81: Embarking on the journey home

"In the city, there are lights everywhere, and the light of the stars is obscured. It's not like here, where the starry sky is so brilliant, it feels like you could touch the stars just by reaching out."

Lu Fan sighed with emotion, his eyes still fixed on the sky, as if he wanted to imprint this beautiful scenery deep into his mind.

An Lan nodded gently, a faint smile on her lips. "Yeah, maybe that's the price of development; some things always have to be sacrificed."

The stars twinkled, peaceful and beautiful. Lu Fan paused before saying, "Tomorrow morning, we'll do some simple resting and reorganizing, and then I'll take you back to my Shelter. Two people can look after each other, and besides, I have quite a lot of resources there."

"Okay." An Lan's response was concise and carried a hint of reassurance.

Now that the two had met up, it was impossible to continue playing solo; they would certainly help each other.

The two quietly watched the starry sky for a while longer, fully enjoying this moment of peace and beauty.

It wasn't until the night breeze blew, bringing a trace of chill and making An Lan shiver, that Lu Fan snapped back to his senses.

"It's too late, you should rest quickly. We still have to travel tomorrow," Lu Fan said while adding some firewood to the fire, making it burn brighter to dispel the night's chill.

"Then where will you sleep?" An Lan asked.

"It's fine, I have a sturdy constitution. I can just sleep leaning against the wall. You go ahead and rest," Lu Fan said with a smile, his tone full of care and responsibility.

An Lan had no choice but to nod.

After all, they couldn't conjure up two beds in an instant.

She returned to the pile of straw inside the Shelter, lay down, found a comfortable position, and closed her eyes to sleep.

Lu Fan sat to the side, leaning against the wall, guarding An Lan.

Da Hei also lay at his feet, and before long, soft snoring sounds could be heard. The breathing of the two people and the wolf intertwined, adding a bit of warmth to this wilderness night.

Just as the sky was beginning to brighten the next day, Lu Fan woke up.

He gave a long stretch and looked at the still-sleeping An Lan, but didn't wake her up immediately.

Instead, he walked out of the Shelter quietly and took a look around to see if there were any new discoveries.

The early morning wilderness was shrouded in a thin layer of mist, like a fairyland, and the air was filled with the fragrance of green grass and soil.

Lu Fan took a deep breath, feeling refreshed.

He noticed some Berries in the nearby bushes, bright in color and plumply inviting. He carefully picked some, thinking of bringing them back for An Lan to try.

【Wilderness Survival Announcement】

【Huaguo Player Lu Fan triggered ten thousand times rebate】

【Berries 50*10000】

By the time Lu Fan returned to the Shelter, An Lan was already awake and organizing her things.

She had very few things, mainly some dried Medicinal Herbs—very light and easy to carry—and her Bow and Arrow, which she treated like a precious treasure.

One could say she had nothing else, but for her, these things were vital for survival in the wilderness.

"Morning! How did you sleep?" Lu Fan greeted her with a smile, his face brimming with the vitality of the early morning.

"Morning. I slept very soundly; it's been a long time since I've slept so peacefully," An Lan replied with a smile, a slight flush from just waking up still on her face, making her look exceptionally soft.

"I picked some Berries; we can eat them on the way." Lu Fan handed the picked Berries to An Lan, his eyes full of anticipation for her to taste them.

"Berries? How come I've never come across any?" An Lan asked curiously, her eyes flashing with doubt and wonder.

"Maybe I'm just lucky."

Lu Fan silently added in his heart: I can't exactly tell you I have a "cheat," can I?

"Wow, then your luck is really good. I've been here for so long and never found any Berries," An Lan said as she took the Berries, her tone full of envy.

The two ate something simple, packed their bags, and prepared to set off.

Lu Fan walked over to the horse, patted Shan Dian's neck, and said affectionately, "Old partner, I'm counting on you today. Take us safely back to my Shelter."

Shan Dian seemed to understand his words; he neighed and pawed the ground with his front hoof, looking very excited, as if responding, "Don't worry, leave it to me!"

An Lan looked at the horse, somewhat hesitant. "Can this horse carry both of us?"

"Don't worry, this horse is very sturdy. Carrying both of us is a piece of cake," Lu Fan said confidently, patting the horse's rump to cheer it on.

With that, Lu Fan first flipped onto the horse with practiced and fluid movements, then reached out to pull An Lan. "Come, let me pull you up."

