The Master's Explanation

Oh no!

Barbie has passed out!

Even jumping into the Yellow River can't wash this clean!

Now, Lu Zhe was faced with a dreadful problem of how to explain this matter.

Tell the truth?

Hmm...

Bro actually has a system that gives the most suitable solution at certain times.

What I did earlier was the task the system gave me!

...

No, no!

How could I possibly tell others about such a golden finger!

Then...play dead?

Bro is just a hentai who likes the sour and salty taste down there, so what?

Who told you to look so pretty, what's wrong with me taking advantage occasionally?

What's wrong?

Hmm...

This way, my image would probably be completely shattered, and girls would have to look at me through tinted glasses afterwards.

"Although the venom of this scorpion is not potent, it can still make one feel very uncomfortable...

Don't you feel much better after I sucked out the venom?"

Lin Qianqian nodded earnestly: "That's true..."

Shen Bing was shocked: "What? You sucked the place where Qianqian was stung by the scorpion?"

"Ice Sis, didn't you just ask me about the scorpion? I really don't know! At the time, I just saw the fierce-looking scorpion and was afraid it would harm Qianqian, so I gritted my teeth and decided to risk my life to save my companion! And I bravely went forth to suck the venom out for Qianqian."

Qianqian kept nodding, indicating that what Lu Zhe said was true.

Shen Bing breathed, "Lu Zhe, are you sure you didn't have any other ideas at the time?"

"No, no!"

Lu Zhe shook his head like a rattle drum: "At that time, my companion's life was on the line, saving her was more important than anything. How could I think of anything else?!"

The flattery was enough to make Shen Bing laugh and cry: "Cut it out, Sis doesn't buy this!"

Though she said she didn't buy it, her expression showed she was quite flattered.

In fact, she understood that it was hard for a boy to resist such a pretty girl like Qianqian.

Although she felt a little jealous, they had been through life and death together. To still fret over such things would seem somewhat oversensitive.

Lu Zhe's tone became solemn: "Perhaps just as Ice Sis said, it doesn't have much venom. But in the wilderness, when encountering snakes, insects, rats and ants that can't be identified, it is absolutely beneficial to remain vigilant! Take this snake for example..."

Lu Zhe picked up the small red-headed blue-bodied snake: "This is a Blue Coral Snake, commonly known as a Blue Malayan Coral Snake, one of the most beautiful snakes in the world, but under its gorgeous exterior lies the largest venom gland among all snakes, making it extremely dangerous!"

"Really..." Lin Qianqian said in astonishment.

"So dangerous!" Shen Bing also broke out in a cold sweat.

"But generally it is quite docile and won't actively attack humans."

"Why did it crawl towards Ice Sis then!"

Lu Zhe casually said: "It was probably attracted by the sound of water."

Shen Bing blushed: "How is that possible, there's no water here!"

"Is there water?"

Shen Bing took the military water bottle: "There's a creek over there, see, it's completely filled."

Lu Zhe's mind stirred!

So there is a creek at the bottom of this volcano!

"Can the water be drunk?"

"The water looks quite clear to me. There are fish in it. If you're worried about bird droppings, we can boil it!"

Lu Zhe understood what finding this creek here meant: "Let's go take a look!"

The three carefully made their way through the lush vegetation and arrived at the place Ice Sis mentioned!

This creek wasn't far from where they were, at the southeast corner at the bottom of the volcano, nestled among the dense grass.

Roughly estimated, the pond was about 100 square meters. It was right up against the volcanic rock face, with a large tree covering the top of the pond. Quite a few fallen leaves had dropped into the pond.

Lu Zhe noticed the pond was about two meters deep, the bottom clearly visible. Many small fish swam inside. He suddenly reached his hand into the pond, and a group of little fish scattered in fright, but he still accurately caught a one inch long tiger skin fish that thrashed about in his palm.

Lin Qianqian was surprised: "Oh, I raised this kind of fish when I was little, but it seems the color is slightly different. This one is orange-yellow, even prettier."

Shen Bing nodded: "For the same species, they can evolve into different forms in different regions. Some difference is normal."

Qianqian asked: "Water tigers?"

Shen Bing shook her head: "No, it's a large ornamental fish with black and yellow stripes like a tiger."

"Ice Sis knows ornamental fish too?"

"Can't say I study them, just like raising them."

Lu Zhe put the fish back into the pond: "The bird droppings probably brought food for these little fish. It looks like there is a large reserve of bird and fish feces here, but to be honest, the water quality is still pretty good."

Then Lu Zhe observed the source of this water!

He discovered that water was flowing down the rock face above the pond, continuously pouring into the pond.

Yet the water level remained at a fixed height.

This meant that in the exterior of the volcano, there must be a place connected to this pond.

Possibly that lake.

This way, even in heavy rain, water could flow here through the lake, then through the wetlands and tidal flats, eventually emptying into the sea.

"Let's go take a look at the central area!"

The three continued towards the center.

Lu Zhe discovered that the terrain got higher as they went towards the center, with the east and west sides also higher. These areas probably had more sunlight exposure for the plants to grow better, producing more fallen leaves and bird droppings that eventually became soil.

Over hundreds and thousands of years, this formed the terrain pattern of relatively higher central, eastern and western areas, and relatively lower northern and southern sides.

Just then, a tree suddenly shook, its leaves and red flowers swaying slightly, as if coming alive.

This immediately frightened Lin Qianqian so much she didn't dare to move.

"What's going on?"

Qianqian looked at the tree in horror: "I just wiped my muddy foot and it moved!"

Shen Bing immediately became vigilant. Lu Zhe shielded Qianqian and carefully placed his hand on the tree trunk. Information about this tree appeared in his mind!

"Crape myrtle! A plant of the Lythraceae family, Lagerstroemia genus, also called the Sensitive Plant, Pride of India, Queen's flower, Tickle Tree..."

So this was where Emperor Qianlong and Xia Yuhe's daughter came from!

Looking further...

Because its canopy was relatively wide and the trunk slender, when scratched by humans the whole tree would shake, like tickling the soles of a girl's feet.

I see, nothing to make a big fuss about.

However, Lu Zhe next noticed two other things!

One was that this tree feared flooding.

Two was that this seemingly not very large crape myrtle was already over 600 years old.