SDIWD - Chapter 16

Chapter 16

The island's vegetation was lush, covered with palm trees and tree ferns. The plants were tall, and it was easy to lose sight of the sky deep within the rainforest.

The path was indeed difficult. In their competition for sunlight, all sorts of plants choked every available space in the rainforest. Fortunately, Bai Zhen had cleared a crude path on her way back, otherwise Hua Mu would have had a much harder time.

But even so, the Young Lady was already complaining incessantly.

The sea breeze was stronger on the beach and grassy slopes, so there were naturally fewer insects. Although Hua Mu had been bitten a few times since arriving on the island, it had been tolerable. When they were first searching for a water source, Bai Zhen had chosen easier paths and moved quickly, so Hua Mu hadn't suffered much. This time was different—she was already covered in several welts.

"Can you go any faster?"

But Bai Zhen, who was carrying her, hadn't complained, so Hua Mu somehow found it difficult to mention that she was being eaten alive by insects.

Bai Zhen, still unaware of her Young Lady's suffering, said considerately, "If I go any faster, you might get scratched by branches."

She would rather be scratched by branches! Pain, it turned out, wasn't the worst thing to endure—the itching was. As Hua Mu hesitated, her legs were bitten a few more times, and she couldn't help but kick her feet.

Bai Zhen finally noticed something was wrong and asked nervously, "Miss, are you being bitten by insects?"

Unable to hide it any longer, Hua Mu hooked her fingers to scratch her thigh and complained, "It's itching like crazy."

In terms of exposed skin, Bai Zhen, who was only wearing a tank top, wasn't much better off. Yet she seemed completely oblivious to the insects, prompting Hua Mu to ask in confusion, "Don't you get bitten?"

Bai Zhen shifted Hua Mu higher on her back and quickened her pace, explaining, "I've set up a barrier. Miss, please watch out for the branches. I'm going to go faster."

For a Sentinel, concealing one's presence was a crucial skill. Their barriers could not only block out the interference of excessive external information but also hide their very existence.

Hua Mu seethed with jealousy, inwardly cursing the conveniences afforded to Sentinels. Guides had barriers too, of course, but theirs focused on mental protection. Besides, not only was she a half-baked Guide, but she also couldn't remove her inhibitor, making her no different from an ordinary person.

As soon as Bai Zhen picked up her pace, the ride inevitably grew rougher, forcing Hua Mu to cling tightly to her neck.

Although it hadn't rained for over ten days and the water source they had previously found was almost dry, the rainforest floor remained damp. The ground was barely visible beneath a layer of rotting plants and fallen leaves, which undoubtedly made traversing it more difficult.

But the Sentinel's pace remained swift, and aside from the jostling, there was little to complain about.

The horseflies didn't spare Hua Mu, but she could no longer pay them any mind—she was about to be sick.

Was she sure it was a Sentinel carrying her and not a horse?

In such an environment, Bai Zhen covered the five or six-kilometer distance in less than twenty minutes.

"Miss, we're here!"

Towards the end, Hua Mu could only shut her eyes and endure the ride. Hearing Bai Zhen's words, she opened them as if granted a pardon. The sight before her filled Hua Mu with both joy and surprise, and even a faint sense of unease.

It was a large grove of coconut trees. Although other plants grew there, it was markedly different from the rainforest they had been seeing for the past several days.

The island was covered in palm trees, but the density between different species was usually not so starkly different. Here, however, the vegetation was less dense and the species more uniform. The trees were predominantly coconut palms; other tall trees were scarce.

As for the undergrowth, there were also far fewer vines and shrubs than in the rainforest.

"Bai Zhen, have you scouted out how large this coconut grove is?"

A vague idea was forming in Hua Mu's mind.

"I did a quick sweep. It's about a hectare."

Since Bai Zhen wanted to bring Hua Mu here, she had naturally confirmed the safety of the area first. Farther east was another coastline, one much, much longer than where they had landed. She hadn't scouted it yet but was determined to explore it thoroughly when she had the time.

A longer coastline meant more food and resources, as well as more things that might have washed ashore.

"So there are about two hundred coconut trees, then?"

"How did you know?"

Bai Zhen hadn't counted them specifically, but that was the advantage of being a Sentinel. With their hypersensitive senses, they could analyze many things subconsciously.

Hua Mu, of course, had no such ability. She had simply asked a few questions in the past. She had put a great deal of thought into her own private island, personally overseeing every detail from the decor of the vacation villa to the island's landscaping.

Since it was a tropical island, a coconut grove was essential. She had once asked her gardener about it, and he had explained to her how coconut trees were cultivated as a cash crop.

Coconut trees are typically planted in a square pattern with seven or eight meters between them, or a rectangular pattern of seven by eight meters. With high-density planting in wide and narrow rows, the space per tree can be reduced to forty-five square meters.

A hectare is ten thousand square meters, which can accommodate just over two hundred trees.

"Just a guess."

