Look at each Other

Luo Jun didn't know how long they would be stranded on this deserted island. Maintaining nutritional balance was critical.

Eating fish and wild vegetables was fine for now, but if they lacked carbohydrates, glucose, salt, and essential vitamins for too long, their health would eventually suffer.

Additionally, although the fish soup smelled appetizing, aside from the astringent taste of clover, it was rather bland and fishy. The flavor simply wasn't very appealing.

If forced to eat such monotonous, tasteless food long-term, everyone would become irritable.

"If only we had some salt!"

After sipping the soup, Li Shi pursed her lips in resignation.

Lorna and Jenny also wore bitter expressions.

"You're right, salt would make this better, but where can we find any on this deserted island!" Lorna and Jenny lamented.

Not just them - even Luo Jun, known for his incredible patience, was drenched in sweat from working hard. Without replenishing his salt, his mouth felt terribly bland. This situation was highly dangerous.

Electrolyte imbalance could occur if salt intake was too low.

Luo Jun had planned to collect some sea salt later, after they were more settled, to filter and use long-term.

But it didn't look like he'd have time to go to the shore and make salt for at least another two to three days.

He was working hard manually each day, and his body was starting to wear down.

Usually, he could work like this all morning without feeling dizzy, vision blurring, and losing all strength. This was clearly because he was sweating a lot without replenishing salt.

"You guys wait here, I'm going to get some salt."

Luo Jun knew many ways to obtain salt in the wild, like extracting it from animal blood, saltwort trees, rocks licked by animals, and mud.

But the fastest method now was to collect some ash from burning plants, and filter it to produce some usable potassium salts.

The taste of potassium salts wasn't great, but it was edible as a salt substitute, much better than having no flavor at all.

"Uncle, how are you going to make salt?"

Li Shi asked puzzledly. Lorna and Jenny, sitting by the shelter, also looked very curious.

Luo Jun brought over another steel helmet. He filled it with the ash he had dug up last night, added some water, stirred and filtered it.

After purifying, Luo Jun slowly poured the water into another clean steel helmet.

Finally, he boiled off the water completely until only a pile of powder remained stuck to the helmet - the potassium salts.

Luo Jun poured the homemade salt into a small bamboo tube.

Li Shi immediately took it and exclaimed, "Wow, amazing! This is salt?"

She poured some into her palm and tasted it, immediately spitting it out. "So bitter!"

"Potassium salts do taste this way. It can substitute for table salt. I'll have to go to the beach later when I have time, to evaporate and filter some nicer salt."

Seeing Li Shi's bitter expression, Luo Jun explained with a laugh.

Lorna tried some without complaint. "It is quite bitter, but I can taste the saltiness!"

Jenny also sampled some out of curiosity, reacting similarly to Li Shi.

"Let's hurry and drink the fish soup before it gets cold!" Luo Jun called out. He picked up the bamboo tube filled with soup and added some of the potassium salts.

Since he had sweated a lot, he added more of the salt.

After the hearty meal, Luo Jun felt the light-headedness from salt deficiency disappear. He decided not to check the traps in the afternoon, but instead scout around the island.

Although they had water from the creek, fish were scarce nearby. Obtaining food was still difficult, requiring long hunting trips.

So Luo Jun hoped to find a lake or something. If not, they would have to settle here.

Then he could chop wood to reinforce the shelter.

"Uncle, are you going hunting later? Make me a bow and arrows so I can come hunting with you!"

Seeing Luo Jun whittling bamboo, Li Shi came over and asked.

Luo Jun glanced at her and smiled. "Weren't you using guns to hunt before? We can't use guns here yet, to avoid giving away our location."

Luo Jun touched the pistol at his waist and the rifle on his back, never leaving his side. Even when sleeping, the rifle was placed at the door. If anyone touched it, he would know.

"I know how to use a bow and arrow. I've competed before."

Li Shi asserted. Luo Jun realized he had gained a new little hunting partner.

"Alright then. I'll make two bows and arrows! But I'm not going hunting now. I want to scout the island situation and hopefully catch something with the bow. We're running short on time already."

Luo Jun was planning to make a strong bamboo bow.

Without fine string wrapped around it, he could use the climbing rope, unraveling and twisting it. The performance might be weaker, but far better than string made from animal tendons.

"But I want to go too!"

Li Shi pouted pleadingly.

Luo Jun considered that while going alone was easier, something unexpected could always happen. Having company would provide backup. Training Li Shi was also a good opportunity.

Otherwise, doing everything himself would be tiring.

"Fine, I'll make two bows and arrows!" Luo Jun conceded.

Li Shi immediately cheered and jumped for joy. "Thank you Uncle!"

Luo Jun smiled and shook his head. Young people really were so energetic. Everyone else probably hated leaving the shelter, yet she treated this place like a vacation hotspot.

It took forty minutes to finish two bows. Another fifty to whittle ten arrows and two quivers.

The arrows weren't just randomly carved - they had to be crafted properly to be lethal. Even the bamboo shafts needed care. Otherwise Luo Jun wouldn't have spent so much time making just ten arrows.

"Here's five arrows for you. I'll make more next time. We probably can only explore a couple kilometers today before heading back."

Luo Jun explained while tying a quiver around Li Shi's waist and sliding the arrows inside.

"We can continue tomorrow!"

Li Shi responded. Luo Jun just smiled. "After walking all night yesterday, don't your feet have blisters?"

"Yeah we all have some, but they aren't too bad. No problem!"

Li Shi boasted. Luo Jun hadn't checked their feet today, but hearing this, it seemed there was no major issue. He could inspect and disinfect them after returning tonight if needed.

"Alright, let's head out! Remember, I won't carry you if you get too tired!"

Luo Jun challenged Li Shi.

But she just giggled mischievously. "If I do get exhausted, you'll have to carry me!"

Luo Jun didn't banter with her further. He walked on ahead.

"Wait for me Uncle!"

The two said goodbye to Lorna and the others, then entered the hills. Luo Jun led while Li Shi followed behind. The overgrown path was extremely difficult to traverse. At this pace, a kilometer would take an hour and a half.

They had five hours until sunset, so factoring in the return trip, only two and a half hours to explore.

"Uncle, there's no one around in these desolate hills... isn't this a good chance to..."

After half an hour of walking, Li Shi patted her stomach and grinned suggestively at Luo Jun ahead.

Luo Jun glanced back and rolled his eyes. "What do you want to do?"