Day 86: A Match Made in Heaven (Part 1)

We actually talked for the entire night, without sleeping a wink. I would never have imagined it.

They listened to my experiences with rapt attention, perhaps even with a hint of envy. The more I shared, the more excited they grew, continuing right until the first rays of dawn finally made us stop.

Having seen this place with their own eyes, they were now completely convinced that this was by far the best location for a new base. Both of them were fully committed to moving here, joining forces with me to expand and rebuild the settlement.

When they saw the mud bricks and the earthen kiln in my work shed, their admiration and respect for me deepened even further. They decided to head back and persuade the others to relocate here as well, so we could build a more perfect and secure base together.

Despite my repeated attempts to have them stay, they refused to rest even for a moment, anxious to get back. They promised that by tomorrow at the latest, they would bring everyone over, asking me to make preparations to welcome the remaining brothers.

I had never held a negative impression of Brother Qian and Ye Qingchen; in fact, I had always rather liked them. If so many people could gather together, it would be a good thing. Yard expansion, fence reinforcement, and the construction of sturdier houses could all be completed in a very short time, making life far better than struggling on alone.

Yet, worries remained. After all, wherever there are people, there are conflicts. If a clash were to break out, things could get troublesome. Even so, given the choice, I would still prefer to be with them—after all, humans are inherently social creatures. If I were to stay here alone much longer, I felt I would go mad eventually.

If they arrived, this place would regain its vitality. With so many people, we could set traps capable of catching even wild boars, let alone other food sources. Once food and living conditions improved, we could build a boat together and leave this place. At the very least, we would have something to look forward to.

Yesterday, Brother Qian probed me several times. I knew very well that he was worried too; the things I had here were far too shocking to him. Finding so many items from civilized society, it was impossible for him not to be suspicious.

Even though I gave a general explanation of how everything transpired, they still looked somewhat skeptical. After all, the probability of such an event was minuscule, and crucially, the ship had ultimately vanished, leaving no trace behind. It was hardly surprising that they could not fully believe it; I would have felt the exact same way in their shoes.

If I hadn't happened to know Dong Fei, no matter how well I explained, they probably wouldn't have believed me. Alas, I can only hope they ultimately decide to come over together. If they don't, I will not only have to guard against any potential hostility from them, but also resign myself to starting this lonely life all over again...

The fierce beasts in the woods near their camp were actually saltwater crocodiles. They could live not only in saltwater habitats, but also roam the forests and low-lying jungle pools. Six of the ten people who died had been killed by them.

According to Brother Qian, the largest saltwater crocodile they had encountered was over six meters long, and it had been tearing apart a wild boar at the time. He also mentioned that the deceased Zhang Qing had once seen an even larger one... Of course, whether that was true remained uncertain, but there was no doubt that those saltwater crocodiles reigned supreme at the top of the island's food chain. Fortunately, I had never explored that area, nor had I washed ashore there initially, otherwise I would have perished long ago.

Furthermore, the notebook had mentioned that Xiao Hei's former master's companion, "Li," had also died in the jaws of a saltwater crocodile. Yet who "Li" truly was, and why he had come here alongside Xiao Hei and her former master, remained a complete mystery. Perhaps the blurred words on the previous pages of the notebook recorded the reason for their arrival, but sadly, those writings were no longer legible.

Brother Qian also revealed the cause of Dong Fei's death, and as expected, it was not due to his own recklessness, but rather because of another fellow named Huang Jimo. The two of them usually got along quite well, which was why they had teamed up as partners. That day, it was their turn to forage for food, but just as they were returning to the shore, they were surrounded by several crocodiles. Following cries for help, everyone rushed over with weapons. Huang Jimo likely saw a glimmer of hope and tried to break through the circle of crocodiles, running toward Brother Qian and the others who had come to rescue them.

As a result, he grossly underestimated the speed of the crocodiles. The moment he moved, the crocodiles lunged forward, and their primary target instantly shifted to him. Before he could run far, one of the crocodiles caught up and clamped its jaws onto his foot.

With that single bite, the crocodile's teeth must have pierced straight through his bone, causing Huang Jimo to scream and wail in agonizing pain. It was all to no avail, however, as several other crocodiles closed in. To prevent its hard-earned meal from escaping, the crocodile that had bitten him rapidly tried to drag Huang Jimo out into the sea.

Although Brother Qian and the others could see what was happening, the distance was too great. Even while sprinting, it would be difficult to reach him before the crocodile dragged him into the water. Yet Dong Fei, who could easily have fled to safety, suddenly charged straight at the crocodile. Ordinary people would never have done such a thing, but Dong Fei did. Perhaps, in his heart, he truly regarded Huang Jimo as a brother.

Brother Qian said that this particular crocodile was not small either—around five meters in length—yet Dong Fei showed no fear whatsoever. He leapt directly onto the crocodile's back, raising the stone axe in his hand and striking its head blow after blow, putting his entire strength into every single hit.

He kept striking even as the crocodile rushed into the surf. Perhaps the blows finally became too much for the beast to bear, as it finally opened its jaws and released Huang Jimo. Brother Qian and the others arrived at that very moment, and the other crocodiles on the shore fled back into the sea.

However, just as Dong Fei was about to dismount, the crocodile suddenly executed a complete three-hundred-sixty-degree roll, flipping its body over. Caught off guard, Dong Fei tumbled directly into the seawater. Before he even had a chance to stand up, the surrounding crocodiles swarmed him all at once...

Brother Qian and the others watched helplessly as Dong Fei stained that patch of the ocean a deep, bloody red, entirely powerless to help. In the end, they managed only to retrieve a scrap of his clothing. And Huang Jimo, whom Dong Fei had given his life to save, died of infections just a few days later...

If Dong Fei hadn't tried to save Huang Jimo, he probably wouldn't have died. Alas... If he were still alive, I wouldn't have to worry about anything, because I held his character in the highest regard. But sadly...

That bloody scene must have dealt a massive psychological blow to all of them, leading them to believe the entire island was infested with such monsters...

...

The earthen kiln was finished, and the tile blanks were nearly dry. The bottoms of the two covers were still slightly damp, but I had already propped them up against nearby tree trunks. Right now, I was planning to get some sleep and figure out the next steps after waking up.

Naturally, I still placed the plastic bottle by the door just in case... Following their example, I also strung up four aluminum cans with a few pebbles inside, hanging them from the doorframe. The moment anyone pushed or pulled the door, it would rattle loudly...