Chapter 77: Setting Traps to Catch Wild Boars

"This is very beautiful, I give it to you," Xiao Qidi said, pulling out a freshly picked flower.

The unnamed blossom was a vivid red, looking as if it would drip, and it still bore sparkling dew.

Ning Jingli, struggling to speak, asked, "Did you climb up just to pick this flower?"

"Do you like it?" Xiao Qidi said, a faint smile in his eyes.

Ning Jingli placed a hand on her forehead, "You're really crazy…"

Nevertheless, the flower was indeed beautiful, carrying a refreshing fragrance.

Since Xiao Qidi had specially picked it, Ning Jingli felt embarrassed to refuse, "Thank you, it's beautiful, I like it, but… sigh, I don't even know what to say to you."

Xiao Qidi murmured, "You dreamed last night, saying you wanted a pretty flower."

Ning Jingli was stunned for two seconds, blinking her big eyes, "Now that you mention it, I think I remember."

The scene from last night's dream floated into her mind.

She dreamed that she returned to her childhood, with her parents taking her shopping, passing a flower shop.

The shop was filled with all kinds of blooming flowers, captivating her eyes, so she told her parents she wanted one.

It turned out she had fallen asleep and spoken the words from the dream.

"So… you heard that line from my dream and specifically went to pick a flower for me?" Ning Jingli looked at Xiao Qidi in disbelief.

Xiao Qidi nodded.

Ning Jingli suddenly felt a sourness in her nose, "You fool, what if you get injured again, what will we do?"

"I know my limits, you don't need to worry," Xiao Qidi said, relaxed, "I caught some fish this morning and gathered a lot of branches; I can't let you bear the burden alone."

He added, "Besides, I also scouted around here; the cliffs are as sharp as knives, the surrounding jungle is dense, with almost no path, and leaving is far from easy."

Ning Jingli placed the flower under her nose, gently inhaling as she said, "At least we survived; we should recuperate and then slowly find a way out."

Xiao Qidi looked around, "If we weren't at the bottom of a deep ravine, where thick fog constantly spreads and light is scarce, making it rather cold and damp, it would still be a good secluded retreat away from the world."

Ning Jingli laughed, "Yo, I never expected someone so young to have such thoughts—what, you don't want to be a king anymore? Don't want to unify the Six Nations?"

Xiao Qidi said lightly, "Just a passing remark."

At that moment, a strong aroma of grilled fish drifted over.

Ning Jingli's eyes lit up, "Your grilled fish is ready, quick, into the cave."

The two immediately turned back, sat cross‑legged by the fire, and began eating the plump fish.

Although there was no seasoning, the cold environment made the river fish store more fat than ordinary freshwater fish; a bite sizzled with oil, filling the mouth with fresh flavor and no hint of fishy smell.

"Mm… it's delicious, truly a pure, unpolluted wild giant carp," Ning Jingli said while devouring, "If I were back in my era, such fish would be rare, I don't know how popular they'd be. Just selling fish could make me rich, hehe."

When she got to that point, Ning Jingli's smile suddenly froze, and her expression grew heavy.

"Miss Ning, what's wrong?" Xiao Qidi asked softly.

"Sigh…" Ning Jingli sighed, "I've been out of contact for so long; Su Yi must be terribly worried."

Then she resolutely said, "Regardless, we must leave this place."

Xiao Qidi's eyes flashed with a complex expression, and he gave a slight nod.

"Alright, I'm full," Ning Jingli stood up, "Let's get to work!"

"Work?" Xiao Qidi asked, puzzled, "What work?"

"Of course it's the preparations to leave this place; we can't just end up being trapped here forever, can we?" Ning Jingli said with high spirits.

Xiao Qidi muttered softly, "It's not impossible."

"What are you muttering about?" Ning Jingli asked.

"Nothing," Xiao Qidi said, standing slowly, "Then… let's begin."

Xiao Qidi himself had little wilderness survival experience, so everything had to follow Ning Jingli's lead.

Ning Jingli, based on various wilderness survival videos she had watched online, improvised on the spot.

She explained the general plan to Xiao Qidi.

First, gather materials to make something that can keep out the cold, and stock a modest amount of food—enough for the two of them to expand their exploration from the current cave.

When they reach a safe area and find the next suitable temporary shelter, they repeat the steps, gradually moving toward the outside of Zhuiyingjian.

As for direction, they use the river's flow as a guide.

