I Start with a Mysterious Island

"Don’t you guys know it’s about to get dark? If you keep fighting so mindlessly, once night falls, the Mutant Beasts in the wilderness will be drawn to the commotion and surround you. When that happens, not a single one of you will make it back to the city alive," the middle-aged man said to the two groups who had stopped fighting.

The members of the two Exotic Beast Hunter squads, having been stopped, fell silent after hearing the middle-aged man’s words.

"Can you tell us why you started fighting?" the middle-aged man asked.

The members of the two Exotic Beast Hunter squads glanced at their teammates.

They exchanged glances, and then the captains of both squads stepped forward. They explained what had happened to the middle-aged man, a Second Order High Rank Hunter, asking him to settle the dispute.

After hearing the captains of the two Exotic Beast Hunter squads finish their story, the middle-aged man and his companions all had strange expressions on their faces.

"We just came from that direction. We didn’t see the tiger Mutant Beast you’re talking about on our way here," said the young woman with the Spiritual Longbow on her back.

"What?! You’re saying you didn’t see the tiger Mutant Beast?"

Upon hearing this, the members of the two Exotic Beast Hunter squads, who had been fighting over that very tiger Mutant Beast, cried out in alarm. They all immediately ran toward where the tiger was supposed to be.

"Captain, the tiger Mutant Beast they were fighting over is gone now. They have no reason to keep fighting. It’s about to get dark, let’s get going!" the young woman with the Spiritual Longbow said to the middle-aged man.

"Mm," the middle-aged man nodded. Then, their group set off again, walking briskly toward the safe zone.

"Damn... how did the tiger Mutant Beast just disappear?"

"Shit, there are beast tracks here... Another Mutant Beast probably stole the tiger while we were fighting."

The members of the two Exotic Beast Hunter squads who had come to blows over the tiger Mutant Beast were now furious.

However, just as the young woman with the Spiritual Longbow had said, now that the object of their dispute was gone, the two Exotic Beast Hunter squads had no reason to continue fighting, no matter how angry they felt.

Afterward, the members of the Exotic Beast Hunter squads, believing the tiger had been stolen by another Mutant Beast, all fell silent. With grim faces, they began their journey back to the safe zone.

This lesson of losing their prey would likely be remembered by these Hunters for the rest of their lives.

Meanwhile, the unknown final beneficiary had just returned to the safe zone a short while ago. He was now driving his van toward the city.

The sun had set, and the city under the night sky lit up with dazzling, colorful neon lights.

On this midsummer night, although the temperature on the streets was much cooler than during the day, it still felt a bit hot.

Pedestrians out for a stroll—men and women, young and old—walked along the road for a while before heading into the air-conditioned malls lining the streets.

In the Happiness Garden District, Su Yue was wearing a light, white slip dress. Her well-defined curves couldn’t be hidden by the loose-fitting garment.

After a day of rest, her swollen ankle, treated with a special ointment, was already much better.

As long as she avoided any strenuous activity, Su Yue could now walk around.

"Lin Li, I’ve already made dinner. Are you almost here?" Su Yue asked, sitting on the sofa and gently rotating her injured ankle as she sent a WeChat voice message to Lin Li.

"I’m already downstairs at your place, just about to take the elevator," Lin Li replied.

Hearing Lin Li’s reply that he would be there any moment, Su Yue reached up and pulled the fallen strap of her slip dress back into place.

She then got up and slowly walked to the entryway, opening the door in advance and leaving it ajar.

A short while later, Lin Li, carrying a large bag full of vegetables, stepped out of the elevator.

When he reached Su Yue’s front door and was about to ring the bell, he found it was already open. He pushed it open and walked inside.

"I’m here," Lin Li called out toward the kitchen as he entered. He then headed for the kitchen, carrying the large bag of vegetables he had grown himself.

Su Yue was walking out of the kitchen and into the dining room with two bowls of rice just as she saw Lin Li approaching with the large bag of vegetables.

"Huh? Did that vegetable seller come to the city again today?" Su Yue asked in surprise, looking at the big bag of vegetables in Lin Li’s hands.

"Yeah, the seller came to the city again today. I happened to pass by the market on my way home, so I bought some more from him."

Lin Li said with a smile, then walked past Su Yue with the big bag of vegetables and placed them on the kitchen floor.

"I haven’t even finished the big bag of vegetables you brought last time," Su Yue said to Lin Li as he walked out of the kitchen. She had placed the two bowls of rice on the dining table and pulled out a chair to sit down.

"It’s fine, take your time eating them. They won’t spoil anytime soon, anyway. If you really can’t finish them, you can give them to the elderly folks in the community who are always so nice to you," Lin Li said to Su Yue with a smile.

As he spoke, he pulled out a chair and sat down. Looking at the steamed crab, steamed baby squid, steamed prawns, steamed grouper, stir-fried water spinach, and a corn and pork rib soup on the table, he couldn’t help but swallow.

He had been busy in the wilderness all day and only had instant noodles for lunch. Seeing this sumptuous dinner before him, Lin Li eagerly picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a steamed baby squid, dipped it in vinegar, and popped the whole thing into his mouth.

"How is it? Delicious, right?" Su Yue picked up the soup ladle, served Lin Li a bowl of the pork rib soup, and placed it in front of him, asking with a smile.

"Delicious. This baby squid is incredibly fresh... Did your mom send all this seafood?" Lin Li asked after swallowing the squid.

"Yep! This is just a small portion. I still have a lot left in my fridge. I’ll pack some for you to take back when you leave," Su Yue said with a smile.

"Oh, I couldn’t!"

"What’s there to feel bad about? Didn’t you bring me vegetables?"

"Vegetables are so cheap! This seafood of yours isn’t."

"They’re not worth much. Didn’t I tell you before? My family is in the wholesale seafood business, so this stuff is very cheap for us..." Su Yue said with a gentle smile.

"Oh." Lin Li nodded, not giving it much more thought, and focused on eating the magnificent seafood dinner.