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With two fingers like mountains, the eight-armed giant ape picked up a massive moose lamb shank, stuffed it into the cave, then turned and left.
Before departing, the eight-armed giant ape raised its eyes toward the endless forest and released a deep roar into the sky.
Rippling waves of sound spread like tangible force, shaking the towering trees, as if declaring to every living creature across the landāShen Lian is now under its protection.
With thunderous steps, the eight-armed giant ape vanished into the woods, stirring up billowing clouds of dust.
The little black-haired monkey, however, leapt off the ape's shoulder and jumped into Shen Lian's arms.
"Hahaha, little monkey, that tickles! Stop messing around!"
The playful squirming made Shen Lian laughāa laugh full of brightness and relief, the first time he had laughed from the heart since arriving in this strange world.
The little monkey finally found a comfortable spot, wrapped its arms around Shen Lian's shoulders, and clung to his back. Only a pair of curious black eyes peeked out as it surveyed the surroundings.
"Little monkey," Shen Lian whispered as he gently scratched its nose. For the first time, he felt as if he'd made a true friend in this unfamiliar world.
The little black-haired monkey grinned with a silly expression.
Spring turned to autumn, time flowed like a river.
In the blink of an eye, more than half a year passed in the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
This was the most peaceful and fulfilling time Shen Lian had experienced since falling into this world.
He no longer had to fight for every meal, no longer lived in fear.
Ever since the eight-armed giant ape delivered the moose leg and roared through the mountain range, the terrifying beasts of the forest began to avoid Shen Lian. None dared to trouble him again.
Sometimes, the eight-armed giant ape would even bring more meat directly to him.
Time, however, is a powerful sculptor.
In these six months, Shen Lian's once-short hair had grown long. His original Earth clothing had been replaced with a simple blue robe he found somewhere in the wilderness.
The traces of his former life were fading.
He had adapted to life in the Hundred Thousand Mountains. Sometimes, he would daze off, forgetting whether he was still that modern youth from Earth or someone entirely new.
Whenever the fog in his heart thickened, he would take out the crumpled admission letter hidden close to his chest.
That paper reminder grounded him.
Beyond this foreign sky, his parents were still waiting. His little sister still believed he would return.
"Oh hoo~!"
On the thick branches of an ancient towering tree, Shen Lian ran and leapt with practiced ease.
In midair, he grabbed a hanging vine and used its momentum to swing to another tree.
Tucked inside his collar, the little monkey stuck its head out with wide eyes full of wonder.
The wind howled past them, lifting Shen Lian's black hair and the monkey's fur in its gusts.
They'd done this many times before.
Shen Lian had become so skilled that he could swing hundreds of meters through the canopy using vines alone.
After a long swing through the treetops, a massive shadow loomed before them.
It was the eight-armed giant ape, back turned, waiting.
Slowly, the giant ape turned around. Its face was covered in scars, but its expression carried a solemn dignity unlike anything Shen Lian had seen before.
The ape raised one massive hand and extended its palm.
"Haw~!"
The little monkey jumped from Shen Lian's shoulder to the ape's hand, climbed up, and perched quietly on its father's shoulder.
"You're leaving?" Shen Lian froze, then his heart sank with regret.
The roars from deep within the Hundred Thousand Mountains were growing louder and more violent, even spilling toward the outer regions.
As one of the forest's outer-region overlords, the eight-armed ape had no choice. It had to go.
"Haw~"
The little monkey looked at Shen Lian with round, teary eyes.
Then it leaned close to the ape's ear and whispered something.
The eight-armed giant ape furrowed its brow slightly, then turned to Shen Lian. With two fingers, it made a walking motion pointing outward, beyond the forest.
"You're asking if I want to leave the mountain?" Shen Lian understood immediately.
The ape nodded.
Shen Lian stood silently for a moment, then nodded and cupped his fists. "Then I thank you, senior."
He had made up his mind.
Since there was no way to return to Earth, he would take root here and live.
Though the Hundred Thousand Mountains offered safety, they were also lonely.
He longed to see the sky beyond these ancient trees.
The eight-armed ape bent down and offered its palm.
With a leap, Shen Lian landed firmly in the center of the massive hand.
The next moment, the giant ape straightened up and strode out of the forest with great speed.
Each step crushed the earth, sent dust flying, and caused mountains to tremble.
Towering trees fell in its wake, and distant beasts scattered in fear.
The fierce wind pulled at Shen Lian's robe and hair.
The scenery flew by as they rushed past ridges and forests.
After the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Shen Lian's view suddenly cleared.
The endless jungle faded behind him.
In the distance, he saw itāthe vague, majestic silhouette of a massive city wall.
"Is that... the human world?"
Shen Lian's voice was soft, carried by awe.
The ape lowered its hand to the ground.
Shen Lian stepped off with steady feet.
The eight-armed ape gave him one last deep look, then turned without hesitation and stormed back toward the heart of the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
"Hahahaha~~!"
On its shoulder, the little monkey turned, bit its lip, and waved desperately at Shen Lian.
Their figures faded into the distance, swallowed by dust and roar.
Shen Lian watched them go, his own hand raised in farewell.
"Little monkey, I'll find you again someday," he whispered.
"Wait for me. We'll meet again."
When their silhouettes finally vanished, Shen Lian turned around without looking back and walked toward the distant giant city.
He remembered all those days sitting under ancient trees, wondering if his future would be just like today and the next.
He thought maybe he'd live and die here, buried by the soil that once fed him.
People eat soil for a lifetime. Soil eats people once.
But not today.
Looking up at the towering city ahead, Shen Lian laughed.
If fate brought him to this world, then as a man with seven feet of bone and blood, why not leave his mark upon it?
He would not merely survive.
He would rise.
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