18: Chapter 18 The Teacher Wants to Break Free from His Shackles

The afternoon sun was just right.

Qi Yun pushed open the door to the new wooden house and stepped out, moving his left shoulder.

There was a slight tugging sensation from the wound, but it was no longer a major issue.

Fortunately, that fatal claw swipe from Zhang Qiang had mainly torn the flesh without damaging his bones or internal organs.

With his Lv6 physique, combined with the basic treatment from the girls in the Tribe, he was recovering quickly.

"Qi Bao! Are you completely okay?!"

Seeing Qi Yun walk out, Shu Qianxue, who had been guarding outside, rushed over in surprise, though her movements were much gentler than before.

Only then did Qi Yun notice the faint dark circles under her eyes; clearly, she hadn't slept well last night.

A warm current surged through his heart, and he smiled, ruffling her hair: "I'm fine, good as new. Don't worry."

"What are brothers for!"

Shu Qianxue grinned and patted his back, though her eyes were still a little red.

Under the sunlight, nearly thirty girls were almost all wearing animal skins.

These had been "taken" from other Tribes.

The chest wraps and short skirts, simply sewn from initially tanned animal skins, were rough in workmanship but greatly improved warmth and protection.

They also outlined their youthful figures perfectly.

Their healthy skin appeared even smoother against the backdrop of the animal skins, radiating vigorous vitality.

Xia Jin stood to the side, and seeing that Qi Yun had fully recovered, a subtle ripple flashed through her red eyes.

"The materials are all ready; we're just waiting for you."

Qi Yun's gaze swept over the faces full of trust, finally landing on the thatched hut before them, which sheltered them from the wind and rain but was also teetering on the brink of collapse.

He took a deep breath and walked to the center of the open space in front of the house.

His voice rang out clearly.

"This is the first home we've established in this world! Today, we are going to make it stronger and safer!"

Under everyone's gaze, Qi Yun summoned the system interface and found the [House Upgrade] option.

[Sufficient materials detected. Confirm upgrading the 'Thatched Hut' to a 'Sturdy Wooden House'?]

"Confirm!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the wood piled to the side seemed to be pulled by an invisible force and began to float.

As if controlled by an unseen giant hand, it quickly and precisely began to replace and reinforce the original thatched structure.

The thatched roof was replaced by brand-new wooden beams and thick planks, the walls were reinforced with stone, and the gaps were perfectly filled.

The entire process was like a miracle, leaving the girls marveling in succession.

In just a few minutes, a brand-new, sturdily structured wooden house, exuding the fresh scent of wood, stood atop the cliff!

It was a bit larger than the original thatched hut, with thick walls and several windows for ventilation and light.

There was even a simple but fully functional stone fireplace and chimney!

[House Upgrade Successful!]

[Current Level: Sturdy Wooden House (Lv.2)]

[Effect: Defense significantly increased; can withstand strong winds, rain, and attacks from ordinary beasts.]

[Wind and rain protection significantly enhanced; internal space expanded, comfort slightly improved; unlocked simple fireplace (can be used for heating and cooking).]

[Next level upgrade requirements: Stone x200, Iron Ingots x30]

"Wow!!!"

The girls erupted into earth-shattering cheers and couldn't wait to rush into their new home.

"So spacious! We can section off a sleeping area over here!"

"There are windows! We won't have to fumble in the dark during the day anymore!"

"A fireplace! We can boil hot soup! We can sleep warmly at night too!"

"Finally... finally we have a decent home."

The interior was spacious, bright, dry, and warm; they no longer had to worry about the cold night wind or potential leaks.

The girls didn't have to sleep huddled together as tightly as before.

The existence of the fireplace meant they could cook food indoors.

They also had a more reliable light source and warmth at night.

Only now did this house truly possess the sense of security and warmth of a "home."

Just as everyone was immersed in the joy of their new home, Chen Xiaolin ran back in a panic from the direction of the coast.

Her hair and simple animal skin clothes were dripping with water, and she shouted:

"Qi Bao! Sisters! I'm back... holy crap!!!"

Her voice hit a cracking pitch the moment she saw the brand-new, majestic wooden house.

The fish in her hand almost slipped from her grasp.

She widened her eyes, mouth agape, and circled the wooden house in disbelief for half a turn before she suddenly remembered the urgent matter.

"Outside! There's a huge storm outside!!! It was fine just a moment ago, but the sky suddenly turned as black as the bottom of a pot!"

As if to verify her words, almost at the same time she finished speaking,

"Whoosh!!!"

The gale intensified without warning, emitting a shrill and terrifying wail.

Immediately after, bean-sized raindrops came pelting down!

They slammed against the thick roof and walls of the new wooden house, making a dense and powerful "patter" sound, but they couldn't penetrate it at all.

The world was instantly filled with the raging roar of the storm.

One could imagine that if it were still the original low, flimsy thatched hut, in such terrifying weather, cold wind would pour in through the gaps like knives, and rainwater would easily soak everything.