An Lan hesitated for a moment but still reached out and grabbed Lu Fan's hand.

With Lu Fan's help, she carefully mounted the horse and sat behind him.

"Hold on tight, or don't blame me for not warning you if you fall off later," Lu Fan joked, a mischievous grin on his face.

An Lan's face turned slightly red. After a moment's hesitation, she still gently hugged Lu Fan's waist.

She looked back at her Shelter.

Although it was small and somewhat crude, it was something she had built piece by piece. It held memories of countless days and nights, and she couldn't help but feel a twinge of reluctance.

In the livestream room, barrage comments rolled like a tide.

"Great! They're finally going back to Great God Lu Fan's Shelter."

"Now that the two of them are together, they can talk to each other, so it won't be as lonely."

"Who would have thought Great God Lu Fan could bring back a beauty after one trip out?"

"I'm starting to ship them; I declare: 'Happy ending, scatter the flowers!'"

"Let's go!"

Lu Fan shouted, lightly squeezed the horse's belly with his legs, and the horse galloped off toward his Shelter.

Because he was taking An Lan this time, he slowed down his speed and thoughtfully placed a layer of dried grass on the horse's back to prevent friction, making An Lan as comfortable as possible.

Meanwhile, Da Hei ran ahead to clear the way, occasionally darting into the unseen grass like a playful child or a dutiful little guardian.

Along the way, the breeze gently brushed past their faces, bringing a trace of coolness, like the gentle touch of nature.

The scenery on both sides flashed by like a slideshow: lush forests with leaves shimmering with the luster of life under the sunlight; colorful wildflowers competing in beauty and emitting bursts of fragrance; and crystal-clear streams gurgling, playing a pleasant natural symphony.

Sitting on the horse, An Lan looked at the beautiful scenery before her and couldn't help but be intoxicated.

"Wow, the scenery here is so beautiful!" An Lan couldn't help but exclaim, her voice full of surprise and delight.

"Yeah, the wilderness is full of such beautiful scenery; it's just that many people don't have the chance to appreciate it."

Lu Fan said as he skillfully controlled the horse, his eyes revealing his love for and familiarity with this wilderness.

Suddenly, Shan Dian's speed slowed down. It turned out a small stream had appeared ahead.

The stream gurgled, crystal clear, revealing the stones and small fish swimming at the bottom. They darted happily through the water where light and shadow intertwined, carefree and comfortable.

"Let's take a break here and let the horse have some water," Lu Fan suggested, his voice carrying a hint of relaxation after fatigue.

"Sure." An Lan readily agreed, also looking forward to the chance to experience the clear stream water up close.

Lu Fan dismounted first with agile movements, then helped An Lan down and guided her to the stream, displaying full gentlemanly conduct.

The horse lowered its head and drank deeply, making gulping sounds as if expressing its love for the sweet stream water.

Lu Fan knelt by the stream and used his hands to scoop up water to wash his face. He instantly felt incredibly cool, and his fatigue vanished.

"Why didn't the ten thousand times rebate trigger?"

Lu Fan was a bit puzzled, and just as he was wondering, the heavenly dao prompt sound rang out.

【This stream belongs to a tributary of the river triggered previously】

Lu Fan understood instantly; it turned out it had already been triggered.

"This water is really cold. You should come wash your face too," Lu Fan said to An Lan, a refreshing smile on his face.

An Lan followed Lu Fan's example, scooping up stream water with her hands to wash her face.

The icy stream water touched her cheeks, making her spirits lift as if all her troubles were being washed away by the water.

After washing their faces, the two sat on the rocks by the stream to rest.

An Lan watched the small fish swimming in the stream and had a sudden idea. "What if we catch a few fish here and grill them for dinner tonight?"

"Good idea! I happen to have a spear with me," Lu Fan immediately became interested, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

With that, Lu Fan took his trident from his back.

This trident had a unique design, shimmering with a metallic luster in the sunlight. The Large Yellow Pearl on it was even more eye-catching, exuding a mysterious and luxurious aura.

Looking at Lu Fan's artistically explosive trident, An Lan couldn't help but ask curiously, "Did you make this too?"

"Yes. What do you think? Not bad, right?" Lu Fan looked proud, like a child waiting for a compliment.

An Lan looked at the Large Yellow Pearl on the trident and said admiringly, "You really are extravagant. Such a large pearl would definitely be worth a fortune outside."