Super Soldier in the City
Chapter 1057 - 1100 Recovery

Chapter 1057: Chapter 1100 Recovery

After taking a break, Li Yifei regained some strength, and the trio moved to the shade of a nearby tree, which was even more comfortable. Li Yifei leaned against a tree trunk, while Xu Shanshan and the saintess both dozed off using Li Yifei’s thigh as a pillow. In those days, the three of them had depended on each other for survival. Xu Shanshan no longer had any animosity towards the saintess, and the saintess completely disregarded any distinction between men and women when it came to Li Yifei.

By sunset, the oasis had become lively, filled with the sounds of animals and birds. To the three of them, it was like hearing the most beautiful music in the world. For days, all they had heard was the sound of wind whipping up sand, a drudgery beyond description.

"Wow, there really are animals! Look, look, what’s that?"

Li Yifei and the saintess had already seen them. They were Desert Big-Horned Antelopes, creatures with a robust will to live, subsisting on the sparse vegetation of the desert, drawing moisture from the plants, allowing them to go days without water.

But occasionally they would come to the oasis to drink.

The instincts of animals in the desert were far superior to those of humans, easily finding oases. In such harsh conditions, they managed to thrive.

Looking at the large antelopes, the saintess asked with a frown, "Can we catch them now?"

Li Yifei responded with a wry smile and a shake of his head. "With our current physical state, it would be impossible to catch them."

"What about your Flying Needle?" the saintess inquired further.

"No good, the Flying Needle relies on strength for its lethality. With my current energy levels, let alone hitting the target, even a hit wouldn’t inflict a fatal injury."

"Brother-in-law, you must have a way, right?" Xu Shanshan had complete faith in Li Yifei.

Li Yifei chuckled lightly. "Of course, there’s a way. Alright, we’ve rested enough. Let’s start preparing dinner."

While the three of them lacked strength and Xu Shanshan was still very weak, Li Yifei and the saintess had finally managed to recover to the level of an ordinary person. Under Li Yifei’s direction, the two dug a pit over a meter deep on the bank and then planted a few sharpened stakes at the bottom. They concealed it with fine twigs and leaves, and finally covered it with a layer of fine sand. From the outside, it looked no different than before.

With the trap set, they hid on the side, waiting for an animal to fall in.

As night fell and more animals came to the oasis, none stepped into Li Yifei’s trap, which made the trio very anxious. Watching the plump prey that they couldn’t catch was incredibly frustrating.

"Splash!" A sudden rush of water nearby—a crocodile had surged out and snatched a Desert Big-Horned Antelope, dragging it into the water. The other animals, startled, scattered in every direction. One deer-like animal, in its panic, stepped right into the trap Li Yifei had set.

Li Yifei, the saintess, and Xu Shanshan all cheered. Li Yifei and the saintess rushed over, tackling the injured deer as it struggled out of the trap and, without mercy, Li Yifei killed it. For survival, he no longer had any room for pity for such a small animal.

While preparing the trap earlier, Li Yifei had also found some dry grass and branches. They now ignited a bonfire using the primitive drill method. The saintess had already sliced off two deer hind legs, roasting them over the fire.

Soon, the scent of meat filled the air, and the mouths of all three watered. Li Yifei simply used a knife to slice off the outer layer of meat that was cooking and placed it back over the fire. This quickened the cooking process significantly, and before long, they were finally able to eat the venison.

"Don’t eat too much at once. We haven’t had a proper meal in days. Our stomachs can’t digest too much food at once, especially meat. Falling ill here would be very troublesome. We can’t afford to get sick now that we’ve finally found water and food."

Xu Shanshan and the saintess had wanted to indulge, but now they dared not overeat. After eating their fill, to a moderate level, Li Yifei did not allow them to eat more.

With the fire burning, animals did not dare come close, but Li Yifei remained vigilant. Some carnivores hunted at night, and there was no knowing what other meat-eating animals might be lurking in the area.

That night, Li Yifei stayed alert, not allowing the fire to die out. Luckily, there was plenty of firewood, and it wasn’t as cold by the fire, allowing Xu Shanshan and the saintess to finally get a good night’s sleep.

The next morning, after eating another meal of venison, their strength had greatly recovered. Li Yifei felt that he had regained at least half his usual energy level, which meant they could handle any danger that came their way.

Li Yifei had stayed up, so he let the saintess and Xu Shanshan take turns keeping watch, especially with the saintess who could handle any threat. He then had a good sleep himself.

By the time Li Yifei woke up again, it was already afternoon. With his strength largely restored, all three were in high spirits. Life in the oasis was like heaven compared to the previous days.

Because Xu Shanshan had been dehydrated and hungry, now that they had water and food, her condition had improved significantly. She was able to talk and move freely with laughter.

