Desert Island Infrastructure: Claiming the System Brings Many Blessings

The two people walked south along the coastline.

The sun had just risen, and the temperature on the beach wasn't too high yet.

The sea breeze carries a salty, fishy smell and damp moisture.

Kitagawa Keiko walked beside Qin Chuan, her steps slow but steady.

After walking for about five minutes, Qin Chuan looked back.

At a normal walking pace, it would take about an hour to get from the camp to that cave.

But time waits for no one, and we can't waste too much time on the road.

"Keiko Kitagawa, let me carry you there faster."

Keiko Kitagawa was taken aback: "Carry me on your back?"

"Yeah, I can run as fast as a car. Just hold on tight."

Kitagawa Keiko did not refuse and nodded.

Qin Chuan squatted down, and Kitagawa Keiko climbed onto his back, wrapped her arms around his neck, and supported her legs from below with Qin Chuan's arms.

Qin Chuan straightened up, steadied himself, and then started running.

My running speed of 40 is much better than before. The sand under my feet flies up, and the sea breeze whistles against my face.

Qin Chuan's pace was fast but steady, and Kitagawa Keiko, lying on his back, experienced almost no jolts.

Kitagawa Keiko rested her chin on Qin Chuan's shoulder, and could smell his sweat and the scent of sunshine.

Her heart was beating faster than before, but she didn't say anything; she just lay there quietly.

When Qin Chuan started running, he could feel two soft mounds pressing against his back through his shirt, swaying up and down with the rhythm of his run.

Although Kitagawa Keiko's figure isn't as exaggerated as Fan Yubing's or Mina's, she has everything she should have, and it's firm and full, so it must feel great to the touch.

Qin Chuan quickly dismissed the thought and focused on running away.

After running for about seven or eight minutes, the rock wall from yesterday appeared in front of us.

Qin Chuan slowed down, stopped, and put Kitagawa Keiko down.

"arrive."

Keiko Kitagawa's face was slightly flushed, whether from the wind or something else, she couldn't tell. She tidied her wind-blown hair and looked up at the rock face.

"The entrance is at the top, about five meters high."

Qin Chuan looked at the rock wall. Just like yesterday, there were many protruding rocks and vines on the surface, making it not too difficult to climb.

"Can you climb up there?"

Kitagawa Keiko looked at the protruding rocks, hesitating slightly. "I'll give it a try. When you rescued us yesterday, you climbed right up here, didn't you?"

"I'll go up first, then I'll pull you up."

Qin Chuan scrambled up the rock face with his bare hands, his movements swift and decisive. Reaching the cave entrance, he lay prone on the edge, stretching one hand downwards.

"Grab my hand."

Kitagawa Keiko tiptoed up a few steps, stepping on the stones to climb to a height of about three meters.

Qin Chuan grabbed her wrist and pulled her up with force.

When Kitagawa Keiko was pulled up, she lurched forward and bumped into Qin Chuan's chest.

The two were pressed together, so close they could feel each other's breath.

Kitagawa Keiko raised her head, her deep brown eyes looking at Qin Chuan. Her lips moved slightly, but she didn't say anything.

Qin Chuan released her wrist and took a step back: "Are you alright?"

"It's alright." Kitagawa Keiko steadied herself and dusted herself off.

The two walked one after the other into the depths of the cave.

The cave was deeper than Qin Chuan had imagined. Sunlight streamed in at the entrance, but it grew darker as he went deeper.

Qin Chuan activated his pupil technique, and his intermediate-level scanning ability allowed him to obtain information about his surroundings even in the dark.

After walking about ten meters, Qin Chuan's foot bumped into something hard.

He squatted down and touched it.

Black, in chunks, lighter than stone, with a layer of powdery debris on the surface.

Qin Chuan scanned it with his pupil technique.

[Otherworldly coal mine, high in carbon, with a combustion temperature exceeding 1200 degrees Celsius. Suitable for smelting, pottery making, and heating.]

Qin Chuan was overjoyed.

Coal. Genuine coal. And of good quality, with a burning temperature reaching 1200 degrees Celsius, more than enough for firing pottery.

