Chapter 24: The Serpent

[Tell me, is this really a survival show on a deserted island and not a movie set? Why does it feel like Shi Nianqing is a magnet for animals?]
[The big tiger is so cute, I really want to keep one.]
[My heart was in my throat just now, what are you people upstairs doing? How can you be fangirling over a giant tiger?]
[I am speechless. I thought this was going to be a life-or-death struggle, but it turned into this.]
[Did Shi Nianqing actually survive like that?]
[Shi Nianqing is a legend. From now on, I’m done hating on you.]
……
Watching the tiger family of four enjoying their reunion, Shi Nianqing let out a helpless sigh. Since the father had returned, she knew there was no way the cubs would stay with her. She didn't want to disturb them, so she turned and walked away.

On her way back, she found several rabbits that had been scared to death and picked them up. Three of her previously set traps had been destroyed, and she would have to find time to reset them later. The other two hadn’t caught anything, but fortunately, she still had the rabbits in hand. She even found a dead pheasant on the path; it was likely that the tiger had accidentally killed it while rushing to find its cubs and left it behind. If she left it there, it would soon become food for other animals in the jungle.

Shi Nianqing picked up quite a few things along the way and reset the remaining two traps. She also spotted a patch of high-quality thatch grass and used her dagger to harvest a bundle to take back.

Shortly after arriving at her shelter, she saw the large tiger walking slowly toward her, followed by the energetic cubs. When the cubs saw Shi Nianqing, their eyes lit up. They ran straight toward her and curled up by her side, acting like little rascals. The big tiger stayed a short distance away, not approaching her. Realizing the big tiger had no hostile intentions, Shi Nianqing felt her wariness toward the King of the Jungle diminish significantly.

She scooped up a cub and walked to the big tiger. "Aren't you taking these cubs back?" The big tiger couldn't understand her words, but it understood her gestures. It let out a frustrated growl, looking at the cubs with a strange expression. Shi Nianqing couldn't quite fathom how she was seeing such complex emotions on a massive tiger's face.

The cubs clung to Shi Nianqing, showing no intention of leaving. Shi Nianqing finally understood—the cubs didn't want to leave. Perhaps their mother had done something before she died that made them view her as their guardian. Looking at the big tiger’s demeanor, it seemed they were meant to stay with her.

"Do you want them to stay with me?"

The big tiger pondered for a moment, then nodded its head slowly, tilting it slightly in a way that looked inexplicably cute.

"Alright then, let them stay with me. But you have to remember to come by and teach them how to hunt."

The big tiger didn't understand the specifics, but it understood that the small prey before it had agreed to help raise its children. Looking visibly relieved, it turned to leave. As it walked away, its tail was slightly elevated, looking quite happy. Watching the tiger’s retreating figure, Shi Nianqing couldn't shake the feeling that the beast looked relieved. *It must be my imagination,* she thought, shaking her head and pushing the idea aside.

She returned to the shelter with the cubs. The shelter was mostly finished, and now she needed to build a bed. Later, she would need to craft weapons; this experience had taught her that the wilderness was full of unforeseen dangers. This time it was an accident, but she couldn't guarantee the next time would be. On this planet, which was a complete replica of ancient Earth, there were many animals, including large predators. If she encountered them, it wouldn't be as simple as the encounter with the tiger. Weapons were essential.

The first thing that came to mind for weapon-making was a bow and arrow. It seemed that after finishing the bed, she would have to find time to craft one. No sooner said than done—she remembered the bamboo grove not far away. The bamboo there would be perfect for a bed. The day was still young; although the encounter with the tiger seemed dangerous, it hadn't actually taken up much time.

"The bamboo grove I saw in the jungle earlier has some great stalks. They'll be perfect to cut down and make into a bed," Shi Nianqing announced to the viewers. The chat was still buzzing about the interaction between the tiger and the cubs.

[Did I just see that big tiger smile?]
[Why does it feel like that big tiger is so happy to be rid of those kids?]
[Turns out it’s not just humans who get exhausted raising kids; even the legendary King of the Jungle doesn't have it easy.]
[The big tiger: Finally, I’ve offloaded this hot potato.]
[Hahahaha, I’m dying!]
[Did the streamer say something just now? I couldn't hear clearly.]
[Me neither, I was too busy fawning over the tiger.]
[I heard it. Shi Nianqing said she’s going to cut bamboo to make a bed.]
[I’m not even surprised anymore. The house is built, now she’s onto furniture.]
[Hilarious… I’m no longer surprised by any skill Shi Nianqing suddenly displays.]

The cubs were tired after all the excitement and went inside to rest. Shi Nianqing soon found the bamboo grove. The stalks were thick, perfect for beds, chairs, and stools. As she approached, she saw a snake about the size of an arm coiled around the base of the bamboo. It looked to be over two meters long. The moment the snake appeared, the chat went silent for a long moment, and many viewers logged off.

[Holy crap, is that a Zerg? No, the Zerg aren't that small.]
[What kind of ancient creature is this? Why does it look so terrifying?]
[Slippery and long… that’s so scary!]
[Class monitor here! I checked the records of ancient Earth—this is called a snake. Some are venomous.]
[I’ve shared the info on my page, everyone can go check it out.]

Shi Nianqing was unaware that most of the audience was terrified of the slithering creature. The moment she saw it, her face lit up with surprise. She couldn't help but sigh at her own good luck. She had just been thinking about making a bow and arrow, and now the material had delivered itself. If she wasn't mistaken, this was a large water snake—non-venomous, low aggression, and delicious!