CHAPTER 38 — "PERFECTION IS A SURVIVAL SKILL"
The forest slowly quieted after the last gold-tier corpse fell.
Leaves stopped shaking.The air grew heavy again.Somewhere far away, a deep roar echoed—reminding them this island wasn't done yet.
Chen Wulian wiped sweat from his brow and grinned.
"Well! That was fun. Who's hungry?"
Ling Yifan turned slowly.
His gaze was sharp.
Too sharp.
"…Hungry?" he repeated.
Chen nodded enthusiastically."Yeah. I punched like four things. That burns calories."
Ling Yifan exhaled slowly, as if calming himself.
Then—
"No."
Everyone froze.
"No?" Chen blinked."What do you mean no?"
Ling Yifan stepped forward, eyes scanning the surroundings like a hawk.
"We are staying on this island for three days," he said coldly."We don't know monster migration routes.We don't know water toxicity.We don't know night predators."
He looked at Chen.
"And you're thinking about food before shelter?"
Chen scratched his head."…Yes?"
Ling Yifan pinched the bridge of his nose.
Ouyang Xue'er leaned toward Long Hao and whispered,"…He's scary like this."
Long Hao nodded."…Efficient."
A soft rustle came from the treetops.
"Captain," a calm voice said,"I've got something."
Everyone looked up.
Wang Junxie dropped down lightly from a tree branch, landing without a sound.
His eyes glowed faintly green.
"I activated my Wind-Eyed Scout Art," he said."Radius: five kilometers."
Chen's eyes widened.
"Ohhh? Since when could you do that?"
Wang Junxie adjusted his gloves.
"Since I stopped telling you everything."
Ling Yifan turned immediately serious.
"Report."
Wang nodded.
"To the north: freshwater stream, clean, low monster presence.""To the west: edible root plants and small prey.""To the east: unstable ground—swamp, poisonous spores.""To the south…"
He paused.
"…High-tier aura. Not epic yet. But close."
Silence.
Ling Yifan nodded once.
"Good. From now on, you're primary scout."
Wang straightened slightly.
"Understood."
Chen leaned over to Long Hao.
"…Why do I feel like Ling Yifan just became our dad?"
Long Hao replied flatly.
"…Because he is."
Ling Yifan clapped once.
"Decision made.We build shelter now."
Ouyang Xue'er raised a hand.
"Why not keep moving?"
Ling Yifan turned.
"Because if it rains tonight, your frost will make the ground slippery and we'll freeze."
"…Oh."
Chen raised a finger.
"What if I just dig a hole and sleep in it?"
Ling Yifan stared at him.
"…Say that again."
Chen slowly lowered his hand.
"Never mind."
Ling Yifan continued, already issuing commands.
"Mu Qingxun—terrain reinforcement.""Jin Roulan—perimeter traps.""Zhao Lanyue—elevated watch.""Han Duwei—fire and signal deterrents."
Everyone moved instantly.
Bai Qianlan blinked.
"…What about me?"
Ling Yifan paused, then looked at her.
"…Assist me."
Her ears turned pink.
"…Okay."
Chen leaned toward Ouyang.
"He didn't even hesitate."
Ouyang narrowed her eyes.
"…I noticed."
Ling Yifan moved with mechanical precision.
He measured tree distance.Checked wind direction.Adjusted shelter angle so smoke wouldn't rise straight up.
"No—move that log three inches left.""Too visible. Cover it with foliage.""Fire pit needs a stone ring. Chen—stop throwing random rocks."
"I'M HELPING!"
"You're creating shrapnel."
Long Hao watched quietly.
"…He's good."
Wang Junxie nodded.
"He's not just good.He's trained for survival scenarios."
Ling Yifan overheard.
"Perfection saves lives," he said."Mistakes get people eaten."
Chen opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
"…Fair."
Bai Qianlan was tying a vine around two branches to secure a camouflage net.
Her fingers moved delicately.
"…This knot keeps loosening," she muttered.
Ling Yifan stepped closer.
"Angle's wrong," he said."Here—"
He reached over—
The vine snapped.
Bai lost balance.
"Ah—!"
She fell—
Straight into Ling Yifan's arms.
Time stopped.
He froze completely.
Her face was inches from his chest.Her hair brushed his chin.Illusion petals scattered everywhere.
"…Oh," Bai said softly.
Ling Yifan's brain short-circuited.
"I— I— this is— I didn't—"
Chen gasped dramatically.
"CONTACT!"
Ouyang turned around instantly.
"…WHAT IS THIS."
Bai realized their position and went completely red.
"I—I slipped—!"
Ling Yifan carefully set her upright like a priceless artifact.
"I'm sorry. Are you injured?"
"…No."
"…Good."
They stood there awkwardly.
Too close.
Too quiet.
Chen wiped imaginary tears.
"Ah yes. Young love on a murder island."
Ouyang stomped over.
"HEY! Get back to work!"
Bai nodded quickly and moved away.
Ling Yifan cleared his throat and stared intensely at the shelter wall.
"…Focus."
Long Hao glanced at him.
"…Your heart rate is elevated."
Ling Yifan snapped.
"STOP OBSERVING ME."
By dusk, the shelter stood firm.
Elevated platform.Hidden fire pit.Water source secured.Watch rotations planned.
Ling Yifan crossed his arms, inspecting everything.
"…Acceptable."
Chen collapsed onto the ground.
"I'm never doubting you again."
Ouyang stretched.
"…Okay, perfectionist. You win."
Bai Qianlan sat quietly near the fire, still blushing faintly.
Wang Junxie climbed a tree again.
"I'll keep scouting."
Ling Yifan nodded.
"Wake me if anything moves."
Long Hao looked out at the darkening forest.
"…Night is coming."
Ling Yifan tightened his grip on his spear.
"Good.Now we see who survives mistakes."
Somewhere in the distance—
Something roared.
And this time…
It wasn't small.
[CHAPTER ENDS]