SDIWD - Chapter 107
Chapter 107
The two arrived at the beach and divided their tasks in an orderly fashion. Since coming to the seaside to replenish supplies had become a habit, Bai Zhen had left some necessities here. She started a fire and set up a pot while Hua Mu went fishing. Bai Zhen, in turn, went to gather some daily necessities.
Besides food, things like toothbrush twigs, soap beans, medicinal herbs, and spices needed to be restocked regularly. Although there was plenty of fruit on the mountain, these items were not as abundant there as they were down here.
To store and use them, a large portion of these items needed to be processed, a task usually handled by Hua Mu. She had always enjoyed handicrafts, and though it was now partly out of necessity, she found considerable pleasure in it.
In less than two hours, Bai Zhen had gathered a substantial amount, and Hua Mu had also had a fruitful harvest. Having fished so many times, she was now quite experienced, and for some reason, today felt as if she had divine assistance—to an absurd degree.
She caught nearly ten fish in under two hours, many of which didn't seem to frequent the shallows. There was even an octopus that somehow found its way into her net, getting hooked along with a sea bass.
Bai Zhen was astonished when she returned, and Hua Mu was quite pleased with herself.
"How about that? Aren't I amazing?"
Amazing was one thing, but this was almost too amazing.
"Miss, how did you even get an octopus?"
While catching an octopus was impressive, what was even more impressive was that it remained in the vine-woven net without trying to escape.
"I don't know, it just came up on its own. Let's have sashimi tonight!"
She hadn't felt particularly hungry before, but now, seeing so much food, Hua Mu truly realized how meager their meals had been these past few days—at least in terms of food.
Bai Zhen frowned, looking at the fish as if deep in thought. But when her gaze met Hua Mu's smug expression, she immediately abandoned her contemplation.
It wasn't important enough to think about right now.
"Alright, I'll go gather some shellfish first. Are you going to keep fishing?"
"No, no, that's enough to eat." Hua Mu preferred fresh fish to cured and processed dried fish. Now that their life was gradually stabilizing, she no longer felt the same insecurity as before and was unwilling to spend extra time on such tasks.
She would rather make more sauces—oyster sauce, fish sauce, shrimp paste, and mushroom sauce—which were delicious with main dishes or as accompaniments.
"I remember we still have plenty of sea salt, so we won't make any this time. Get more oysters, I want to make more oyster sauce."
Hua Mu patted her bottom and stood up from the reef, and Bai Zhen quickly lifted her into her arms. Hua Mu, happy to be idle, wrapped her arms around the Sentinel's neck as naturally as could be.
Just as Bai Zhen carried her ashore, they heard the distant calls of a dolphin.
Helena hadn't left; it was as if she had settled around the island.
"It's Helena."
Bai Zhen looked very happy, but there seemed to be a hint of worry in her eyes.
"Hmph, why hasn't that thing left yet?"
Hua Mu was very displeased.
The Sentinel was very fond of the dolphin, always playing with it for a while whenever they came to the beach.
She was afraid it wasn't that the dolphin didn't want to leave, but that it couldn't.
Bai Zhen smiled, not voicing her concerns.
"She probably got separated from her pod and is waiting for them here."
It wasn't that Hua Mu truly disliked Helena. Sometimes she found her pitiful and cute and couldn't resist the urge to play with her. It was just that Helena was too clingy with Bai Zhen, which made her a little jealous—she had no other rivals to be jealous of on the island.
"Hmph, if I didn't feel sorry for her, I wouldn't let you play with her."
Dolphins were social animals, naturally cheerful and playful. A lone dolphin was indeed a bit lonely.
"Helena clearly likes you too, you're just not willing to go in the water."
"Because playing in the seawater makes you all sticky, it's so uncomfortable."
Hua Mu's feelings about the sea were now complicated and indescribable. Several of her perilous adventures had been because of the sea, so she instinctively feared it. But since a large part of their current food supply came from it, she couldn't help but rely on it and feel a certain closeness, not to the point of avoiding it at all costs.
"There's a river right here, it's very convenient for bathing."
"...I'd rather not." The thought of being able to take a romantic bath with Bai Zhen made Hua Mu seriously consider it for three seconds, but her aversion ultimately won out.
Bai Zhen didn't force her, placing her under the shade of a tree.
Hua Mu took off her straw hat and wiped her sweat. Bai Zhen immediately handed her a cup of water and began to massage her shoulders and legs.
"I'm exhausted..."
Although most of her fatigue wasn't from fishing, Hua Mu was in no way willing to attribute it to... that other matter. She was willing to break her back for it!
"You've worked hard, Miss."
Hua Mu enjoyed Bai Zhen's attentiveness, waving her hand like a queen.
"It's alright, you've worked hard too."
She casually picked up the items Bai Zhen had collected, examining them as she spoke. "Sigh, even though food and drink aren't a problem now, life really needs to be a bit more refined. Soap beans are fine for washing clothes, but they're such a hassle for bathing."
Bai Zhen had no good solution and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Miss..."
Hua Mu pouted. "It's not your fault, what are you apologizing for? Besides, you were busy protecting me in the past, how would you know about these things? You'll have to rely on me. When we go back this time, let's fix the oil press first. I saw that the palm grove is bearing a lot of fruit. Once it's fixed, we can press palm oil. And once we have oil, we can make soap!"
