SDIWD - Chapter 23
Chapter 23
For several days straight, Bai Zhen was asked to sleep in with Hua Mu. This lasted until Hua Mu's period was over, and for five whole days, Bai Zhen didn't go out specifically to search for a water source.
Bai Zhen thought the Young Lady was like a clingy kitten during this time. Even though she might scratch when she was displeased, she was still incredibly endearing.
The fresh water collected with the rain tarp, the water distilled from the sea, and the fruit they had were barely enough to sustain them for the past few days. But the rain still refused to come, and there was no sign of any rescue ships.
Although Hua Mu had done her best to stay clean, by now, she could no longer stand it. Her body needed more than just a wipe-down; it needed a thorough washing with plenty of fresh water. Hua Mu decided she would go with Bai Zhen to the north side of the island to find a water source.
The past few days had been a sort of rest for Bai Zhen. Even without taking the Little White Pills, her mental state was still good. She had actually wanted to explore the north for some time but had been worried about leaving Hua Mu alone—after all, a girl on her period was more vulnerable, and the scent of blood might attract wild animals.
The two of them rose early that day. After collecting the morning dew, they packed all their fresh water to take with them.
Since Hua Mu was with her, Bai Zhen chose the safer route along the beach. Climbing the mountain would consume far more energy, and exploring the rainforest was much more dangerous than walking along the shore. Finding food would also be more difficult inland.
They first made their way to the coconut grove they had discovered earlier. After gathering some fruit, they officially began their trek.
The eastern coastline stretched out long and far, its white sand meeting the turquoise sea in a seemingly endless line. Hua Mu managed to walk on her own for a short distance at first, but she soon found it unbearable. The sandy beach was hardly any easier to traverse than the rainforest, and her tattered flip-flops gave out before long.
Even trying to stick to the edge of the rainforest, the intense sun still made her skin ache. In the end, Bai Zhen had to carry her on her back while Hua Mu held a jacket over her head for shade. Only then were they able to pick up their pace.
They weren't just focused on making distance. They occasionally ventured into the rainforest to check for water, as their main goal was to find a source. Any water would have been a welcome discovery. Unfortunately, while they found plenty of puddles and swamps, they didn't see a single clean stream.
Because of this, they only managed to cover three kilometers along the coast all morning before a vast mangrove forest blocked their path.
It was a large mangrove forest, so vast they couldn't see the other side. It was surrounded by other plants like silver-leaf trees, pandanus, and beach hibiscus. The dense tangle of aerial roots and the muddy ground below made it completely impassable.
The mangroves stretched several dozen meters out into the sea, and some of the trees seemed to be growing directly in the water.
They were now due east of the mountain. If all went well, they just needed to get past this mangrove forest to reach the northern part of the island.
Bai Zhen had tried to bypass it by going around the foot of the mountain during her earlier explorations, but that stretch of rainforest was extremely difficult to navigate. A large swamp stretched across the middle, and she had smelled something foul, prompting her to turn back and rule out that route.
Hua Mu stared at the mangrove forest, dumbfounded. After a moment, she asked hesitantly, "Is there... any way for us to get past it?"
Going around by sea would be better than trying to go through the mangroves, but Bai Zhen couldn't estimate the forest's size. Venturing into the water without knowing the distance would be reckless.
"Miss, let's have lunch first. You can rest after we eat, and I'll go scout ahead."
Hua Mu was indeed feeling hungry, so she agreed to Bai Zhen's suggestion.
The island was rich in resources, so they had never considered stockpiling food. In this climate, neither fruit nor seafood would keep for long anyway. They generally foraged for what they needed, catching and eating it fresh.
Today's lunch would have to come from the mangrove forest.
The mangrove forest was dominated by mangrove plants and was home to many bottom-dwelling shellfish and hermit crabs, as well as numerous insects and birds. Finding food wouldn't be difficult.
While Bai Zhen went to find food, Hua Mu decided she didn't want to sit idle. She noticed many of the trees around the mangroves bore fruit and thought she could add them to their lunch. To be honest, after so much seafood, she was starting to crave the taste of vegetables and rice. She hadn't grown tired of fruit, though.
Bai Zhen had fashioned a walking stick for her. It was the perfect length, with a hook on one end and the other sharpened into a weapon. Hua Mu found it very useful. She took the stick and began whacking at the tree branches, sending a shower of leaves and fruit tumbling down and startling a few seabirds into flight.
Hua Mu quickly pulled her straw hat down, covering her blonde hair.
Bai Zhen, who hadn't gone far, heard the noise and called out, "Miss, is something wrong?"
"It's nothing! I'm just messing around. Go find us something to eat. I'll call you if I need you."
Fearing a lecture, Hua Mu decided to brush it off.
"Alright, but please be careful. Don't get too close to the mangroves."
"I know, I know."
As she spoke, Hua Mu used the hooked end of her stick to pull down a fruit that looked a bit like a pineapple. She imagined its sweet and sour taste and couldn't help but swallow. Even though she didn't know which fruits were edible, she figured she might as well knock them all down first.
She knocked down fruit with great enthusiasm, filled with the satisfaction of providing for herself. She was completely oblivious to a creature watching her every move from a burrow at the base of the pandanus tree.
Moving through the mangroves was even more difficult than the rainforest. Bai Zhen didn't dare go barefoot, and her combat boots nearly got stuck in the mud several times. She didn't venture far, and after catching a dozen purple land hermit crabs and a few dusky sleepers, she started to head back.
