19: Chapter 19 The Woman in the Rainstorm

The hillside had become a muddy torrent under the relentless onslaught of the rain.

Turbid, mud-choked water, carrying stones and broken branches, cascaded down the slope.

An inconspicuous mound of earth, under the persistent assault of the rain, began to shed its soil.

Beneath the sliding earth, a corner of something buried was exposed.

First, a strand of long black hair, matted with dirt, splayed out in the rainwater.

Then came a pale forehead, tightly closed eyes, a high-bridged nose, and finally, bloodless lips.

A face of breathtaking beauty.

Her entire body was embedded in the earth, the downpour mercilessly lashing her face.

The rain washed away more soil, revealing the delicate yet icy skin beneath.

An eyelash trembled.

Then again.

Then, those eyes slowly opened.

No panic, no pain, only a profound, bottomless emptiness.

She did not rise immediately, but lay still, letting the rain wash over her body.

After about five minutes, she used her hands to slowly, laboriously push against the mud beneath her, pulling herself free from the earth inch by inch.

She stood upright, bare feet sinking into the muck.

Tattered white clothing clung to an excessively graceful silhouette.

She looked around, bewildered.

Trees, hills, torrential rain, mud. Nothing familiar.

Then she closed her eyes.

Trees, rocks, puddles, small creatures shivering in tree hollows.

Further away, the heat signatures of several humanoid forms struggling through the storm—all this information flooded her perception.

She opened her eyes again, a flicker of faint understanding passing through her pitch-black pupils.

"Quite a few people this time."

She murmured to herself, her voice hoarse and parched, as if unused for a long time.

As the words faded, she suddenly staggered.

Her newly awakened body was weaker than she'd imagined; even maintaining her stance seemed a struggle.

She needed rest. She needed to recover.

"Let the rain fall harder."

As if obeying a command, the rain around her began to pound down with even greater ferocity.

Rainwater streamed down her neck, converging into rivulets at her collarbones.

...

Meanwhile, in the island's chat channel, chaos and despair still reigned.

The severe weather inflicted not just physical discomfort, but a constant, real sense of harm.

[Bunny: Hello, everyone! Looks like you're all suffering quite a bit in the rain, huh?]

[Bunny: Seeing this, Bunny feels really, really sad~ (✧ω✧)]

The deliberately cutesy tone and emoji now seemed filled with ultimate mockery and malice.

[Bunny, I'm going to morning classes at eight.]

[Bunny, I really want to stab you.]

[You're nothing but a pure piece of trash! Trash!]

The screen was flooded with curses and invective, nearly overwhelming the channel.

Yet, Bunny seemed even more delighted:

[Bunny: Hahahahahahaha.]

[Bunny: Bunny is so sad to be spoken to like this, but the kind-hearted Bunny has prepared a gift for you all.]

[Bunny: There are supply crates out in the storm now. They might contain food, medicine, tools, materials.]

[Even... a little something that can make you all stronger! Whether you can find them depends on your luck and courage! Heehee!]

Supply crates?!

Those two words seemed magical, instantly quieting the torrent of abuse in the channel.

It was immediately replaced by an even more complex, surging stream of messages.

[The rain is this heavy, and you want me to go out looking for crates?!]

[Even if it's a trap... I have to go! Without food, I won't last another day!]

[Dammit, I'm going for it! Staying in the shelter is just waiting to die!]

Hope, greed, desperate gambles—all sorts of emotions collided wildly in the channel.

Bunny's "gift" was like tossing a few pieces of poisoned, fresh meat before a pack of starving wolves.

It wanted to see the wolves fight over it.

...

Inside the wooden cabin on the cliff.

The fire in the hearth burned steadily, casting warm, dancing light and shadow on everyone's faces.

Compared to the miserable wind and rain outside, this place seemed like another world entirely.

"We have food and drink, the cabin is warm and sturdy. We don't need to go out and take risks."

Shu Qianxue sipped her cola, lounging lazily on the large bed, the curves beneath her fur wrap rising and falling gently with her breath.

Chen Xiaolin was carefully turning the fish roasting over the hearth, nodding in agreement.

"Who knows where those crates are. In this rain, you could search all night and not find a single one."

