Volume 3 – When he bravely forged ahead on the sea waves
Chapter I (Part 2) Difficult journey
Liu Zhenhan’s lower package was in complete uproar all the time.
An obscene laughter resounded throughout the bamboo forest.
Following the direction of Andes mountain chain trade winds, the bamboo raft sailed forward on the waves, going very slowly like the clouds in the sky.
Liu Zhenhan and Hailun quickly spent over half a month drifting in the sea.
The faint hint of bluish color was spread across the horizon as if trying to mingle with the blue sky. Hailun said that the direction in which they were sailing was the one where the famous Qin Mainland was located. They just needed to follow the Kunlun angled strait and that should help them in entering the Aegean sea, ultimately leading to Qin Mainland. In the past half a month time, they had come across several glaciers and snow-capped mountains located on both sides of the strait. Eventually, they were going to reach the great Danube wilderness – the place where Beamon Kingdom was located.
However, it didn’t take long for all the excitement of going back home to dim down. Hailun and Liu Zhenhan were initially very happy and slightly emotional as well, thinking about the hardships they had to go through on that deserted island. This was far more than something words could describe.
The bamboo raft was on the verge of disa.s.sembling into bamboo shoots after being completely eroded by the strong sea waves. If Liu Zhenhan had not come up with the plan of using the turtle sh.e.l.l as the primary raft to support the bamboo raft, then perhaps it would have disintegrated a few days ago.
The wolf skin and several sets of rabbit fur were interwoven to make a good enough sail to sustain the wind pressure. However, a fairly strong storm appeared a few days ago and left behind several holes in the makeshift sail, causing the wind leakage through the sail.
Liu Zhenhan had taken a full two months worth of time to prepare for the voyage. He never expected that the equipments he made would start to fail in a matter of two weeks.
Liu Zhenhan had stocked a lot of coconuts in the sub-raft tied behind the primary raft. However, he would never have known that on the third day of their voyage, they would be attacked by a tiger shark just because it mistook the protruding coconut leaves for delicious bait and attacked the sub-raft, chewing a large section of it to bits. Liu Zhenhan had spent a lot of time and effort in preparing a fresh source of water and vitamins in the form of coconuts, now totally wasted by a foolish tiger shark.
Fortunately, they were using the turtle sh.e.l.l as the main raft and had also kept several dozen melons safely with them in the main raft. These yellow melons with green stripes had been nurtured under the extreme care of Liu Zhenhan. The first batch matured right before they were going to set out. Although these melons were not as big as the ones he had salvaged from the shipwreck, but they still were as sweet as the original ones.
The frost power of Fruit was providing them with ice and fresh cold water on a daily basis. The water produced from melting the ice was sufficient to fulfill their needs, however, Fruit was running low on magic and hence his magic could only be used twice a day. Not to mention, Fruit would also gulp down half the amount of fresh water produced from his own ice in order to sustain his basic needs.
Liu Zhenhan had stocked a lot of charcoal, dry wood, fungi and wooden chips to act as fuel to prepare a stove on the raft. He had also stored some stones to create the periphery of the stove for fire safety. He was still using mussel sh.e.l.l as a pot for cooking food. Their daily food needs were being fulfilled by seafood and vegetables. However, unfortunately, the tiger shark’s attack caused them to lose even their entire stock of goods into the sea.
From then on, Liu Zhenhan literally started wearing salted bacons, eggs and fishes as decorations on his body and around his neck. Since now these had become their staple food, not to mention the crystallized chalcedony present in the guano of Osprey bird was now the best source of calcium and vitamins; but Hailun simply could not eat raw fish and eggs, let alone bird s.h.i.t. Liu Zhenhan had to force her down and stuff them into her mouth. And this became the first time Hailun really got mad at him.
(TL Note: She is a fox right? Why cannot she eat raw fish? O_O Maybe she is wise and civilized etc)
Hailun finally fell ill. Her red ritual robe was now covered with stains of solidified salt crystals formed from her dried sweat. Her juicy red lips were now covered with blisters and had withered unbearably. Liu Zhenhan made a strategic decision to not eat melons and save them all for Hailun since her body was rejecting raw food, making her throw up each time she ate fish or eggs; The melons were not big enough but contained enough water and minerals to fulfill her daily requirements. Liu Zhenhan did not waste any seeds; he dried the melon seeds and carefully stored them in his socks.
Hailun looked weak and frail but would always urge him to eat his full. Liu Zhenhan would also pretend to eat a lot but would secretly save stuff for future use once she would get better while tying his best to suppress the loud roars of his stomach from reaching her ears.
Liu Zhenhan would always keep a smile on his face and say things to calm her down while also suppressing his hunger but always failed to stop himself from licking his dry lips and dream about delicious food they used to eat together on the island.
While mutually supporting each other in a small raft, the two love birds were constantly drifting in the sea. There was nothing romantic about this situation, nor was this charming in any manner. The only thing that was greeting them on a daily basis was a barrage of hardships in the form of sun, hot weather, rapid evaporation of water from their bodies, shortage of food, as if to try and completely drown their spirits to the bottom of the sea.
Night was the happiest time for them in this voyage. Looking at the clean and fresh sky, Hailun and Liu Zhenhan would snuggle together with a bird and a beast in their company. Countless stars also joined them every night, adding a lot to the soothing atmosphere.
The glowing pearl exuded a soft glow and proved the best source of illumination for them on the raft.
Whenever Hailun’s fox fragrance would greet his nose, he felt like riding the wind and wandering into the endless sky.
Hailun’s condition was getting worse day by day. Her beautiful and seductive face was now replaced by a dried up and pale one. The only thing that wasn’t degrading in her body was her bright red curly hair.
During the time they were approaching the Kunlun angled strait, she looked even closer to the dying state with glaring signs of lack of nutrition and a frail body that was completely enveloped in the shadow of death. Liu Zhenhan was desperately racking his brain but could find a way to treat her. This was the first time he was regretting his decision to leave that bra island.
The smile on Hailun’s face was turning more and more tranquil and kind of indifferent, as if she was prepared to lose the fight for her life. Her pleasant aroma was still lingering around and entering the nose of Liu Zhenhan on regular intervals, reminding him of her gradually fading existence. She looked at him and stroked his face with her trembling hands. Her dry lips slowly moved and weaved his name in a faint voice.
Liu Zhenhan’s heart broke into numerous pieces.
What was the most painful thing? Was it the frustration of losing a loved one slowly fading away in front of your eyes while you helplessly wait and watch it happening?
Liu Zhenhan made a lot of efforts, even took the risk to dive deeper into the sea, trying to find some seaweed as a source of her vitamin supplements but the sea water was way too deep. He really did not dare to get distracted.
The Osprey bird’s chirps were getting more and more irritable. Liu Zhenhan knew that a magic pet could sense the approaching death of its partner via telepathy but was unable to do anything to help.
“Li Cha, hold me.” Hailun said in a weak voice.
Liu Zhenhan’s eyes suddenly turned moist.
(Background music ‘unconditionally for you’)