"Move quickly—gather your things."
"Leave the useless items. Bring only food and clothing."
Before dawn, the hunting team urged everyone to pack up.
Bang! Bang! They knocked on every shack door, shouting:
"Blood Beard's bandits are coming. We're heading to Moon Lake Tribe!"
With that, the hunting team departed.
Mino woke and wrapped herself in the wolf pelt, feeling its warmth.
"They're early." She yawned.
"Time for breakfast." Mu Liang, already awake, stirred the meat stew over the fire.
"When did you sleep?" Mino asked curiously. She had seen him writing by the fire late into the night.
"Around midnight," he murmured, ladling the rich broth.
Mino inhaled the aroma. "Smells wonderful." She watched the bubbling stew with shining eyes.
"Let me cook breakfast from now on," she said, frowning with concern.
"What's wrong?" Mu Liang asked.
"You made too much—we must conserve." Mino said, tapping a finger on her hip.
"Don't worry. This will feed us for over twenty days." Mu Liang handed her a full metal lunchbox. She had eaten only thirty percent of a small lizard's meat last night; this would be ample.
"It's too much—save some for tonight." Mino took the box despite herself.
"Tonight we'll have roasted jerky." Mu Liang smiled.
Mino sipped the hot stew and winced, then blew on it.
"Careful, it's hot." Mu Liang waited until it cooled before eating with leisurely appreciation.
"It's delicious." Mino swallowed and closed her eyes. The rich meat flavor opened her palate, the warmth soothed her throat, and the stew filled her hungry stomach.
"I haven't had meat soup in so long." Tears glistened in her blue eyes. As long as her sister had been alive, they only occasionally made such soup.
"Drink as much as you like." Mu Liang brushed a tear away.
Mino shook her head, pouting, "That would be too extravagant."
"But then we'd also have water to drink." Mu Liang asked softly, "Isn't that more worthwhile?"
"Hmm…" Mino tilted her head, uncertain but sensing the logic.
"Drink it hot—cold soup isn't as good." Mu Liang encouraged.
Mino's eyes curved in a smile as she sipped another spoonful.
Inside the shack, time slowed—outside, the camp bustled in departure.
"I'm so full." Mino finally admitted, licking her lips guiltily at the empty box. She had meant to save half for tonight but couldn't stop eating.
"How does being full feel?" Mu Liang asked gently.
"It's wonderful… but… so lavish." Mino blushed. That meal equaled ten small lizards' worth of meat.
"Don't worry—leave finding food to me." Mu Liang rose and ruffled her hair. He couldn't let the girl who'd saved his life go hungry.
Mino blushed and looked bashful, opening her mouth but saying nothing.
Mu Liang feigned annoyance: "Take off your scarf—your rabbit ears are untouchable now."
"I'm not a pet." Mino pouted.
After a moment's hesitation, she untied the cloth around her ears. Mu Liang's lips curved upward as he watched her.
Mino faced away, cheeks flaming, and declared, "I just wanted to let my ears breathe—not for you to touch."
"All right, all right." Mu Liang suppressed his grin.
"Hmph!" Mino turned the topic, asking eagerly, "Are we moving onto Little Xuanwu's back today?" She had dreamed of their new, mobile home.
"Not yet—we haven't built the house." Mu Liang said. He needed to evolve Rock Turtle to Level 3 first, making its back more spacious for a proper shelter.
"Shall we start building then?" Mino's eyes gleamed.
"Let's go." Mu Liang led her outside the shack.
"Wait—what about our things?" Mino fretted over last night's haul. With the camp emptying, thieves might come.
"I'll have Three-Colored guard them," Mu Liang said, pointing to a corner.
There stood the now-visible two-meter Three-Colored Lizard, freshly evolved.
Mino nodded with relief.
They slipped away from the camp's edge into the desolate wilderness. Meanwhile, Rock Turtle hunted—one Earth Rock Spike sent a mouse scurrying from its burrow.
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