Thirteen thirteen

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The newly opened map area included not only the Pebble Riverbank but also the Dragon’s Tooth Reef Beach. However, it was already too late that day to explore further, so they would have to wait until tomorrow.

That night, they sat around the campfire with the NPCs, sharing roasted chicken.

Sharing food with NPCs could increase the favorability of three people at once, making it a very worthwhile activity. Players loved this and eagerly awaited the evening every day.

The roasted chicken was wrapped in greaseproof paper, taken from Jiuli’s sleeve...

Chu Liuxiang finally couldn’t help but ask, “...How can you fit so many things in your sleeve?”

Jiuli was shocked and stared at him as if he had asked a terribly inappropriate question!

Chu Liuxiang was speechless.

He realized Jiuli was actually a clever girl. When she didn’t want to answer something, she just put on a look of surprise like that, and the questioner would naturally start doubting themselves...

Chu Liuxiang rubbed his nose and stayed silent, not pressing further.

Of course, he wasn’t doubting himself. He just thought it was pointless to ask about things others didn’t want to answer.

The roasted chicken was reheated a bit over the fire, releasing a tempting aroma. Chu Liuxiang gave the largest, most delicious drumstick to Jiuli and kept the wings for himself.

The Bat Island slaves had gone out on patrol and brought back many good things.

The clothes Jiuli had stripped off were all washed and hung to dry; they would have clean clothes to wear tomorrow.

The slaves also brought a small porcelain bottle of seasoning. The marinade brushed on the chicken today was made from the powder inside.

In the wilderness, salt was the hardest thing to obtain, yet essential for human survival. Without salt, people would swell, lose strength, and eventually die.

But on the island, salt was everywhere, so that wasn’t a problem… The only problem was that lately, they’d been eating tasteless grilled fish, making their mouths nearly numb with blandness.

Grilled fish expert Zhang San examined the seasoning bottle and modestly said, “This is nowhere near my secret recipe.”

Chu Liuxiang couldn’t help but laugh: “Master Zhang, where is your secret recipe now?”

Zhang San rolled his eyes silently.

Chu Liuxiang turned to Jiuli with a smile: “His secret grilled fish recipe is a true marvel… Once we leave here, we must have ten or so fish grilled that way to make it worthwhile.”

Jiuli nodded seriously: “I’d be too embarrassed!”

Zhang San was speechless.

He felt an itch to tease but couldn’t target Jiuli because it was like punching cotton; one couldn’t tell if she was genuinely foolish or just pretending.

So, he seized the chance to tease Chu Liuxiang instead.

Zhang San lazily said, “Young Master Chu, should I scoot over a bit so you have more space to spread out?”

Chu Liuxiang’s expression remained unchanged, his smile gentle: “Not as good as Master Zhang. Though he’s lazy, poor, loves drinking and causing trouble, he’s always amusing and likable.”

Zhang San was utterly deflated.

Well, he usually lost these verbal sparrings with Chu Liuxiang. Before, with Xiao Hu around, he hadn’t been at the bottom of the food chain.

Zhang San rolled his eyes irritably and scratched his nose.

Chu Liuxiang’s smile grew more refined and elegant... The only pity was he never got the chance to shave his scruffy chin; no matter how refined, he was still a refined vagrant.

As for Yidianhong, he didn’t respond.

The campfire crackled and spat sparks as wood burned. The assassin sat leaning against the wall, watching coldly with lips tightly pressed, showing no desire to move or speak.

He had never had friends and found it hard to understand such playful chatter.

Suddenly, Chu Liuxiang turned to Yidianhong.

The assassin returned his gaze silently, clearly signaling: Speak quickly.

Chu Liuxiang said seriously, “Brother Hong, may I borrow your sword?”

The assassin raised an eyebrow but didn’t ask what he wanted it for. He reached beside him, found the familiar scabbard, and prepared to toss it over.

Chu Liuxiang said casually, “I want to shave.”

The assassin froze.

His cold gaze fixed on Chu Liuxiang’s face.

Chu Liuxiang rubbed his nose, acting nonchalant.

