Apocalypse Hoarder: I Have Billions in Supplies

It tried to struggle free. Jiang Si’s eyes narrowed as she snapped, "If you cripple yourself, no one is going to take care of you."

Her stern tone made Dai Mao freeze, but from the defiant look in its eyes, she knew it would be a while before it would willingly obey her.

After Bailiman and Aisar woke up, Jiang Si took her fishing rod and went back to the shore to fish.

There were a lot of vultures by the sea at this time of day, and they snatched most of the fish Jiang Si managed to catch.

It took her even longer than the day before to bring back just nine fish.

After Dai Mao ate, it gave her a look of utter disdain, as if to say she was completely useless.

Jiang Si had to go back out in the afternoon to get it more fish, which meant her progress on the raft was incredibly slow.

Over the next three days, she and Dai Mao grew much more familiar with each other.

It allowed her to get within three paces, and when it was hungry, it would spit at her, shamelessly and brazenly demanding food.

Jiang Si finally untied the rope on its leg. "Let’s go together," she said. "If I get pecked, I’m giving you a beating when we get back."

Having been a freeloader for so long, Dai Mao wasn’t too keen on going.

Only when Jiang Si threatened it with no fish that afternoon did it waddle eagerly after her.

Bailiman and Aisar were absolutely stunned to see that Jiang Si could actually get Dai Mao to move.

If Dai Mao’s injury healed and it could truly fly, perhaps it really could carry them away from this place.

But Bailiman and Aisar had actually grown to like it here. There was no one else around, and with Dai Mao present, even ordinary snakes didn’t dare approach them at night. It was a shame Jiang Si was so set on finding her family.

There was nothing wrong with Dai Mao’s legs; it walked quite briskly.

The vultures that were used to targeting Jiang Si saw Dai Mao following her and merely circled in the sky, not daring to approach.

Very pleased, Jiang Si reached out and patted Dai Mao on the head.

This time, it didn’t even flinch. In fact, it looked quite proud.

Jiang Si let out a snort of laughter. She found its mix of ugly-cuteness and proud-but-petulant behavior rather endearing.

She had already gone through two fishing rods, so Jiang Si planned to catch a lot today and brought two new poles with her.

As soon as she cast her line, a vulture flew over, ready to snatch her catch.

This vulture had a reddish head. It had been eyeing Jiang Si for days and was the most aggressive of the food thieves.

It had even come close to injuring her eye once.

The moment Jiang Si’s rod twitched, the vulture dove, trying to snatch the fish before she could unhook it.

But as it approached, Dai Mao spread its wings and let out a menacing cry, warning it to scram.

Dai Mao was very large, and a male Vulture at that.

Female vultures generally didn’t dare provoke a male.

Heeding Dai Mao’s warning, the female vulture pulled up short, circled in the air for a moment, and then flew away.

Jiang Si looked at Dai Mao happily, giving it a thumbs-up. "Amazing! I’m counting on you. Let’s haul in a big catch today."

Dai Mao puffed up with even more pride, tilting its head back as if it meant to pierce the heavens.

Jiang Si started pulling in one fish after another. However, some male vultures weren’t intimidated by Dai Mao. They screeched back at its warning cries and even looked ready to attack it.

Dai Mao was just as aggressive. Even injured as it was, it seemed ready to fight them to the death.

Jiang Si decided to quit while she was ahead. She packed up her fish, tossing a few to the vultures.

Dai Mao was very unhappy about this and spat at the thieving vultures.

But they were all too busy scrambling for the fish to pay it any mind.

Jiang Si brought the fish back, saying cheerfully, "You’ve already had your fill for now. We’ll save these for you to eat tomorrow."

This meant she wouldn’t have to go fishing again tomorrow morning.

She could use the saved time to work on the raft.

Dai Mao was still displeased. It flapped its wings, trying to shake off the bindings. "Don’t," Jiang Si warned. "If you break them, you’ll never be able to fly."

Perhaps her words worked. Dai Mao settled down, lying dejectedly on the ground. It seemed to be worried that it really might never fly again.

"It’ll get better," Jiang Si comforted it. ’And then you can fly away with me,’ she thought, secretly looking forward to the day.

Jiang Si was also secretly looking forward to it.

Night fell, and Bailiman and Aisar were already asleep.

Jiang Si propped her head on her hand, feeling drowsy as well.

Suddenly, she was jolted alert by a slithering, rustling sound.

Jiang Si’s head snapped up. A giant python, even bigger than the last, had silently slithered right in front of them. Its forked tongue flicked out menacingly.

Jiang Si frantically shook Bailiman and Aisar awake while kicking Dai Mao on the ground.

Dai Mao’s eyes snapped open. As soon as it saw the python, all its feathers bristled. It took off like a shot, as if its feet were on fire, and bolted.

Jiang Si and the others scrambled to run as well.

But the giant python was too fast. In a single, swift motion, its massive tail coiled tightly around them.