I leaned back to avoid colliding with her.
I sighed inwardly, realizing that only in such an environment could a girl as innocent about romantic matters as Zhuoya, pure as a blank sheet of paper, be nurtured.
She had no idea what it meant for a curvaceous girl to approach a man so unguardedly on such a quiet night!
Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, I shifted my body to the side, cleared my throat, and deliberately avoided looking at the alluring curves that were about to spill out…
Seizing the opportunity, I began to tell Zhuoya about the outside world.
"The outside world is incredibly exciting…"
As I narrated, the conveniences of modern life and the rich tapestry of culture and entertainment that humanity enjoyed in an era of technological explosion unfolded before Zhuoya like a scroll.
This was a profound shock to her understanding, akin to an ancient person from hundreds of years ago suddenly time-traveling to the present day; it was an entirely different dimension.
Zhuoya was completely captivated by my stories. When she was young, her mother had only ever told her about walkie-talkies. Based on her simple understanding of the world cultivated over more than a decade, she couldn't possibly imagine that two people could communicate across thousands of miles!
And that there were even giant ships at sea capable of carrying hundreds of people!
Seeing how engrossed Zhuoya was, I couldn't help but invite her, "Would you like to come with me and see the outside world?"
Zhuoya appeared very tempted by my words, but after a long hesitation, she ultimately declined my invitation.
"I still won't go with you. I need to find my mother. I believe she's still alive!"
I nodded with a touch of regret. Her words suddenly sparked my thoughts.
Zhuoya's mother disappeared suddenly back then; was it due to some order?
Xu Xiangyun left without a word; was she searching for something?
What was the connection between them?
I felt as though the island's secrets were being unveiled step by step by my own hands, and the mysteries buried in the dust of history were finally surfacing!
Zhuoya was undoubtedly the person I had encountered who was most familiar with the island's circumstances.
However, it was a pity that her parents rarely discussed matters from that time.
She had occasionally overheard snippets, but as she grew older, she had forgotten them all.
It was understandable; Zhuoya was just a little girl then, and adults wouldn't share such things with her.
Yet, as I conversed with Zhuoya, my curiosity about this young woman grew increasingly.
Zhuoya was also fascinated by the outside world I described. We continued to talk, and the night grew very late, but neither of us felt sleepy.
Zhuoya also recounted the events of her saving me that day. She had been searching for food in the nearby woods when she heard sounds by the stream and hurried over. She happened to see me and a savage slowly sinking into the water.
The savages who had pursued me earlier had been shot and killed by Zhuoya with arrows. She had then jumped into the water and pulled me out.
Tsk, it was a miracle I survived!
Since that fever a while back, my physical condition had greatly improved. If it were my former self, I would have probably died long ago!
As Zhuoya reached this point, her expression suddenly turned grim.
"What's wrong?" I asked, puzzled.
She was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Brother Xiao Ye, your future days might be difficult. If the people of the Kasa tribe know you are still alive, they will spare no effort to seek revenge!"
So, this savage tribe was called the Kasa tribe.
I looked at her with confusion. If they knew I was alive, why would they go to such lengths for revenge? Were they that bored?
I asked Zhuoya why, and she replied with a serious expression, "The Kasa tribe has a tradition: the chieftain's son must lead from the front. The savage who drowned with you today was precisely the eldest son of the current tribal chieftain. Therefore, if they find out you are alive, they will undoubtedly try every means to capture you, and then use you as a sacrifice to appease the deceased eldest son."
I was startled, "Damn!"
Could it be such a coincidence?
Who would have thought that my dying wish to take someone down with me would land me the son of a tribal chief!
My luck was unparalleled.
It seemed I would have to lay low for now. Once I've grown stronger, I'll uproot this barbaric tribe sooner or later!
I wasn't afraid of this. The worst that could happen is a fight!
After chatting with Zhuoya for a while, I began to feel sleepy.
Seeing that it was already very late, I bid Zhuoya goodnight and promptly fell asleep.
When I woke up again, I was drawn by a fragrant aroma.
I opened my eyes and saw Zhuoya simmering a pot of soup with unknown ingredients. The soup's fragrance was incredibly enticing, making my stomach rumble.
Zhuoya, seeing me awake, smiled and handed me a bowl of soup.
Its alluring color made my mouth water.
I thanked her and took the bowl. After blowing on it gently, I tentatively tasted a spoonful. As the rich broth flowed down, my eyes lit up.
Delicious!
The soup seemed to be made from the meat of some animal; it was incredibly tender, and the broth was thick. I felt that just drinking this bowl of soup could fill my stomach.
Seeing me eat with such relish, Zhuoya's face was full of smiles.
"It's alright, Brother Xiao Ye. Eat slowly; there's still plenty in the pot."
I devoured the meat soup in a few gulps and handed the bowl back to Zhuoya, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Zhuoya, your cooking is truly exceptional!"
Zhuoya took the wooden bowl and said she would serve me another. As she turned, she suddenly seemed to remember something and stared blankly at my face.
Did something get on my face?
I touched my cheek, confused. There was nothing there.
What was this little girl looking at so intently?
Suddenly, before I could react, Zhuoya leaned in and gently licked the corner of my mouth. I felt a jolt, my body stiffening as I stared at Zhuoya in surprise.
I pushed Zhuoya away in shock. What was she doing? I was completely bewildered.
A morning kiss, so early?
Was this a tradition of the savage tribes?