The sturdy cabin kept out the storm, the hearth provided warmth and cooked food, and they even had soda.

"The only problem is, if there are items in the crates that can make people stronger..."

Xia Jin wavered. On this island, strength was the foundation of everything.

If other Tribes obtained crucial supplies or power from them, the balance could be shattered.

Everyone's gaze eventually settled on Qi Yun.

He was the chieftain, the backbone, the final decision-maker.

Those daring to venture out into the storm to search for crates now...

were almost all desperate people pushed to the brink, their danger self-evident.

If it were just ordinary materials and food, given the Tribe's relatively ample reserves...

Qi Yun certainly wouldn't choose to risk going out in this weather.

But considering the possible presence of items that could "enhance strength"...

and the unused "Seek Fortune" function of the fortune compass for the day...

Qi Yun pondered for a moment before making a decision:

"Right. I'll go out to investigate. I'll use the compass once. Regardless of the outcome, I'll return immediately."

This was his decision after weighing the options.

Use the compass's guidance to quickly confirm the direction of the highest-value target, assess the risks and rewards.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, a resolute voice cut in:

"I'm going with you."

Xia Jin stepped forward, standing before Qi Yun, her crimson eyes fixed intently on him.

"You're just recovered from your injury. You shouldn't act alone. Another person means another pair of eyes."

Qi Yun met Xia Jin's gaze. He could feel the unyielding resolve emanating from her.

Qi Yun nodded. "Alright."

This operation was different from last night's desperate infiltration of the enemy camp.

With the "Seek Fortune" guidance, the target was clear, and the risks were relatively manageable.

"Then I'm going too! Brothers should share hardship!"

Shu Qianxue stepped forward then. She hadn't been in a fight since changing to her rare profession.

"No. I need you to guard the home."

Without a moment's hesitation, Qi Yun refused.

Besides it being better to have a rare combat profession guarding the Tribe, it was also because of Qi Yun's partiality towards Shu Qianxue.

Shu Qianxue opened her mouth, looked at Qi Yun's unyielding gaze, then at Xia Jin.

Finally, she sat back down like a deflated balloon, muttering:

"Fine... Be careful, you two."

After brief preparations, gathering necessary tools and weapons, Qi Yun and Xia Jin turned towards the wooden door.

*Creak*

The wooden door was pushed open a crack. The gale immediately hurled icy rain inside, lashing their faces!

"Aah! Close it! Close the door, Qi Bao! It's freezing!"

Shu Qianxue was hit full force by the gust of cold air and shivered violently.

"Chieftain, hurry up and get out! We're freezing!"

"Yeah, yeah, save the lingering farewells for another time!"

"Sister Xia Jin, drag him out! Close the door! All the warmth is escaping!"

The girls' chorus of complaints and playful scolding erupted instantly.

Leaving Qi Yun, standing at the doorway with half his body instantly soaked, utterly exasperated.

Here he was, the chieftain preparing to risk his life for everyone outside...

and suddenly he'd become the "culprit" ruining the indoor warmth, urgently needing to be shown the door.

He suddenly felt like not leaving. He felt like leaving the door open.

Let these "ungrateful" folks get a good taste of the bitter cold outside.

Xia Jin had already stepped into the gray curtain of rain outside.

Hearing the commotion, she looked back at Qi Yun's exasperated face and smiled:

"If you don't leave now, they might resort to force."

Qi Yun shook his head helplessly, taking one last look inside.

The hearth fire danced, illuminating the girls huddled together in their furs.

"Wait for us to return."

Before his words fully faded, the wooden door was slammed shut behind him with an eager *thud*, clean and decisive.

*I'll deal with you lot one by one later!*

He wasted no more time, quickly retrieving the ancient fortune compass from inside his fur clothing, close to his chest.

Focusing his mind, he whispered:

"Seek Fortune."

The central needle turned red, then jerked to a sudden stop, pointing steadily southeast.

Qi Yun exchanged a glance with Xia Jin and nodded. "Let's go."

Their figures swiftly vanished into the violent curtain of rain.

What Qi Yun didn't know was that the compass wasn't pointing towards a crate, but towards the mysterious woman who had just been awakened by the storm.