"Brother-in-law, I really want to take a bath; I feel so uncomfortable," Shanshan said. The desert hadn’t bothered her much, but now that she was feeling better and had access to water, rolling around in the sand and sweating profusely for several days became unbearable, and she desperately wanted to bathe.

Li Yifei rolled his eyes and replied, "Do you want to feed the crocodiles?"

"But I’m feeling so itchy all over, and look at me, I’m covered in sand. I can’t stand it anymore, I don’t care, you need to figure something out for me, I need to bathe."

The Holy Maiden also looked at Li Yifei with pleading eyes. She was even more conscious of her appearance than Xu Shanshan and was truly in a sorry state.

Li Yifei, made uncomfortable by their gazes, smiled wryly and said, "Alright, alright, I’ll think of something."

"Hehe, be careful, okay? Don’t get eaten by crocodiles," Xu Shanshan giggled, but she was not worried at all. What was there to fear about crocodiles? Her brother-in-law could even kill sharks; crocodiles would be no challenge.

Li Yifei gave Xu Shanshan a glance and said, "Just wait."

"What good solution could Yifei possibly have?" the Holy Maiden squinted as she watched Li Fei disappear into the woods.

Xu Shanshan lifted her chin proudly and declared, "Then you just don’t know my brother-in-law well enough. He can handle this easily; just wait and see."

The Holy Maiden turned to Xu Shanshan and said, "The more I know your brother-in-law, the more I discover his impressive qualities. I now feel that what truly moves a woman’s heart isn’t necessarily a man who always strives to be first in big matters, but rather one who can provide a sense of security on smaller things."

"You’re only realizing that now? But what you said isn’t quite right. My brother-in-law is someone who excels at whatever he decides to do; it’s just a matter of whether he’s willing to do it or not."

The Holy Maiden said nothing more, but a special gleam shone in her eyes. She understood that this journey through the desert was indeed worthwhile. Li Yifei was increasingly touching her inner demons, and she could even feel them stirring.

She had initially sought to be conquered by Li Yifei’s great abilities, thinking that would intensify her inner demons substantially. But now, she felt she might have been wrong. A person’s strength alone would merely win her admiration. To rouse her inner demons so vividly, however, it turned out that the minor things mattered more.

True to Xu Shanshan’s faith in him, Li Yifei did not disappoint. After little more than an hour, he brought Xu Shanshan and the Holy Maiden to a tree with a vertical hollow filled with water. At human height, there was a small hole, currently plugged, with a broad leaf beneath it, punctured with tiny holes. If they opened the plug, the leaf would serve as a natural shower head.

Xu Shanshan burst into excitement, "Wow, brother-in-law, you are amazing! I thought you’d just fetch some water for me to wash off, but you’ve created a shower instead. I asked for a bit of candlelight, and you gave me a starry sky."

Li Yifei tapped Xu Shanshan’s forehead and said, "Then hurry up and bathe. I’ll keep watch for you both here."

Once Li Yifei had gone, Xu Shanshan and the Holy Maiden immediately stripped down and began bathing. Bathing in the embrace of nature had a unique charm.

After a full half-hour, they had nearly used up all the water in the hollow tree and dressed in satisfaction, not in their own clothes, as those were too dirty. Fresh from the bath, they couldn’t bear to put on dirty clothes, but fortunately, Li Yifei had brought a few extra garments. Although the fit wasn’t perfect, both women put them on, sans undergarments. Xu Shanshan didn’t mind at all and went braless, while the Holy Maiden, after a moment’s hesitation, did the same.

When they reappeared before Li Yifei, they looked like new people, causing him to do a double-take in admiration. By contrast, his own clothes, dusty and worn, simply wouldn’t do. He soon fetched more water and took a bath as well.

They rested there for two days, torn between continuing their journey or leaving. After much discussion, they decided to press on. They couldn’t stay in this place forever, and considering the lack of signs of any other visitors, the chances of being found seemed slim. They would have to rely on their own abilities to make it out.

This time they prepared thoroughly. Li Yifei caught three young deer, cooked their meat, and dried it, providing enough food for over two weeks.

Li Yifei saved the empty water bottles, filling them, but this small amount wouldn’t last long. He made several large waterskins from deer hide, which allowed them to carry much more water, ensuring they were well stocked.

Additionally, they found some wild berries that could stave off hunger and quench thirst, a rare and valuable find in the desert.

However, their increased provisions meant carrying a greater load, which was challenging. Thankfully, they had mostly recovered their strength, and Li Yifei bore the majority of the weight. Once again, the three set out on their path.

Their preparations were so thorough that their confidence soared, but Li Yifei and the others were unaware of the greater dangers they would soon face, dangers that nearly cost them their lives.

Meanwhile, back in Mile City, a storm was brewing. After Li Yifei’s plane went down, and he went missing, Gu Yanan, Wei Ziqiang, and Meng Qianjun began to set their sights on Li family’s assets. The entire Li family was in a state of extreme peril.