I rubbed my eyes and sat up from the bear hide.
Indeed, there are only tired oxen, no fields that cannot be plowed. Qu Xiangyun actually got up earlier than me!
I yawned and saw Guan Hai'er making breakfast. I asked lazily, "Hai'er, have you seen where Qu Xiangyun went?"
Guan Hai'er shook her head, "No, when I woke up, Sister Xiangyun was already not in the cave. I don't know where she went."
A trace of unease suddenly appeared in my heart, and I inexplicably remembered the question Qu Xiangyun asked me during our fight yesterday.
"If one day I leave, what will you do?"
Could it be that Qu Xiangyun really left!
No, that's impossible. Qu Xiangyun has no reason to leave without a word!
Qu Xiangyun was the first woman after I arrived on the island, and she held a special place in my heart.
I walked out of the cave with hurried steps. I went to the small stream first, but found no trace of Qu Xiangyun. I searched the vicinity of the cave frantically, but still found nothing.
When I returned to the cave, the other women were already eating.
Luo Yaqin saw that my expression was a little unusual and my eyes were bloodshot, so she asked with concern, "Lu Ziye, what's wrong? Didn't you rest well yesterday?"
I ignored Luo Yaqin's words and said to everyone in a deep voice, "Qu Xiangyun is missing!"
My words were like throwing a stone into a calm lake, and everyone looked at each other in dismay.
Guan Hai'er hesitated and said, "Maybe Sister Xiangyun went out to find food this morning? She might be back later."
I shook my head at Guan Hai'er.
"I've already searched all over the vicinity of the cave, and there's no trace of Qu Xiangyun."
Shangguan Yao seemed confused upon hearing my words, "Why would Qu Xiangyun disappear out of the blue like this!"
Among the women present, only Luo Yaqin knew about my relationship with Qu Xiangyun, so it was inconvenient for me to say some things to everyone.
I was silent for a moment, picked up the alloy knife beside me, and said, "I'll go deeper into the forest to see if I can find her."
As I was about to walk, Luo Yaqin stood up, walked to my side, and said, "I'll go with you. One more person means more strength."
Shangguan Yao, who was beside me, also put down her food and indicated that she wanted to go look for Qu Xiangyun as well.
I looked at the two women and did not refuse.
After giving a few instructions to Guan Hai'er, I took Luo Yaqin and Shangguan Yao out.
Qu Xiangyun, no matter why you left, you are mine for life!
Even if you go to the ends of the earth, I will find you!
The three of us walked deeper into the forest. Luo Yaqin saw that I seemed to be in a heavy mood and tried to comfort me, "Lu Ziye, Xiangyun might have her own difficulties that forced her to leave us. Don't be so glum."
I forced a smile at her. I had nothing to say now; I only wanted to find Qu Xiangyun and question her why she left.
Seeing my reaction, Luo Yaqin seemed a little uncomfortable and didn't speak anymore along the way.
As we walked, I noticed what seemed to be footprints ahead, so I led the two women in that direction.
We reached a bush, and suddenly, I heard Shangguan Yao, who was walking at the end of the line, let out a scream. I turned back and saw that with the sound of vigorous shaking from the bush, something seemed to be about to emerge.
I quickly turned back, pushing Shangguan Yao and Luo Yaqin behind me.
My eyes were fixed on the bush, and I asked Shangguan Yao sideways what she saw.
Shangguan Yao was a little panicked and said tremblingly, "I accidentally glanced into the bush just now and saw a pair of beast's eyes staring at me!"
Following Shangguan Yao's words, two leopards slowly emerged from the bush.
They tensed their bodies, their throats constantly emitting growling sounds.
Their vertical pupils flickered between us, as if searching for a weakness.
I could no longer worry about the two women behind me. These leopards were apex predators.
They had extreme explosive power. If I relaxed even slightly, they could pounce on us, and we might lose our lives here!
I kept hitting the ground with my knife, making beast-like sounds.
I was trying to scare them away, like I had done with the wolf pack before.
But unexpectedly, perhaps they hadn't caught any prey for days. One of the slightly larger leopards directly pounced at me!
In an instant, it was in front of me, and I could already smell the stench emanating from its mouth.
The suppressed frustration from discovering Qu Xiangyun's unannounced departure this morning all transformed into complete rage.
These two unfeathered beasts dared to attack me, so let's see who survives!
The moment the leopard was about to bite me, I punched its jaw.
My strength was so great that I directly sent it flying, and it fell to the ground.
The other leopard, seeing that I was not to be trifled with, took advantage of my exertion and lunged at Shangguan Yao behind me.
Shangguan Yao screamed and collapsed on the ground, closing her eyes in despair.
"Beast, how dare you!"
I turned back in shock and rage. The leopard's movements suddenly seemed incredibly slow in my eyes. I grabbed my knife and with one slash, severed its head.
The one I had knocked away earlier let out a few frantic cries and disappeared into the bushes.
Shangguan Yao waited for a long time but didn't feel the leopard's attack. She opened her eyes in confusion.
Seeing me standing in front of her, she burst into tears and threw herself into my arms, "Lu Ziye, I thought I was going to die..."
I had never seen Shangguan Yao appear so fragile before me!
I could only pat Shangguan Yao's back and comfort her in a low voice.
Luo Yaqin by the side moved her lips as if wanting to say something, but seeing Shangguan Yao's breakdown, she eventually said nothing and quietly watched me comfort her.
Shangguan Yao cried in my arms for a while before gradually calming down. Red-eyed, she got up from my embrace.
The resentment I had accumulated towards Qu Xiangyun all morning was vented in this attack. I sighed and said to the two women, "Forget it, let's go back first."
Searching aimlessly like this yielded no results.
We could only hope to meet her again if fate allowed.
On the way back, Luo Yaqin kept looking at me. She also cast a wary glance at Shangguan Yao. I saw all these little actions of Luo Yaqin, but I didn't have the mood to pay attention to her.
I was quite silent throughout the day, with too many unanswered questions and doubts in my heart, but no one could give me any answers.
The women all thought that I was just sad about the sudden departure of a companion I had been with for a long time, and they all tried to comfort me during dinner.
As the backbone of our small team, I could only force a smile at them, not wanting my emotions to affect them.
After dinner, I lay on the bear hide, trying to force myself to sleep to forget these troubles.
But somehow, the more I tried to forget Qu Xiangyun's beautiful face, the more it appeared in my mind.
I tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Suddenly, I felt the bear hide was a bit lumpy, as if something was stuffed in it.
I reached under the bear hide and felt a piece of paper!
It was written by Qu Xiangyun!
She left me a letter?