and we devoured it ravenously. We shared the grilled fish, and when the bowl took a big bite, she got a fish bone stuck in her throat. I had to thump her back hard before she finally spat it out.
The grilled fish was soon finished. The bowl and Xiao Xiao, being women, suggested we go wash ourselves in the creek since we had been drifting at sea for too long and carried a strong smell of fish. They worried about me staying behind on this island alone for protection.
We quickly arrived at the pond. Xiao Xiao shyly hid in the bushes and quietly took off her clothes. She warned me not to look back or peek. I couldn't help but laugh; then I heard a splash—clearly, she had jumped into the water. Another splash followed, and I thought the bowl had jumped in too. So I turned around to look.
My heart raced as my eyes went blank.
The bowl was still above water; she had already undone her top, revealing her slender white back before me. Her chest was prominent, and her fair body was completely exposed in front of my eyes…
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