As long as they keep traveling downstream, there's a high chance they'll eventually exit Zhuiyingjian.

"I'll handle the gathering," Ning Jingli sternly instructed Xiao Qidi, "You must not wander recklessly; tend to your wounds. Only when you're at least seventy to eighty percent recovered can we move to the next location."

Xiao Qidi asked, "Then what should I do?"

"You…" Ning Jingli pondered, "Watch over the cave, make sure the fire doesn't go out, and weave the grass I brought back into a wind‑proof, cold‑resistant mat. It doesn't have to look pretty, just functional—you're capable of that, right?"

Xiao Qidi nodded, "Alright, I'll try."

Thus, that morning, besides the basic firewood and wild fruits she gathered, Ning Jingli also fetched a bunch of long, reed‑like leaves.

Ning Jingli ran back and forth several times, her back aching from exhaustion, and just as she was about to rest, she entered the cave, saw Xiao Qidi sitting by the fire, diligently weaving the leaves, and she suddenly let out a giggle.

Xiao Qidi looked up bewildered, "What's wrong?"

Ning Jingli laughed, "I suddenly got this feeling… I'm the one handling the outside while you're handling the inside, especially seeing you weaving, it's like…"

"Like what?" Xiao Qidi asked, frowning slightly.

Ning Jingli grinned, "It's like we've become a secluded ancient couple here; you're quite the virtuous wife, hahaha!"

Xiao Qidi's cheek twitched slightly.

He, a sovereign of a nation, being called virtuous now, felt his pride a bit bruised.

But…

The whole sentence made his mouth curve upward uncontrollably.

"Miss Ning, how does my weaving look?" Xiao Qidi asked, picking up a leaf.

Ning Jinli nodded while saying, "Not bad, not bad, quite like Raincoat."

Xiao Qidi's mouth corner continued to rise.

Almost noon, the two ate wild fruit and two fish together; Ning Jinli rested a while, then told Xiao Qidi she had just seen wild boars nearby and planned to catch one.

Xiao Qidi's pupils trembled, "You? Catch a wild boar? Do you know how fierce wild boars are?"

Such wild beasts have thick skin and flesh, a violent temper; even hunters dare not easily seize them.

If you fail to catch it, that's fine; but if you provoke it, the consequences are unimaginable.

Ning Jinli, a weak woman, knows no martial arts and has no weapon—how could she catch a wild boar?

"I've thought it through," Ning Jinli said while pondering, "If we catch a wild boar, the meat can be roasted into jerky, durable, portable, and filling; the hide, stripped and prepared, can be worn to keep out cold and provide protection."

"I'll go catch it," Xiao Qidi said decisively.

Ning Jinli narrowed her eyes slightly, "How so, you think I can't?"

Xiao Qidi wore a serious expression, "It's not that I think so; you definitely can't. If something goes wrong, lightly you'd be injured, severely you could die."

Ning Jinli pursed her lips, "Hmph, you look down on people."

Xiao Qidi said no more and was about to rise.

Ning Jinli hurriedly pressed him down, "No, no, no! I know you're strong; if you went out, killing a big wild boar would be child's play, but given your current condition, you'd better not take the risk."

"Should I let you take the risk?" Xiao Qidi's face darkened slightly.

Ning Jinli chuckled, "I didn't expect you to care about me so much. But do you think I'm a fool?"

Xiao Qidi furrowed his brows, also pouted slightly, and lightly uttered three words, "Kind of."

Ning Jinli stared into his eyes, "What does 'kind of' mean? Do you kind of care about me, or... think I'm kind of stupid?"

Xiao Qidi answered word by word, "Both kind of."

Ning Jinli raised her hand and punched his shoulder, "From now on you'd better speak less; I don't mind you being mute."

"Alright, no more nonsense with you," Ning Jinli stood up, smiling as she rubbed his head, "I'm not going to fight the boar barehanded; I'll use wit, no danger—stay here obediently, sis will get you pork."

Xiao Qidi remained uneasy nonetheless.

Not long after Ning Jinli left the cave, he quietly followed her.

The afternoon weather had improved considerably.

The mist in the mountain stream had thinned greatly; occasionally sunlight pierced the white fog, forming distinct columns of light.

Ning Jinli found the spot where she'd previously seen wild boar activity; in the thicket there were indeed many hoofprints, and the surrounding ground was torn up.

Obviously this is a route the boar herd frequents for feeding and travel.

