Raft for All: I'm guaranteed to get a golden affix when I upgrade!

Xiao Zheng glanced at it.

[Rare Forging Furnace Blueprint]

He casually stuffed it into the storage compartment.

The sky outside the shield had cleared up again.

The outline of the giant island was fully revealed. Dense, dark green rainforest covered the mountain ridges that stretched for kilometers, and the beaches were dazzlingly white in the sunlight.

Near the beach, there are scattered metallic glints.

Xiao Zheng narrowed his eyes.

A perfect ocean encyclopedia unfolds in the palm of your hand.

[Tidal flat sedimentary area: Iron ore, copper ore, and a small amount of silver ore were detected.]

Lin Xiaoya followed his gaze and her breathing quickened.

"Mining... Senior, is that a mine?"

"Um."

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god—"

She jumped three times on the spot, almost knocking over the pile of supplies she had just organized.

Propelled by the wind and ocean currents, the raft slowly approached the island.

The shield automatically retracted twenty meters from the beach, and the raft gently ran aground on the shallows, emitting a dull groan of wood scraping against wood.

Xiao Zheng was the first to jump off the deck.

Stepping into the warm sand made my feet itch a little.

He glanced back.

"Lingxi, get down."

Lingxi responded, leaned down from the gunwale, and swayed slightly as she landed.

Xiao Zheng reached out and helped her up.

Lin Xiaoya stood on the deck, watching this scene.

She fiddled with the wood on the hull of the boat.

"...And what about me?"

Xiao Zheng looked up.

"You stay behind."

Lin Xiaoya's mouth came instantly.

"Why should I?"

She jumped off the deck, her bare feet sinking into the sand, and shuffled over to Xiao Zheng in a few steps.

"Why can she go but I can't?"

"I want to walk on the sand, I want to see the mines, I want to—"

"Xiaoya," Xiao Zheng interrupted her.

"The island's danger level is orange."

"Then you can take me with you!" Lin Xiaoya tilted her head up and draped her arm over his. "I'll stay behind you and I promise I won't run off."

She glanced at Ling tide again and muttered to herself.

"If she can be with you, why can't I?"

Xiao Zheng pinched the bridge of his nose.

He looked down at the girl clinging to his arm, acting coquettishly with a self-assured air.

I quickly went through it in my mind.

The treasure map is located deep within the island, in a rainforest-covered area, and the route is unknown.

Lingxi is proficient in water systems and can be of help in complex terrains with streams. She is also the original owner of the treasure blueprint.

Lin Xiaoya has no combat skills, so bringing her along would only be a burden.

If he encounters something even more troublesome than the swarm of demonic bats, he can only protect one at most.

"no."

He gently pulled the person hanging from his arm down.

"One is enough for me. I can't manage two."

Lin Xiaoya's face fell.

"But……"

"The raft is safe."

"No one can get in."

"You only need to do one thing—don't get off the raft."

"No matter who approaches, no matter who calls your name, no matter what they say, don't get off the raft."

He paused.

"If anyone tries to come up, the shield will bounce them off. As long as you stay inside, you're absolutely safe."

Lin Xiaoya lowered her head, her fingers twisting the rope on the hook.

"...What if you don't come back?"

Xiao Zheng didn't speak.

He reached out and flicked her forehead.

"Hiss—" Lin Xiaoya covered her forehead and glared at him.

Xiao Zheng tapped his temple. "If you say my name in your mind, I'll know where you immediately."

"in turn--"

His fingertips gently tapped her forehead.

"You could sense that something had happened to me."

Lin Xiaoya was stunned for a moment.

"real?"

"real."

She gripped the plastic hook, buried her head in his chest, and rubbed against him, letting out a muffled groan.

"...Then hurry back."

"Shall I take you to the island for a stroll when I get back?"

"Okay." Xiao Zheng nodded. "After we find the treasure, you can explore the whole island as you please. Beaches, mines, orchards—go wherever you want."

"Do you keep your word?"

"You keep your word."

Lin Xiaoya then straightened up and retreated back onto the deck.

Lingxi stood on the beach, watching this scene, her silver pupils quietly turning away.

The newborn human's fingertips twirled the hem of her skirt, gripping it a little tightly.

This Sister Lin is even more skilled at acting coquettishly than all the noble ladies of the Deep Sea Royal Court combined.

And then there's this savior.

When he shoved people, his hands were really light.

Xiao Zheng slung his backpack over his shoulder and glanced back at Ling tide.

"I'm gone."

Lingxi snapped out of her daze and hurriedly followed.

The two walked on the white sand toward the edge of the rainforest.

Lin Xiaoya clung to the gunwale, watching their figures gradually shrink.

She held the plastic hook in her arms; the tip of the hook felt cool.

She suddenly remembered something and opened her mouth to shout.

"Senior—!"

Xiao Zheng turned around.

"You owe me a trip to the island. Write me an IOU!"

The man at the edge of the rainforest waved his hand but didn't turn around.

......

The edges of the rainforest are much denser than they appear from a distance.

Xiao Zheng pushed aside a clump of waist-high ferns, his feet sinking into a thick layer of humus with each step.

The air was hot and humid, carrying a strong smell of decaying plants.

Lingxi followed behind him, but after less than ten steps, her foot slipped and she fell forward.

Xiao Zheng reached out and scooped her up, stabilizing her.

"The road is difficult to walk on, help me."

Without hesitation, Lingxi wrapped her arms around his right arm.

Her ten fingers were clasped tightly together, and she was practically hanging on his arm.

Xiao Zheng glanced down.

This girl has quite a bit of arm strength.

Lingxi had only recently transformed into human form and was still quite unsteady on her feet, needing his help with every step. Her body swayed from side to side with each step, and her human form, which had just transformed from a fishtail, was excessively soft, clinging to the outside of his forearm through a thin layer of fabric made by a loom.

This girl has quite a bit of arm strength.

Lingxi had only recently transformed into human form and was still quite unsteady on her feet, needing his help with every step. Her body swayed from side to side with each step, and her human form, which had just transformed from a fishtail, was excessively soft, clinging to the outside of his forearm through a thin layer of fabric made by a loom.

The temperature is very high.

It's not a weather problem.

Xiao Zheng turned his gaze back to the front.

Lingxi looked up at him, her silver pupils reflecting the shards of light filtering down from above.

"Brother Xiao Zheng, are there any dangerous things in this forest?"

"The orange color of the ocean map marker." Xiao Zheng pushed aside a drooping vine. "You'll find out exactly what it is once you come in."

"But... what if we encounter a really powerful monster?"

"Kill him."

Lingxi paused for a moment, then buried her face in his arm and chuckled softly.

"Yes, if Brother Xiao Zheng says he'll kill it, then he definitely will."

When she laughed, her whole body trembled, and the soft curves of her chest pressed directly against Xiao Zheng's arm, shaking with each laugh.

Xiao Zheng's lips twitched.

Was this fish caught on purpose or intentionally?

Forget it, I don't want to.

The two followed the faintly visible path of light on the treasure map deeper into the area, passing through a vast area of ​​banyan tree aerial roots. The canopy overhead blocked out the sun, with only scattered patches of light falling on the ground.

Lingxi's body pressed closer and closer.

With each step she took, her side would brush against Xiao Zheng's hand. The fabric was so thin it was practically invisible, and the feel of their skin was clearly tangible.

Xiao Zheng took a deep breath—

wrong.

Xiao Zheng quickened his pace.

"Hurry up, we need to find a spot before dark."