6:06
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Following Chu Liuxiang, Jiuli discovered a new hidden spot along the bay beach—the cliffside cave.
The cave was simple and unadorned. In its center stood a fire ring built from piled stones, filled with the ashes of burnt wood and grass. In one corner lay a small stack of firewood, and neatly arranged at the entrance were a dozen or so opened coconut shells, seemingly set out to collect rainwater.
Jiuli narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
…Could it be that this is why no coconuts spawn on the beach?
Chu Liuxiang ignited a campfire.
Chu Liuxiang: “Come, sit closer and warm yourself by the fire.”
The pixelated Jiuli on the screen blinked and obediently scooted nearer, settling down closer to Chu Liuxiang.
Chu Liuxiang: “Would you like some water?”
Chu Liuxiang handed Jiuli a freshly opened coconut.
The pixel Jiuli silently took the coconut, neither approving nor rejecting it.
The campfire flickered, its red and yellow pixels shifting subtly. Two pixelated figures knelt nearby; one held a coconut as large as a head, sipping elegantly as if drinking tea—the movement graceful and refined.
Outside the cave, the rain continued to fall softly over the beach, the eternal sound of waves crashing rhythmically blending with the crackling of the fire, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.
In truth, Jiuli quite liked this feeling.
She took out her phone and snapped a photo of the screen.
Another pixel figure appeared, stepping into the cave through the rain.
Ah! It’s Snow White!
Today, she was determined to learn his name!
Jiuli: “Hello, I’m Jiuli!”
??? : “……….”
Jiuli: “Hello, I’m Jiuli!”
Above the black-clad pixel figure’s head appeared a tangled scribble—a symbol of speechlessness beyond mere silence.
Jiuli: “Hello, I’m…”
Chu Liuxiang: “…You are Jiuli, I am Chu Liuxiang, and this gentleman is Yidianhong.”
Yidianhong: “...Hmph.”
Jiuli used the emoji: nodding.
So Snow White’s name was Yidianhong!
Truly Snow White—the skin as white as snow, hair as black as ebony, and a name as red as blood.
Then why not call him Erdianhong?
Jiuli: “Why not Erdianhong?”
Chu Liuxiang: “……….”
Yidianhong: “……….”
Yidianhong: “No fresh water pools found on this side; we must cross over the mountain to look.”
Hmm? What topic is this?
Chu Liuxiang: “I see. Brother Hong, thank you for your hard work.”
Ah, so he wasn’t talking to her after all.
An NPC ignoring a player—what a reversal of the natural order!
Just then, a third pixel figure stepped into the cave—the passerby whose name was unknown, whether Zhao Si or Wang Wu.
Zhang San: “The rain’s getting heavier… Ah, Miss Jiu, hello!”
So he was Zhang San…
Jiuli: “Hello, Zhang San!”
Pixel Zhang San nodded at her.
Zhang San: “This side is the windward slope.”
Chu Liuxiang: “The island’s seas are rough, and no telling how long the rain will last. The windward side is unlivable. We need to find somewhere else.”
- Would you like to invite them to move to Shen Shui Palace Farm?
→ Let’s band together for warmth!
- No, I prefer to be alone.
Ah! So you can invite NPCs to live on the farm!
Yes, yes, absolutely! No more wandering the mountains and valleys searching for people—just wait by the NPC’s door every morning with gifts in hand… What joy, what a blessing!
Author, you are truly kind!
Jiuli: “I live by the water source on the leeward slope.”
All three pixel figures turned their heads to look at her in unison.
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Jiuli: “You can stay at my place.”
***
Undoubtedly, Jiuli was a peculiar girl full of mysteries.
Her gaze was clear, her demeanor awkward—but in a way that was almost infuriating.
For example, she was clearly intrigued by Yidianhong from the Central Plains.
Then she began staring at him, like a motionless owl… a silver-feathered owl… perhaps a snowy owl?
