"Chu Xiu, now that the cave is finished, what are your plans?"
During breakfast, Shui Bing'er asked in a calm voice.
Ning Rongrong looked at Shui Bing'er, feeling that she was a little too composed. She didn't look like someone who had just snuck a forbidden taste with Chu Xiu.
But Ning Rongrong was very familiar with the scent on Chu Xiu. He had definitely been sneaking around with someone.
It couldn't possibly be Sister Ah Yin. Could it be that old woman?
Ning Rongrong turned to Qian Renxue, but her expression was perfectly normal, with nothing suspicious about her either.
Just then, Chu Xiu replied:
"You've all worked hard these past few days. My plan is to take a few days off first."
Digging out a cave was grueling physical work. Even a grown man like Chu Xiu ended each day with an aching back, let alone girls like Ning Rongrong.
Besides, all the Spirit Beasts nearby had been killed. No others were likely to move in anytime soon, so safety wasn't much of a concern.
Throughout all these days of struggling to survive, everyone except Chu Xiu had been constantly on edge.
Giving them a chance to unwind was necessary too.
"I'm also planning to look around nearby for iron or copper deposits. If we can forge some iron or copper, we can take our standard of living up another notch."
Chu Xiu had already found an iron deposit using Earth Vein Sense.
But it was far from the cave, and it lay too deep underground. Digging it out would take far too much effort.
Since there was iron here, there ought to be more than one deposit.
Chu Xiu planned to keep searching and see whether he could find a surface deposit, preferably one that didn't require digging too deep. After spending the past few days excavating the cave, he was so sick of digging he could almost throw up.
"But ore alone won't help, will it? Does anyone here know how to forge?"
Qian Renxue agreed with Chu Xiu's idea, but forging wasn't that simple.
Without an experienced smith, the iron they produced would be brittle and practically useless.
"If we don't know how, we'll figure it out ourselves. We'll get there eventually." Chu Xiu had made up his mind.
Although he didn't know how to forge, he could return to the Douluo Continent to learn.
However, he could only go back at night, after the girls had fallen asleep.
When it was daytime on the Deserted Island, it was nighttime on the Douluo Continent. Everyone there was resting, so going back wouldn't do much good.
Qian Renxue nodded. They had nothing else to do anyway. Even an unrealistic goal was better than having no goal at all.
After breakfast, Chu Xiu prepared to head out.
He hadn't gone far from the cave when Ah Yin's voice came from behind him. "Chu Xiu, wait for me."
Chu Xiu turned around and smiled at Ah Yin's slightly flushed cheeks. "What? Want to keep repaying me?"
Ah Yin blushed even harder, her gaze shifting away. "No. I'm worried you might run into danger. You're the pillar holding us all up. Without you, I'm afraid none of us could leave this place."
You're absolutely right, Chu Xiu thought. Without me, you really would never get out of here.
Still, Ah Yin's expression only confirmed Chu Xiu's suspicions.
This little minx had tasted the marrow and developed a craving. She had come looking for more rough treatment.
After all, that morning in her room, Chu Xiu had earned a full five bond value points from her alone. Clearly, this woman liked being forced.
"All right. Since you're so thoughtful, I'll take good care of you along the way."
Chu Xiu chuckled wickedly.
Suddenly, another notification sounded in his mind.
[Ah Yin feels anticipation toward you. Bond value +1] [Current bond value: 7 points.]
Woohoo!
Can't hold back already?
If they hadn't still been at the cave entrance, Chu Xiu would have loved to pin her to the ground and give her a good grinding right then.
In the end, however, he restrained himself.
The roles of pursuer and pursued had reversed. It was his turn to keep Ah Yin dangling.
"Let's go."
Chu Xiu's voice was calm as he turned and headed into the distance.
The day passed quickly.
With Ah Yin accompanying him, Chu Xiu could avoid Spirit Beasts and venture farther away. But after roaming around the foot of the mountain all day, he still hadn't found a suitable iron deposit.
They were either too deep to excavate easily or too low-grade, making the impurities difficult to remove even if he dug them out.
He did dig up plenty of Q Coins, enough to leave his hands aching.
And his reward was another three-point increase in Ah Yin's bond value.
When he returned to the cave, Ning Rongrong, Shui Bing'er, and Qian Renxue had already prepared dinner and were waiting for him in the front chamber.
"Chu Xiu, did you find any iron or copper deposits?" Ning Rongrong asked.
"No."
Chu Xiu shook his head. "I found a few, but none were suitable for digging."
Qian Renxue nodded. "There's no hurry. It's only been one day. Finding anything at all is lucky enough."
Shui Bing'er chimed in from beside her. "I've noticed this mountain is rich in resources. It has all sorts of things. We'll definitely find iron and copper deposits too."
Chu Xiu had noticed it as well. His Deserted Island wasn't just large; it was also rich in supplies.
Food, for instance.
A few days earlier, he had sent Ah Yin out to gather wild vegetables. She had returned not only with all kinds of wild greens, but also plenty of fruits and vegetables that were usually cultivated.
Eggplants, cucumbers, bananas, grapes.
Although they grew wild, they tasted almost exactly like cultivated varieties.
And those had only been found in the forest and around the mountain's base within a few kilometers of the cave. Chu Xiu and the others had yet to set foot in the more distant forest or higher up the mountain. There were surely plenty of new supplies there as well.
Chu Xiu's only concern now was that the iron and copper deposits might all be up the mountain. If so, it would be a long time before they could mine them.
"Let's eat."
Only after Chu Xiu called out did the girls pick up their chopsticks.
They had no bowls, but chopsticks were easy to make. At least they no longer had to worry about burning their fingers while eating.
Night fell.
Chu Xiu returned to his room and lay down. Not long afterward, Ning Rongrong tiptoed inside, carrying a rolled-up straw mat.
"Why are you sneaking around? Afraid someone will catch you?"
Chu Xiu found it rather amusing.
"What do you know?" Ning Rongrong replied, utterly convinced of her own logic. "If I sneak in without anyone noticing, I'll have a chance to catch you cheating tonight."
"Heh, so you've learned to sit by the stump and wait for a rabbit?"
Chu Xiu laughed, at a loss for words.
Then again, judging by Ah Yin's behavior that day, she really might find an excuse to come over that night and ask him for Q Coins.
If Ning Rongrong discovered that it really was Ah Yin, things would get interesting.
Ning Rongrong had barely laid out her straw mat when Chu Xiu pulled her into his arms, then began exploring her from head to toe.
The two kept at it until well past midnight, filling the room with their scent before finally falling asleep in each other's arms.
A few minutes later, Chu Xiu suddenly opened his eyes.
"This little minx really loves to play. It's already well past midnight."
Chu Xiu sighed.
Being with Ning Rongrong was enjoyable, but it also got in the way of serious business. He had planned to coax her to sleep early, then return to the Douluo Continent.
If he went back now, it would already be the small hours of the morning.
If he spent another few hours on the Douluo Continent, he could forget about sleeping tonight.
I'd better go back first anyway. I don't even know whether I can find a smith willing to teach me forging.
After wrestling with the decision for a moment, Chu Xiu decided to make the trip.
He silently commanded, Return!
A second later, a faint wave of dizziness washed over him.
The light and shadows around him warped. When they returned to normal, Chu Xiu was back on the Douluo Continent.
Before you continue