The method was very simple!
Lu Zhe found a relatively straight stick among all the crooked branches and started whittling away the twigs. In a few moments he had whittled one end of the stick into a flat shovel.
A simple makeshift shovel was made.
He weighed it in his hand and found it satisfactory. He would have never imagined that even such a simple tool could add to his potential.
To utilize the Southeast Asian shovel pit technique, Lu Zhe prepared to dig a pit next to the campfire. He planned to burn the pit so the earth on the sides would dry and any bugs in the soil would be killed. Then he could pile dry leaves inside and have a simple heated pit.
But Lu Zhe had incorrectly judged the hardness of the topsoil.
It wasn't that he lacked the strength to dig it out, but rather his tool was not up to the task. After half an hour of effort, he had worn down three crooked sticks and broken two, but had only managed to dig a small hole in the ground.
Looking at the tiny pit, Lu Zhe grew worried.
There was no way a person could fit in there, maybe a cat or dog at best.
What should he do?
Aha, he had an idea!
If it couldn't be a heated pit, they could use it as a foot tub!
According to his plan, he would burn some twigs and leaves in the pit, then stamp out any embers and fill it with a big pile of dry leaves.
"Put your feet in everyone, once your feet are warm your whole body will be warm!"
The two girls nodded, took off their shoes and socks, and put their feet into the leaf-filled pit.
"Wow, it's so cozy!"
Ning Shu tilted her head and pondered, "I remember the hunters in the forest made a heated platform. What do we call ours?"
"The circumstances are different, the terrain is different, don't expect too much!" And with that, his potential points increased by 1!
Then he stretched out his arms, "Anyone want salt? I'm covered in salt too, feel free to take some to replenish electrolytes, we're all friends here so don't be shy."
Ning Shu frowned and waved her hand, "I'll pass, I'd rather get mine from my own skin."
The three of them sat there, chatting about horror films late into the night. Around three in the morning, Ning Shu could no longer stay awake and fell asleep leaning against a tree.
Tang Xiaoguo's eyes were also drooping, "Little Brother Zhe, do we really have to stay up so late? I feel like I'm not so bad off anymore."
Lu Zhe checked his watch, "Xiaoguo, it's been ten hours now, just hang in there a bit longer!"
"By the way, why is that goblin still here?"
"That's a clouded leopard, this is probably its territory."
"Brother Zhe, I need to pee..."
"I see!" Lu Zhe thought about waking Ning Shu to accompany Xiaoguo to the bathroom, but seeing her deep asleep, he couldn't bear to wake her.
Tang Xiaoguo brought her little mouth next to Lu Zhe's ear and whispered, "Brother Zhe...come with me!"
"Um..."
"Are you coming or not!"
"Well, coincidentally I need to go too." Lu Zhe helped Tang Xiaoguo up and they went behind a nearby tree, then he turned around to undo his belt.
"Little Brother Zhe, don't turn around, I'm scared if you're not watching me!"
"That doesn't seem right..."
Tang Xiaoguo pursed her lips and smiled, "What's wrong with it? It's so dark you can't see anything anyway."
Could Lu Zhe really not see anything?
In normal conditions he truly couldn't see a thing, but that was a different story when he focused his energy to utilize the sensory abilities granted by the System.
His far vision and night vision would be greatly enhanced.
"Let's play a game, what do you think?"
"What game?"
"Let's see who can pee the farthest!"
"Damn Xiaoguo, I'm begging you, you're one of the beloved concubines chosen by the Emperor, can't you act a little more like a goddess?"
Tang Xiaoguo tilted her head, "Then first admit defeat."
"Never!"
"Then let's compete!"
"Fine, you win!"
It only took Lu Zhe half a minute to realize his mistake.
He was lucky to be able to pee at all like this, not to mention the angle—he could go high but had no chance at distance!
Just what was he thinking, agreeing to compete at this sort of thing with a crazy girl like Xiaoguo?
Even if he won it would be nothing to brag about.
Moreover, he actually...
Lost!
"Hee hee, Brother Zhe lost to me!" The little girl was so smug she nearly got a nosebleed.
"You exploited a loophole. I'm clearly not in normal condition."
Tang Xiaoguo cocked her head, "Well I'm not either, I was just bitten by a poisonous snake you know, my body is weak and frail!"
Lu Zhe held up his fingers, "Humph! Xiaoguo if you keep this up I won't be so courteous!"
Tang Xiaoguo quickly made a shushing gesture, "Shh, you can take advantage of me if you want, but keep it down or Ning Shu will find out and that won't be good!"
Lu Zhe was speechless. If she flirted with him any more he really wouldn't be able to hold back.
Under normal circumstances he could ignore it.
But this really wasn't the time!
It would only accelerate his blood flow, completely unhelpful in fighting off the snake venom.
He made an effort to calm himself down, and asked Tang Xiaoguo to endure this final hour.
"Xiaoguo!" He put his hands on her shoulders,
"Listen, Brother Zhe is exhausted and can hardly stay awake. I'll leave the honorable yet grueling task of keeping watch to you. At four o'clock, wake me up!"
Since Tang Xiaoguo's watch was left back at camp, Lu Zhe put his own watch on her wrist.
Then he lay down next to Ning Shu and fell asleep.
"Hey! Making a sick person keep watch?"
Tang Xiaoguo sighed disappointedly and angrily kicked Lu Zhe's bottom with her little foot.
Seeing he didn't react, she hesitated, then took off his shoes and put his feet in the leaf-filled pit.
Tang Xiaoguo glanced at the two shining points flickering in the distance.
She shivered and hugged her shoulders tightly.
She checked herself—the wound on her chest had regained color, her body temperature was a bit high, but she felt like she was gradually recovering!
July 14th, their 35th day stranded on this deserted island!
After being bitten by a snake for the second time, Tang Xiaoguo had finally managed to survive 12 hours!
At four in the morning, she shook Lu Zhe awake, "It's time..."
Lu Zhe quickly rolled over and sat up, "Xiaoguo, great, you made it through!"
Ning Shu also rubbed her eyes and sat up, "You're okay now?"
Lu Zhe nodded, "Should be out of the woods now. But we have to be careful from now on and deal with poisonous snakes properly if we encounter them again."
"Xiaoguo, drink some water and get some rest!"
"Mm..." Tang Xiaoguo nodded absently, "Why does it smell like the herbal mosquito repellant?"
This sudden question left Lu Zhe a bit confused, but then he understood what Tang Xiaoguo meant.
"What did you do with that stuff?"
"Huh? I didn't lose it!"
"Then why did you eat it?"
"Was it poisonous?"
"No..."
"Was there salt in it?"
"A little..."
"Protein?"
"Yes..."
Tang Xiaoguo tilted her head, "Then why couldn't I eat it?"
Ning Shu listened in complete bewilderment. "What on earth are you two talking about?"