After passing through the dense rainforest, a winding stream suddenly appeared before them, stretching across the ground from east to west like a silver ribbon.
The stream was crystal clear. Under the sunlight, its surface glittered with ripples, reflecting dazzling rays.
Every so often, palm-sized fish could be seen darting cheerfully through the water, flicking their tails and stirring up rings of tiny ripples.
Liu Jialin turned to the others and said, "We've been busy all morning too. Let's find a clean place to sit down, eat something, and rest for a while to recover our strength. Then we'll continue investigating."
The others soon sat down on the rocks or grass beside the stream.
They took portable compressed biscuits, energy bars, and drinking water from their backpacks, replenishing their energy while talking quietly and enjoying this brief moment of tranquility.
The murmuring stream, mingled with the team members' hushed voices, echoed through the air and drifted into the distance.
After Zhang Xiao finished chewing an energy bar, she brushed the crumbs from the corner of her mouth with her fingertip. Then she turned to Liu Jialin, who was leaning against her backpack and resting beside her, her tone carrying a hint of ease.
"Captain, we've crossed this forest all the way here without even seeing a trace of an exotic beast. It looks like this island is probably safe."
Liu Jialin unscrewed her canteen and tipped her head back to swallow a mouthful of clear water, washing away the dryness in her mouth.
Then she swept her gaze across the dense jungle before her and replied calmly, "That's hard to say.
The island is fairly large, and we haven't covered much ground yet. We might run into an exotic beast as soon as we go a little farther."
Zhang Xiao