I never imagined that the sinkhole we discovered by chance would extend so far, and even overlap with Haru's lair.
When we first arrived at this pool, Dante and I both remember that we walked a straight line.
So now, if we just continue walking along the rock face for a while, we can find the narrow path that Dante and I used to take when we came down to find Pat.
The terrain here is complex, and perhaps even the Haru didn't expect that there would be such a large loophole in what they thought was an inescapable natural cage.
Knowing that the way out was right in front of us, we were no longer in a hurry. After traveling all morning, everyone felt hungry and ravenous.
Since there are fish in the water, we should not waste these excellent resources.
However, there was a Deinosuchus in there. I didn't know that before, and I was still in the water dealing with those giant mosquitoes. I almost died right under the nose of the Deinosuchus.
Now that I know that thing is in there, I will never easily go near the water's surface.
Dante was well aware of the crocodiles' power, and his life was more important than his own appetite.
Dante looked at the fish swimming in the water not far away, swallowed hard, and said to me with some reluctance,
"Sir, perhaps we should consider giving up. There are large crocodiles in this pool; it's too risky for us to go fishing."
I waved my hand dismissively.
"Friends, I said I'd treat you to fish, and I'm sure I will. We don't necessarily have to be near the water to get fish; I have a way!"
"What! What method is it?"
At this moment, Su Su and Dante's eyes lit up and they were excited. They looked at me at the same time and asked a question.
"fishing."
"Huh? Fishing? What does fishing mean?"
Dante was a little confused. He had never heard me mention this unfamiliar term before. We had used short rods to fish for giant frogs and eels before, but I had never actually demonstrated fishing to them.
I smiled and patted Dante on the shoulder.
"Friend, if you don't mind, go find me some insects or something. I need them to make bait. You'll see what fishing is all about in a little while."
"Yes, sir, it would be my pleasure to serve you!"
With that, Dante deftly took a leather bag that had previously been used to carry meat for Pat and headed toward the nearby jungle.
"Master, what can I do to help you?" Su Su looked at me with curiosity after Dante had already left.
"Come with me, I need to find a straight and resilient shrub to make a fishing rod."
"Ah! What exactly is fishing? And you even have a rod?!"
Su Su looked on with curiosity. It was the first time she had heard this new word, so it was no wonder that she found many things particularly novel.
"Yes, we need to use a very long pole to bring the fish up from a distance away from the water."
While you're at it, gather some firewood too. Then I'll see how good your barbecue skills are.
"Yes, yes, don't worry, Master. As long as you get the fish up, I promise you won't be disappointed."
Su Su smiled as brightly as a flower, making a promise to me in advance. Now this girl is becoming more and more confident in her cooking skills.
If it weren't for the potential threat posed by the Haru people, like a sword of Damocles hanging over our heads, I would really like to help these indigenous people develop their homeland and then lie down here in peace.
As for whether I can go back, I don't know. But at least now my soul is freer than ever before, and I don't have to deal with the insincerity of superiors and subordinates like I did when I was in a company.
Sometimes, I even think this world isn't so bad. Putting aside the advantages of modern electronic products, everything here is no worse than the world I live in.
Now my desire to go back isn't so strong anymore. People need the companionship of their own kind, and I'm lucky to have met a group of kind people like me.
They welcomed me, an outsider, into their community without reservation, and the hierarchical system in the tribe wasn't as rigid as I had imagined. Everyone was very easygoing, which made me feel very comfortable.
If one day I find that I really can't go back, I will gladly accept this reality. If this is God's arrangement, then spending my life here will be a kind of fulfillment.
…………
"Master, come and see! There are melons here, and quite a few of them, they look really good."
Just then, Su Su, who was running ahead, called out, interrupting my thoughts.
I walked over and examined a bright red melon with patterns that Su Su had picked from the vine.
The melon is about the size of a regular apple, and it is oval in shape.
And I happen to recognize this thing; it's called Trichosanthes kirilowii, also known as tiger melon in some regions. Its seeds are a relatively uncommon and quite expensive nut, but I've heard they're very fragrant when roasted.
Trichosanthes kirilowii is also a common Chinese medicinal herb.
Trichosanthes kirilowii is mainly used to clear heat and resolve phlegm, relieve chest tightness and dissipate nodules, and moisten dryness and lubricate the intestines.
“That’s good. I’ve heard that the seeds of this thing are delicious when they’re ripe. We can try roasting them and eating them.”
I don't have a pot on hand right now, so the only way I can cook for the time being is by grilling – a very basic method.
If this tastes good, Top will definitely love it.
Su Su was very happy and searched the vicinity for a while longer, but gave up after finding that there were no more tiger melons.
I've found a shrub with decent resilience. After trimming off the excess branches, I estimate the trunk, which is a bit thicker than my thumb, will be about five meters long.
At this moment, Su Su had already collected all the firewood needed for cooking. She tied up a large bundle of firewood and carried it on her shoulder.
"Susu, why don't you hold the pole for me, and I'll carry this firewood?" I reached out to take the firewood from Susu.
Su Su took a small step back.
“No need, Master. This is nothing. It’s much lighter than when we were chopping wood. But you can help me carry this.”
As she spoke, Su Su took off her backpack and handed it to me.
Since that's the case, I didn't say anything more and immediately slung Su Su's backpack over my shoulder as well.
When we returned to the pool, Dante and Top were already back. With Top's help, Dante quickly collected a wide variety of insects.
However, these insects all have one notable characteristic: they are much larger than ordinary insects.
Dante took out a cricket with its legs bound, and good heavens! It was as big as a grown man's fist.
The bristles on those legs were clearly visible; if this guy were to flick them twice, wouldn't they leave several bloody holes in their bodies?
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