The assassin completely ignored her, but Chu Liuxiang, putting himself in his shoes, imagined how itchy he must have felt at that moment…
“Hello, I’m Jiuli!”
Yet her speech was articulate, and when sitting by the campfire, she maintained a very formal, elegant kneeling posture. The way she held the coconut was as if she were a noble lady cradling a teacup.
…Her face was nearly buried in the coconut shell, yet she managed to exude an air of grace and refinement—truly a hidden talent.
Leaning against the cave wall, Chu Liuxiang crossed one leg casually, resting his left arm on his knee, watching Yidianhong with interest to see how the assassin would react.
His reaction was none.
This was typical of him. On the ship, the captain and leader of the Purple Whale Gang, Hai Kuotian, had once offered him a drink, hoping to “make friends” with this mysterious black-clad swordsman.
But Yidianhong never even glanced at him.
Every swordsman has their pride.
Hai Kuotian’s face turned as red as a boiled shrimp. He was a burly man standing eight feet tall, with eyes like copper bells glaring fiercely, like a raging bull.
“Once you’re on board, we’re all friends! Would a friend refuse a drink?”
Yet the underlying meaning was not so friendly—after all, under someone else’s roof, one must bow their head, especially on a ship that had been sailing for days amidst endless waves. Even the best in the world must be wary of being drugged and thrown overboard!
The black-clad swordsman suddenly turned his head!
Hai Kuotian was so startled he stepped back three paces!
Because those eyes shone colder, sharper than swordlight! When the ruthless bloodthirst buried deep within his body surged forth, his eyes gleamed with a terrifying, beast-like emerald light!
He said coldly, “Did you take my money?”
His voice was strange and unique—hoarse, low, and curt—possessing a strange power that made one never forget a single word he spoke.
Cold sweat broke out on Hai Kuotian’s forehead.
“Y-yes…”
He stammered.
The swordsman still stared coldly, a cruel smile curling on his lips, revealing sharp teeth: “You took my money yet tried to sabotage my plans?”
Hai Kuotian nearly fainted.
“N-no… I dare not!”
He stuttered.
The swordsman sneered and strode away!
In short, Yidianhong was lone and aloof, cold and strange. Anyone wishing to “make friends” with him would be wise to consider whether he might trample both their face and dignity underfoot.
But Jiuli was clearly undeterred.
As long as you’re not embarrassed, the embarrassment falls on others.
Her gaze was clear and intelligent, fixed unblinking on the black-clad assassin. She opened her mouth and softly uttered a devilishly awkward phrase…
“Hello, my name is Jiuli…”
“Hello, my name is Jiuli…”
Hello… hello… hello…
Chu Liuxiang hurriedly intervened, rescuing the seemingly overwhelmed assassin: “…You are Jiuli, I am Chu Liuxiang, and this gentleman is Yidianhong.”
The silver-haired maiden knelt properly, glanced at him seriously, then nodded solemnly and said, “Yes, we all have a bright future!”
Chu Liuxiang: “...Pfft!”
Yidianhong: “……….”
Jiuli tilted her head: “Why not call you Erdianhong?”
Chu Liuxiang: “...Pfft!”
Yidianhong: “……….”
Yidianhong turned expressionless, coldly staring at Chu Liuxiang.
Chu Liuxiang smiled calmly and kindly at him as always.
Yidianhong seemed unable to tolerate the conversation focused on him any longer and shifted the topic—Good heavens! So he did have basic conversational skills!
Chu Liuxiang scolded him silently while kindly helping redirect the talk.
Jiuli held her coconut, watching Yidianhong when he spoke and Chu Liuxiang when he did, like a cat drawn to any movement.
Zhang San returned through the rain. He had explored another direction, but judging by his expression, he hadn’t found the water source either.
More rain splashed inside the cave from the wind.
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This side is the windward slope.
As the name suggests, the windward slope faces the wind. If the cave there is too shallow, it cannot provide shelter from wind and rain. No one knew when the rainy season would arrive, but before it did, they had to find new refuge.
Jiuli tilted her head, seemingly pondering.
