Previously, Su Jie and Li Lin were my reliable helpers, but now I had to single-handedly take on the responsibility of supporting everyone in the cave. The burden on my shoulders instantly became heavy.
Li Lin, like a caring wife, helped me put on the coat. She gently arranged my hair, and the fragrance of her virginity intoxicated me.
Su Jie also helped me organize firearms, daggers, and bamboo spears; the pockets of the military coat provided ample space for these weapons.
Even the not-so-friendly Xu Xiaorong and Peggy seemed genuinely concerned at this moment. In their anticipation and care, I left the cave fully armed. In the cold forest, I noticed that it had become even quieter, with the small animals that used to be common now rare. They had likely taken refuge in hidden caves or even underground, preparing for hibernation.
Feeling increasingly uneasy, I quickened my pace toward the northern part of the island, deep into the forest. We had always avoided venturing too far into this small island, fearing the presence of large predators in the forest. But now I had no choice but to brace myself and explore.
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With a heavy heart, I cautiously entered the jungle. The trees around me grew taller, and strange insects and small animals I had never seen before moved through the forest, making me more vigilant. Despite the cold weather reducing the number of insects, this forest might still be filled with various poisonous creatures, especially in this enclosed ecosystem. I worried there might be some extremely dangerous toxins.
Navigating through the tension and shivers, I suddenly saw a small goat grazing not far ahead in the thicket. The furry appearance of the goat made it look delicious. I felt a surge of joy – wasn't this exactly what we needed? Moreover, this creature had low aggression, being just a small goat.
I quietly approached the goat. I dared not get too close but couldn't stay too far away either. Considering my shooting skills were not sufficient to guarantee a fatal shot, if I missed, the goat would run away, and I wouldn't be able to catch up.
Holding my breath, I cautiously moved forward. Soon, there were less than three hundred meters between us. I thought another fifty meters, and I could shoot. Hiding behind dense branches, I remained extremely vigilant. However, at this moment, something unexpected happened.
I suddenly felt my shoulder grabbed by a hand. Turning around, I saw a monkey, about half my height, hanging upside down from a tree, with a large hand tightly gripping my shoulder. The monkey had a peculiar face, almost smiling, and its pitch-black eyes were fixed on me.