By the time I woke up on the second day, Luo Yaqin, who had been pouring her heart out to me last night, had already vanished. Only the faint lingering scent in the air reminded me of the blissful moments we shared.
I sat up halfway and touched my slightly aching kidneys, sighing inwardly.
Damn, that was intense!
Breakfast was ready. After a simple meal, I felt revitalized. I packed my gear and prepared to set off in search of Guan Hai'er.
"Lu Zi, be careful on your journey. Don't go missing yourself while looking for Guan Hai'er!"
Shangguan Yao adjusted my collar, then spoke with a hint of disdain, yet her words were caring.
"Got it."
I ruffled Shangguan Yao's hair, smiled, bid farewell to everyone else, and walked out the door.
According to Shangguan Yao and the others, Guan Hai'er had headed east after leaving the compound. I proceeded eastward, carefully observing my surroundings, searching for any clues Guan Hai'er might have left behind.
To my surprise, my diligent observation yielded something.
It was an opened can of food, completely empty inside.
It had to be Guan Hai'er's. I knew this forest like the back of my hand.
Aside from other survivors who might have accidentally ended up on this deserted island, I hadn't seen a single wild person, except for Ke Ya and her group.
I picked up the empty can and examined it closely, then continued searching the ground.
The weather was transitioning from cold to hot. Patches of unmelted snow still lingered on the ground, and footprints of varying depths were scattered across it.
It seemed Guan Hai'er had encountered no danger upon reaching this spot. The footprints were neat and orderly.
I looked up. The trail of footprints extended deep into the forest, leading towards the nearby mountain range.
Guan Hai'er, why were you heading towards the mountains?
I wondered, following the footprints in that direction, my mind racing.
I was unfamiliar with this mountain range and had no useful information about it.
Since arriving in this forest, we hadn't explored in that direction. Everything was unknown.
I remembered briefing them before I left. Guan Hai'er had said she was looking for my tracks, but now she was walking in the opposite direction.
I felt something was amiss, but without finding her, it was all just speculation.
As I walked, I noticed the footprints on the ground changing, becoming somewhat scattered.
Hmm?
I subtly quickened my pace. The sudden disarray of footprints could mean two things: either Guan Hai'er had discovered something ahead, or something had discovered her and was chasing her!
I hoped she had found something!
I prayed silently. Guan Hai'er was an indispensable companion to me, and I sincerely wished for her safety.
As I walked, I unknowingly passed through the forest and reached the foot of the mountain.
The ground here was covered with rubble, and Guan Hai'er's footprints disappeared here.
Did she climb over this mountain?
I looked up at the mountain before me. It wasn't exactly cloud-piercing, but it was certainly impossibly high.
Even with my current superhuman stamina, I was unsure if I could scale it, let alone Guan Hai'er.
Therefore, I instinctively dismissed that possibility and began searching the surroundings.
Since Guan Hai'er's footprints led here, it meant I should be able to find traces of her nearby.
I walked along the edge of the mountain to the left, occasionally glancing into the forest. As I walked, I suddenly spotted something reflective in the distance.
I hurried over and found it was a mirror.
It was Guan Hai'er's!
My aimless search had begun to tire me, but the appearance of this mirror meant my direction was correct. Guan Hai'er must have passed through here!
I put the mirror into my backpack and continued walking. Glancing back inadvertently, I noticed an inconspicuous cave about five meters up the mountainside!
Huh?
Did Guan Hai'er go inside?
A thought struck me, and I made an instant decision. Whether Guan Hai'er had been here or not, since I had found it, I would investigate.
Having made up my mind, I slung my backpack over my shoulder and began to climb the mountain wall like an ape.
Although I had no professional rock-climbing training, my superhuman stamina still allowed me to reach the cave.
The depths of the cave were pitch black, devoid of any light. I took out a wooden torch from my backpack and struck it with a simple flint. The cave instantly lit up.
Gazing into the inky darkness of the cave, I took a deep breath, torch in hand, and walked inside.
Hai'er, wait for me!