"These are them." Kitagawa Keiko squatted down beside them and pointed to the black, lumpy objects. "I initially thought they were stones, but then I discovered that black powder would fall off them, and my hands would turn black after touching them."

Qin Chuan continued walking a few more steps inside.

The scanning range of the pupil technique is somewhat limited in the dark, but depth scanning within three meters is still usable.

At the very back of the cave, in a corner against the wall, Qin Chuan discovered the ironware.

The pickaxe head was rusted beyond recognition, and half of the wooden handle was rotten, but the iron part of the pickaxe head was still intact. It should be usable after some grinding.

An iron bucket, its walls covered in rust, with a small hole at the bottom, but it could be repaired.

There were also two sections of iron chain, each about a meter long, rusted to the bone, but the thickness and strength of the chains looked quite good.

Qin Chuan scanned all the items.

[Rusty Pneumatic Pickaxe. Current Status: Rusted. Repairable.]

[Rusty iron drum. Current condition: Severely rusted, bottom damaged. Repairable. After repair, it can be used for water storage, heating liquids, and smelting.]

[Two iron chains. Current condition: Severely rusted. Can be used to craft tools, weapons, and for binding and securing.]

These things are rusted, but iron is iron. As long as you have fire and a hammer, you can reforge them and they'll be usable again. And a pneumatic pick is practically a godsend on a deserted island. With it, the efficiency of digging and mining increases at least tenfold.

"That's great." Qin Chuan stood up, looked around the cave, and said, "Kitagawa Keiko, you've done a great job."

Hearing this, Keiko Kitagawa smiled and said, "I'm glad I could be of help."

"But who left these things behind?" Qin Chuan asked.

Keiko Kitagawa squatted down beside her, thought for a moment, and said, "When Mina and I first climbed into this cave, we saw these things. At the time, we both thought they were left by explorers from the past. But there doesn't seem to be any trace of human activity on this island, except for these tools."

Qin Chuan nodded. He couldn't figure this out for now, so he decided to leave it for later; as long as the item worked, that was fine.

Qin Chuan picked up a pneumatic pick and prepared to dig coal.

Kitagawa Keiko spoke up, "Brother Kitagawa, hold on a minute, there's something I want to tell you."

"What is it?"

Kitagawa Keiko raised her head, her deep brown eyes looking at Qin Chuan.

"When I clocked in this morning, I saw their attitude and I got angry."

"Getting angry?"

"Yes, you were thinking of everyone's future. You kept watch every night, went out hunting every day, moved wood to build houses, and did all the dirty and hard work. But when it came time to clock out, they were all unwilling and reluctant. Shouldn't your selfless dedication be respected, even revered?"

Qin Chuan was speechless upon hearing this, but he felt quite pleased with the flattery.

Yes, I never knew I was so noble!

He went out hunting every day, moved wood to build houses, and did all the dirty and hard work himself.

"Checking in" twice a day and collecting protection money, what's wrong with that? Is it too much?

To be honest, Qin Chuan was somewhat moved.

Since arriving on this island, he has always played the role of "doing what's best for everyone," always taking the lead in everything. But the moments when he truly feels understood and recognized are few and far between.

Lin Shishi's kindness towards him was something that developed over time.

Fan Yubing is stubborn but soft-hearted, but she always appears disdainful on the surface.

Liu Yifei is aloof, while Yang Mimi is carefree and outgoing.

Keiko Kitagawa is different. How long has she been here? Every word she says is straightforward and frank, without any beating around the bush.

Then, Kitagawa Keiko said directly, "Brother Chuan, from now on, whenever you want, no matter when, where, or how, you only need to give me a look."

Qin Chuan's jaw nearly dropped when he heard this.

"Keiko, you don't need to be so polite, but thank you for your understanding and support anyway."

Keiko didn't appreciate it; instead, she was a little angry: "Thank you? You're thanking me? You look down on me, don't you?"

Her eyes were a little red after she said that.

"Don't be sad, I'm actually very grateful to you." As he said this, Qin Chuan realized that he had made a mistake again and that he shouldn't have lowered his stance.

"Keiko, you just said that I only need a glance, right?"

Huizi nodded.

"Alright. I know that in this matter, only love and trust should not be betrayed. In that case, come here, I need to check your license!"