After returning to the surface, Chen Wen looked at the diver with a serious tone: "Brother, we need to discuss something."

"Let's agree on a signal gesture. Before I send out the signal, no matter what happens, you must not come near, okay?"

Although it was phrased as a question, Chen Wen did not actually intend to negotiate with the diver.

After speaking, he turned to look at Jia Pei who was approaching in a speedboat, and told him everything that had just happened.

Upon realizing that it was his subordinates who affected the survival efforts.

Jia Pei did not try to shift the blame or sever ties; instead, he was thinking about solutions.

Soon, he sincerely said, "It's our problem. Next, we'll give you an underwater light. If you're in danger, press it several times to make it flash, and we'll come to rescue you."

"If the light is steady or off, we'll maintain a safe distance."

Chen Wen nodded slightly: "Okay, I have no objections."

The two divers heard this and said no more.

...

Diving again.

Chen Wen embarked once more on the long journey to find the octopus.

He arrived at the octopus's lair.

The octopus had not returned at this time.

Chen Wen hesitated for a moment, picked up a seashell, smashed it open, and threw it near the octopus's old nest.

But the entire afternoon passed, and the octopus never appeared again.

Chen Wen wasn't worried; the octopus was only scared by the diver.

He decided to give it enough time to calm down.

He thought he would check back later.

Chen Wen shook his head and surfaced.

...

Back at camp.

Chen Wen was somewhat depressed, and it showed on his face.

The others wanted to inquire but were diverted by Chen Wen's smiling change of topic.

This matter, Chen Wen couldn't expect others to assist.

After dinner.

Wang Zhi mentioned: "There's some progress with the cassava wine."

Hearing this, everyone regained their interest, including Chen Wen.

Ever since Chen Wen negotiated with the production team to exchange materials for fermentation supplies.

Wang Zhi has been quietly brewing wine.

Now it seems there's some progress, which is good news.

However, Wang Zhi changed tone and said: "But I need a distillation apparatus to distill the cassava wine."

Distillation?

Everyone knew what distillation was, but if they had to do it themselves, it might be too challenging.

"Who learned distillation before coming to the island?"

Yan Bian chimed in.

Before coming to the island, the men's group learned some basic survival courses and each learned some skills they liked.

Like Wang Zhi, who learned fire-starting.

Lv Guocheng learned sea fishing.

Everyone chose to refine what they were best at.

But distillation...

"It seems to be me."

Zhuo Hongnian weakly said: "But I forgot..."

"College student!"

Chen Wen raised a thumbs up and joked.

Zhuo Hongnian, upon hearing this, lamented: "Back in high school, I could casually make one, but four years of college have eroded my skills!"

"Guess I have to step in!"

Hearing this, Chen Wen said with a smile: "I'll try tomorrow morning. Oh, and get me more plastic bottles."

Seeing Chen Wen take on the task, everyone inexplicably felt assured.

...

The next day.

As the others went out to work.

In the camp, Chen Wen and Gan Tieshan began creating the distillation equipment.

Wang Zhi used a scavenged metal drink barrel to ferment the cassava.

The metal barrel was rectangular, with a lid that could be twisted off.

And on the lid, there was a small round opening, seemingly for pouring drinks.

Chen Wen thought for a moment and decided to make a small-mouth distillation device.

He used a knife to cut several plastic bottles, inserted them together to create a long plastic tube.

One end of the plastic tube covered the lid's round opening, and the other end placed low so that the alcohol could flow down through it.

Of course, this was the most simple distillation device, even lacking a cooling system.

Even a high school student who had learned distillation, given enough time and materials, could replicate it.

Thus, more components needed to be added.

Chen Wen continued to select materials and chose suitable plastic bottles to make a cooling system.

This took him about an hour.

Soon, the distillation apparatus was considered barely complete.

Looking at the crude distillation equipment, Gan Tieshan hesitantly asked, "Can this work?"

"Theoretically, it's fine."

Chen Wen observed the distillation apparatus, searching for omissions and deficiencies: "But practically, it may need adjustments based on circumstances."

"True, making it first and then improving is better than having nothing."

Gan Tieshan nodded.

After a brief silence, Gan Tieshan asked again: "What do you plan to do with that octopus?"

Chen Wen hesitated for a moment and said: "No rush to go back. After being scared away by the diver, it needs time to calm down."

"I'll check its lair this afternoon. If I find it, great. If not... I'll focus on survival."

"You'll definitely find it."

Gan Tieshan smiled warmly: "Good people always have good rewards."

"Thanks for your kind words."

Chen Wen also smiled and said no more.

After lunch.

Instead of resting, Chen Wen chose to head alone to the octopus's lair.

He arrived near the octopus's lair.

Chen Wen slowly swam, checking the gaps in the coral reefs.

Soon, he noticed the seashell he placed earlier had disappeared.

Was it eaten by the octopus? Taken away?

Or eaten by another passing creature?

Chen Wen couldn't help but wonder.

He hesitated for a moment, glanced at the place where the octopus had previously hidden.

Nothing was there.

It indeed seemed to have been scared away by the diver...

Chen Wen sighed, releasing bubbles underwater.

He moved his arms dejectedly, intending to slowly surface.

But at that moment, a familiar message reappeared before Chen Wen's eyes.

[You... came]

Chen Wen was startled, quickly looking around.

He finally discovered the octopus hidden behind him.

The octopus looked the same, its two lifeless eyes indifferently gazing at Chen Wen.

But Chen Wen no longer felt the previous fear; instead, he was filled with joy.

It felt like meeting an old friend.

It's me! I've come!

Chen Wen bubbled bubbles, wanting to swim over to show his goodwill, but feared that it might scare the octopus away.

Torn between options, Chen Wen's raised hand froze at the seabed.

Forget it, finding it is a good sign; no rush for now.

Chen Wen sighed, planning to withdraw his hand.

But at the next moment.

The octopus moved.

Its two arms, like human legs, pressed against the seabed, slowly pushing its body forward.

Three meters, two meters, one meter...

Until finally, the octopus's arm gently wrapped around Chen Wen's fingers.

This...

A peculiar sensation spread from his fingertips.

But more than the physical feeling, the mental connection was more profound.

Chen Wen had never felt like this before.

He seemed to, no, he truly had.

He had gained a friend, a friend of a different species.

Though this friend looked drastically different from him, it had emotions just like him.

Chen Wen felt the octopus's emotions at this moment.

There was joy, as well as relief.

Chen Wen didn't understand why this octopus had such a wonderful relationship with him.

But he knew clearly, moments like this might never happen again.

He gently used his thumb to touch the octopus's skin.

It was soft, yet resilient.

One person and one octopus quietly felt each other's presence at the bottom of the sea.

I truly wish this moment could last a little longer.

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