Finding food wasn't a difficult task in the first place. At least that's what Xiu thought at first.

He also received a short period of wilderness survival training, and lived alone in the mountains and forests for a period of time before arriving in Yae Village. I can't say how good it was, but at least I survived.

If it weren't for this small place, if it wasn't for the flood, if there were more tools to choose from, if the water wasn't so cold and not so turbulent

But reality ruthlessly gave him a cruel blow, because there have never been so many ifs.

The dusk water of the lake is no longer as fierce as at the beginning, and the waves are shaking, but it flows quietly and slowly into the dark depths, and the wide underground lake is like a calm sea, silent, and even the river outside the mouth of the cave is quiet, and the water flows into the unknown underground in a silence.

But when Xiu reached out and touched the water, the water rushed up to the height of his arm. When the water dissipated, there was still the strength and coldness of that moment, as well as the mud and sand that stained the hand.

It's still dangerous, and the raging can just wash it away. But it reins its minions like a beast that has learned to hide, and lies insidiously dormant, waiting in the dead silence for its prey to fall into its own net.

Xiu hopes to catch a fish in the water, or see if there are any small animals that have been washed down by the water and pick them up.

The lake let him down.

In such murky water, he couldn't see any fish. In this safe, but pitiful corner, he had no chance of catching the small animals that had been washed away.

No, it should be said that he did not see anything to eat from the flood at all.

Not even a single leaf.

Some of them were just the yellow, sometimes even blackened water, which flowed silently but quickly in front of him, and the dirty ones had to be fished out and waited for a long time to drink a pitiful little bit.

His pale face was clouded.

He clenched his fists tightly and turned his back to the tired and weak girl who was leaning against the stone wall behind him, with a little grievance in his eyes.

He wanted to throw a tantrum at the water, but he couldn't bear to do it, and he didn't want to look so unreasonable in the presence of someone. He wanted to get something quickly, but he couldn't. He couldn't think of anything else to do, so he could only wait here stupidly, waiting to see if there was a chance to find something.

He breathed deeply, forced to suppress the restlessness in his heart, and waited patiently. He could only hope that patience would give him a little bit in return. Even if it's just a trivial point, it's fine.

Then, he didn't say a word to Sakura, except occasionally tearing two branches from the tree next to him and throwing them into the fire, and then continued to return to his place. He waited until the sun went from bright, to dusk, to dark. Wait until the temperature goes from cold, to cold, to biting.

When he couldn't see the lake at all, when he looked numb and stood up stiffly, the cold darkness had enveloped him for a long, long time. He knew that there was nothing to gain today.

It was a waste of time, despair permeated his mind, and he wondered with chagrin if it really worked.

He turned, snapped a few branches, returned to the fire and threw them in, and sat there in a somewhat dejected daze.

He was hungry.

At this time, he regretted a little why he didn't bring something to eat when he came out. But soon I could only laugh a little.

At that time, who cares about this. But if you sort it out, it won't be so bad now.

Sakura doesn't know when she fell asleep. She folded her arms and curled up, huddled in a small ball where the campfire could warm it. In the light of the fire, her face seemed to be slightly flushed, but she still seemed to be shaking unconsciously.

I guess it's a little cold. She was covered with nothing, and she was wearing a thin garment stained with dried dirt, which could not be kept warm by fire alone.

He tugged at the heavy black cloak and twisted his fingers. After a day of roasting, the cloak had already been dried out, and it also brought the warmth of the flame, and it even felt a little hot to the touch. In such an environment, if you can cover such a garment, it is very comfortable to think about.

More than that, this should be called happiness.

Xiu carefully placed the cloak over her body, moving as gently as possible. When he pulled the cloak over her body, he was a little surprised to find that her body was really so small. Usually she looks at the girl as tall as him, but when she curls up, she is only a little small, or even only occupies a small corner.

He was only slightly stunned for a moment, pulling the cloak to cover her lips before withdrawing his hand.

Well, there's a little mud on my face

He tried to wipe the mud away, but when his fingers touched her, he felt the same temperature on her face as his clothes.

Well? Is it so warm to bake, and will it be hot if you cover her with this? He thought so. Then she didn't think about it anymore, if it was hot, she would push it away. He was ready to continue thinking about what to do tomorrow

Wrong

No, no, no, no

She's shivering, she's supposed to be cold, but how can her body be hot?

He thought of something, and reached for her forehead with his palm.

It's hot!

Xiu guarantees that this temperature is not right at all!

Xiu pressed her forehead, probed her face again, then her neck socket, then her arms.

It's hot! She's all over the body, and it's hot!

It's a fever! She's sick!

Xiu began to panic.

Can you not have a fever, soaked in such cold river water for a long time, and lying on the cold stone slab in thin clothes that are completely wet after coming ashore, who can withstand such cold?

Xiu sighed, he knew that he might not be able to rest tonight, and he knew how much people needed to be taken care of after they were sick

Although no one taught him how to take care of a sick person.

But

He was taken care of very carefully.

Vaguely, he seemed to recall the fruity aroma.

It didn't take much effort to reminisce, because the memory was so strong that when he just thought about it casually, the tip of his tongue seemed to be filled with the scent of apples. Spreading his lips, he seemed to be able to smell the aroma of apples escaping between his lips and teeth. Because that night, the warm and sweet smell slid down his mouth and into his stomach, and the warm smell stayed with him throughout the night.

He thought again of the girl who reflected the pure white light of that night, the blue eyes like jewels, the silvery white moonlight behind her like a river, and the sudden, but very warm embrace, which accompanied him for the first time He was able to sleep with someone What seemed like a long time ago, but not so far away, memories instantly flooded into his thoughts.

"Sister," he whispered to himself.

(End of chapter)