Feast by the Cave Bonfire

The only thing he was struggling with now was how to eat it.

Lu Chongwei snapped out of his memories.

He stood up, walked over to the strange fish, and reached out to grab one of its massive wings.

"Whatever, I'll just roast a wing and see how it tastes."

He muttered to himself, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes.

His right hand exerted a sudden, violent pull.

"Riiip!"

Accompanied by a teeth-grinding tearing sound, the fish wing, still attached to a thick bone, was ripped clean off by brute force.

Dark red blood sprayed out, but he had been prepared; he leaped backward with agility, avoiding the gore.

He dragged the fish wing to an open space at the cave entrance.

That was where he kept a pile of dry firewood he had collected.

Lu Chongwei skillfully arranged the wood, building a simple campfire.

Once that was done, he took a deep breath.

He didn't reach for a flint; in fact, he didn't have such a thing at all.

He slowly closed his eyes, feeling the surge of heat flowing within his body.

Ever since he had transmigrated, he discovered a mysterious energy inside him.

This energy was like a tireless heart, constantly and slowly growing.

He didn't know what it was, and there were no manuals to reference.

He could only rely on instinct to try and control it.

Lu Chongwei extended his right hand, rubbing his thumb and index finger together.

His expression became incredibly focused, and fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead.

Although the energy surged within him, trying to guide it outside his body was as difficult as dancing on the tip of a needle.

"Ignite... for me!"

Lu Chongwei let out a low shout.

He snapped his fingers sharply.

"Snap!"

The crisp sound echoed through the silent cave.

The next second.

A faint but scorching flame appeared out of thin air at his fingertips.

Although it was only the size of a candle flame, the intense heat contained within it caused the surrounding air to distort slightly.

Lu Chongwei carefully brought the flame toward the dry wood.

"Whoosh!"

The wood ignited instantly, and a roaring fire rose up, illuminating the dim cave.

After finishing this, Lu Chongwei swayed as if he were exhausted.

This crude method of application consumed a massive amount of his energy.

"Sigh, still too much of a stretch."

He shook his head, a wry smile appearing on his face.

Lu Chongwei squatted by the fire, skillfully skewering the giant fish wing with a sharpened thick branch and propping it over the flames to roast.

The firelight cast flickering shadows across his face.

Watching the dancing flames, he made a secret resolution in his heart.

This energy was definitely not simple.

Once he had enough strength, he would certainly walk out of these deep mountains and see the world beyond.

He would explore the origin of this energy and search for any other human civilization.

Actually, it wasn't as if he hadn't tried to leave.

Half a month ago, he had walked in the direction of the sun for three whole days.

But this mountain forest was simply too vast.

Vast to the point of despair.

No matter how far he walked, before him were always endless trees and identical mountain ranges.

If not for the marks he had left along the way, he likely wouldn't even have been able to find his way back to this cave he relied on for survival.

In his past life, he had been an orphan.

Having grown up in an orphanage, he was accustomed to loneliness and used to facing the storms of life on his own.

He had once thought he was strong enough.

But now, stranded in this world of only trees and wild beasts, that bone-deep sense of isolation would still wash over him like a tide in the dead of night.

There was no internet, no mobile phone, and no one to talk to.

There was only the endless pressure of survival.

"Sizzle, sizzle..."

The sound of grease dripping into the campfire interrupted his thoughts.

An enticing aroma began to permeate the air.

Lu Chongwei sniffed, his eyes instantly lighting up.

"Smells so good!"

He couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva.

The fragrance was rich and unique, carrying a faint hint of the sea that wasn't pungent, but instead stirred the most primal hunger in his gut.

After roasting for a while longer, the surface of the shark fin had turned golden and crispy.

Lu Chongwei couldn't wait any longer; ignoring the heat, he tore off a piece of meat and shoved it into his mouth.

"Hiss... huff... huff..."

He gasped as the heat burned his tongue, chewing rapidly all the while.

The next moment, his eyes went wide.

"This is too delicious!"

Lu Chongwei exclaimed, his words muffled.

The fish meat melted in his mouth, tender and juicy.

Even without any seasoning, not even salt, the meat itself possessed a peculiar savory saltiness, as if it were a gift containing the very essence of the ocean.

The skin was crispy and charred, while the inside was delicate and smooth.

With every bite, hot juices burst forth in his mouth.

It was the most delicious meal he had eaten in the past month.

By comparison, the dry wild fruits and rank, gamey meat he had eaten before were nothing but trash.

Lu Chongwei wolfed down the food, devouring the massive shark fin like a whirlwind.

The long-lost taste allowed him to temporarily forget his loneliness and troubles.

Soon, the shark fin, which was half the size of his body, was picked clean, leaving only a pile of stark white bones.

Lu Chongwei let out a satisfied burp and patted his rounded belly.

"Refreshing!"

He leaned back against the stone wall and squinted his eyes in contentment.

After resting for a moment, he stood up and walked toward the rest of the giant, strange fish.

Although he was full now, in this world, food was always the most precious resource.

He found some large leaves and wrapped the remaining flying fish tightly.

He then moved a few large stones to weigh it down, preventing rats or other small beasts from stealing it.

"I'll save these for tonight and tomorrow."

Lu Chongwei brushed the dust off his hands and nodded with satisfaction.

By now, the sky outside had gradually darkened.

The afterglow of the setting sun stained the forest a blood-red.

Lu Chongwei glanced at the cave entrance, his brow furrowing slightly.

"I'm almost out of water; I need to go fetch some more."

Although the forest was more dangerous at dusk than during the day, he didn't fear it much, relying on his immense strength.

He picked up two water containers made from hard fruit shells and stepped out of the cave.

The light in the forest had grown even dimmer.

Various strange cries rose and fell, adding a touch of terror to the primeval jungle.

Lu Chongwei navigated the forest path with practiced ease.

His footsteps were light, making almost no sound at all.

This was an instinct he had honed through countless life-or-death struggles.

Just as he was nearing the riverbank.

Suddenly.

A powerful sense of crisis surged into his heart.

Every hair on Lu Chongwei's body stood on end.

Without a moment's hesitation, his body instinctively lunged violently to the side.

"Boom!"

Right where he had been standing a moment before, a basketball-sized orb of energy detonated with a roar.

Soil splashed and gravel flew into the air.

A charred, gaping crater instantly appeared on the ground.

Lu Chongwei rolled across the dirt in a disheveled heap, scrambled to his feet, and glared vigilantly in the direction from which the attack had come.