The girls would only be able to huddle in the corner, shivering and relying on each other's bodies for warmth.

But now, they stood inside the sturdy, dry, and airtight wooden house, listening to the apocalyptic storm outside and feeling the warmth gradually rising from the fireplace indoors.

At almost the same time, the island's public channel was crazily flooded with countless messages of panic, despair, and breakdown.

The scrolling speed was dazzlingly fast:

[Fuck! What the hell is this weather! Our crappy thatched roof has already started leaking! The floor is full of puddles!]

[Hiding in the thatched hut feels like it's drafty on all sides, no different from being out in the open! I'm so cold my bones are shivering!]

[Is this bullshit system trying to kill us?! We just found some food, and before it was even warm, this happens! Trying to kill us on purpose!]

[Can't stay in this crappy shed anymore! I have to go out and find a cave! At least it's stone! Better to die from the rain than freeze to death in this leaking coffin!]

Wails were everywhere, chaos reigned, and the emotion of despair seemed to permeate through the channel.

Perhaps only Qi Yun's Tribe had managed to upgrade their simple thatched hut to a "Sturdy Wooden House" in such a short time.

While the vast majority of Tribes were engulfed by the gale, rain, cold, and despair, inside the sturdy wooden house on the cliff, there was an almost luxurious tranquility and warmth.

They sat in small groups, chatting in low voices about funny things from the past, laughing and playing, roasting mushrooms and fish on the fireplace.

They were simply enjoying this rare moment where they didn't need to keep their nerves on edge.

The severe weather had pressed the pause button on everything, and the girls now had a chance to catch their breath.

But only Qi Yun's Tribe was like this.

For other Tribes, this severe weather was nothing short of a natural disaster.

Ke Yun's gaze fell upon Qi Yun, who was sitting alone against the window.

She gently adjusted the smock she was wearing, which had been simply sewn from soft animal skin.

This rough fabric could not hide her well-proportioned and graceful body lines.

She naturally sat down slowly in the empty spot beside him.

Under the animal skin, her body glowed with a healthy, warm luster.

"Student Qi, thank you."

Ke Yun spoke, her voice very light yet exceptionally clear.

Thanking him for the short but precious sense of security he had brought to everyone at this moment.

Thanking him for steadily taking on the heaviest burden when she was at her most panicked and helpless, barely able to hold onto the shell of being a "teacher."

Qi Yun withdrew his gaze from the storm outside the window and looked at this intellectual teacher.

"Ke Yun, everyone is working hard for the class; there's no need to say thank you."

The identity of a teacher had once been her armor, but it was also her restraint.

In this world where order had collapsed, that familiar set of rules and authority had long since lost its effect.

Ke Yun had not yet fully adapted to this world.

"In Student Qi's eyes, how am I...?"

Ke Yun turned her head to look at Qi Yun, the corners of her mouth seemingly wanting to curve into a self-deprecating arc.

Whenever a woman asked a man this question, her heart was often craving something.

Qi Yun's gaze landed on Ke Yun.

In the firelight, that simple animal skin smock, which just happened to outline her figure, could not hide the graceful curves belonging to a mature woman.

Further down were her legs, brought together and slightly bent; above the edge of the animal skin skirt, her exposed knees were rounded.

Her calves were straight and well-proportioned, her skin glowing with an ivory luster in the warm light.

Qi Yun did not answer with words.

He reached out, wrapped his arm around Ke Yun's waist, and pulled her tightly into his embrace.

"Mmph!"

Ke Yun let out a short exclamation of surprise, her body instantly losing its balance.

She fell entirely into Qi Yun's arms.

Ke Yun could feel the warmth of Qi Yun's palm on her waist, as well as his restless hand.

"Qi Yun! You..."

Ke Yun subconsciously struggled, her hands pressed against his chest, trying to push him away.

"I am a teacher..."

This sentence from Ke Yun was less of a warning to Qi Yun and more of a reminder to herself of the identity boundaries that were collapsing.

"If you refuse now, I will never cross that line again."

Qi Yun's voice sounded.

He hated the attitude women had of playing hard to get, constantly pulling back and forth, constantly testing.

He was giving her a choice.

Push him away, and the teacher-student relationship would become that of strangers, clearly delineated.

Don't push... and it would be a tacit approval of this moment, and everything after this moment.

Ke Yun closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling violently.

She only wanted to test him, she didn't expect Qi Yun to be so firm.

If she pushed him away now, would Qi Yun really never cross that line again?

"Give me a little more time for that last thing, okay?"

The hands Ke Yun had pressed against his chest slowly and completely lost their strength.

She obediently lay in Qi Yun's arms.

"Alright, Teacher."

Qi Yun's deep voice sounded.

He looked at this usually intellectual and elegant teacher in his arms, her mature and graceful body now relaxing against him.

His, the corners of his mouth curled into an arc belonging to a hunter.