The group walked for another hour or so, and as darkness fell, Seventeenth Master, who hadn't eaten all day, was starving and his strength was failing him, so he stopped.
Seventeenth Master, supporting his back and waving his hand in a panting voice, said, "I really can't walk anymore, let's rest here..."
At this moment, Seventeenth Master remembered the package Thirteenth Master had given him before he left. He took it out and opened it, only to find a flint, a dagger, salt, and smoke bombs inside. It turned out that Fourteenth Master had anticipated that Seventeenth Master and his men would get lost on the island and had specially prepared the tools Seventeenth Master would need for the night.
Seventeenth Master admired Thirteenth Master's foresight. He took out a flint and steel and found a slightly secluded clearing. He then had the others find dry branches and build a campfire before nightfall. The temperature on the island gradually dropped, and a damp, eerie sea breeze blew by. Seventeenth Master sat in front of the campfire, his stomach growling with hunger.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the bushes behind them, startling the Seventeenth Prince. Two skilled hunters, however, excitedly drew their bows and arrows, volunteering to go hunting. The Seventeenth Prince was still uneasy, but the guards reassured him, "Don't worry, Seventeenth Prince, that noise is probably just a rabbit or pheasant..."
The Seventeenth Prince grew up freely in the Prince's mansion. Although he had occasionally gone hunting with the late Emperor, he wasn't skilled and therefore knew nothing about the animals' movements. However, they were starving, and could only place their hopes on the two men. They couldn't let several grown men get lost and starve to death in the deep mountains and forests.
With permission, the two crouched low and carefully slipped into the darkness.
Less than an hour later, the two returned excitedly carrying three or four wild rabbits. Seventeenth Master stared in disbelief, swallowed hard, and chuckled, "I never thought we could actually eat wild game these days! If we added some fine wine, it would be even more perfect..."
The guards skillfully skinned and gutted the wild rabbit. The Seventeenth Prince rubbed salt evenly on the rabbit, not caring about cleanliness at this point. He casually wiped his blood-stained hands on the dry leaves and together they placed the rabbit over the campfire.
The rabbit fat sizzled and sizzled, filling the air with an irresistible aroma that made everyone's stomachs rumble. Finally, the rabbit was roasted to a golden brown and crispy perfection. Seventeenth Master was the first to tear off a rabbit leg without hesitation and take a bite. He winced from the heat, but couldn't bear to let go. The rabbit meat was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, incredibly flavorful. Seventeenth Master took a deep breath, gave a thumbs up, and exclaimed excitedly, "Delicious! So delicious!"
After saying that, several burly men pounced on them, and soon the four wild rabbits were reduced to a pile of bones. The seventeenth prince, satisfied with his meal, sucked on his finger and patted his belly, saying leisurely, "I have never eaten such delicious rabbit meat before..." He then suddenly let out a burp, causing everyone to burst into laughter.
Having shed their princely facade, the guards became much closer to the Seventeenth Prince. One night, with nothing else to do, they pulled him aside to chat about his time in the army. The Seventeenth Prince was very curious about these things and listened intently, unaware that the night had deepened.
Thinking about the important mission ahead, Seventeenth Master stopped chatting. The group of grown men weren't afraid of sleeping in the wilderness, and they casually found a comfortable spot to lie down. The night sky over the island was exceptionally clear, with the stars twinkling. Seventeenth Master even found the place quite beautiful. If it weren't for the fact that they were tasked with apprehending a wanted criminal from the White Lotus Sect, he would have even thought this place could become a resort destination in the future.
Even the Seventeenth Master found his idea absurd and couldn't help but laugh. Snoring gradually filled the air around him as he turned over and slowly closed his eyes.
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