The ship did not appear to be a product of modern industry; instead, it looked more like something manufactured in the 1970s or 80s.
It was extremely old, and the interior was completely rusted, making it impossible to enter.
Could this have been left behind by those Soviets from before?
Doubts began to surface in my mind. I realized that there seemed to be traces of Soviets everywhere on this island.
But where had they all gone?
And how could such a massive ship have been stranded here in a basin surrounded by high mountains, after being beached on the shore?
My mood grew somber. As I touched the weathered hull, a sudden sense of melancholy washed over me.
If even such a high-tech warship could be trapped and defeated on this island, could we, unarmed as we were, truly escape in the end?
Forget it. Fretting about it now was useless. It was more important to find something to fill my stomach.
I looked around, but found nothing else unusual. So, I filled several bamboo tubes with water, mentally noted the location of the pool, and turned to leave.
On my way back, fate finally smiled upon me. I encountered a few brightly feathered pheasants.
Seeing their proud, strutting demeanor, my mouth began to water. A few arrows later, they were down.
Carrying the still-struggling pheasants, I nodded with satisfaction.
At least I hadn't returned empty-handed.
By the time I got back to the cave, Shangguan Yao had already woken up.
She was groaning and holding her head, looking pained, lying on the animal hides, lost in thought.
A strange feeling flickered through me.
Alas, I wondered if Shangguan Yao still remembered what she had done to me when she was poisoned.
I hoped she wouldn't come at me with murderous intent once she sobered up.
I was quite worried, but when Shangguan Yao saw me return, she merely glanced at me, said nothing, a hint of shyness crossing her face before she looked away.
So, this woman finally knew how to be shy.
How rare.
I handed the pheasants to Guan Hai'er and walked over to Shangguan Yao, speaking softly, "Shangguan Yao, are you feeling any better now?"
Shangguan Yao lowered her head, not looking at me. After a long moment, she replied in a small voice, "I'm fine now, just still a bit dizzy. And... I don't remember what happened before."
A chuckle rose within me. Shangguan Yao, in this state, was like an ostrich burying its head in the sand.
Afraid to face reality.
I couldn't tell if she genuinely didn't remember or was pretending not to.
However, sometimes, giving a woman face was a principle a gentleman had to understand.
So, I decided to act as if nothing had happened and turned to help Guan Hai'er prepare the pheasants.
These pheasants were not only substantial in size but also seemed to be well-exercised, their meat firm and not at all soft.
Just by plucking their feathers, I could imagine how delicious they would be when cooked.
As I was engrossed in cleaning them, Luo Yaqin suddenly walked over and patted my shoulder.
I turned to see her, hesitant, as if she had something to say. She pointed outside, gesturing for me to come out.
I clapped my hands, set down the mostly cleaned pheasants, and followed her outside the cave.
The sky was already beginning to darken, and a gentle evening breeze brushed against my skin, feeling quite cool.
"Lu Ziye!"
Before I could speak, Luo Yaqin pushed me against the stone wall, her voice tinged with jealousy as she questioned me.
"What else happened when you went out with Shangguan Yao? Why is she so anxious, asking about your whereabouts as soon as she wakes up, and blushing for no reason?"
Hearing Luo Yaqin's words, I immediately understood. Shangguan Yao did remember everything, she was just too embarrassed to face it.
Seeing my silence, Luo Yaqin seemed to think I was being evasive. She pressed closer, expressing her displeasure.
"I'm talking to you, Lu Ziye. What are you thinking about? You're practically drooling!"
The warmth from her body made my skin prickle. Her lips parted softly, like the spring breeze in February, making my bones go weak.
I stopped my internal musings and looked at Luo Yaqin. Even when jealous, she was still so adorable. I felt a sudden urge.
Confucius was right: "It is women and small-minded men who are most difficult to deal with. If you get too close, they become disrespectful; if you keep your distance, they become resentful."
It was time for me to assert my authority!
With a large hand, I slid under Luo Yaqin's arm and used a subtle move to turn the tables, pinning her against the stone wall.
I held both her hands high above her head, restraining her.
"Luo Yaqin, are you jealous? You look quite cute when you're jealous."
I lowered my head and whispered in her ear. My heavy breath tickled her earlobe, and her face instantly flushed.
Luo Yaqin hadn't expected me to suddenly do this. She froze for a moment, a mixture of panic and shy embarrassment on her face, her eyes wide.
After a while, she pushed me away and said sternly, "Lu Ziye, I'm talking to you about something serious. Let me go!"
I inhaled the scent of her hair and looked directly into her eyes.
"Serious? I'm doing something serious right now."
With that, I lightly kissed Luo Yaqin on the lips.
"Isn't disciplining your wife also a serious matter?"
Luo Yaqin, teased by me, could no longer maintain her serious expression. She tried to hide in my arms.
"You're never serious all day, always bullying me."
I gently lifted her chin and lowered my face. Seeing this, Luo Yaqin stopped talking and closed her eyes, waiting for my embrace.
With just a look or a gesture, she knew how to respond to me.
If the location hadn't been so unsuitable, I would have long since ignited a passionate fire.
By the time our lips parted, she was already drenched in sweat. Her small mouth opened and closed, as if breathing in the air or inviting my next visit.
Seeing that I had successfully dispelled Luo Yaqin's jealousy, I patted her firm backside.
"Alright, I still need to prepare the food. I'll deal with you properly tonight."