A lock of silver hair fell with her movement, piling under the hem of her garment like a small pool of moonlight.
Jiuli said, “I live by the water source on the leeward slope.”
Chu Liuxiang glanced at her.
Her expression remained indifferent, unchanged. She added, “You can stay at my place.”
What a simple soul…
On a deserted island far from civilization, people can be more terrifying than beasts. Beasts eat people openly; humans who become beasts have countless ways to conceal themselves.
Zhang San couldn’t help but ask, “Miss Jiu, do you really have no idea how to spell ‘caution’?”
Jiuli replied bluntly, “No idea. How do you write it?”
Zhang San: “……….”
He smacked himself on the face. “My fault, my fault. I shouldn’t have asked that!”
Chu Liuxiang couldn’t help but laugh.
Jiuli insisted, “Do you want to stay at my place?”
Chu Liuxiang looked at her and gently said, “Then it would be an honor to accept.”
Jiuli gave him a cold glance.
…Thank heavens she didn’t ask, “Why is it an honor?”
The silver-haired lady rose, her back straight like a pine tree, graceful and elegant as a blooming orchid, and stepped out of the cave, leading them toward the water source.
In truth, Jiuli’s home was not far from here—crossing the bay beach, entering the forest, then winding through several crooked paths, a hidden trail appeared before them.
The path was narrow, allowing only one person at a time. It twisted and turned like a sheep’s intestine, flanked by lush green plants that seemed to embody the principles of mutual generation and restraint, as if a naturally formed mysterious eight-trigram formation.
No wonder Zhang San and Yidianhong had explored the forest multiple times but never found this place.
After several dozen paces, the path suddenly opened.
In the misty rain stood a small bamboo hut. Raindrops fell on the thatched roof, streaming down in strings from the eaves. In front was a small vegetable garden growing wild taro and cassava—taro leaves broad and spread out, making a crisp sound as rain hit them; cassava leaves resembled tiny green stars growing from the ground, glistening with oiliness and trembling in the rain.
The garden was fenced with bamboo. Though it was raining, the ground wasn’t muddy because a bamboo path stretched from the entrance to the hut’s doorway. Two ponds lay here—a smaller one beside the garden with a wooden bucket nearby, presumably for watering; the larger pond spanned the yard to the back mountain.
Though small, the place was neatly maintained and fully equipped.
Jiuli had already walked along the path to the house.
The three followed and entered.
The house was modest, with nearly all furnishings made from bamboo—bamboo floorboards, bamboo-framed windows, a bamboo table, a bamboo stool, and a bamboo bed.
Zhang San exclaimed, “What a fine layout! What a fine layout!”
Chu Liuxiang: “…Jiuli, why place the bamboo bed by the door?”
Jiuli answered without hesitation, “It’s quicker to leave for work!”
Chu Liuxiang: “………….”
Yidianhong: “………….”
Zhang San: “………….”
Living alone on a deserted island… is work really that hard…?
After a while, the rain stopped.
Chu Liuxiang turned and asked Jiuli, “Jiuli, do you have an axe? Could I borrow it?”
Jiuli probed, “What do you need an axe for?”
Chu Liuxiang patiently explained, “I saw a bamboo grove on the back mountain and want to cut some bamboo to build a small hut. You know, Zhang San snores loudly and grinds his teeth at night—it’s quite noisy.”
Zhang San: “………Hey, hey!”
Chu Liuxiang pretended not to hear.
After all, how could three men coexist comfortably in a room with a young maiden?
Moreover, bamboo is an excellent construction material—easy to cut and assemble on site using bamboo nails, and finding thatch in the forest for roofing would suffice to make a shelter.
Jiuli’s eyes widened, looking very surprised.
Chu Liuxiang: “?”
He looked down at her and gently asked, “What’s wrong, Jiuli?”
Jiuli gasped, “You don’t want me to help you cut?”
Chu Liuxiang: “………….”
Chu Liuxiang: “………Ah?”