Number Five, Part 4

Xiao Feng and the others sat inside the humble grass hut, receiving hospitality befitting esteemed guests. The tribal natives, their chests bare and bodies painted with primitive markings, brought forth an abundance of food, chattering animatedly as they laid the dishes before them.

Xiao Feng removed his sunglasses, gazing at the spread with a mixture of astonishment and unease. There were roasted little lizards, a few birds, and a basin teeming with wriggling reptiles...

Curious, he turned to a dark-skinned woman and asked, "Is this edible?"

"Yes, yes, we all eat this," she replied, communicating with him in their native tongue.

After surveying the fare, Xiao Feng picked up one of the small lizards.

His companions—Rush, Tu Gou, and Pandora—gazed at him with expressions ranging from disgust to repulsion.

"What's wrong with you?" Xiao Feng asked.

Pandora sneered, "You really intend to eat that?"

"Just try it..."

"I'm glad I don't eat anything. Just looking at this stuff makes me want to vomit."

Xiao Feng smiled wryly. "I used to be a hunter. Sometimes you have to eat things that might seem unpleasant. You can't starve yourself, can you? You don't always catch big game. Sometimes Uncle White and I would hunt a few birds to get by..." With that, Xiao Feng stuffed the lizard into his mouth.

Pandora turned her head away, unwilling to witness what she deemed his perverse behavior.

Rush felt uneasy, while Tu Gou seemed to tolerate it better, though he certainly wouldn't dare taste that charred blackened lizard.

Xiao Feng chewed the lizard, which had been roasted crisp, slightly chewy, with an earthy, gamey flavor that was surprisingly within his range of acceptance.

"Not bad, not bad. The taste is alright... Rush, have a try." He offered the plate to Rush, who recoiled. "Get lost! I'm not eating that. Stay away! Just looking at it makes me sick."

Xiao Feng chuckled. "You won't eat it because you've never been hungry. Such a nutritious meal, and you refuse it."

"Get lost! I'm about to throw up!"

Laughter erupted between Xiao Feng and the tribal women. He heartily devoured several lizards and a roasted bird.

He didn't bother asking what kind of bird it was—he suspected the answer might unsettle him.

After the meal, afternoon had waned, and the sun began its slow descent. From the tribal women, Xiao Feng learned that the men had gone hunting and would soon return.

This was not a desert, but an endless expanse of wasteland, sparsely populated with life. Xiao Feng wondered what exactly these people hunted. He also noticed that the tribe had not constructed any defensive walls. How had they survived here? The mystery perplexed him.

Engaging in conversation with several youthful girls, it became evident they harbored a genuine fondness for Xiao Feng. Yet, they were remarkably young—undeveloped and quite short in stature.

Xiao Feng inquired, "Are there any magical beasts here?"

"Magical beasts?"

"What are magical beasts?" the girls asked in return.

"Large creatures, very tall, with distorted forms..." Xiao Feng explained.

"Oh yes, but they've all been driven away by the Big Guy."

"That's right. The Big Guy is very powerful. Even the large animals you mentioned before were chased off by him."

Xiao Feng's interest piqued. "Big Guy? Who is the Big Guy?"

"He's very tall, incredibly tall."

Straightening, Xiao Feng asked, "Is he as tall as me?"

"Of course! About one and a half times taller."

Measuring himself—he stood at 180 centimeters—Xiao Feng calculated that would make this Big Guy nearly 270 centimeters tall. Astonished, he muttered, "Surely not that tall."

"Of course he is. That's just how tall he is."

"I'd truly like to see how tall this Big Guy really is," Xiao Feng admitted, intrigued.

As the sun sank beneath the boundless plains, solitary trees and quiet grasslands basked in the twilight's glow. Xiao Feng found himself captivated by the breathtaking scenery.

With the sun fully set, dozens of figures appeared in the crimson sky. Their armaments included spears, long knives, and even a few automatic rifles. They chatted and laughed as they approached the tribe.

Standing before the girls, Xiao Feng observed the group. His vision was exceptional; the dark-skinned men themselves didn't concern him, but the towering figure behind them caught his attention. This man was at least half again as tall as the others, nearly twice their height.

His skin was not black like theirs, but a pale shade, though his face was smeared wildly with paint.

Xiao Feng realized this must be the so-called Big Guy.

The giant bore various trophies of the hunt, bloodied and dripping, dragging behind him a large prey. Upon seeing what it was, Xiao Feng understood why the tribe was so jubilant—their haul was truly abundant.

Especially the creature the Big Guy dragged behind him—undeniably an elephant.

Xiao Feng was astonished. The Big Guy's height must have surpassed two and a half meters. His physique was robust, a true giant.

Turning to a nearby dark-skinned girl, Xiao Feng asked, "Is this the Big Guy you were talking about?"

"Yes, yes, very tall, right?"

"Truly enormous," Xiao Feng marveled.

The group moved swiftly, reaching the tribe's entrance within minutes. They watched curiously as Xiao Feng stood before the young women, his sunglasses on and clad in a sleek brown combat suit, looking quite handsome.

At that moment, a burly man adorned with a feathered headdress stepped forward—the clear leader of the group.

He approached Xiao Feng. "Hey, who are you? Who are you looking for?"

Xiao Feng smiled lightly. "Sorry to intrude. I'm here to find the Big Guy."

"Big Guy? You know him? And you speak our language?" The leader's caution was evident.

"Yes, we're good friends."

The leader turned to the giant and called out, "Big Guy, a friend has come looking for you."

The Big Guy responded with a low "Oh..." and slowly dragged the elephant carcass closer. Upon seeing Xiao Feng, his face revealed surprise—and a deeper confusion. "Brother, do I know you?"