Chen Yu looked up.
His eyes instantly brightened.
It was...
"Bi-bi-big..."
Heidou's small face was flushed, her eyes crinkled in a smile, her expression one of pure adoration. It was as if saliva was already dribbling from her mouth.
"Boss, so white, *slurp*."
Standing at the edge of the pit was a maiden with long ears, her eyes holding a gaze of innocent curiosity. Chen Yu's mind was filled with questions – how did she develop so well?
Had she been eating papaya with every meal since she was little?
Most importantly—
These ears, wasn't this the legendary fox sister?
No!
She should be called a fox little sister.
"Hello."
Looking at Chen Yu and Heidou at the bottom of the pit, grinning foolishly, the maiden on the edge waved her hand. Chen Yu and Heidou remained silent, instead whispering to each other.
"Boss, what do you think? Should we catch her?"
Heidou kept licking her lips, making slurping sounds as she licked her saliva.
"This is a real treasure."
"So good!" Chen Yu also lowered his head, chuckling. "It's just... wouldn't it be a bit improper to catch her like this? We should be more upright."
Heidou pouted upon hearing this, disdainfully.
"Just go for the kill. Later, I'll go up, turn around, and knock her out. We'll carry her back to camp and tie her to the torture rack. Whether she complies or not, she will."
"Then, we can do whatever we want, heh heh heh—"
Listening to Heidou's words, Chen Yu also smiled with delight, looking at each other and high-fiving.
A meeting of minds.
Slowly raising his head, Chen Yu looked at the innocent fox maiden sprawled at the edge of the pit.
My good sister!
Let us dote on you properly.
He coughed lightly.
Chen Yu looked up with a righteous expression, just about to speak.
"Master, there's a foreigner here. He seems to be trapped and can't get out," the fox maiden suddenly turned and shouted. "But he doesn't seem to understand what I'm saying."
Oh my god!
Master?
Chen Yu and Heidou exchanged a glance, their smiles freezing instantly.
"She's taken." Heidou's eyes widened instantly. "Who is it, daring to snatch the fox sister from Black Grandpa? They're asking for death."
At the cave entrance, a handsome young man slowly appeared.
A youth with star-like eyes and a clear gaze.
He wore loose robes with flame imprints.
Mage robes.
Chen Yu recognized them at a glance.
These robes were identical in style to the ones Kuka had worn, only they seemed more advanced than Kuka's.
And, he was human!
Chen Yu's own kind.
The youth at the cave entrance also blinked slightly upon seeing Chen Yu, then a bright, sunny smile spread across his face.
"You're an explorer too, aren't you? Did you step on a trap? Do you need a pull?"
This person's smile had a way of making one feel as if basking in a spring breeze.
Chen Yu frowned slightly.
This was the first time he had encountered someone of his own kind, and he was very wary.
He instinctively moved closer to the entrance of the secret room.
Blocking the doorway.
A smile also appeared in his eyes.
"No need, I can handle this little pit," Chen Yu shouted loudly with a slight smile. "Jack, Rosie."
Hearing the call, Jack and Rosie rushed to the cave entrance.
Seeing the two lions.
The youth instinctively raised an eyebrow and took two steps back.
Chen Yu also took the opportunity to climb out.
Leaving the deep pit, Chen Yu confirmed that this person only had himself and one fox maiden. He cautiously looked around before nodding at the youth.
"Hello, I'm Chen Yu."
"Hello, hello, my apologies, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Ye Cheng." The youth maintained an outstretched hand throughout.
Chen Yu glanced down and placed his hand there as well.
A simple handshake.
They released their hands.
Neither spoke, they just looked at each other.
In the end, it was Ye Cheng who broke the silence, turning back with a smile to glance at Chen Yu's camp set up in the underground cave.
"That camp is yours, Mr. Chen Yu, isn't it? It looks quite high-level."
"It's alright. Would you like to come in and sit?" Chen Yu smiled and invited. Ye Cheng nodded with a smile, "If it's convenient, of course—"
"It's convenient, please!"
Chen Yu deliberately blocked Ye Cheng's view, preventing him from seeing the secret room below, and invited him to his camp.
Upon arriving at the camp, Ye Cheng visibly froze for a moment.
"Sit."
Chen Yu placed two stone slabs on the ground.
"It's rather rudimentary here, please bear with it."
"Mr. Chen Yu, you are far too humble. If your camp is considered rudimentary, then others' camps can only be called slums," Ye Cheng said with a smile.
"Is that so?"
Chen Yu placed some fruit in a stone bowl.
"Please have some."
"Thank you very much," Ye Cheng nodded with a smile. Chen Yu also sat down. "From what you said, it seems you've seen many camps. Have you met many people?"
"Indeed, I've met a few. Have you not, Mr. Chen Yu?"
"You're the first."
Chen Yu popped a strawberry into his mouth.
Only after seeing Chen Yu eat the strawberry did Ye Cheng reach for one, completely ignoring the underground apples.
He was quite cautious.
"Is my place putting too much pressure on you? You seem rather reserved," Chen Yu chuckled. "Relax, my friend, I mean you no harm."
Ye Cheng also laughed upon hearing this.
"No, it's just that your camp, Mr. Chen Yu, is truly awe-inspiring. And you've tamed two lions, I'm impressed."
"Don't you also have a fox-eared girl?" Chen Yu chuckled.
"Yes."
Ye Cheng's eyes held a smile.
"Are you selling her?"
Chen Yu raised an eyebrow slightly.
Ye Cheng, hearing this, froze for a moment and then shook his head with a smile.
"No, I won't sell Ah Li. If Mr. Chen Yu wishes to trade, we can exchange other resources."
"What do you have?" Chen Yu asked.
Ye Cheng looked around the camp, glancing at the food drying on the racks, and then at the luxurious survival camp before him.
He couldn't help but give a wry smile.
"It seems my resources are a bit meager for Mr. Chen Yu."
"Not meager at all, don't be so self-deprecating," Chen Yu said with a smile and a shake of his head. "I'll buy any non-food resources. Do you have obsidian?"
"Obsidian?"
Ye Cheng pondered for a moment and was about to shake his head when he heard Ah Li laugh brightly.
"My master has obsidian."
Ye Cheng's smiling face suddenly froze. Chen Yu narrowed his eyes slightly in surprise.
This...
What incredible luck.
"You have obsidian?" Chen Yu pressed. Ye Cheng nodded with a smile, "Indeed, I obtained 1 unit not long ago and was planning to keep it..."
"Sell it to me." Chen Yu directly interrupted Ye Cheng.
"Sell me the obsidian, and I can offer you food and water."
"This..."
Ye Cheng fell silent for a moment, his face still wearing a smile.
"I don't seem to be lacking food."
"No, you are,"
Chen Yu's eyes held a smile, a smile that appeared so kind and friendly, yet it gave one a chilling feeling.
"You are lacking food, aren't you?"