This guy really loves taro. I shook my head helplessly and comforted him.

“Let’s go, Top. We can dig some more on our way back.”

Top looked back with some reluctance, having fallen from such a height.

A single taro root can cover such a large area that, combined with all the weeds and shrubs, the chances of finding them all are slim. It's much faster to go back and dig some more.

After wandering around the area for a while, I found some raindrop grass and black thorn by the stream at the foot of the cliff. These can also be used as medicinal wine for bruises and injuries, and can be combined with aconite to enhance the medicinal effect.

I collected quite a few of these two medicinal herbs, but I didn't completely deplete the resources in this area.

These medicinal herbs grow very densely without human intervention; I only select the larger plants to harvest.

The smaller medicinal herbs, no longer shaded by vegetation, can now receive more sunlight to grow. By the time we return, the yield here will have doubled.

My luck doesn't seem to be so good today. I haven't found any decent prey since I caught that harpy eagle.

They were either birds the size of sparrows or small beasts that would flee at the sight of people.

These small animals, perhaps because they are at the bottom of the food chain, were very wary and gave me no chance to make a move.

Perhaps it was because we were making a wish for Top today, we ended up going back to the depression where we had found the taro before and dug up a lot more taro. Together with the taro we had left by the roadside, we filled a whole basket.

I tried to get up and found that these taro were quite heavy. In the end, I could only hold my breath, hold onto the shaft of the spear, and use my hands, feet, and waist to exert force at the same time, and then I was able to stand up again.

This basket of mine was specially made for my trip; the double-layered bamboo weaving greatly extends its lifespan.

I haven't tested the maximum load capacity of this basket yet, but right now I feel that the taro on my back must weigh over 100 pounds.

The basket looks the same as usual, with no breakage issues.

Carrying so much stuff while traveling was really painful. By the time Top and I got back to our lodgings, I had already rested more than twenty times along the way.

Even so, the few kilometers of mountain road left me breathless and drenched in sweat. The sweat stung my eyes, forcing me to keep wiping it away.

As for Top, he was in a similar situation to me. Since I had agreed to help him carry these taro back, the herbs and medicinal tubers I collected would naturally have to be carried in Top's basket.

These medicinal herbs are also very important to us, even more so than foods like taro.

They cannot be crushed; they could save our lives if necessary, so this task will have to be temporarily assigned to Top.

After leaving the taro at my place, I decided to take a bath by the stream first.

I've been recuperating at home these past few days and haven't dared to touch water. Now that I'm feeling better, and today I carried about 100 pounds of stuff for several kilometers along mountain paths.

Right now, the inside of his fur coat felt like a heated steamer. Sticky sweat clung to his skin, emitting a foul, sour smell.

When I was exploring this stream, I found a clear pool of water about 70 or 80 meters away from my accommodation.

The stream water flows in from near the edge of the pond and flows out from the other end, so the living water here is just as clean as the stream water.

The lake wasn't very deep; the bottom was made of pebbles that you could clearly see. I estimated the deepest part only reached my chest.

This small pond, which is about twenty square meters in size, can be used as a natural swimming pool.

Even though I was taking a bath in a place that looked like it had clear water and was harmless to humans and animals, I didn't dare to relax or let my guard down.

This is not your civilized society. If you are careless, you could die repeatedly in this primeval jungle.

I had the standard four-piece self-defense kit: shotgun, crossbow, blowgun, and spear. I didn't miss a single one. It would be very dangerous to be in this jungle without some preparation.

Before long, Top and I arrived at the edge of the pond. At that moment, some water birds saw us and all took flight, flying towards the stream further away.

At that moment, I was holding a crossbow, not to shoot the water birds, but because the reeds beside the pond were very dense, and I was worried that something might be hiding inside.

The fact that so many waterbirds are flying out proves that the area inside the thatch is still safe for the time being.

Arriving at this patch of thatch, I drew my ever-present Nepalese machete and chopped down all the thatch within a five-meter radius.

That way, even if animals come nearby, I can immediately raise my shotgun for defense. It's never a bad thing to be cautious in this kind of environment.

While cutting the thatch, I realized my caution was absolutely necessary. I didn't spot any large wild animals, but I did find several venomous snakes with triangular heads.

Without exception, I sentenced them all to death on the spot.

If I hadn't discovered them in time, they would have sneaked into the water while I was showering, and then there would have been no going back.

Seeing that there was nothing nearby that could threaten my and Top's safety, I loaded all the weapons in my hands and placed them on the shore.

The clothes haven't been washed in a long time, so I plan to soak them for a while before washing them.

I took off my already worn-out fur coat and placed it next to the flowing water at the downstream outlet, weighing it down with a large rock.

The moment the clothes entered the water, the once clear water was immediately enveloped by a black mist. The black water formed a long line that flowed down the river, and the strong odor immediately attracted a group of fish to forage nearby.

I touched my nose, surprised that the clothes had gotten so dirty in just a few days.

Never mind, I'll ignore it for now and take a shower first.

I went to the deeper part of the water in the middle, and with a splash, I plunged into the water.

The long-lost sense of intimacy from the water immediately traveled through my skin to my brain, which then emitted a comfortable groan.

Top seemed quite happy at the moment. These macaques weren't afraid of water; their only fear was of aquatic animals. On the contrary, they enjoyed bathing in streams just like humans.

As I rubbed myself in the water, the clear water nearby visibly turned black. Luckily, this was flowing water; otherwise, the bottom of this crystal-clear water would probably be covered with a layer of sludge.