She had only taken a few steps when she heard Hua Mu scream.
Bai Zhen tensed, and the ice wolf instantly materialized behind her. A Sentinel's five senses were already powerful, but they were nothing compared to the physical strength and sensory acuity they possessed when channeling their spirit animal.
Bai Zhen sprinted out of the mangroves, leaving a trail of destruction behind her. Aerial roots and tree trunks were shattered and knocked aside in her path. The route that had taken her half an hour to navigate, she now covered in less than two minutes.
"Miss!"
Hua Mu was screaming and hopping around, frantically swinging her walking stick. It occasionally connected with the bluish-purple "rock" in front of her with a sharp crack.
"Bai Zhen, Bai Zhen!"
Bai Zhen charged forward, kicked the half-meter-long crustacean into the air, and then swept Hua Mu into her arms.
"It's alright, Miss! You're safe now!"
Still terrified, Hua Mu clung tightly to Bai Zhen.
"There was a giant monster!"
Bai Zhen had already recognized the creature she'd sent flying.
"It's not a monster, Miss. It's just a hermit crab. Don't be afraid."
Hua Mu didn't believe her. "Are you kidding me? There's no such thing as a hermit crab that big!"
If she hadn't been so quick on her feet, its pincer might have snapped her ankle!
"It's a coconut crab. It's alright now, really. It's dead."
The force behind a Sentinel's kick was immense. As tough as the crab's shell was, its head had been crushed. If Bai Zhen hadn't instantly assessed its low threat level and its value as a food source, the kick would have likely obliterated the entire body.
"A coconut crab?"
Hua Mu had never seen a live one, but she had certainly eaten one before!
And it was delicious.
The allure of a tasty meal finally convinced Hua Mu to turn and look at the monster.
The coconut crab, over half a meter long with its head now crushed, lay pitifully on the sand. Its massive pincer was still twitching faintly, a final testament to its recent vitality.
It looked like... it really was a coconut crab.
Still clinging to Bai Zhen, Hua Mu recalled its delicious flavor and couldn't help but swallow.
"Quick, take me over for a closer look." She still refused to get down, however; the fact that she'd nearly lost a foot was still fresh in her mind.
Bai Zhen had rushed out in such a hurry that she was covered in bruises. As Hua Mu shifted excitedly in her arms, she rubbed against the injuries, causing a flash of pain that made Bai Zhen press her lips together.
Bai Zhen carried Hua Mu over to the coconut crab. Hua Mu poked it with her stick for a while, and only after confirming it was motionless did she feel safe enough to jump down. The crab was well and truly dead—so dead that Hua Mu felt brave enough to try and lift it herself.
"It's huge!" She reached out to touch it, but Bai Zhen stopped her and lifted it instead. "I'll get it, Miss."
Hua Mu wasn't about to argue, letting Bai Zhen do the heavy lifting without a second thought.
"How much do you think it weighs?"
"Probably around seven or eight jin."
Seven or eight jin! That was more than enough for the two of them. Even though Bai Zhen had killed it, she had been the one to find it!
A swell of pride rose in Hua Mu.
"How about roasted crab for lunch?"
Seeing that Hua Mu was no longer afraid and was instead excited and happy, Bai Zhen couldn't help but smile.
"Alright."
"With a few slices of that wild ginger we found, and some lemon juice."
"Alright."
Hua Mu's attention was fixed on the coconut crab, and for the moment, she didn't notice the injuries on Bai Zhen's body. It was only when her excitement faded and Bai Zhen began preparing a fire that she saw the other woman's exposed skin was a mess of mottled bruises and countless cuts, both large and small.
"Bai Zhen! What- what happened to you?"
Hua Mu was using Bai Zhen's jacket for shade, leaving the wounds on her body completely exposed.
"I'm fine. They're just a few scrapes."
Hua Mu watched her dismiss the injuries so lightly, already focused on cleaning the coconut crab with her dagger. An inexplicable ache bloomed in her chest.
"Was it because you heard my scream...?"
Bai Zhen was always so careful on her own; she only acted so recklessly when Hua Mu was in danger. She had nearly died saving her once before and had spent three months recovering in the hospital.
"It was my fault. I'm sorry I frightened you."
Don't even start, Hua Mu thought. She was embarrassed enough about being scared by a coconut crab.
"Frightened? Who was frightened! I... I just didn't get a good look at it."
Hua Mu felt annoyed with herself. It really was her fault this time; a false alarm had caused Bai Zhen to get hurt. She wanted to show some concern, but the words wouldn't come out right. When she tried, they sounded strange, almost like she was blaming Bai Zhen.
She wasn't usually this awkward with people.
"It's a good thing you're so quick. An attack from a coconut crab can cause serious injury."
A coconut crab's pincers were strong enough to crack open a coconut; their power was immense. A wave of fear washed over Bai Zhen as she thought about it now, and she regretted leaving Hua Mu alone.
"But I'm not the one who got hurt..."
She was the one who was hurt.
Hua Mu was so frustrated. Every time she tried to do something to prove her worth, it backfired.
"I'm fine. It'll heal in a few days."
Hua Mu glared at her for a moment before saying petulantly, "Fine, have it your way."
She finally realized what was truly bothering her.
She was annoyed that Bai Zhen treated her own body so carelessly. She was annoyed that the woman couldn't understand her concern. And she was annoyed with herself for knowing all this and still being unable to stop caring.
She was the daughter of a Grand Duke, an heir to the imperial throne! Why on earth did she have to care so much about a guard?
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