Chapter 58: Elk and Giant Salamander

Jiang Si walked up to Qin Shen and looked down from the edge of the yacht. It was pitch-black below, revealing nothing unusual.

Still, she asked, “Did something feel off?”

Qin Shen stared for a long while. “It moved away.”

Jiang Si was startled. “The alligator gar?”

Qin Shen shook his head. “Maybe.”

Maybe?

Jiang Si didn’t think it was likely. If it had been the alligator gar, any disturbance would have made it rush to the surface immediately.

The Puji bird (reed chicken) was plucked, gutted, and yielded just over a pound of edible meat and bone.

Shen Baoying made a pot of Puji mushroom soup, adding some ginseng root and goji berries. Everyone got a bowl—nourishing and great for the complexion.

Jiang Si took a sip. The vaguely familiar taste from her memory suddenly became vivid. “So fresh~”

Shen Baoying smiled. “That Puji bird was still a bit small. Once the chicks grow up and start reproducing, we can eat this more often.”

Niuniu happily chimed in, “I helped dig up lots of reed mushrooms too! We’ll dry and store them. Eat whenever we want!”

Everyone smiled at one another, feeling a rare sense of peace and happiness in that moment.

That night passed without incident. Everyone awoke refreshed and energetic.

Zhang Qingfang had long wanted to dig up soil to plant vegetables and grains in every available space on the yacht and two steamships.

Jiang Si and Qin Shen went out to collect more Puji eggs. Jiang Linhai and Lu Zhifeng dug soil near the yacht, while Jiang Zhenwu stood guard as usual.

Jiang Si and Qin Shen moved through a patch of reeds and boarded an inflatable boat, drifting along the water path. Soon, they spotted the same nest of Puji eggs from yesterday.

The birds were a little slow to react. Even when Jiang Si and Qin Shen got close, they only just began flapping their wings to flee.

With one swift strike of his pole, Qin Shen knocked one unconscious.

He tossed the bird toward Jiang Si. She quickly tied it with hemp rope, then watched Qin Shen scoop up the entire nest of eggs.

He handled the nest with surprising care and asked Jiang Si, “Should we try incubating some of them? The meat last night was pretty good.”

Jiang Si smiled. She didn’t expect Qin Shen to be a bit of a foodie too.

“Sure, let’s raise a few.”

As they paddled another few dozen meters down the water trail, Qin Shen spotted another Puji nest and even caught a thick black snake as wide as a person’s calf.

The snake wasn’t venomous. Qin Shen dangled it in front of Jiang Si and asked, “Wanna eat it?”

Jiang Si knew that snakes carried a high risk of parasites. In her past life, she avoided eating them unless she was absolutely desperate.

Now that they had so many options, she naturally shook her head. “Parasites are hard to treat once you get infected. Let’s just eat something normal.”

“Alright.”

Qin Shen casually snapped the snake’s head and tossed the body into the grass.

They continued on, collecting several more Puji egg nests and two wild duck nests.

As they neared the end of the waterway, Jiang Si suddenly spotted an elk. Before she could raise her gun—
Bang! Qin Shen fired and hit it directly.

The elk staggered for a moment, then fell over.

Jiang Si was thrilled. This one was fully grown—at least 200 jin (100 kg).

That meant they could eat fresh meat every day for a while.

Qin Shen especially loved meat. He’d show little interest in meals when eating vegetarian, but if there was meat, he could eat two extra bowls of rice.

He walked ashore and hoisted the elk onto his shoulder. At that moment, a rapid rustling and slithering sound came from the reeds behind him.

Jiang Si instantly felt a chill—a giant snake?
She shouted in alarm, “Qin Shen! Danger!”

Qin Shen sprinted back toward the inflatable boat. From within the reeds, a pitch-black creature with two horn-like protrusions poked its head out—it looked like a giant salamander.

Jiang Si recognized it immediately: a reversion-type giant salamander.

Modern-day pet salamanders were small, cute, and timid—popular among young people.

But the giant versions, also known as “King Salamanders,” lived in swamps and wetlands. Amphibious and highly aggressive, they fed on dinosaurs and crocodiles. Their mouths were full of razor-sharp teeth perfect for ripping apart prey.

This one was relatively small for its kind—just 3 to 4 meters long—still not big enough to swallow a human whole.

But in Jiang Si’s past life, she had encountered King Salamanders that could swallow an entire small car.

Their backs also carried toxic venom—just 0.5 grams of its dolphin neurotoxin could kill an adult human.

Despite their ugly, bulky appearance, they were frighteningly fast.

Qin Shen had just gotten onto the raft, and the salamander was already just a few meters away.

Bullets wouldn’t kill something that massive. Jiang Si reached into her pocket, pulled out a grenade, and waited for the perfect moment.

As the salamander opened its jaws—
She yanked the pin and tossed the grenade straight into its mouth.

Qin Shen, using his strong arms, rowed backward like a motor. Before the grenade exploded, the raft had already sped back several meters.

Boom!

The salamander exploded into chunks. Only a bit of blood splattered onto Jiang Si.

Back on the yacht, the explosion made Shen Baoying’s heart leap. She shouted anxiously, “Sisi! Sisi—!”

Jiang Si wiped her face and waved her small red flag.

Shen Baoying saw the flag and immediately told Jiang Linhai and Lu Zhifeng, “They’re over there!”

Jiang Linhai took off running. “Sisi! Qin Shen! Where are you?!”

Lu Zhifeng followed closely, also shouting.

Soon, Jiang Si responded, “We’re fine! Wait for us on shore—don’t go into the water!”

Jiang Linhai exhaled in relief, drenched in nervous sweat.

When Jiang Si and Qin Shen came into view, their raft was covered in blood, and a blurred mass of meat lay inside.

Jiang Linhai, shaken, asked, “What happened?”

Jiang Si handed them two Puji birds. “We ran into a giant salamander. I blew it up with a grenade. We’re okay.”

Jiang Linhai helped her ashore. “How big was it? Bigger than the biggest alligator gar?”

Jiang Si nodded. “About the size of a small car.”

Jiang Linhai and Lu Zhifeng exchanged looks—both shocked and secretly grateful.

Jiang Linhai quickly asked, “Could there be more giant salamanders around?”

Jiang Si shook her head. “They’re territorial. We killed that one, so there won’t be another here for now. Still, it’s best to be cautious. Let’s head back.”

Jiang Linhai nodded quickly—only now noticing the 200+ jin elk lying in the boat.

Elk meat is known for being tender and lean, with a clean, refreshing taste—the king of meats.

Its antlers are valuable medicinal ingredients that can boost energy, strengthen bones, and heal internal injuries.

Deer antler wine is a sought-after luxury item.

Deer tendons are used to make bowstrings; deerskin makes soft, breathable, insulating clothing.

Water pouches made from deerskin are waterproof and lightweight, and don’t take up space when empty.

In ancient times, hunters especially favored deerskin boots and water bags.

When Jiang Linhai and Lu Zhifeng saw the elk, they couldn’t help but grin in admiration.
“Now that’s a good catch!”