Ning Rongrong Hesitates and Loses, While Qian Renxue Refuses to Lose Face

They had encountered no large Spirit Beasts on the deserted island that day, but that did not mean there were none.

If one appeared on the beach at night and caught them unprepared, it could wipe them all out.

Besides, there were snakes on the island.

Even a single Sea Viper crawling into a tent could kill someone with one bite.

"How should we arrange the night watch? Should each person take a shift?"

Qian Renxue looked at Chu Xiu.

Chu Xiu thought for a moment. "Taking separate shifts would let everyone rest longer, but for safety's sake, I'd suggest keeping watch in pairs on the first night."

"In pairs?"

Shui Bing'er frowned slightly. There were only four of them.

If they kept watch in pairs, they would split into two groups, one for the first half of the night and one for the second.

Wouldn't that leave each of them with only half a night's rest?

And besides...

There was one man among them. Who would keep watch with Chu Xiu?

"Why don't we let Rongrong decide?" Shui Bing'er suggested.

After Chu Xiu had saved Ning Rongrong's life that day, Shui Bing'er could tell that she had begun to like him.

By letting Ning Rongrong decide, she hoped to bring the two of them together.

Ning Rongrong's heart raced. She knew she was the best choice to keep watch with Chu Xiu, and she realized she did not actually mind being around that scoundrel.

But she was not ready yet.

Back home, Oscar had pursued her for ten years, and she had never said yes.

And he was a food-type martial soul genius, the kind who appeared only once in a century.

Chu Xiu might be a little more handsome, and he had saved her life, but Ning Rongrong knew almost nothing else about him. If his martial soul was not powerful enough, her father and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect might not approve of their marriage.

Things had barely begun between Ning Rongrong and Chu Xiu, yet the girl was already thinking of names for their future children.

Out loud, though, she said haughtily, "I can pair up with anyone except her."

Ning Rongrong pointed at Qian Renxue.

With three people to choose from, ruling out Qian Renxue left only Shui Bing'er and Chu Xiu.

Ning Rongrong figured Shui Bing'er would volunteer to pair up with Qian Renxue, leaving Chu Xiu for her.

Then she could make it look as if she had no choice but to keep watch with Chu Xiu.

That would save her some embarrassment.

But she had forgotten that she and Shui Bing'er were not the only ones who got a say.

Qian Renxue already disliked Ning Rongrong and had no intention of indulging her. Before Shui Bing'er could choose, she spoke up.

"Since neither of you can make up your minds, I'll choose first."

"I'll pair up with Chu Xiu. You two can pair up. Any objections?"

Ning Rongrong was dumbfounded.

"Wait, you..."

"What? Do you have an objection?" Qian Renxue looked at her teasingly. She had done it on purpose.

"If not, it's settled."

Ning Rongrong's cheeks puffed up with anger, but she cared too much about saving face to back out now.

Shui Bing'er looked at Ning Rongrong and sighed helplessly.

Chu Xiu did not mind either way.

Keeping watch with Ning Rongrong would make it easier to build their bond, but of the three women, Qian Renxue interested him most.

The reason was simple.

Qian Renxue was the prettiest, had the best figure, and possessed the most prestigious status and martial soul.

I wonder if something might happen while we're together tonight. If I can build our bond a little, that'd be amazing.

Chu Xiu kept his expression neutral despite his lewd thoughts.

He cleared his throat and said,

"Now that we've settled the shifts, let's eat dinner."

It was already getting late.

Chu Xiu asked Shui Bing'er to fetch some fruit. Everyone got two, while Chu Xiu got three because he was a man and ate more.

Then he used a makeshift stone spear to gut the Sea Viper he had brought back.

He cut it into four pieces, one for each of them.

Holding her raw snake meat, Ning Rongrong pulled a bitter face. "You can't be serious. You want us to eat it raw?"

"Yep."

Chu Xiu answered as though it were obvious. "We don't have a fire, so of course we have to eat it raw. I'm eating it raw too."

He put the snake meat in his mouth and tore off a piece with his teeth.

It was his first time eating anything like it. The taste was all right, but the meat was so tough that biting through it was a struggle.

He chewed for ages before swallowing a mouthful. It was not as awful as he had expected.

"I should warn you: it doesn't taste great, and eating it raw could expose you to bacteria. But our bodies won't hold up if we go too long without meat. Whether you eat it is up to you."

Temperatures on the island changed drastically between day and night. If they did not eat the snake meat today, it might spoil by tomorrow.

Otherwise, Chu Xiu would not have risked eating raw snake meat. The best option would have been to wait until they had a fire, then boil some water and make snake soup.

"Why don't we start a fire? You're so capable, Chu Xiu. Surely you know how?"

Ning Rongrong pouted. She could hardly bring herself to swallow raw snake meat.

Chu Xiu sighed.

"I'd like to, but starting a fire takes the right conditions. I searched all day and couldn't find suitable materials."

In desert island survival, the common ways to start a fire were drilling wood, striking flint, and focusing sunlight.

But not just any wood would produce enough heat through friction. You could drill into ordinary wood for a year and still get nowhere.

Flint was even harder to come by. At this point, finding a piece of iron-bearing rock would have been lucky.

Focusing sunlight was the most reliable method.

But in other desert island survival stories, people had convex glass or suitable plastic lenses to work with.

Chu Xiu and the others had not been stranded by a shipwreck or plane crash. Where were they supposed to find plastic or glass?

"All that fuss. Do you think you're at home?"

Qian Renxue gave a mocking laugh, then put the snake meat in her mouth.

She chewed without changing expression, but the slight furrow in her brow showed she was not nearly as composed as she looked. It took dozens of chews before she finally managed to swallow.

"I'm full."

Qian Renxue dropped the rest of the snake meat, stood up, and walked away.

Watching her flee, Ning Rongrong burst out laughing. "That old woman talked big and couldn't back it up! Serves her right for acting tough! Hahaha..."

"I have to go see. I bet the old woman's looking for somewhere to throw up."

Ning Rongrong tossed her snake meat to Chu Xiu, scrambled to her feet, and ran after Qian Renxue.

Shui Bing'er tried to stop her, but she was a step too slow. Ning Rongrong was already far away.

She could only sigh and sit back down.

"Are you going to eat yours?" Chu Xiu asked Shui Bing'er.

The Sea Viper was not large. He could eat the whole thing himself if he had to.

Who knew when they would find meat again? They could not afford to waste it.

"I'll try."

Shui Bing'er hesitated, then decided that staying alive mattered more.

The snake meat was hardly delicious, but once she got past the thought of eating it raw, it was not that bad.

Shui Bing'er took small bites, and soon she had finished her entire piece.