Chapter 477: Survival on a Deserted Island (Part 1)
They lifted their eyes and looked out.
Endless ocean stretched in every direction.
Layer upon layer of scaled waves shimmered beneath the sun.
Not a single sail pierced the horizon.
Propping himself up with effort, Zhu Ping’an gazed over the vast expanse of water and could not help but mutter dryly, “The Great Ming’s maritime ban is certainly… well enforced.”
Ever since the founding emperor had ordered the implementation of the haijin—the maritime prohibition—to prevent remnants of coastal warlords and pirates from stirring unrest, the policy had only grown harsher with time. What had begun as a defensive measure had gradually tightened into an iron cage around the sea.
Now it was no longer merely a matter of “no sails permitted upon the waters.” Coastal residents had been forcibly relocated inland. Entire fishing communities uprooted. Islands—especially isolated ones like this—had long since been abandoned.
The navy’s search vessels must have overlooked this island… or perhaps they had never even considered searching here. After all, last night’s raging winds and monstrous waves could have carried the three of them dozens of nautical miles from the original site of the disaster.
And because of the maritime ban, no fishing boats dared venture into these waters. Anyone caught going to sea illegally faced severe punishment—sometimes even execution. No fisherman would gamble his head lightly.
As for pirates…
It seemed even they had little interest in this island. Perhaps it lacked a proper harbor. The surrounding waters were riddled with reefs—both hidden and exposed—making anchorage treacherous. And besides, along the coast there were far more suitable strongholds. Why choose this lonely rock?
This enormous island—lush and green though it was—could truly be called uninhabited.
At present, one could say with certainty that only three people existed here: Zhu Ping’an, Li Shu, and Hua’er.
Zhu Ping’an’s gaze shifted to Li Shu beside him.
Her face was pale from blood loss. Even her delicate, cherry-colored lips had faded to a near-white hue.
An unfamiliar emotion stirred quietly within his chest.
When he had bandaged her wrist moments ago, the sight of that grotesquely split wound—raw flesh turned outward—had made his scalp tingle. He could hardly comprehend how this pampered young lady, soft as a blossom raised in silk and jade, had found the resolve to slice her own wrist open with a mere shell… and feed him her blood.
If he claimed he felt nothing, he would be lying to himself.
Fortunately, he had awakened in time. She had not yet lost too much blood. On this deserted island, with no medicine and no help, excessive blood loss would have been fatal.
And fortunately—she had cut a vein, not an artery. Stopping arterial bleeding here would have been nearly impossible. Now that he had cleaned and dressed the wound, they needed only to prevent infection.
“Thank you,” Zhu Ping’an said sincerely after finishing the bandage, meeting her eyes. “If not for you… I would likely have met a grim end this time.”
“I’m not heartless…” Li Shu turned her face away with a small huff, her lips pouting slightly, the very picture of proud indignation.
Almost at the exact moment she turned her head, the bun-faced little maid came running out of the island’s interior again, sobbing loudly.
When she saw that Zhu Ping’an was awake, her tears instantly turned to laughter—only for fresh tears to follow when she remembered her failure.
“Miss! Young Master! Wuuu… I’m useless… I couldn’t find anything to eat…”
From last night until now, they had not eaten a single bite. The young master was weak and needed nourishment. Miss had just lost so much blood—she needed nourishment even more. Yet she had found nothing.
Tears streamed down her round cheeks like rain sliding off a steamed bun.
And that was not her only fear.
She had not found water either.
If there was no food… and no fresh water…
Had they escaped death at sea only to starve and thirst slowly on this island?
The thought alone made her sob even harder.
For a moment, the air grew heavy with despair.
Li Shu clicked her tongue softly, unable to hide a trace of exasperation. She refused to believe that such a verdant island lacked food. It was only that, being raised in luxury and unable to distinguish grains from weeds, they did not know where to look.
Still… her stomach gave a faint twist.
Hunger was beginning to make itself known.
“Heh,” Zhu Ping’an gave a weak smile. “Rely on the mountain to eat the mountain. Rely on the sea to eat the sea. How could such a large island possibly lack food?”
“There is food?” The little maid hiccupped and blinked her red-rimmed eyes at him. After a second, she sniffed again. “But I searched… I didn’t see anything edible…”
“How could there not be?” Zhu Ping’an said lightly. “I can see food right now.”
“Right now? Where?” She spun around, scanning the slope, the grass, the sea, the wildflowers.
There was nothing.
She looked back doubtfully. “There’s nothing, Young Master.”
“There is.” He kept looking at her, amusement flickering in his eyes.
She glanced around once more—then noticed his gaze resting squarely on her.
Suddenly, realization dawned.
Her bun-like face turned pale. She shuddered violently and shook her head so hard her hair nearly flew loose.
“No! Hua’er doesn’t taste good! Young Master, don’t eat me! I haven’t bathed for days! Wuuu…”
She hid behind Li Shu in panic, about to cry again.
Zhu Ping’an burst into laughter—only for the movement to tug painfully at his internal injuries, causing him to cough.
“Why are you teasing her…” Li Shu rolled her eyes at him.
“I’m not teasing her. I truly see food,” he insisted, confidence shining faintly despite his weakness.
After all, in his previous life, he had watched countless episodes of wilderness survival shows. As a devoted foodie, he had also studied regional cuisine extensively. And since coming to Great Ming, he had followed his father and elder brother into the hills near Xiahe Village’s Wolong Mountain, gaining practical experience in foraging.
He might not be the “man standing at the top of the food chain,” but surviving comfortably in the wild? That, he could manage.
Where was this supposed food?
Li Shu followed his gaze again. Grass, slope, weeds, flowers. The only thing technically edible was still the little maid.
She shot him another reproachful look.
“Young Master… I’m really not tasty…” Hua’er whimpered.
Smiling faintly, Zhu Ping’an dragged his weakened body forward to where the maid had been standing. He bent down and plucked a vivid red blossom from a cluster of flowers blooming in the grass. He removed the stamens carefully, blew gently into the petals, then placed the flower into his mouth and began chewing.
Eat… flowers?
Both girls stared in stunned disbelief.
“This is azalea,” Zhu Ping’an explained between bites. “Also called ‘mountain red.’ Except for the yellow and white varieties, most are edible raw. Slightly sweet and sour. In the southwestern regions of Yunnan and Guizhou, local chieftains often use them as vegetables. Long-term consumption is said to smooth the skin, brighten the complexion, and enhance beauty.”
“Enhance beauty?”
A moment ago they had been skeptical—eating flowers seemed absurd. But upon hearing those four magical words, both girls’ eyes lit up instantly.
No matter the era, “beauty and complexion” held immeasurable power over young women.
“Before eating,” Zhu Ping’an continued, demonstrating again, “remove the stamens. Then blow on it like this—it helps clear away any toxins left by insects crawling over the petals.”
He plucked another blossom to show them properly.
The sea breeze carried the faint scent of flowers. Above them, waves rolled endlessly. Hunger had not disappeared—but hope had quietly returned.