But she couldn't be certain of her guess. Compared to a cultivated grove, this place was far too wild and overgrown. Still, if that was the scientifically sound way to plant them, perhaps it also represented the minimum requirement for wild coconut trees to thrive—a result of natural selection?

Bai Zhen, suspecting nothing, praised her sincerely. "You're amazing, Miss."

Hua Mu sighed. "You can put me down now."

Bai Zhen set Hua Mu down. Noticing the welts on her arms and legs, she said with concern, "Miss, you've been bitten quite badly. I'll go find some insect-repellent herbs."

Although Hua Mu was indeed itching terribly, finding herbs or spices could wait. This coconut grove gave her a strange feeling, so much so that her initial joy had quickly faded.

"You climbed all the way up there to get the coconuts?"

Most of the coconut trees here were around ten meters tall, fifteen at the most, which classified them as a dwarf variety. But even ten meters was terrifyingly high. The mere thought of Bai Zhen climbing one made Hua Mu's heart pound with fear.

Bai Zhen didn't quite understand why Hua Mu was asking such an obvious question, but she nodded honestly.

It was too dangerous. The trunks were so smooth; if she fell, there wouldn't even be a branch to break her fall.

"I'm not that thirsty for coconut water anyway. Don't just go climbing trees at the drop of a hat."

Bai Zhen was a little confused. Seeing Hua Mu's stern expression, she didn't dare press the issue and only said quietly, "But we still haven't found a source of water."

It was impossible for there to be no water at all in the rainforest, but the ground was covered in decaying matter. Stagnant water could easily breed parasites and bacteria, making it far too dangerous. Unless it was an absolute last resort, Bai Zhen would never choose to drink from puddles.

"Then keep looking. If we run out of water and there's really no other choice, then you can get more coconuts."

Despite its strangeness, the coconut grove did set Hua Mu's mind at ease. With two hundred trees, many of them bearing fruit, they wouldn't have to worry about dying of thirst for the time being.

Still, she desperately needed a source of clean water—Hua Mu hadn't been able to wash herself in two days!

Bai Zhen nodded, and Hua Mu had her carry her on a tour of the surrounding area. Besides the coconut palms, there were other fruit trees as well, like banana, wax apple, and date palm trees. Many bore fruit, but few were ripe. They picked all the ones that were reasonably intact, but they still didn't have enough to fill Bai Zhen's pockets.

Bai Zhen carried her east out of the coconut grove. Beyond a short, grassy slope, a coastline stretching for several kilometers appeared before them. A platinum-gold beach met a clear, turquoise sea. In the distance, where the sea met the sky, it looked like the edge of the world.

Like frogs trapped in a tiny corner suddenly glimpsing the vast world, they both held their breath.

In terms of scenery alone, this place was a significant improvement over where they had first landed.

"Miss, I'll make some markers here as well."

But neither Bai Zhen nor Hua Mu suggested relocating. For one, they had already expended considerable effort setting up their temporary shelter. For another, they were wary of this unfamiliar environment.

"Mm, let's have lunch over here. First, take me to find some of those insect-repellent herbs, then let's see if we can find anything to eat."

Hua Mu had never been interested in exploring the island. Subconsciously, she felt that the more familiar she became with this place, the slimmer her chances of ever going back would be.

Whether they were insect-repellent plants or spices, their most distinct characteristic was a unique, fragrant aroma. For a Sentinel, even one completely unfamiliar with the local flora, finding them was remarkably easy.

Bai Zhen quickly found a patch of wild mint where the grassy slope met the rainforest.

Hua Mu had expected her to find some kind of medicinal herb, but it was just mint. Without a second thought, she plucked a leaf and began to chew on it. After so many days without brushing, she felt her mouth was disgusting.

Bai Zhen occasionally chewed on burnt charcoal to keep her mouth clean, but Hua Mu couldn't stand the thought of it. No matter how desperate she became, she would never put that black stuff in her mouth!

Seeing that Hua Mu was just chewing the leaf for fun and had no intention of applying it herself, Bai Zhen chewed up some mint leaves and rubbed the paste onto the reddened welts on Hua Mu's skin.

The cooling sensation soothed some of the itching. Hua Mu let out a sigh of relief, her attention then drawn to a tall shrub nearby.

The shrub had long, drooping branches, oval-shaped leaves, and sharp, stiff thorns in its leaf axils.

After checking it again and again, Hua Mu couldn't contain her excitement.

"Bai Zhen, quickly, break off a piece of this branch."

Bai Zhen didn't know what new idea Hua Mu had come up with, but ever obedient, she naturally wouldn't question such a small request.

She quickly snapped off a small piece of the branch and subconsciously held it under her nose to smell it.

Hua Mu knew her sense of smell was keen. "Well? Well? Does it smell like mint?"

It didn't just smell of mint; there was also a faintly sweet, fruity aroma.

"Miss, this is good stuff."

Of course Hua Mu knew it was good stuff! Her naturalist friends had once enthusiastically recommended these Miswak natural toothbrushes to her, but she had been too lazy to give up her electric one!

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