Yidianhong: “...”

He understood now—this guy was bored and was teasing him for fun.

The assassin said grimly, “You’re looking for death?”

But he didn’t actually attack or poke Chu Liuxiang’s throat.

He had come out to sea for a killing mission but got stranded on the island after a shipwreck. His cooperation with Chu Liuxiang was based on practical judgment—he didn’t care much about his own life, but dying thirsty on the island was too ridiculous.

Then there was Jiuli... this woman he simply couldn’t figure out.

The assassin admitted he wasn’t good at reading people or living among crowds.

Yet, he didn’t dislike sitting around the campfire.

Chu Liuxiang said, “Brother Hong, won’t you come try some grilled fish? The mussel broth is really tasty. Wouldn’t you like another bowl?”

The assassin ignored him, said nothing, and closed his eyes to rest.

Jiuli was like a cat, watching whoever spoke or moved, her head swaying left to right and back again.

***

The next day, they began exploring the new area, Dragon’s Tooth Reef Beach.

At six in the morning, the dream of an automated farm awakened the silver-haired farm owner. She leapt from her bamboo bed, grabbed her fishing rod, and happily stepped outside—

Sure enough, the automatic watering system had finished its job!

Today, the automated watering device was Chu Liuxiang, the bronze-skinned pixel figure with a speech bubble: “Jiuli, good morning.”

Jiuli replied, “Good morning!”

Chu Liuxiang said, “We plan to check out the area beyond the riverbank today. Are you coming?”

Teaming up with NPCs?

Jiuli had no objection because NPCs would collect items when her inventory was full!

This wasn’t an NPC; it was a mobile storage chest!

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Jiuli nodded.

Chu Liuxiang inexplicably saw a flicker of joy on her usually expressionless face.

It looked as if they were going on a spring outing.

He couldn’t help but smile: “Alright, I’ll bring water and food. Don’t carry too much.”

Jiuli’s eyes shone brightly, seeming deeply touched.

After a while, Jiuli handed him her axe. Chu Liuxiang took it.

Then she handed him her fishing rod, which he slung over his back.

Next, she gave him her hoe, which he also carried on his back.

Finally, she passed him her pickaxe... Wait, she even had a pickaxe?!

Chu Liuxiang was speechless.

He slung the pickaxe on his back as well... Now he looked like an old general on stage, with banners stuck all over his back.

Jiuli brought more things...

Chu Liuxiang sighed resignedly and checked if he could carry anything else.

But this time, Jiuli brought a flower crown.

—A spring flower crown.

Clinking with all the gear, Chu Liuxiang stood still, smiling as the silver-haired woman approached. The yellow camellia blossoms swayed gently with her steps.

Before she could tiptoe, Chu Liuxiang bent down proactively.

Jiuli gently placed the flower crown on his head.

He smiled and said, “Anything else?”

Jiuli’s eyes lit up!

So there was more to load!

Chu Liuxiang, you really can carry a lot!

He felt uneasy and quickly said, “Let’s go, let’s go.”

...He shouldn’t have asked.

They set off.

Following the back mountain around, they reached the pebble riverbank from yesterday. Besides humans, there were other carnivores here. The Bat Island slaves who died here yesterday had already been dragged away, leaving long traces on the riverbank.

They followed the river downstream for a long time. The island was vast and terrain complex. At noon, they made a campfire by the riverbank and ate casually.

In the afternoon, after countless twists and turns, a rocky reef suddenly appeared before them.

—A completely black reef beach.

The rocks were black, sharp, and menacing, jutting out into the sea and extending far. Every direction bore evidence of shipwrecks... Now Jiuli finally understood why this place was called Dragon’s Tooth Reef Beach.

—Because the rocks truly resembled giant dragon fangs, and the shipwrecks looked like blood-drained little beasts, their bodies ensnared by the fangs, powerless to resist or escape.

But that wasn’t the most important thing.

The most important thing was a ship—a perfectly intact ship—docked nearby. People moved about on deck; the mast was white, and the sails sturdy.

At that moment, Jiuli’s social list updated again, adding dozens of new characters to the panel.

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