Ning Jinli followed the traces a few meters into the thicket; ahead lay a gloomy primeval forest.

One must not rush in recklessly, otherwise one might die without knowing how.

She stood in place and glanced far inside.

The forest was overly dense, obscuring view; she merely felt an inexplicable gooseflesh, as if something in the dark woods was staring back at her.

"Hiss..."

Ning Jinli sucked in a cold breath, rubbed her arms, and slowly backed away to the thicket's edge.

Here there was a pit about two meters in diameter, filled with weeds and fallen leaves.

She broke off a branch to tidy it, discovering the pit was roughly 1.5 meters deep—quite suitable for a trap.

She then gathered suitably sized, somewhat sharp branches and stuck them in the pit, carefully laying long branches and vines across the top.

Having lived with Su Yi for ten years and often helped her with chores, Ning Jinli found such physical work quite easy.

The trap set, it still needed bait.

Ning Jinli knew wild boars are omnivorous, eating plant roots, tender leaves, fruits and vegetables, even insects, rodents, rabbits, and carrion.

She thus plucked a pile of tender wild fruits from a height the boars couldn't reach, and scattered the leftover fish entrails over the trap.

The bait is scant, but as long as it lures the boar, it's fine.

From start to finish, Xiao Qidi secretly watched from a distance, afraid that showing up to help would earn her disapproval, and also afraid she might have an accident.

When the stream's light grew dim, Ning Jinli finally finished.

Having witnessed the whole process, Xiao Qidi was secretly astonished; he never expected such a slender girl to handle heavy work so adeptly.

But relying solely on such a trap to catch a wild boar, the chance is minuscule.

Seeing Ning Jinli about to return, Xiao Qidi hurried back to the cave first.

Soon after, Ning Jinli returned dragging heavy steps, and flopped onto a bed of grass and leaves spread out.

"Miss Ning, you've worked hard," Xiao Qidi handed her a wild fruit.

Ning Jinli was too exhausted to speak; she took the fruit and shoved it into her mouth, but after barely two bites she fell asleep, still clutching the fruit.

Xiao Qidi stoked the fire higher, tore a strip from his own garment's hem, washed it at the river, then gently wiped Ning Jinli's face and limbs.

"Miss Ning?" Xiao Qidi called softly.

His only reply was Ning Jinli's faint snore.

Xiao Qidi lay down gently, his back to the chilly rock wall, cradling Ning Jinli in his arms, facing the warm fire.

One night passed.

When Ning Jinli woke, Xiao Qidi had already grilled the fish.

"How did I fall asleep last night?" Ning Jinli stretched and asked.

Xiao Qidi, while pulling apart the fish meat for her, said, "You came back and just lay down to sleep."

"Did I talk in my sleep?"

"No."

"Hey, that's good."

Ning Jinli quickly rose to her feet, "I'll go see if we caught a wild boar!"

Xiao Qidi watched her dash out of the cave, helplessly smiling; this time she would probably be disappointed.

He had gone to check this morning after waking up.

As he expected, no wild boar had fallen in at all.

After a while, Ning Jinli returned, head down and dispirited.

Xiao Qidi comforted her, "It's fine even if we didn't catch anything."

"It seems I oversimplified things, sigh..." Ning Jinli looked dejected.

Xiao Qidi smiled, "After all, even the traps set by hunters aren't easy to catch game with. Why not wait a bit longer; maybe we'll succeed tonight? Besides, we still have fish to eat."

Ning Jinli's expression was complex, "The fish we caught yesterday are almost gone, right? I just went to the riverbank and saw that the fish seem to have gotten smarter; they're not loafing around the shore like the past two days, so catching fish will probably be hard too."

Xiao Qidi remained calm, "I'll just eat less."

Ning Jinli lowered her eyes and whispered, "You say, if we both die here... what should we do?"

"Huh?" Xiao Qidi's eyes showed surprise, "Why suddenly say that? It's not like the Ning Miss I know."

Ning Jinli asked, "What kind of me do you know?"

Xiao Qidi pondered, "In my view, you shouldn't be someone who easily gets discouraged, after all you even want to strive to change my destined fate, right?"

"I'm so tired..." Ning Jinli hugged her knees, her eye sockets red, gazing toward the cave's mouth, "I miss Aunt Su... I... I also miss my mom and dad..."

These past two days she's been relying on sheer willpower to keep going, her stamina and energy overdrawn; now she can barely hold on, and negative emotions surge uncontrollably into her heart...