Not just soap, she also needed to make some skincare products. After all, the island's intense sun and strong sea breeze were terribly aging. She could get away with it now because she was young, but in a few more years, she'd turn into a complete savage.
She refused to let that happen. She wanted to stay beautiful forever.
Bai Zhen nodded repeatedly.
Hua Mu provided the ideas, and she executed them. This model was very reassuring to her.
After enjoying the massage for a while, Hua Mu saw Helena swimming towards the shore and waved her hand magnanimously.
"Fine, go see that dolphin girl. It's quite sad to be all alone. I wonder how her injuries are healing."
Putting herself in Helena's shoes, Hua Mu thought that if she were stranded on this island all by herself, she would rather die.
"Then I'll go check on her."
Bai Zhen's concern for the dolphin wasn't just out of sympathy and affection; she was thinking about something more long-term.
The two of them had no trouble surviving on the island, but this was not a long-term solution. They couldn't stay on the island forever; she couldn't let Hua Mu remain in such a desolate place.
But the possibility of rescue seemed increasingly slim. She couldn't pin all her hopes on waiting. Of course, because the risks were too great, she had no concrete plan at the moment, but even if there was only a sliver of a possibility, she had to prepare for it in advance.
Watching the Sentinel frolicking with the dolphin in the sea, Hua Mu's trivial jealousy gradually dissipated. She rarely saw Bai Zhen so carefree; her impression of her had always been calm and composed.
She had witnessed her unrestrained side a few days ago, but she still hadn't seen much of this childlike demeanor.
Perhaps this was her true nature?
Hua Mu remembered that Bai Zhen was from the Black-Eyed Clan, one of the few groups that still followed a more primitive way of life. Perhaps she was like this back home, running through the jungle, playing with animals, unrestrained and full of wildness.
That must have been a wonderful time.
Only now did Hua Mu feel a slight regret for not remembering the events of twelve years ago. What was the twelve-year-old Bai Zhen like? She must have been very green, right? How tall was she? Was her figure as good as it was now? Was her personality as prim and proper as it was now?
Bai Zhen climbed onto Helena's back, darting swiftly through the water.
Hua Mu had been terrified a few times before, but later realized there was no need to worry. It was just that her laughter made her so jealous that she couldn't help but let out a soft hmph.
I'll let you relax for now. Tonight, you'll have to pay your dues!
As Hua Mu's thoughts drifted, a wave of drowsiness washed over her, and she unknowingly fell asleep.
"Waaaah, Auntie, Daddy... Sister Bai Zhen... waaaah, Mumu is so scared..." A six-year-old child who had experienced such a great disaster was inevitably deeply traumatized, both physically and mentally.
It had been nearly a month since Hua Mu returned. Her physical wounds were gradually healing, but the wounds in her heart had yet to close. She had nightmares almost every night. The Queen had postponed a lot of work to be with her, but even the company of her family seemed to have little effect.
Hua Cu held the struggling, crying Hua Mu in her arms, kissing and coaxing her. It took nearly an hour to finally calm her down.
She lovingly stroked Hua Mu's cheek, her face etched with deep fatigue and worry.
"Leader..."
"What are your orders, Your Majesty?"
"What do you think I should do?"
Her Majesty the Queen wore only a thin nightgown, while the faceless person standing by the bed was still completely hidden under a black cloak.
"I cannot offer you advice on this matter."
Hua Cu pressed her lips together. "I want Mumu to forget about this incident... not just for her physical well-being, but also to avoid arousing Hua Ce's suspicion."
The faceless person was silent for a moment before speaking in a calm voice, "You have the right to decide how to use your abilities, but I must remind you. The Young Lady is a person, not a pet. Even as a young child, she has the right to make her own choices."
Hua Cu was somewhat annoyed. "It's precisely because she's a child that I have to protect her. You saw... forget it, I shouldn't have asked you."
The faceless person suddenly took a step closer to the bed, bending down slightly to look at the two of them. The completely expressionless mask looked somewhat eerie and terrifying under the night light, and even Hua Cu's heart skipped a beat.
"Your Majesty, I can understand your feelings. But you must know that things will not always go as you wish. You can manipulate memories, but you cannot manipulate hearts."
No, Hua Cu felt that she couldn't possibly understand her feelings. This cold-blooded, selfish Dark Sentinel had never shown her any consideration. She had long experienced frustration with her and had long understood that things would not always go as she wished.
"Get up here."
"..."
"That's an order."
The faceless person did not hesitate, slowly taking off her cloak to reveal a slender, thin body.
"Take off the mask."
The face beneath the mask was so fair it was almost translucent. The blood-red pupils, a result of a lack of melanin, and the crimson lips stood out against the snow-white skin, appearing even more bewitchingly beautiful.
No matter when she looked, it was as ethereally beautiful as a legendary succubus.
Hua Cu turned her head away and said coldly, "Sleep with us tonight."
The Leader slowly climbed onto the bed, her movements slow and deliberate, as elegant as a young lady from a noble family.
"But I don't need sleep."
Hua Cu had no desire to hear her speak. "Just close your eyes and your mouth."
The Leader smiled slightly. "As you wish."
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