The Shipbuilding Workshop

When Chen Shouyi heard that it was only these Nature Spirits, he felt somewhat relieved.

They were nowhere near as intimidating as the "Holy Tree" the barbarian had threatened him with before dying.

Besides, if it were really that terrifying, the barbarians wouldn't have survived until now.

It was simple logic.

"There's nothing to be afraid of. The sun's just coming up. We'll be back long before nightfall." Chen Shouyi comforted Shell Girl.

Shell Girl nodded vigorously and whispered nervously, "I'm not scared."

"If you do well, there'll be a reward later."

Shell Girl nodded vigorously again and managed a faint smile.

Clearly, even the gems she loved most couldn't dispel the unease in her heart this time.

Chen Shouyi left her be and checked his gear before setting out.

Then he listened carefully to the sounds around him.

But the area was remarkably quiet. Apart from the waves rolling in from the sea, he could barely hear even the ordinary chirping of insects and birds that should have filled the island's woods.

No—there wasn't any at all!

The entire island was so quiet it felt hushed, and an ominous air hung over it, making his heart pound with alarm.

He glanced at the forest not far away and immediately dismissed the idea of entering it.

Chen Shouyi held down his pounding heart, let out a soft breath, then lowered himself and carefully made his way along the shore.

Most plants on land feared highly saline environments. The fact that not a single plant grew on this beach showed that the same rule applied in this world.

As long as I stay on the beach, no matter how powerful that "Holy Tree" the barbarians talked about is, it shouldn't be able to do anything to me. At worst, I can always run into the sea.

He advanced cautiously, alert to every sound around him.

Shell Girl remained quiet the whole way, not making a sound.

Chen Shouyi could feel how tense she was. The little body perched on his shoulder was trembling slightly.

He grumbled to himself: This little thing says she isn't scared, but she's already shaking like a dog.

After walking slowly for more than ten minutes, he came upon a winding stream flowing from the distant forest into the sea.

The stream was about a meter wide and crystal clear. Calling it a river would be inaccurate; at most, it was a brook.

He reached down and felt the water. It was warm to the touch.

Apparently, the brook came from a geothermal spring. He looked around and quietly marked the location.

For an island this small, this was probably its only source of fresh water. Following the brook would likely lead him to the barbarians.

He continued onward.

A few minutes later, he suddenly dropped flat to the ground.

Shell Girl grabbed his hair in alarm, nearly tumbling off.

But at that moment, Chen Shouyi couldn't worry about her.

He quickly scanned the area and spotted a boulder not far ahead. An idea struck him, and he slowly crawled toward it.

After nearly two minutes, he finally reached the boulder and let out a breath.

Using the boulder for cover, he crouched and cautiously peered into the distance.

Ahead lay a vast worksite.

More than a dozen barbarians were hard at work.

It looked like a barbarian shipbuilding workshop.

Chen Shouyi could see three enormous logs that had already been cut, laid out in a row to dry on the beach.

One of the logs was already being hollowed out.

It seemed that after losing so many canoes all at once, the barbarians had immediately stepped up their construction efforts.

Under the morning sun, the barbarians were sweating profusely, their skin glistening in the heat.

Just as Chen Shouyi had guessed before, these barbarians were still at the Stone Age level of production. The tools they used to hollow out the logs were simply hard stones with sharpened edges, which they gripped and repeatedly slammed against the wood.

Chen Shouyi noticed a broad road near the shipbuilding workshop, stretching deep into the forest. Clearly, the enormous logs had been rolled along it to the beach.

He lowered his gaze and carefully observed the area, missing not a single detail.

There were sixteen barbarians in all.

The only weapons they carried were spears for self-defense and the stones they used for carving. None had short spears.

He saw no especially strong barbarians among them. Most were thin, even smaller than the ordinary barbarians who had come to the island before.

But that made sense. In a primitive tribe like this, strong warriors held very high status. They obviously wouldn't come to hollow out canoes.

These were probably just ordinary barbarians.

Still, Chen Shouyi didn't act rashly.

The barbarians were more than two hundred meters away, far beyond his ideal attacking range. The ground ahead was completely open, with not even a boulder to shield him.

Trying to launch a sneak attack across terrain like this was practically impossible. He could only fight them head-on.

It had to be said that the barbarians were intelligent beings too. Though their production methods were backward, they weren't lacking in intelligence. And as hunters, they were more sensitive to dangers in their surroundings than people who lived in peaceful societies.

The shipbuilding workshop had clearly been built here with safety in mind.

Chen Shouyi pulled an arrow from his quiver and ran his finger lightly over its sharp tip, unable to make up his mind.

Facing sixteen barbarians at once was undoubtedly a risk.

If only there were fewer of them!

Fortunately, an opportunity soon presented itself.

After waiting about ten minutes, one barbarian seemed ready to slack off. He said something to his companions, put down the stone in his hand, and soon three others followed him with grins.

The four chatted and laughed as they walked this way.

Chen Shouyi turned and leaned his back against the rock. His breathing grew steadier as he slowly nocked an arrow. He glanced at Shell Girl and saw that she had already covered her eyes like an ostrich.

Gradually, the barbarians' voices grew louder.

"The sun's scorching. We should go soak in the water later."

"Sounds good. I know where a fruit tree has ripened. We can pick a few when we go."

As soon as the barbarians came into the corner of his eye, Chen Shouyi sprang up and fired an arrow.

The arrow let out a sharp whistle, then pierced one barbarian's skull.

Before the others could react, he quickly fired another arrow. A second barbarian's head burst open.

Now the remaining two barbarians finally moved. Gripping their spears, they charged at him.

The barbarians had already been walking toward the boulder, so the distance between them was tiny.

They were only a few meters apart.

For both Chen Shouyi and the barbarians, that distance could be crossed in the blink of an eye.

Chen Shouyi dropped the War Bow and drew his Long Sword. In the flash of an instant, he swayed slightly, easily dodging the blackened spear tip soaked in blood. Then he stepped forward, and his sword flashed upward like lightning.

A cold gleam streaked past!

The sharp blade swiftly sliced through the barbarian's neck, spraying blood into the air.

Feeling the sword bite into flesh, Chen Shouyi remained calm. Having struck once, he didn't pause for an instant. Shielded by the body that had yet to fall, he darted like a ghost behind the last barbarian.

The barbarian was still sweating profusely, frantic over the enemy who had suddenly disappeared.

The next moment, he felt a chill at his neck, and the strength drained rapidly from his body like air escaping a punctured balloon.

Chen Shouyi pulled out his sword and flicked it lightly, sending the blood from its tip flying.

Only then did the two bodies fall, one after the other.

"It's... it's that Evil One!"

The commotion had finally caught the attention of the barbarians in the distance. Fear spread across every face, and a few of the more timid ones even began to run.

A bloodthirsty, cold smile tugged at Chen Shouyi's lips.

Having fought two opponents at once with short weapons, he couldn't help feeling his confidence surge.

At the same time, the barbarians' faltering morale quickly eased his own tension.

He moved in an instant.

He planted his toe hard in the sand, kicking up a spray of grit, then shot toward the barbarians like an arrow loosed from a bow.