My muscles tensed as I warily watched the sea.
Torrential rain poured down, and the silver gleam finally reached me!
It was a sea snake!
It was exceptionally large, its body shimmering with silver-white scales.
With no other prey in sight, my ability to eat today depended on this sea snake!
I quickly threw down my army coat and plunged into the sea.
Turns out, the sea held not only sea snakes but also various fish and shrimp. I was ecstatic. Ignoring the turbulent waves, I thought the more I could catch, the better. If I could dry and preserve the sea snake and the fish and shrimp, I wouldn't have to worry about food for a while.
But the sea snake remained my primary target!
The water's resistance didn't slow my sword strokes. I swung my alloy blade, aiming for the sea snake.
To my surprise, the sea snake moved with such fluidity, dodging my fierce strike with a swift sidestep.
My heart tightened. This sea snake was trickier than I had imagined.
However, I couldn't afford to be surprised now. I had to finish this quickly. The sea was the sea snake's domain, and the longer this dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would be for me.
I switched my alloy blade to my other hand and slashed at it again. But the rain intensified, blurring my vision. I had to fight the sea snake by instinct alone.
The sea snake had a natural advantage in the water. Seeing me swing the alloy blade, it leisurely dodged and then circled me in the sea, searching for an opportune angle to attack.
I had no retreat. To back down meant certain death!
I aimed my alloy blade at the sea snake's head, preparing for a desperate fight. This strike only grazed its scales.
Seemingly provoked by my attack, it flipped in the water and lunged at my calf, sinking its fangs deeply into my leg.
The sea snake's bite was incredibly powerful, almost piercing through my leg, leaving two deep bloody holes.
I knew this was my only chance. If this sea snake escaped now, death would be my fate.
Gritting my teeth against the pain, I grabbed it by its vulnerable spot, its "seven inches," and forcefully pulled it off my leg.
A beast is still a beast, but no matter how fierce, it cannot overcome human perseverance!
As the sea snake was torn away, a chunk of flesh seemed to be missing from my leg. The intense pain acted as a stimulant.
Swift as thought!
With my alloy blade held high, I brought it down with a powerful swing. The sea snake's head was instantly severed and fell into the vast ocean.
Through gritted teeth, enduring the agony, I stuffed the sea snake into my coat pocket. I also caught some fish and shrimp and hurried back to shore. The sea snake itself had no toxins and was a great tonic.
As I emerged from the sea, my head began to ache, and my vision blurred for a moment.
I shook my head.
Perhaps it was due to the rain and the sudden drop in body temperature from entering the sea. I couldn't afford to dwell on it. I packed my gear, threw on my army coat, and hurried towards the cave.
Inside the cave, Guan Hai'er was startled by my disheveled state. She quickly stepped forward and draped a dry garment over me. "Thank heavens, brother, you're finally back! Hurry and take off your clothes, get by the fire, and don't catch a cold."
Hearing Guan Hai'er's words, Luo Yaqin's face darkened, but she said nothing. She silently walked over and began to examine my body.
Suddenly, Luo Yaqin's expression changed. She discovered the wound on my leg.
"You're injured!"
I waved it off dismissively. "It's nothing serious. Just a scratch from wrestling with a sea snake in the ocean. That snake was really slippery; I almost couldn't catch it."
Upon hearing this, Guan Hai'er became agitated. "You got hurt fighting a sea snake? It's not poisonous, is it? What are we going to do!"
"I checked this sea snake. It's not poisonous. Right, Shangguan Yao, let's eat soon, I'm starving!" Guan Hai'er mentioning it only made the wound on my leg itch terribly. The seawater was quite irritating.
Luo Yaqin examined my wound with a grave expression. After a while, her face finally relaxed. "The wound isn't blackened or swollen, so it's likely not poisonous."
Guan Hai'er let out a sigh of relief. Shangguan Yao, somewhat fearful, picked up the sea snake meat to prepare it, muttering softly, "If we weren't trapped here, would you still be ordering me around?"
I ignored her. After Luo Yaqin bandaged my wound, I felt so exhausted I could barely stand. My head was buzzing. I gave Luo Yaqin a couple of instructions and prepared to rest for a while, asking her to wake me when the food was ready.
I don't know how long passed. In a daze, I thought I heard Luo Yaqin calling my name. I suddenly sat up.
Damn it, what's going on? My head hurt even more! I felt an indescribable dizziness.
Seeing this, Luo Yaqin quickly supported me, her voice filled with anxiety, "Lu Ziye, what's wrong? Don't scare me!"
Guan Hai'er ran over and touched my forehead, gasping in shock. "It's so hot! Oh no, you have a fever!"
By this point, my mind was already becoming unclear.
I frowned and raised my hand, handing the alloy blade beside me to Luo Yaqin. I whispered to her, "Whatever you do, don't tell anyone I'm sick. Just say I'm feeling a bit unwell. Take the alloy blade for protection."
Then I asked Luo Yaqin to call Guan Hai'er over and gave her all my belongings, telling her to take good care of herself.
And that bastard Li Degui!
I forced myself to stand up, picked up my pistol, and walked towards Li Degui, who was cowering in the corner.
Seeing me with a murderous intent, Li Degui's legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground, too terrified to move. A pale yellow liquid even seeped from his crotch.
I stared at him coldly, my warning delivered word by word: "Li Degui, you'd better behave yourself here, or I'll blow your dog head off with a shot! Don't think I don't know what you're up to. Listen up, if you stay put, and I'm in a good mood, you might live a little longer in this world. If I'm in a bad mood, I'll send you to reincarnation immediately, understand!"
Upon hearing my words, Li Degui began to kowtow frantically, his forehead becoming bloody and smeared with dirt.
After threatening Li Degui with the gun, I managed to return to my sleeping spot before collapsing. I couldn't hold on any longer.
The world spun around me. I pinched my thigh hard, trying to sober up, but it was futile. My consciousness slowly slipped away. Finally, my vision went black, and I passed out.
In my unconsciousness, I had a peculiar dream.