Volume 1: I Have A Dream Chapter 16: Island Night

  Shark?

  Just as I was about to adjust to a semi-dormant state to conserve energy, I suddenly woke up with a start. Had the blood from my wound attracted them?

  As I looked up, the sea surface reflected the sunlight, and in the twinkling golden light, a boundless expanse of distance revealed a glimpse of a black shadow.

  "Whoosh!" Lin Miao Xian, regardless of being soaked from head to toe by the seawater, climbed onto the life ring and squeezed in beside me. The smooth skin that flowed like water lightly rubbed against my arm, sending a warm feeling through me.

  I took a closer look and suddenly laughed, saying: "Hey, don't think it's a shark just because you see a black spot, right? You've watched too many movies. If there were sharks everywhere in the sea, sailors would go crazy. Sigh... that's an island, we're saved."

  It's actually quite obvious that even someone with a bit of brains should think of it - from a distance it looks like a black dot, but when you get closer it can't be small.

  Lin Miao Xian quickly reacted, twisting open the body that was tightly attached to mine, and with a 'plop' sound, jumped back into the sea, a few hints of embarrassed blush appearing on his cold face.

  "Keep swimming hard, it's still far from there." As I spoke, I also jumped off the life ring and swam towards the island with all my might.

  About an hour later, we finally swam to the edge of the island, looking at those dark rocks that rose one after another, and our hearts that had been floating for a night seemed to settle down.

  "Hey, come back quickly." At this time, Lin Mu Xian was in a hurry to rush past, I hurriedly called out: "Look at the water flow, hitting the rocks and bouncing back, will form a strong rip current, you rushing over like this, will encounter great resistance. Many people who fall into the sea are exhausted by coming back and forth, just when they are about to be saved, they eventually die on the shore."

  Seeing how frightened I was, Lin Muxian suddenly asked, "What can we do?" After speaking, she felt that her words seemed too dependent on me, and her face turned extremely strange.

  I said faintly as if I didn't care: "Go around the small island in a parallel direction and see if there's a beach."

  After circling around for a long time, we finally found a patch of sandy beach and without saying another word, the two of us crawled over using our hands and feet.

  I lay on the beach in a big character shape and let out a long breath, "Fortunately, I didn't die."

  Lin Miao lay beside me, also panting heavily, her full chest rising and falling with each breath, filled with temptation.

  "Hey, where are you looking?" Lin Muxian turned over, his back facing me, and shouted with a twisted head.

  "Hmm, nothing much, just hope this small island isn't too desolate." I muttered to myself and then, exhausted in body and mind, I tilted my head to one side and fell fast asleep.

  When I opened my eyes again, it was already dark.

  Lin Miao's eyes were half-closed, her body trembling violently as she crouched a meter away from me.

  I patted her and asked: "Are you ill?"

  Lin Mu Xian's slender body shrunk back, and she shouted: "What are you going to do?" After seeing clearly that it was me, she let out a breath and said: "You're awake."

  "Uh-huh," I nodded and said: "It's very cold, why not go... meditate? Uh, practice? I didn't come because of what you did last night."

  Lin Mu Xian said: "You've been running a fever all along, I'm afraid..."

  She didn't go on, but I already understood what she meant. I nodded slightly and said, "It's just a low fever caused by inflammation, it won't be fatal."

  "Oh!" Lin Muxian responded with a single word.

  "But if we don't take action soon, death is just around the corner."

  "Uh..." Lin Muxian opened his mouth, but didn't continue speaking.

  I knew she wanted to ask me what to do, but due to her own pride, she didn't ask.

  "Alright, now the first step is to start a fire."

  I had clearly noticed Lin Muxian's change in attitude towards me, and she seemed to have realized it herself. To avoid awkwardness and give her time to adjust her mood, I didn't mention it and just bid farewell before getting up and leaving.

  Fortunately, there was a small knife, which made the work of drilling wood and taking fire not so difficult.

  Sharpen a wooden stick and grind it on the wood stake until it's hot and charred, with a spark of fire after covering it with dry leaves, gently blowing air, and following a light smoke rising, there is fire.

  I lit a bonfire and said, "Come closer and warm up. Let's wait until dawn to explore the island, I reckon we'll be stuck here for a while."

  Lin Miao Xian faintly responded with a "en", then leaned towards the fire pit, but still kept an appropriate distance from me.

  "Want some wine?" I passed her the bottle.

  She shook her head: "No need."

  "What about the peanuts?"

  "It doesn't matter."

  "Well, I'll eat it all then, nourish myself fully and go find more food tomorrow."

  I wasn't a talkative person to begin with. After saying that sentence, I solved the remaining food on one side and thought about how to deal with this situation afterwards.

  The injury on your shoulder can't be delayed any longer and must be treated as soon as possible. Tomorrow, we need to get a clear understanding of the situation on the small island and see if there is fresh water and food available.

  But all these are not the main thing, for me, the most important is Lin Muxian.

  Two people stranded on a deserted island, this is undoubtedly a good opportunity. The situation is finally under my control.

  This feeling... is great!

  Lost in thought, the beer and peanuts were all gone. I wiped my mouth, picked up a small knife to disinfect it in the fire, and said, "Later, I might not have the energy to talk to you, do you have anything to say now?"

  Hearing this, Lin Muxian's expression changed slightly, and he replied faintly, "No."

  "Oh, good night." Without saying another word, under Lin Muxian's slightly tense gaze, I took off my top and revealed a fairly toned body.

  Then, I rolled up the clothes and bit them in my mouth, took a few deep breaths, and used that scorching hot small knife to carefully pick off the blood clots that had already formed on my shoulder.

  After the wound on my forehead was cleaned, I was already sweating profusely, and severe pain kept coming from my shoulder. But things were far from over. I held my breath, lifted my injured arm and rotated it gently, and a piercing pain spread from my shoulder to my limbs, sweat dripping all over my forehead.

  But I know at this moment I absolutely cannot stop, otherwise, there will be more suffering.

  After turning my shoulders repeatedly, I finally judged the approximate position of the bullet. At this time, sweat had soaked me all over.

  "Are you okay?" Seeing me treat myself so ruthlessly, Lin Muxian finally couldn't help but ask in a low and weak voice.

  I raised my head and glanced at her, silently smiling with a curled lip.

  "Want me to help you......ah?" Lin Muxian exclaimed in surprise, quickly covering her mouth.

  Just as she was speaking, I had already stabbed the small knife deep into my shoulder, and after a stir, I dug out several pieces of rotten flesh. A light yellow bullet head was squeezed out with the knife.

  All this happened in less than five seconds, but despite my hands being more skilled than many surgeons, this knife seemed to drain all the energy from my body.

  "Are you really okay?" Lin Muxian asked stupidly like many foolish women in the movies.

  I'm already out of strength to answer, with her behavior, she's actually killed someone? In a moment of confusion, I use my last bit of energy to pull out a branch from the fire pit and press it against the wound.

  *sigh*...

  The smell of charred skin and flesh suddenly hit me, I gritted my teeth and let out a miserable groan, then quickly fell back into a deep sleep.

  ……

  The starlight by the sea is exceptionally bright and soft, illuminating Lin Miao Xian's pale face with an indescribably beautiful and moving sight.

  She stood quietly beside the bonfire, gazing at the old youth who was still frowning in his sleep, reaching out to stroke his painful face, but ultimately withdrew her hand. What kind of strong will is needed to endure all this?

  For a moment, she became deeply interested in it.

  But...

  He let out a faint sigh, Lin Muxian gazed at his empty right hand, helplessly shaking it, his face filled with disappointment.