The Tent Was Too Small, So They'd Have to Squeeze Together

"You're really not eating it?"

"No. Whoever wants it can have it."

"Then I'll eat it myself."

Chu Xiu saw that Ning Rongrong had curled up like a quail in embarrassment, so he stopped teasing her.

With a gulp, Chu Xiu swallowed the remaining medicinal pulp.

A cool sensation immediately rose from his stomach.

Without its juice, the herb certainly wasn't as potent as it had been whole, but it should still give him some resistance if he encountered snake or insect venom again.

After a short rest, Ning Rongrong was finally able to stand on her own.

Chu Xiu still led the way, while Shui Bing'er walked behind him, supporting Ning Rongrong.

The three continued deeper into the forest.

No one knew what other dangers might lurk among the trees. With the injured Ning Rongrong along, Chu Xiu decided not to explore any new ground.

They retraced the route they had taken that morning and picked some apples in the Wild Apple grove.

Then they gathered dry vines and some huge, flexible leaves before heading back the way they had come.

By the time they emerged from the forest, Qian Renxue had collected plenty of straw and spread it across the beach to dry.

"There's a lot of straw over there, but hardly any of it is dry. I was afraid we wouldn't have enough, so I brought back some fresh straw too. I don't know if it'll dry before dark."

Qian Renxue had grown up in comfort too, but she was older than the others and had spent time playing the role of Xue Qinghe. She was fairly dependable when it came to getting things done.

"That's fine. Some is better than none."

Chu Xiu set everything on the ground, and Ning Rongrong and Shui Bing'er laid out the supplies they had carried back.

Qian Renxue noticed that the three had brought back more than fruit and Fruit Wine.

There was a snake among their supplies.

"That's a Sea Viper. Its venom is extremely potent. There are venomous snakes like this in the forest?"

Well-traveled as she was, Qian Renxue recognized the species at a glance.

Shui Bing'er sighed. "We didn't expect it either. It bit Rongrong, and Chu Xiu only saved her because he found a medicinal herb nearby."

"Hmph. What a burden."

Qian Renxue looked at Ning Rongrong and gave a disdainful snort.

Ning Rongrong knew she was in the wrong this time. Though anger simmered inside her, she was too embarrassed to lash out.

She only gritted her teeth and muttered, "Just you wait. I'd like to see you go through life without running into danger."

The trip had taken more than four hours. Judging by the sun, they had at most two hours before dark.

Chu Xiu first made a crude Stone Hammer from a rock and a wooden stick, then began building a temporary shelter.

Calling it a shelter was generous. It was a grass tent propped up with branches, straw, and huge leaves.

Chu Xiu worked alone until sweat covered his brow. When he looked up, Ning Rongrong had appeared in front of him.

"This is for you."

Ning Rongrong held an apron made of leaves. She wore a leaf top and skirt herself.

Chu Xiu glanced back and found that Qian Renxue and Shui Bing'er had put on leaf clothing too. Both stood behind him.

"It's rough, but it's better than nothing. Now you won't have to keep your back to us."

Shui Bing'er smiled as she spoke.

Qian Renxue stepped forward, picked up a branch from the ground, and asked Chu Xiu, "What should we do with these?"

Chu Xiu took the leaf apron from Ning Rongrong, wrapped it around his waist, and tightened its vine belt before answering.

"I'll handle the frame. If you want to help, sew the straw into the leaves first."

Qian Renxue gave a nod, picked up a few huge leaves, and sat down beside the straw.

Shui Bing'er joined her with a "needle" made from a twig.

The leaves were large, but they didn't cling like fabric. And with both women so generously endowed, the slightest movement offered flashes of pale skin.

"Hey! What are you looking at?"

Ning Rongrong planted her hands on her hips and glared at Chu Xiu.

"I'm warning you. Just because we're wearing leaves doesn't mean you can stare wherever you like. Got it?"

Chu Xiu blinked and asked with a perfectly straight face, "Who are you to tell me where to look? I wasn't even looking at you. Someone might think you were my wife."

"You..."

Ning Rongrong had never been teased like that. Her face flushed scarlet, and she stamped her foot. "You pervert! I'm not talking to you anymore."

Chu Xiu watched Ning Rongrong flee, a mischievous smile curling his lips.

A notification sounded in his mind.

[Ning Rongrong's affection for you has deepened. Bond points +5]

[Current bond points: 35]

"Only five points? Looks like I played it too safe just now."

Chu Xiu wasn't satisfied with the result.

But they had plenty of time. Now that he knew how to build bonds with the women, winning them over was only a matter of time.

The sky gradually darkened.

After more than an hour of fumbling, the four finally got the crude grass tent standing.

"Chu Xiu, is this enough?"

Shui Bing'er stood beside the tent. It was only a little taller than she was, and fitting four people inside to sleep seemed almost impossible.

"Isn't it a bit too small?"

Ning Rongrong eyed Chu Xiu suspiciously. "Come on, admit it. You made the tent this small on purpose so you could squeeze in with us, didn't you?"

Before Chu Xiu could explain, Qian Renxue gave a cold laugh.

"Fool."

"Who are you calling a fool?" Ning Rongrong shot back, chin raised. "Or is this tiny tent exactly what you wanted, you old woman? Was there no one who wanted you before you came here?"

"How dare you."

After one insult too many, Qian Renxue's expression turned cold.

She was the Angel Young Master of Spirit Hall. How could she possibly be some unwanted old woman?

She simply hadn't devoted her attention to romance. If she had, what kind of man couldn't she have had?

"Ooh, look at her. She's upset."

Ning Rongrong pointed at Qian Renxue and mocked her without restraint. "Did I hit a nerve? You're that old and you still don't have a boyfriend? Aren't you embarrassed?"

Qian Renxue was furious, but on that particular subject, she had no achievements to boast of.

Shui Bing'er stepped in to smooth things over.

"Stop arguing, you two. I don't think Chu Xiu did it on purpose. We only have so many supplies. We're lucky we managed to put up a tent at all."

Shui Bing'er turned to Chu Xiu. "Right, Chu Xiu?"

Chu Xiu nodded.

"Exactly. Building a better shelter would take far more resources. Besides, someone needs to keep watch outside at night, so there's no need for all four of us to squeeze into the tent at once."

"Oh, right. Someone has to keep watch."

Chu Xiu's words reminded the three women of another problem.

Until then, none of them had thought about keeping watch.

Worry crept in, but so did a little relief. Luckily, Chu Xiu was here. If it had been just the three of them, with no survival experience, there was no telling whether they could have lasted three days in this place.